Will It Be Monkey Misery For Bookies?

William Hill have closed their betting on the Nationwide Mercury Prize with Arctic Monkeys finishing as the Even money favourites.

It has been the busiest and most interesting Mercury Prize market that William Hill have ever had with punters split into two distinct camps. The first of which is the populist punter who have backed Artic Monkeys from 5/1 to Evens favourite and a second group of well informed punters who have backed either Richard Hawley from 8/1 to 7/2 and the Guillemots who finished 3/1 second favourites.

The biggest bet accepted by William Hill was a £2,500 wager on the Monkeys at 2/1.

"There is no doubt that punters expect the Arctic Monkeys to win this year's prize but industry insiders seem to be very keen on the Guillemots and Richard Hawley. It is now down to how they do on the night and the fact that the Arctic Monkeys are not performing could be good news for us," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.