Six Figure Booker Gamble On Unknown Gives Bookies The Pip

SIX FIGURE BOOKER GAMBLE ON UNKNOWN GIVES BOOKIES THE PIP.......One of the biggest Booker Prize gambles ever has propelled an unknown writer into the position of favourite to win the literary world's top award.

William Hill say victory for New Zealand Author Lloyd Jones' book 'Mr Pip' could cost them their biggest ever Booker payout and have made it 2/1 favourite ahead of renowned previous Booker winner Ian McEwan whose 'On Chesil Beach' is 5/2 second favourite.

When the long-list was announced, William Hill made 'Mister Pip' their 20/1 outsider but after a surge of support were forced to slash the odds from 20/1 to 5/1 second favourite.

‘We have seen an unprecedented gamble on this virtually unknown writer', said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe. ‘In a quarter of a century of Booker betting I cannot recall as spectacular a gamble before and we could be looking at our first six -figure payout in Booker history. We are even seeing people betting on a double of New Zealander Jones winning the Booker and hot favourites New Zealand winning the rugby World Cup which currently pays odds of 7/2.

William Hill's latest Man Booker Odds: 2/1 Lloyd Jones - Mr Pip; 5/2 Ian McEwan - On Chesil Beach; 4/1 Nicola Barker - Darkmans; 5/1 Mohsin Hamid - The Reluctant Fundamentalist; 8/1 Anne Enwright - The Gathering, 8/1 Indra Sinha - Animal's People.

Further information......Graham Sharpe....0208 918 3731, 07803 233702.