1715: Paddy Power are paying out on
Lewis Hamilton to win the
BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in wake of his fine start to the Formula One season.
Hamilton leads the World Championship and won his first race in Canada last weekend.
The British star had been available at just 1/7 prior to the payout. Hamilton had started the season in March as a 25/1 outsider for the award.
The Irish bookies say the move will cost them £50,000, although it was made up of a steady stream of bets rather than any huge bets - the biggest bet struck on the market was just £100.
Paddy Power said: "Lewis Hamilton has been head and shoulders above any other British sports star this year so we're getting out our chequered flag early in the race for
BBC Sports Personality. Surely only Andy Murray winning at Wimbledon will be able to stop Lewis now.
"It's not been a vintage year for British sport so far. No-one's stood out on the football pitch whilst the cricket and rugby teams have arguably gone backwards from previous glory years. However Lewis Hamilton has shown he's got a rare sporting ability and less-talented sports stars than him have won the award before."
He's 1/4 with Spodds!