As we turn the page to 2024, it’s a good time to look at some of the ‘Specials’ markets that are available for the year ahead. Several bookmakers, including Bet365, William Hill, and others listed on sites such as https://surebets.bet/, offer markets on specials, which can be an interesting alternative to traditional sports betting.
Looking back at 2023, top UK bookmaker Bet365 saw a number of specials land for their customers. Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d’Or and Mauricio Pochettino managing a Premier League club being just two of them.
Bet365, along with other bookmakers, have once again released a new set of special bets, this times for 2024, with some notable options including:
- A team scoring 10+ in a Premier League game (20/1)
- An English club to win all three European competitions (16/1)
- Harry Kane returning to the Premier League (10/1)
William Hill also have some interesting specials available:
- Frankie Dettori to ride a 2024 Royal Ascot winner (2/1)
- Frankie Dettori to ride the winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby (16/1)
- Two Aidan O’Brien-trained horses to two UK Classics (7/4)
Special bets cover various sports and even venture into politics, current events, weather occurrences and more.
We’ll be taking a look at our favourite football and horse racing special bets for the year ahead.
Football Specials 2024
James Milner to Break PL Appearance Record (5/1)
- James Milner to break the Premier League’s Most Appearances record (653) in 2024.
Women to Manage in Premier League (20/1)
- A woman to become a permanent manager in the English Premier League or EFL in 2024.
Goalkeeper Goals (10/1)
- Any goalkeeper to score a goal in the English Premier League during 2024.
Goals Galore (10/1 – 12/1)
- 10/1 for any player scoring 5+ goals in a single English Premier League match and 12/1 for any team scoring 10+ goals in a match, both in 2024.
Managerial Markets
- Gareth Southgate’s departure from the England manager role at odds of 8/11.
- Jurgen Klopp’s to leave his managerial post at Liverpool at odds of 5/1.
- Pep Guardiola’s position at Man City is under scrutiny, offering odds of 2/1 for his departure.
Grealish to Return to Villa (10/1)
- Jack Grealish to return to his old club Aston Villa at odds of 10/1.
English to Dominate Europe (16/1)
- English clubs aim for a clean sweep with odds of 16/1 to win the 2024 Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
Jude Bellingham to Captain England (1/1)
- Jude Bellingham starting an England match as captain in 2024, with odds on Evens (1/1).
An English Ballon d’Or Winner (11/10)
- An English player winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024, with tempting odds of 11/10.
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Horse Racing Specials
William Hill are one of the top UK bookmakers for horse racing and so it’s no surprise to see them release a number of racing specials for 2024.
Here are some of our favourites:
Frankie Dettori 2024 Specials
Frankie Dettori to Triumph at Royal Ascot (2/1)
- Frankie Dettori has extended his career for another year and has attractive odds of 2/1 to secure a victory at Royal Ascot 2024.
Frankie’s Kentucky Derby Victory (16/1)
- Don’t fancy Dettori for a Royal Ascot win? Take William Hill up on 16/1 for him to ride the winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Jockey Retirements
Paddy Brennan (1/6)
- Paddy Brennan’s retirement looks a sure bet with odds of 1/6 available for him to end to a distinguished career.
Hayley Turner (1/1)
- With uncertainty surrounding her future, odds of Evens are available on Hayley Turner’s retirement.
Brian Hughes (16/1)
- Brian Hughes to retire in 2024 is offered at 14/1. One for those looking for a slightly more riskier specials bet.
Aidan O’Brien Specials
Bet on the number of UK Classic winners trained by Aidan O’Brien in 2024:
- Three winners carry odds of 7/4
- Two winners present odds at 5/2
- Four winners stand at 10/3
- One winner offers odds of 11/2
- Five winners come with tempting odds of 12/1
- A rare occurrence of zero winners has odds of 25/1
William Hill are also offering odds on the number of Group/Grade 1 winners trained by Aidan O’Brien in 2024:
- 24 or fewer winners are at Evens
- 25 to 28 winners: 5/4
- An impressive 29 or more winners at odds of 6/1
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What Are Special Bets?
Special bets are betting options offered by bookmakers that are slightly more unconventional compared to traditional sports betting. Unlike standard bets on match outcomes, special bets focus on specific events or occurrences within a game, person, or other.
Here are some common types of special bets:
Team Performance:
- Team Specials: Predicting team achievements, such as the number of goals scored, clean sheets, or to win a series of competitions.
Manager and Transfers:
- Managerial Specials: Betting on a manager’s next club, time of departure, or other managerial-related events.
- Transfer Bets: Predicting player transfers, including their next club or transfer fees.
Player Awards:
- Ballon d’Or Betting: Predicting the next player to win the Ballon d’Or award.
Special Events:
- Weather Conditions: Betting on specific weather conditions during an outdoor event, like rain during a cricket match or snow to fall on Christmas day.
Entertainment and Politics:
- TV Show and Film Betting: Wagering on outcomes of events related to television shows, movies, or award ceremonies.
- Political Betting: Betting on political events, such as election outcomes.