Sporting Bets: Amaechi, Dettori or Deputy Dawgs?

John Amaechi, Manchester and England's leading Basketball player is to lead Utah Gay Pride Parade. He is seen above with Lance Bass of NSYNC (nice site of it's kind, btw) who had a similarly public coming out, though in a somethingly less hostile milieu.

Right, John's playing as 13 for the Manchester Magic, based a mile from LOL HQ in leafy Manchester Gorton. John's Journey and his Travelogue have been on here before.

Anyway, back to Gorton. That constituency nominated Hazey for Deputy. There was some controversy over something of a lock out of potential voters. Central and Blackley don't seem to have nominated at all for DL. Withington backed Benn and Wythenshawe and Sale East Hain. Full lists can be found at Leadership central under each candidate, and Luke Akehurst has a useful summary of final CLP and Affiliate totals here.

But commentators and gamblers - who would rather back a DL wannabe than Franki Dettori on his Authentic chance of a Derby success in his 15th attempt - and indeed candidates and supporters would do well to recognise as Political Betting are in this and other links that all these FPTP nominations by small to medium groups of delegates are (a) not binding when the ballots land next week and (b) are little help when it comes to exhaustive 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and even 5th preferences which come into play.

"Clever money" on Hilary Benn may be following a shakey analysis. And there is some of that over at Luke's also. Why is Hain toast and his fave Blears not when their nominations across the sections are not dissimilar?

If you must bet, back Dettori, it's better value than going to the Dawgs. Though almost 9-1 on Harman may be worth a little flutter to hedge your sheepish punt on Benn or Johnson or Cruddas.