Bookie’s bull about ‘Hiddleswift’ a beaten docket for proper punters

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

Bookmaking used to be an honourable profession. Bookies – or turf accountants, if you’re posh – used to stick with what they’re good at: betting on sport.

They have broadened their horizons in recent years to include betting on the Rose of Tralee, Big Brother, political betting, and so on. And the penchant to price bets on celebrities has been creeping in. But Boylesports hit a new low.

According to the betting company, Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston’s relationship is on the rocks.  Most of you won’t know who Tom Hiddleston is – thank God for Google – and even more of you won’t have known that he was in a relationship with Taylor Swift.

But for some reason, Boylesports thinks this is of interest to its customers. They’ve even given them a joint name – “Hiddleswift”.

“Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston have only been dating since June, but after spending two weeks apart, the breakup rumours have surfaced. Despite a ‘spokesperson’ reassuring fans that Hiddleswift are still very much a couple, BoyleSports are not buying it,” said Boylesports in a statement.

Not only is it engaged in crass, idle tittle-tattle about celebrities – “Boylesports isn’t buying” that the couple’s spokesperson says they’re still a couple; like who gives damn whether Boylesports ‘buys’ it or not – they’re actually taking bets on when they will break up.

They’re calling them “Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston Relationship Specials”.

How sick do you have to be to offer odds of 8/11 that the couple will “announce they have split before end 2016”?

They’re also offering odds on whether the couple will “move in together” before the year end. They also speculated about Swift’s ex, Calvin Harris, and pondered when they’d get back together.

Boylesports’ PR executive, Aoife Heffron – clearly a relationship expert – even gave a running commentary.

“Taylor and Tom were reportedly on the rocks after spending two weeks apart recently, but have since been confirmed as 100% together. However, after Tom was spotted wearing an ‘I heart T S’ top recently, it cries desperation, so we made them red hot at 8/11 to split before the end of the year. To try and salvage the relationship moving in together could be the next move for Hiddleswift and is priced at 7/4,” said Aoife, who must have too much time on her hands.

Fair enough, Taylor and Tom are public figures and court publicity. But where will Boylesports’ fascination with relationships stop?

Will they offer odds on Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala breaking up? Or whether Leo Varadkar will marry David Norris before the year is out?

Anyone who thinks Boylesports ‘relationship specials’ cross a line, then maybe they should end their relationship with them, and find a bookie that’s not a gossiping biddy of a bettor.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.