The odds of Hollie Doyle taking up the BBC Sports Personality of the Year took a turn again on Friday as she becomes the general 9-4 second favorite, having formerly retained 25-1 earlier during the week.
The famous jockey is said to be behind just Lewis Hamilton for Sunday’s prize event in the market having been vacked into for as short as 7-4 with William Hill right after dethroning Ronnie O’Sullivan to become the second favorite.
On Friday, it was confirmed by BBC that Doyle will be permitted to attend the event in person, despite his race on Saturday in France, under the government-approved quarantine exception rule for TV production casts and crews for the important broadcasts.
Speaking to the media, a BBC spokesperson said: “In accordance with DCMS guidelines around TV production a quarantine exemption has been applied to Hollie Doyle and we’re delighted this will enable her to attend Sports Personality of the Year. The BBC continues to observe and implement all DCMS Covid-19 guidance to ensure that the safety and welfare of our cast, crew, and contributors are maintained. This includes enforcing of two-meter social distancing and wide testing where appropriate.”
The #VoteHollie campaign has been a huge help to the 24-year-old British jockey, who claimed her first Group 1 while riding Glen Shiel at Ascot this year and remained available at 14-1 on Thursday, as punters look for ways to bet with their Cheltenham tips ahead of the races that will be taking place this December.
Paddy Power’s Paul Binfield spoke to the media, saying: “Hollie began the month as a 25-1 outsider but had contracted into 8-1 on Thursday and then usurped Ronnie O’Sullivan as the second favorite at 6-1 this morning.
“She’s now into 9-4, with the racing parish once again getting fully behind one of their own as they managed to do so successfully with AP McCoy in 2010. While a win for Hollie will hit the bookies in the pocket, the exposure for our sport will be absolutely magnificent.”
The 24-year-old jockey will be expected to attend the studio show live at Salford’s Media City with little or no regard to fears of the trip to France for racing at Deauville could bring complications relating to Covid-19.
WBC heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury, Anand Cricketer Stuart Broad, and Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson were also nominated to challenge for the prize, which makes it a six-people shortlist.
Sir Anthony McCoy, who was Racing’s last person to win the Sports Personality of the Year, had the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham rename the Vote AP Gold Cup back in 2010.
That situation is being repeated currently as Ascot renamed Saturday’s £60,000 3m handicap chase to Good Luck Hollie in Spotify Silver Cup Handicap Chase, which is ultimately part of the ITV4’s coverage.
In other news, Sir Gerhard, who is Cheveley Park Studhorse, has been cut to a general 5-2 favorite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival after an impressive defeat of three bumper winner at Navan.
Trained by the famous Gordon Elliot, the five-year-old was able to win by four and a half lengths under Jamie Codd after running past two-time winner Letsbeclearaboutit.
Photo by Anastasiia Krutota on Unsplash