Talking BETTING

TWO Manchester superstars are fighting for favouritism at Betfred in the race to be the next BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

In one corner is Tyson Fury, and in the red corner is Marcus Rashford.

Fury is EVS favourite, having transformed his out-of-ring demeanour as well as reaching the very top of the heavyweight boxing scene once again.

But United star Rashford is doing all the running, having come in from 100/1 to 4/1 following his efforts yesterday to persuade the government to continue providing free school meals for vulnerable children during the school holidays.

Rashford, who was brought up in Wythenshawe, has done so much to show the other side of how a footballer can use his public platform for the common good.

He has already helped raise £20m with charity FairShare to supply three million meals for youngsters during lockdown, has revealed he had to rely on breakfast clubs and free school meals when he was growing up.

The emergence of both Fury and Rashford has seen Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and Lewis Hamilton drift out to 7/1 in the race to be the next SPOTY.

Premier League action is back at last on tomorrow, with City hosting Arsenal – but before that Royal Ascot continues today.

Everything is behind closed doors of course, but it’s just brilliant that top-notch sport is making a comeback.

All eyes on Thursday will be on whether Frankie Dettori can do it again on Stradivarius in the Gold Cup.

He’s already 1/2 favourite at Betfred to win the race for the third year running and move one step closer to Yeats’ record of four successive Gold Cups.

Our high street shops have now reopened in England for what should be a much-needed boost and a change in fortunes for us all.