Eurovision Eve has been a dramatic day in the odds, as former long shot Ireland is catapulted into the top three favourites to win.

While Cyprus holds a firm grip on the top spot, and Israel enjoys a return to the top two, Ireland’s meteoric rise is the attention grabber at bookmakers’ this evening.

Luck of the Irish?

After what many consider a favourable late draw in the running order, the country began to rise early in the day. While it was still possible to get odds of around 20/1 on the country this morning, punters will now be lucky to get 9/1 on Ryan O’Shaughnessy taking the prize.

The leap came suddenly and without warning, after Irish hopes had languished for weeks on prices of 100/1 or more since. Before Tuesday evening’s qualification round, Ireland was not even considered a likely qualifier by bookmakers – a dramatic turn in fortunes.

Germany breaks the top five

France manages to hold on to the number four spot tonight, although joined by another surprise guest: Germany. Michael Schulte had already started to bubble up after his performance featured in the second live show. After breaking the top ten, the climb continued, taking him to his current fifth position. Lithuania, which had shot up to a top five spot following the country’s qualification on Tuesday, now drifts slightly into sixth.

Norwegian drift

While Sweden enjoyed a higher spot at times today, Benjamin Ingrosso settles back into seventh now. However, neighbouring Norway’s movement has been more dramatic today; Alexander Rybak tumbles from previous second favourite to number eight in the list. Prices on “That’s How You Write A Song” have drifted from highs of 5-6/1 to 25/1 currently. Italy and Estonia – the latter also tumbling from previous top three heights – complete the top ten.

The top ten across win markets is as follows:

1. Cyprus
2. Israel
3. Ireland
4. France
5. Germany
6. Lithuania
7. Sweden
8. Norway
9. Italy
10. Estonia

This marks the very last set of odds before the Eurovision Song Contest takes place. It is worth remembering that at this point last year, eventual winner Portugal had finally taken over as the frontrunner with bookies. Italy was second, Bulgaria third and Belgium fourth.

Could the bookies be just as close this time round? Or, as we saw in this week’s semifinals, is there much more room for error in a year as hard to call as 2018? As hypothesis turns into reality, fans will soon get all their answers.