Button 7/4 to outclass Hamilton in 2010
Jenson Button has signed for McLaren, thereby setting up an all-English dream team with 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton and Sky Bet make Button 7/4 to collect more points next season that his new team-mate.
Button and Hamilton: all-British McLaren dream team.
Sky Bet make Hamilton, who finished the 2009 season strongly finishing on the podium in five out of the last eight races, 8/13 to record more race wins than Button (6/5) and he is 2/5 to achieve more pole positions (Button 7/4).
The news of Button's move and Kimi Raikkonen's sabbatical has prompted Sky Bet to trim Button to 11/2 to retain his Driver's Championship crown and the Harrogate-based firm have also cut Hamilton's odds of winning the Drivers' Championship to 5/2 (from 11/4).
Sky Bet's Formula One betting expert Dave Pilgrim said: "McLaren pairing Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton looks sure to spark the strongest interest from the British public in F1 for many years, but we think Jenson might find it hard competing against Hamilton."
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France 16/1 for World Cup Glory
Following last night's 2nd leg play-offs, France are 16/1 with Sky Bet to win the World Cup after their dramatic extra time victory over the Republic of Ireland in Paris.
Brazil and Spain head the market at 9/2 and Fabio Capello's England side are next best at 6/1.
Two-time champions Argentina are 9/1 and Germany, who have lifted the trophy on three occasions, are 10/1.
Defending champions Italy are 14/1 to win a fifth title and Portugal, who had to overcome Bosnia-Herzegovina in a play-off are 16/1.
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O'Driscoll 1/2 to be named IRB Player of the Year
Following the announcement of the shortlist for the 2009 International Rugby Board Player of the Year, Sky Bet are offering 1/2 for Brian O'Driscoll to become only the second Irishman, since Keith Wood in 2001, to win this award.
The South African pairing of Fourie du Preez and Francois Steyn are 5/2 and 20/1 respectively and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who was named the IRB Player of the Year in 2006, is 12/1 along with Australia's Matt Giteau.
Ireland's Jamie Heaslip and England's Tom Croft make up the rest of the nominees and are 14/1 and 50/1.
Sky Bet's Tim Reynolds said: "This really is a toss up between the two at the head of the field. O'Driscoll fully deserves it, having guided Ireland to a Grand Slam as well as clinching the Heineken Cup title with Leinster whereas Du Preez was instrumental in South Africa's series victory over the Lions and has already been named as South African Rugby Player of the year in 2009."
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Hatton 11/10 to beat Marquez
Ricky Hatton is set to return to the ring to fight Juan Manuel Marquez, according to reports and Sky Bet have installed the Hitman as slight underdog to beat the 36-year-old Mexican.
The bout is likely to take place next year at the City of Manchester Stadium and Sky Bet make the former two-weight champion 11/10 to emerge triumphant.
Marquez has won 50 of his 56 fights, including world titles at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight and is Sky Bet's 8/11 favourite to outclass Hatton. A drawn fight can be backed at 25/1.
Sky Bet's boxing betting expert Scott Springgay said: "If Hatton returns to the ring against Marquez he will have his work cut out. Marquez is getting on in years but is still in reasonable shape and even though he took something of a battering against Mayweather, he was still able to go the full distance, unlike Hatton who was stopped in round 10."
Marquez has gone the distance twice against the amazing Manny Pacquiao, resulting in a draw and a close loss by split decision, while Hatton was beaten badly by a second round knockout in his fight against the Pac Man in May.
Springgay continued: "With such a long lay-off and questions over whether Ricky still has the heart to box on, added to the fact that he is terribly out of condition, it may not be a great return to the ring for him against such a seasoned pro."
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