Tony McCoy tipped for TV award but top ten has few outstanding candidates

GRAND National winner Tony McCoy remains odds-on favourite to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year after the shortlist of ten was announced yesterday.

McCoy, 36, has over 3,000 career wins to date, and was competing in the National for the 15th time this year when he won at last on Don't Push It. Third eight years ago, McCoy will become the first jockey to win the title if he tops the phone-in vote next month.

The list of candidates is not a vintage crop and there is no representation from north of the border. Andy Murray does not feature despite reaching a grand slam final at the Australian open and a semi-final at Wimbledon, as well as ending the year as the world No 4. Depressingly, a darts player makes the list ahead of one of Britain's select few stand-outs in top-class world sport.

Colin Montgomerie, the captain of the European team which won the Ryder Cup, is not eligible for the main award because he was a non-playing captain.

The short list was put together from the votes of 30 sports editors from newspapers and magazines, with The Scotsman and Scotland On Sunday among the three Scottish titles canvassed.

Jessica Ennis, who came third last year behind winner Ryan Giggs and runner-up Lewis Hamilton, is the only other member of the short list to have been placed before. This year the heptathlete added a European crown to her world title of the previous summer, and is the sole representative of a sport which traditionally receives substantial support from BBC viewers.

Footballers often figure in the shortlist, particularly in a World Cup year, but the failure of England to live up to expectations in South Africa is reflected in the fact that no-one from the sport has made it into the shortlist.

Golf, on the other hand, has two representatives in Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell.

Cyclist Mark Cavendish, Winter Olympics gold medallist Amy Williams, diver Tom Daley, boxer David Haye, cricketer Graeme Swann and darts player Phil Taylor complete the list.

The winner will be announced on Sunday 19 December.THE TEN CONTENDERS (in alphabetical order)

Mark Cavendish

Cyclist, 25, Won five stages in this year's Tour de France.

Pro: World-class competitor in one of the world's most gruelling events.

Con: Road racing gets less exposure on the BBC than track cycling.

Tom Daley

Diver, 16, came back from injury to win two gold medals at Commonwealth Games.

Pro: A BBC favourite, he features regularly on programmes counting down to the 2012 London Olympics.

Con: Lack of competition in Delhi made his victory seem almost too easy.

Jessica Ennis

Reigning world heptathlete champion, 24, won European title in new personal best.

Pro: Consistently world-class in key BBC sport.

Con: Achievement this year does not match that of 2009.

David Haye

Thirty-year-old boxer is WBA world heavyweight champion.

Pro: A charismatic figure, his most recent defence, against Audley Harrison, was just a couple of weeks ago.

Con: Ease of win over Harrison will deter many voters.

AP 'Tony' McCoy

Jockey, 36, won Grand National this year at 15th time of asking.

Pro: National win confirmed his stature as one of racing's greatest ever jockeys.

Con: Rides a horse, but not a royal.

Graeme McDowell

Golfer, 31, won the US Open and won decisive point for Europe in Ryder Cup victory.

Pro: Major and Ryder Cup victories speak for themselves.

Con: US Open lacks impact of The Open in UK.

Graeme Swann

Cricketer, 31, took ten wickets in a Test against Bangladesh.

Pro: Playing in Ashes just now so has chance to impress voters right up to last minute.

Con: Current form not great - was undone by Michael Hussey in first Ashes Test.

Phil Taylor

Darts player, 50, has won 15 world championships.

Pro: One of the greatest darts players ever.

Con: He's a darts player.

Lee Westwood

Golfer, 37, current world No 1, played for Europe in Ryder Cup.

Pro: Popular, good-humoured, officially best golfer in world.

Con: McDowell will split golfing vote.

Amy Williams

The 28-year-old former 400 metres runner from Bath won skeleton gold at Winter Olympics in Vancouver - Britain's first individual champion for 30 years.

Pro: Olympic gold medallists always impress BBC voters.

Con: Minority sport, and she won almost a year ago.