Stormzy the early favourite but punters pile in on Carner's debut album Yesterday's Gone
The albums nominated for this year’s prestigious Mercury Prize were announced on Thursday morning with grime superstar Stormzy the early frontrunner with the bookies. The 24-year-old from Croydon was installed as the 7/2 favourite at the top of the market ahead of fellow Londoner Sampha at 4/1.
However, the early pick of Oddschecker punters is relative outsider Loyle Carner with his hip hop album ‘Yesterday’s Gone’. Another Londoner, the record is the 22-year-old’s debut album and was released in January this year. Since the market opened, over 22% of bets have been for the hip hop album with third-favourite Kate Tempest next best with just under 10%.
Ed Sheeran’s ÷ enjoyed incredible commercial success in 2017 but the Mercury Prize is famous for ignoring such achievements. Even with that reputation, bookmakers have been slashing the odds on a Sheeran win all day with the initial 25/1 now 14’s.
Another band to see their odds shorten are Glass Animals whose album ‘How To Be A Human’ is now 12/1 having first been priced up as 33/1 outsiders immediately after the shortlist announcement.
