BOOKMAKER BOYLESPORTS HAS decided to pay out early on Labour’s Michael D Higgins becoming the next president of Ireland despite there still being just under a week until election day.

Higgins has led a number of polls throughout the course of the campaign but the most recent Sunday Business Post/Red C poll showed independent candidate Seán Gallagher leading the way with a 12 per cent advantage on Higgins.

Despite this, the Irish firm says it is convinced that Higgins “has it in the bag despite it being an extremely close race”.

The pay-out will cost the bookmaker some €125,000 with a further €100,000 to be paid out if it turns out it has made the wrong call.

Leon Blanche from Boylesports said in a statement today:

This is possibly the most volatile market we’ve seen in years with so many twists and turns. The majority of punters have stuck to their guns and backed Michael D. Higgins

“We’ve paid out early before and are yet to get it wrong so let’s hope this prediction works in our favour once more!”, he added.

Boylesports latest presidential odds are:

1/3 Michael D. Higgins
2/1 Sean Gallagher
25/1 Martin McGuinness
40/1 Gay Mitchell
66/1 David Norris
100/1 Mary Davis
250/1 Dana Rosemary Scallon

Yesterday, Paddy Power cut odds on Higgins to be the next president to make him the 4/11 favourite after a sustianed period of betting over the previous 72 hours including one bet of €10,000.

Its current odds are:

2/7 Michael D.Higgins
9/4 Sean Gallagher
25/1 Martin McGuinness
40/1 Gay Mitchell
50/1 David Norris
100/1 Mary Davis
300/1 Dana Rosemary Scallon

Watch our Quickfire Video Quiz with the presidential candidates >

In full: TheJournal.ie’s Race for the Áras coverage >

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