The X Factor Result: Huge shock as 129/1 Ella is eliminated

"Joke Factor because the show has become exactly that, an absolute joke. The fact that 16-year-old Henderson is no longer in the competition is a disgrace."

Mike Norman brings us the latest X Factor elimination result, and for good reason, he's not a happy chap...

Perhaps we can replace the X for shock, or even as some would argue, joke, because tonight's elimination became a case of both.

Shock Factor because two of the competition's best ever performers - Ella Henderson and James Arthur - were voted by the British public into the bottom two whilst dreadful act Rylan Clark, and cruise ship singer Christopher Maloney, survived.

Joke Factor because the show has become exactly that, an absolute joke. The fact that 16-year-old Henderson is no longer in the competition is a disgrace. But who is to blame?

It's certainly not Clark or Maloney's fault, and although ultimately it was the public who voted Henderson and Arthur into the bottom two, is it really the public's fault also? No!

The people to blame are those who decided to keep this competition reliant on a public vote. For crying out load our public voted Michelle McManus, Steve Brookstein, Leon Jackson, and Matt Cardle as winners in various singing competitions.

Our British public even voted Chico, Darius Danesh, Jedward, and Wagner beyond the one week their singing talents should have allowed. Put simply, most of us haven't got a clue.

But tonight was the last straw. It was the night that the X Factor producers must now realise that the only way forward for such competitions is to have a professional panel decide the outcome. Scrap public voting all together... we get enough stupidity during Eurovision, we don't need it on X Factor too.

For the record Ella Henderosn was matched at a huge 130.0129/1 in the Seventh Elimination market but I think I've said all I have to say. I'll let Eliot Pollak update the odds later in the week.

There are no comments on this article.

Amazon Watches Center

Formula One Result: Alonso seals shock win in rainy Malaysia

Formula One / Editor / 25 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Alonso driving through the downpour

"Following his surprise victory, the Spaniard is [11.5] to be crowned champion at the end the season... "

Two-time champion overcomes problems with his car to pull off upset in Kuala Lumpur...

Fernando Alonso may have won a rain-soaked Malaysian Grand Prix but Betfair punters still don't fancy his chances of winning a third Drivers' Championship.

The Spaniard is [11.5] to be crowned champion at the end the season, following his surprise victory in Sunday's race.

Alsonso took charge after the Grand Prix was halted six laps in due to torrential downpour. He may struggle for points in dry conditions this season as the Ferrari's problems have been well-documented.

Sauber's Sergio Perez mounted a strong challenge which meant a thrilling end to the race as Alonso fought hard to hold off the Mexican. Lewis Hamilton, who started in pole position, finished third.

Alonso, who described his win as "a big surprise" now leads the championship by five points from Hamilton. The British driver is the favourite at [3.2], followed by Jenson Button, who finished 14th in Malaysia, at [3.9]. Last year's champions Sebastian Vettel, still winless after two races, trades at [3.95].

It's a British one two at the front of the grid with a former-champion lurking just behind. So does James Frankland anticipate another McLaren win in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix?...

Ralph Ellis said it last week when talking up the McLarens' chances and he says it again now in assessing Fernando Alonso: a great driver is all very well but, if the car isn't up to it, he won't win....

Following a British victory in Australia, James Frankland considers the result as well as historical precedents to ask if it's time to back Jenson Button for the Drivers' Championship......

Amazon Watches Center

Boxing Betting: Can Chisora spring a shock against Klitschko?

Boxing Betting / Ralph Ellis / 15 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can Chisora conquer Klitschko?

"The more I see of Chisora, finally getting a bit of limelight, the more I like about his brash style."

Ralph Ellis looks ahead to Saturday night's big fight and asks if we could see a brash Brit bring about the end of the Vitali era.

Back when I worked for the Daily Star, our boxing writer of the time Ken Gorman's biggest battles tended to be with the accountants.

The men who sat in an office and signed off the budget were jealous of the idea that he spent half his time flying back and forth to Las Vegas or New Jersey, and they weren't too keen on the flight and hotel costs either. Eventually they got their way and stopped him from going to a world title contest in Tokyo.

The sports editor backed his attempt to appeal against the decision, but lost. "What's the point?" asked the managing editor. "It's Mike Tyson, he's won all his previous 37 fights, and stopped Carl Williams last time out in the first round. We're not paying to send Ken half way round the world just to write that Tyson's put some other bum on the canvas."

So Ken, along with several other of Fleet Street's top boxing men who'd lost the same argument with their offices, was at home when Buster Douglas knocked out Tyson in the tenth round to create one of the biggest boxing stories of last century.

It's a story worth telling as you approach Dereck Chisora's meeting with Vitali Klitschko in Munich on Saturday night. It's a fight that looks totally predictable. The elder and arguably better one of the two Ukrainian brothers who rule the heavyweight division is [1.09] to add the Brit to his long list of victims and on the face of it even that's probably too big a price.

But - and here's the very big but - somebody, some day, is going to end Vitali's near eight-year reign as the WBC world champion and when it does happen it will be every bit as much a shock as when Buster Douglas put Tyson on the floor. Most of all it will be a shock to Vitali himself, and I just wonder if he isn't seeing exactly what's coming his way on Saturday night.

Chisora has been doing the rounds with all the usual hype. He says he'll win in the eighth (handy if he's right because you can back that at anywhere between [100.00] and [1000.00]). Meanwhile Klitschko's pre-fight press conferences have been all about politics. There could be a Syria style uprising in the Ukraine, he's warned (not good news for the tourist industry ahead of Euro 2012, but there you go).

It suggests a 40-year-old who has maybe got too sure of himself, picking what he sees as another easy contest to extend his stay at the top. And the more I see of Chisora, finally getting a bit of limelight, the more I like about his brash style. "The Klitschkos don't like a fight," he says. "The psychology of the Klitschkos is to be nice to you before and then destroy you in the ring. So I have to take it to Vitali - without a doubt. Vitali don't like going backwards. I've got to go at him from the start, fight inside and hurt him."

After twice being lined up to fight Wladimir and seeing the contest called off at the last minute, Chisora also has the vital quality that he genuinely thinks Klitschko might be just so slightly scared of what he could do. "There's a Rocky theme going on in my life," says Chisora. "You never know what might happen next."

Exactly. As a triumphant sports editor explained to the accountants all those years ago: "The whole point about news is you don't know when or where it will happen." I fancy it's worth at the very least a back-to-lay bet on Chisora to see if the answer is in Munich this Saturday night.

Five things you might not know about Dereck Chisora

1. Born December 1983 in Zimbabwe, he was 16 when he came to England to join his mother who had already moved here and had found him a place in a public school.

2. That didn't last, and he got into trouble hanging round his home in Hampstead with kids who involved him in petty crime. It was a probation officer who suggested he go to Finchley Boxing Club.

3. He still speaks the Bantu language of Shona and stays in touch with his African roots.

4. He's an antique collector who loves old-style English furniture but also buys quirky items. He's got an old style parking meter and a red phone box.

5. He chose his 'Del Boy' nickname and Only Fools and Horses walk-on music because he was selling cars to make extra money in his early days after turning pro.

Alex Steedman explains that, while the British fighter will give Saturday's fight his best shot, is likely to be outclassed by a champion in peak condition......

Betfair's sponsorship of Prizefighter begins with Saturday night's Light Welterweights contest on Sky TV. Here's part two of our guide to the eight contenders, what they've told us about where they've come from, and where they believe they are going....

Betfair's sponsorship of Prizefighter begins with Saturday night's Light Welterweights contest on Sky TV. Here's part one of our guide to the eight contenders, what they've told us about where they've come from, and where they believe they are going....

Amazon Watches Center

Follow The Money: Veteran set for shock on AW?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 05 August 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will Doctor hilary prevail at Lingfield?

"Doctor Hilary has been backed from [9.20] in to [6.8]."

Today's Follow the Money comes from Lingfield and Worcester.

The first Friday mover runs at Worcester in the 14:50. The horse in question is the Lady Herries trained Geneva Geyser who has been backed from [2.6] in to [2.2]. The five-year-old is two from two over hurdles and takes a step up in class today. He has been very impressive in his two wins, both times barely coming of the bridle and quicken well when asked the question. His last success was over course and distances and the only question today would be the possible easing of the ground which might not suit.

At Lingfield, in the 15:10, Maher has been the drifting from [2.20] out to [2.68]. The David Simcock three-year-old has been running well but has yet been able to get his head in front. Last time out he was second at Newmarket for today's jockey, that said the race that day did not look a particularly strong one and it could be that today's rivals might be more of a test. Also worth bearing in mind his last few runs have been on decent ground and with yesterday's rain, the ground at Lingfield could be on the easy side.

We stay at Lingfield for the handicap at 17:10 and the move for Doctor Hilary having been backed from [9.20] in to [6.8]. Mark Hoad's veteran has been running over an inadequate five furlongs recently so will appreciate the step up to six furlongs, a distance he has won over three times. He has never won on the all weather at Lingfield but has winning form on the Polytrack at Wolverhampton.

Recommended Bets
Back Geneva Geyser @ [2.20] Worcester 14:50
Lay Maher @ [2.68] Lingfield 15:10
Back Doctor Hilary @ [6.8] Lingfield 17:10

Today's Follow the Money comes from Haydock and Yarmouth....

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Newcastle and Pontefract....

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meeting at Catterick....

Play Casino & Poker here

Cricket World Cup Results: Ireland matched at 400 before shock win

World Cup Betting / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 02 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Kevin O'Brien almost single-handedly won the game for Ireland

"Things were hardly looking that bright when Ireland were 111-5 either and England traded at 1.01 for £2.7 million, 1.02 for £2.18 million and plenty of other huge sums at prohibitively short prices."

The first upset of this World Cup took place this afternoon and it was England who found themselves on the wrong end of it...

Ireland caused arguably the greatest Cricket World Cup upset of all time this afternoon when they beat England after being matched at [400.0] In-Play. It's not the first-time that a so-called minnow beats a Test side at a World Cup but it was the manner of the defeat that was such a surprise.

The 327 that England posted courtesy of good contributions from Jonathan Trott (92) and Ian Bell (81) would have probably been good enough to beat the very best sides in the world and Ireland got off to the worst possible start when skipper William Porterfield departed for a duck. Things were hardly looking that bright when Ireland were 111-5 either and England traded at [1.01] for £2.7 million, [1.02] for £2.18 million and plenty of other huge sums at prohibitively short prices. But up stepped Nottinghamshire big-hitter Kevin O'Brien who with nothing to lose decided that playing the remaining 28 overs like the back end of a T20 match was the way to go.

It worked and as the burly right-hander continued to strike boundaries the Ireland price contracted, though it was only really in the last fifth of the innings that Ireland went favourites when needing just over a run a ball. There was late drama when O'Brien was run out for 113 off just 63 balls with Ireland still needing 12 at which point their price went out to [1.46]. But two late boundaries saw them over the line and short-odds on backers were left cursing their bad luck and the famous luck of the Irish who made the most of dropped catches and generally poor fielding.

England are still expected to qualify for the quarter-finals but the 1.02 on them making the next round has become [1.46] whilst Ireland are rated a [5.0] chance from 46 at the start of the game. England's performance has unsurprisingly made the layers on the winner market have a re-think and they've been eased to 14.5 to win the competition for the first time. India at [4.1] and South Africa at [5.3] head the market.

Play Casino & Poker here

Carling Cup Results: Birmingham shock Arsenal and punters

Carling Cup / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 27 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

You beauty. Lee Bowyer can't wait to congratulate match-winner Obafemi Martins

"At the start of this competition a Birmingham win was certainly not on the cards according to the Betfair market; they traded at a high of 65.0 when it started. As for Arsenal, the wait for some silverware goes on."

Obafemi Martins and Ben Foster were the heroes as Birmingham won in the most unlikely of circumstances to further prolong the Arsenal trophy drought.

Birmingham caused one of the all-time upsets in League Cup finals by beating Arsenal courtesy of a late, late Obafemi Martins winner.

It was the Blues who took the lead via the giant Nikola Zigic (matched at 18.5 to be first scorer) very much against the run of play but when Robin van Persie levelled the scores with a fine strike it seemed like Arsenal's momentum would inevitably lead to a second sooner or later.

It was an entertaining final with Samir Nasri the stand-out performer for Arsenal whilst Ben Foster in goal for Birmingham won the Man Of The Match award after a string of fine saves that kept the likes of Nasri and van Persie at bay.

The Gunners had traded at just [1.41] pre-match to win in 90 minutes and at the start of injury-time the draw was trading at just [1.22] but a calamitous defensive mix-up at the heart of Arsenal's defence offered Martins the simplest of tap-ins and the Nigerian made no mistake.

Alex McLeish's side were backed at a high of 28.0 In-Play on the match odds market and at 40.0 to win 2-1; a half-time draw with the underdogs winning at full-time was matched at [23.0].

At the start of this competition a Birmingham win was certainly not on the cards according to the Betfair market; they traded at a high of [65.0] when it started. As for Arsenal, the wait for some silverware goes on.

In the Premier League Liverpool were comprehensively beaten 3-1 by West Ham whilst Manchester City once again dropped points from a winning position. Roberto Mancini's men were matched at [1.23] after going a goal up at home to Fulham but conceded just after half-time; the draw was backed at [6.2].

Obafemi Martins and Ben Foster were the heroes as Birmingham won in the most unlikely of circumstances to further prolong the Arsenal trophy drought....

Arsenal have a fantastic chance to finally win somethinng whilst Birmingham will feel that in a one-off match at Wembley it could well be their day. This should make for a good contest. Let's try to make some momey from...

Michael Cox talks tactics, team selection and best betting oportunities ahead of Sunday's Carling Cup final....

Play Casino & Poker here

Ten to Follow New Leaderboard: Shock winners ignored by all

Ten to Follow Tipping Comp / Steven Rawlings / 07 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Thomas Bjorn on his way to victory in Qatar

With two big-priced outsiders winning this week, there's been very little change to the leaderboard....

Thomas Bjorn was ignored by all and thankfully, so was Mark Wilson. Given that he's now won twice already in 2011, if anyone had picked him, they'd have just about sewn the competition up already. But who earth would have? He certainly wasn't on my shortlist!

This week's events are the Dubai Desert Classic and the AT & T Pebble Beach - hopefully someone will pick out at least one of the winners!

Holly Stott 276
EME15 256
Sam Harrop 251
Kendolph Express 236
wedge1 226
Steve 216
Ben 195
Paul McGlinchey 195
golfvet 185
Feizal Rahman 176
Buck Ashcraft 175
stonecolds 161
ElBandido 146
Barrowboy 146
USNA1964 146
James Voortman 145
Steven Rawlings 142
Better lucky than good 141
Deportivo la Combo 141
Dave Harding 136
Team Bunkered 135
EME19 131
Just Someone 131
Rachel Labo 131
Ian KP 131
Mick Hoy 131
Cherio 127
wowiezowiee 127
InstaScud 126
Carsten Lymann 126
Chris Doppler 126
Neil Bartlett 125
TopDollar1 125
Peter Sonnenburg 122
Hoof Hearted 122
EME8 121
5 Penalty Stroke 121
niknak 121
Sportsman 121
Spursboy 120
the loonatic 120
Andrew Gyton 117
Joe Dyer 116
Shot 2 from the Native Area 116
Gingermoff 116
Paul Krishnamurty 116
doubling 116
Julie Connor 115
Adi Crow 111
Gary Binosh 111
Mark Peters 111
Aussie Warriors 111
Ontheteeee 111
Danny Knight 111
Richard Ball 111
Perfect Potential 110
Greelo 110
DJSavedmylife 110
The Shepherds Crook 106
Royal Smudge 106
MaldenGolfClub 16
Steve Bovey 106
Duncan 106
EME20 106
Lochinvar 106
Ronsk 106
EME14 106
Lee Adamson 105
Playoff Sunday 105
EME6 105
Iain Hendy 105
Louie Mendoza 101
jaytay2 101
Rich 101
EME22 101
willieb83 101
Andjay 101
Mike Rangecroft 101
Tony Buck 100
Anonymous24 100
Macca Maclean 100
Eriskaybet 100
EME9 96
Tigers 19 Holes 96
Milners 96
Stewart Davidson 96
EME4 96
Anonymous30 96
Hodges Hawks 95
Figjam 95
Timcaznat 95
Michael 95
Hestias Putter 95
GreenArmy 95
Dan Geraghty 93
Matthew Gibbons 92
Double D 91
Matthew Taylor 91
Mighty Whites 2008 91
Llamedos 91
Dave Dunning 91
Niall Duggan 91
Ronan McCarthy 91
Linda Angell 91
Mahseer 91
Stuart Glover 91
Aidan14 91
Agro 90
bowmak316 90
Convo 90
ReaseHeath 87
LoudmouthPants 87
Kieran Aherne 86
Corey De Bruyn 86
Paul Dean 86
Bunyip 86
AJM2011 86
Slim Tim Herron 86
Aberdonia 86
James Pacheco 85
Barracuda59 85
Dazmac 85
Stroke of Luck 85
KangaMick 85
Team Hulmes 85
Super Hans 82
Humbert The Priest 81
BJG 81
A whales vagina 81
Bramblyhedge 81
Lucky Sod 81
Mascherano 81
Dean Broughton 81
Martyns23 81
Matts Caddies 80
jamie glowacki 80
Andrew Livermore 80
Ken Melton 80
webuyanypar.com 76
parorbetter 76
Silk Success 76
Clonmullin 75
demoncleaners 75
Neil Spencer 75
Lee Wallis 75
Golfnut 75
Tony Pickett 72
Luke Paton 71
Easy Tiger 71
FCTwisters 71
Terry 71
Simon Frederick 71
Steven Barrett 71
Feeling Better 71
Daniel Lambert 70
JAMPOT 66
Donny Osmond 66
Alan Vye 66
Tight Lines 66
Martys Men 66
EME13 65
Towser 65
Mavericks Boys 65
Justahunch 60
Nigel Robson 60
Stephen Crowson 60
EME1 60
Keith Murphy 60
Dan Chipowski 56
Stan Oentoe 56
Drew J 55
Drew the Tipster 55
Simon 51
EME5 50
jjlaff 50
LEEDSLEEEDSLEEDS 50
Fredhed Barnrat 45
Nathan Whitbread 45
Tom A 45
Mike Norman 45
Greig Steele 40
Kevin 40
Mr Stupid 35
No Hookers, please 35
EME3 31

Play Casino & Poker here

FA Cup Results: 26-1 Orient shock Swansea

FA Cup / Joe Dyer / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jimmy Smith scores the opener at Swansea

"The Os - conquerors of Norwich in the third round - were matched at [27.0] for the win in-running on Betfair with the Swans backed like sure things at [1.43]."

Leyton Orient, Crawley and Brighton provide the upsets on the first day of the fourth round. Joe Dyer rounds up all the FA Cup action here

Leyton Orient pulled off a classic FA Cup upset today when beating Championship opponents Swansea in the early kick-off at the Liberty Stadium.

The Os - conquerors of Norwich in the third round - were matched at [27.0] for the win in-running on Betfair with the Swans backed like sure things at [1.43].

The Londoners took an early lead only to concede on the stroke of half-time, but had the home captain, Alan Tate, to thank after he scored an own goal in the 88th minute to send the League One outfit into the fifth round draw.

And the romance continued at Torquay (not the first time that's been written) where non-league Crawley beat their supposedly superior opponents. Crawley were backed at [3.85] to win.

And Brighton complete a trio of Saturday upsets thanks to an impressive 1-0 defeat of Championship outfit Watford. Gus Poyet's side were backed at [4.8] to progress in 90 minutes.

There was tremendous drama at St Andrew's for the second time this week where Birmingham produced a stirring comeback to deny local rivals Coventry. The home side found themselves 2-0 down after 26 minutes but produced three unanswered goals to reward their in-running backers on Betfair at [15.5]. The final score was backed at [38.0].

And Manchester United did a similar thing at St Mary's where they beat Southampton after conceding a first half goal. United, the [5.0] FA Cup favourites, were backed at a high of [6.0] to win.

Elsewhere, Reading touched [6.6] in-running before scoring a late goal to deny Stevenage; Bolton and Wigan drew 0-0; Burnley ended Burton's run and Sheffield Wednesday put Hereford out.

In the other early kick-offs Aston Villa trounced Blackburn 3-1, while Everton and Chelsea fought out a 1-1 draw. The Toffees traded at [1.36] but Salomon Kalou scored in the 76th minute to deny the hosts a win.

Chelsea are [6.4] joint third favourites with Manchester City to win the Cup. Everton are [28.0], Aston Villa [17.0] and Orient [550.0].

Play Casino & Poker here