Diary: books open on 2011 sports specials

IT'S that time of year when the bookies try to tempt what's left out of people's wallets with their list of 2011 specials.

There are a few in the Ladbrokes line-up with a Scottish flavour, from the fanciful (Scotland to go unbeaten through the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup at a rather stingy 5,000-1!) to the more enticing (Andy Murray to win a Grand Slam at 15-8). Despite not being in the final ten this year, Murray is also the 4-1 favourite to be the 2011 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Manchester United to finish the league unbeaten is rated a 16-1 shot, while there are odds of 5-2 on Sir Alex Ferguson retiring before the year ends.

Other bets to catch the eye include:

• Jose Mourhino to manage a Premier League side in 2011: 7-1

• Tiger Woods Major wins - None: 4/5; One: 11-8; Two: 8-1; Three: 33-1; Grand Slam: 100-1

• 2011 Grand Slam Wins - A Murray No Wins: 1-2; Exactly One Win: 15-8; Exactly Two: 9-1; Exactly Three: 40-1; All Four: 250-1

• Usain Bolt to break a world record at the 2011 World Athletics Championships - evens

• 2011 Sports Personality of the Year - Andy Murray: 4-1; David Haye: 7-1; Lewis Hamilton: 8-1; Andrew Strauss: 10-1.