Marvellous Mo surges into SPOTY reckoning
BOOKMAKERS think that Mo Farah, Great Britain's distance-running sensation, is in for a busy winter awards-collecting schedule in the wake of Saturday night's storming success in the Olympic 5000m.
Leading from the front, Farah was pushed to the limit on his final lap but managed to hold off the challenge from Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia to claim his second gold of the games.
And the odds on him being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year have been slashed from 12-1 to as short as 2-1 - Coral and Ladbrokes' 5-2 is now best.
While his remarkable double triumph in the 5000m and 10000m - he is only the sixth man to win both events during an Olympic Games - has led Hills to chalk up 5-2 about a knighthood in the New Year's Honours list.
However, punters have to be wary about backing Farah in arguably the most hotly-contested Sports Personality of the Year to date following a fantastic summer for British sport.
Bradley Wiggins, 1-6 with Hills for a gong, remains the 4-7 favourite after his Tour de France triumph and Olympic time-trial gold while Jessica Ennis, evens for a damehood with Hills, is available at 9-1 after romping home in the heptathlon.
And Andy Murray, who reached the Wimbledon final as well as bagging gold and silver medals at London 2012, is a 22-1 shot.
2008-winner Sir Chris Hoy who became Great Britain's greatest-ever Olympian at the games is available at 50-1 and Ben Ainslee, Britain's most-decorated Olympic sailor after securing his fourth consecutive gold medal, is 100-1.
Coral have opened separate knightood and damehood books involving opening ceremony director Danny Boyle, cycling coach Dave Brailsford and several individual Olympic GB gold winners bar the already-honoured Hoy.
In the knighthood list, as well as 1-10 Wiggins and 2-1 Farah, Ainslie is 4-6 for a gong with Boyle at 4-5, Brailsford at 6-4, Murray at 10-1, Jason Kenny at 14-1, Alastair Brownlie at 25-1, Greg Rutherford and Peter Wilson at 50-1 and 66-1 available about Ed McKeever.
In the damehood list, as well as 4-5 Ennis, Victoria Pendleton is evens to make the trip to Buckingham Palace, Laura Trott is 16-1, Charlotte Dujardin is 25-1, Nicola Adams is 40-1 and Jade Jones is 66-1.
Ladbrokes offer 5-6 about three or more GB gold medal winners getting gongs on January 13 (5-6 two or fewer).
Read Monday's Racing Post for full Olympics news round-up, Mark Langdon's live Capital One Cup match and coupon recommendations, Dylan Hill's Western & Southern Open tennis advice and full betting package, Test match news and CB40 cricket preview and more
