Bailey’s back in the battle to claim Christmas number one single

Sam Bailey has jumped to the top of the Christmas number one single market as the countdown to the festive season begins in earnest.

The X Factor hopeful is a standout 1/2 to win this year’s edition of the competition and 2/1 for Christmas number one honours with the two markets often interlinked.

In five of the previous eight years X Factor winners have gone on to secure the Christmas number one spot with Ladbrokes making Sam Bailey their favourite to take the 2013 crown.

And despite a flurry of challengers recently emerging to make their own case for the coveted award, the reality TV singer’s claims still stand out.

According to sources, music mogul and show creator Simon Cowell has already voiced his expectation that the 36-year-old nicknamed ‘Screw-Bo’ can go on to emulate the success of Susan Boyle and Adele.

Cowell will be mindful of the opposition posed by Boyle’s charity single collaboration with Elvis and AC/DC’s re-release of “Highway to Hell”.

However, his future hopeful Bailey will be afforded the appropriate ammunition to mount a serious assault on the Christmas prize, unlike previous X Factor successes.

Last year’s winner James Arthur and 2011 victors Little Mix failed to release their singles in time to be eligible for the number one countdown.

But X Factor bosses are ensuring their latest winner enters the race this time round following their previous withdrawals.

Rage Against the Machine scuppered Joe McElderry’s chances of landing the number one when their release “Killing in the Name” attracted major online support in 2009.

But this year’s competition, including 33/1 Norwegian outsiders Ylvis, may not be able to halt the charge of an X Factor contestant allegedly pulling in 35% of the public vote on a weekly basis.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim three £10 free bets when you bet £10.