Eurovision Song Contest first semi-final predictions, odds and betting tips

Free Eurovision tips, best bets and analysis for the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BBC4, 8pm Tuesday

Best bets

Malta to win
3pts each-way 11-2 Hills

Russia top three in semi-final one
1pt 4-1 Betfred

Semi-final preview

The culmination of two years of practice and preparation comes to fruition this week as Eurovision returns to our screens. The most open and hotly contested heat in years is in prospect, with no stand-out song and a higher than usual number of credible contenders for top honours.

Prior to rehearsals Malta were outright favourites and they still hold high rank. Italy and France have surpassed them in the betting as concerns over Malta’s staging emerged.

But Destiny has the strongest vocal range in the contest and the contemporary nature of her song means it is likely to do well with jurors and tele-voters alike.

It should do enough to garner top-four finishes in both voting metrics and that will put it in a strong position for outright honours.

The case for a strong semi-final performance is helped massively by their favourable slot as the last act in the running order. They are impossible to resist as an each-way proposition and are worth backing now for victory in Saturday night’s extravaganza.

If a contender is to emerge from betting obscurity for the outright win it could well be Russia.

Manizha’s Russian Woman somehow melds traditional Russian folk with rap and the act looks overpriced for a top-three finish in the first semi.

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