Ladbrokes the only one (despite the Booker Prize's traditional betting partner being
William Hill) to still put up odds for who will win the thing as as well as for the first time, who will be nominated.
The shortlist of six will be announced soon and these are my picks:
* Nicola Barker's 'Darkmans'
* Edward Docx's 'Self Help'
* Anne Enright's 'The Gathering'
* Mohsin Hamid's 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'
* Lloyd Jones' 'Mister Pip'
* Ian McEwan's -'On Chesil Beach'
I will be surprised if Lloyd Jones doesn't get nominated especially as the above 14/1 quote is now been reduced to 10/1 which suggests there's been an early morning gamble in the last three hours. It certainly has the pedigree and has won the main Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Me? I'm just punting that it'll be on the shortlist.
BET: £50 at 'evens' that Lloyd Jones'
Mister Pip is on the shortlist of six (Ladbrokes).