Who will be the heroes of 2015?

SPORTS BETTING: 

THE sporting year of 2014 proved a pretty good one for this column, with one or two notable betting coups, led by the 11-1 Tour De France success of Vincenzo Nibali.

I will once again strive to eke out the value in the markets as 2015 gets into full swing but, on the eve of the New Year, it seems appropriate to have a brief look at some of the big events which will capture our attention over the next 12 months . . .

::THE biggest sporting event in this country in 2015 will be the Rugby Union World Cup, in which Stuart Lancaster’s England have a realistic chance of emulating the 2003 success of the team coached by Sir Clive Woodward. England are 4-1 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, but the team they all have to beat are the New Zealand All Blacks, justifiably 8-5 favourites. South Africa are 5-1, Australia 9-1, Ireland 12-1 and France and Wales 20s.

::THIS country also hosts the Ashes cricket battle between England and Australia in which our lads will be aiming to win back the urn after their 5-0 humiliation Down Under in the last series.

The resurgent Aussies are evens to win the five-match showdown, with England 7-4 and the draw 11-2.

More immediately, the Cricket World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand and it’s no surprise to see Australia hot favourites at 11-4.

South Africa are 4-1, reigning champions India 6-1, New Zealand 8-1, Sri Lanka 9-1, England 10-1 and Pakistan and the West Indies 14s.

::IT has been a great year for British golfer Rory McIlroy, who claimed victories in the Open and USPGA Championships.

Having already won a US Open, he just needs to win the Masters to complete the full set of majors and is 11-2 to do so in April.

McIlroy is only even money to win one of the four majors in 2015 and 4-1 to repeat his two-majors achievement of this year.

::LEWIS Hamilton claimed this year’s F1 Drivers’ Championship in dramatic style and is odds-on at 4-5 to repeat the feat next time round. His Mercedes team-mate, Nico Rosberg, who ran him so close in 2014, is, predictably, second favourite at 5-2. It’s 11-1 bar the two, so the bookies clearly believe we are in for an action replay.

::NOVAK Djokovic regained the Wimbledon tennis title in July and is 2-1 to triumph again next summer.

Our own Andy Murray, striving to regain his place in the upper echelon of the world tour, is 5-1 second favourite, with Roger Federer 7-1 and Rafael Nadal 15-2.

::FINALLY, it’s General Election time in May and the odds-layers can barely split the big two parties.

For diplomatic reasons, I won’t tell you whom I fancy to gain most seats, but one of Labour (evens, Hills) and the Conservatives (21-20, Sporting Bet) look a good thing to me.

Amazingly, UKIP are a shorter price at 150-1 than the long-established Liberal Democrats (1000-1).

Times they are a-changing on the political landscape. A Happy New Year to you all!