WE have yet to see odds about Davy Russell winning the 2024 edition of Dancing with the Stars on RTÉ but, based on split-second video clips of the former jockey dancing in promotional adverts for the show, he looks a longshot to emulate Nina Carberry by lifting the Glitterball Trophy in the new year.

So, let’s see if we can find any value in the novelty bets being offered by the main betting companies as the new year dawns. The 2024 ‘specials’ are dominated by Frankie Dettori and City Of Troy.

William Hill offers a market-leading 2/1 about Dettori riding a Royal Ascot winner next year. Considering the 53-year-old has severed ties with his British and European connections in favour of a US career, who know if he will even be free to ride at the meeting next June? We’d prefer to take the 16/1 offered by Bet365 on Dettori riding the Kentucky Derby winner - yes, it’s a longshot but he has gone public with his desire to get a ride in the race and he might well be offered a ‘spare’ by one of the leading trainers with multiple contenders.

Before you ask, no, there’s no prices available on Dettori riding at Listowel next year. He’s probably barred anyway.

Oisin Murphy stepped in to replace Dettori at Listowel last September and earlier this month the Kerryman was due to ride over hurdles, only for the chosen meeting to fall victim to the weather. Murphy, an experienced show jumper, says he has put the idea of racing over hurdles on hold but top marks to William Hill for offering 10/1 about him riding a Cheltenham winner. It’s an original proposition though we can’t see any of the leading trainers putting him up, not even in the bumper.

So, of all the novelty bets on offer, which one represents the best value? How about the 3/1 with Ladbrokes about Willie Mullins being the top trainer at Cheltenham and Aidan O’Brien taking the same title at Royal Ascot?

Mullins has been top trainer at the past five Cheltenham Festivals and we see no reason why he won’t top the charts again next March. O’Brien has been the leading trainer at Royal Ascot 12 times this century, including in 2022 and 2023.

That looks a better bet than taking the same price about City Of Troy completing the 2000 Guineas-Derby double. At least if Mullins or O’Brien tread on a stone, they will still have just as many runners.

Bet365

City Of Troy to win the 2000 Guineas and Derby: 3/1

Opera Singer to win the 1000 Guineas and Oaks: 16/1

Ylang Ylang to win the 1000 Guineas and Oaks: 33/1

Any horse to complete the US Triple Crown: 16/1

Fierceness to complete the US Triple Crown: 66/1

Frankie Dettori to ride a Grade 1 winner in USA: 5/4

Frankie Dettori to ride a Royal Ascot winner: 6/4

Frankie Dettori to ride a British Group 1 winner: 5/2

Frankie Dettori to ride the winner of the Santa Anita Derby: 10/1

Frankie Dettori to ride the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap: 12/1

Frankie Dettori to ride the winner of the Kentucky Derby: 16/1

Paddy Power/Betfair

Ryan Moore to be top jockey at Royal Ascot: 4/5

Frankie Dettori to ride a winner at Royal Ascot: 11/10

Paul Nicholls to train two or more winners at the Cheltenham Festival: 11/10

A false start in the Grand National: 5/4

Aidan O’Brien to train the winner of the 2000 Guineas & Derby: 2/1

City Of Troy to win the 2000 Guineas & Derby: 11/4

Ryan Moore to ride the winner of the 2000 Guineas & Derby: 11/4

Paul Nicholls to train three or more winners at the Cheltenham Festival: 5/1

Aidan O’Brien to train 29 or more Group 1 winners: 5/1

Rachael Blackmore to ride the winner of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle or Gold Cup: 11/2

Wesley Ward to train a Royal Ascot winner: 6/1

City Of Troy to win the Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Derby & St Leger): 8/1

City Of Troy to win the 2000 Guineas & 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic: 8/1

Rachael Blackmore to be top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival: 10/1

City Of Troy to win the 2000 Guineas, Derby & 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: 14/1

City Of Troy & Constitution Hill both to remain unbeaten in 2024: 14/1

Rachael Blackmore to ride the winner of the Grand National: 14/1

Aidan O’Brien to train all five British classic winners: 16/1

Henry Longfellow to win the 2000 Guineas & Derby: 16/1

Opera Singer to win the 1000 Guineas and Oaks: 20/1

Fallen Angel to win the 1000 Guineas & Oaks: 40/1

Ryan Moore to ride all five British classic winners: 40/1

Ancient Wisdom to win the 2000 Guineas & Derby: 66/1

Sky Bet

City Of Troy to win the 2000 Guineas and Derby: 7/2

City Of Troy to win the British Triple Crown: 12/1

City Of Troy to win the 2000 Guineas, Derby and 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: 20/1

Ladbrokes

Constitution Hill to remain unbeaten in 2024 (must run at least twice): 4/5

Willie Mullins to be top trainer at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and Aidan O’Brien to be top trainer at Royal Ascot 2024: 3/1

Any day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival to be called off due to weather: 20/1

Japanese-trained horses to win both the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup in 2024: 8/1

A Japanese-trained winner of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic: 8/1

A Japanese-trained winner of the 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: 10/1

Frankie Dettori to ride a winner at Royal Ascot: 6/4

Aidan O’Brien to train a winner on dirt at the 2024 Breeders’ Cup: 8/1

Aidan O’Brien to win all five British classics in 2024: 8/1

Any horse to win the 2024 US Triple Crown: 10/1

William Hill

Oisin Murphy to ride a winner at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival: 10/1

City Of Troy to win the 2000 Guineas and Derby: 11/4

City Of Troy to win the British Triple Crown: 6/1

Frankie Dettori to ride a Royal Ascot winner: 2/1

Frankie Dettori to ride the Kentucky Derby winner: 16/1

Il Est Francais to win the 2024 King George VI Chase: 7/2

Who will win the most races in 2024?

City Of Troy 15/8

Constitution Hill 5/2

Opera Singer 4/1

Vandeek 6/1

Auguste Rodin 8/1

El Fabiolo 14/1