Betting On The Forward Prize: Seamus Heaney In Running For First Time

The shortlists for the 19th annual Forward Prize for Poetry has just been published.  One of the most prestigious poetry awards, worth £10,000 to the winner, any nominee is recognised as being amongst the elite of contemporary British poets.  Of the six hopeful competitors there are two from Scotland, two from England and two from Ireland, which may be why online bookmakers Paddy Power are offering betting on the Forward Prize especially since Seamus Heaney is in the running for the first time in his career. 

At 71, Heaney, winner of the Nobel prize for literature in 1995 would be seen as a likely favourite for his collection ,'The Human Chain' , but at 4/1 he is only fourth in the betting.  The candidates are selected by a panel of judges consisting of chairman Ruth Padel, poet and columnist Hugo Williams, performance poet Dreadlockalien, journalist and broadcaster Alex Clark, and actress and director Fiona Shaw who have  made it known that there was a proliferation of talent to choose from this year.

Bet On The Winner Of The Forward Prize With a Free £100 bet with online bookmakers Paddy Power

Favourite to win this time, is in fact Scotsman Lachlan MacKinnon with his collection of poetry, 'The Short Hours'.  Winning an Eric Gregory award in 1986, this would be a real boost for teacher Mckinnon based at Winchester College. Sinead Morrissey at 5/2 with her collection, 'Through The Square Window' is a real possibility winning The Irish Times' , 'Poetry Now Award' this year whilst Poet In Residence at Queens University in Belfast.

Whilst £10,000 is a snip compared to the finance available in other genres,  it is the kudos and prestige that accompanies it that is invaluable to the author and the progression it can implement in their career.  Seamus Heaney may well not have been included on this list for the nineteen years of its existence but this could be one accolade that he may well miss again, in what has been an illustrious career.

Forward Prize Odds

Odds plus a host of Novelty Betting Opportunities courtesy of Paddy Power

Lachlan MacKinnon  9/4 
 
Sinead Morrissey  5/2 
 
Robin Robertson  3/1 
 
Seamus Heaney  4/1 
 
Jo Shapcott  6/1 
 
Fiona Sampson  8/1  
 

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