by Renee Israel
It's that time of the year again. Time for Epsom, when all eyes will turn from the exciting races to one of the most watched items in the fashion world: The Queen's Hat.
Yes, yes. Amazingly, the colour of the Queen's hat at the Derby is so fascinating to many folks that Paddy Power, betting pros extraordinary, just had to open a betting market for Derby Day based on this royal garment.
Betting on the Queen's hat has become a national tradition for many punters, who are so enamoured with this pastime that they have asked Paddy Power to extend it to include other races and events.
Last year, HM really got Paddy Power into a tizz when she wore a hat whose colour was so unclear that the bookie had to settle for three colours instead of just one - green, white and blue.
So what are the bookies saying about Her Majesty's choice of headgear this year?
Does Paddy Power believe that the Queen's mood matches the favourite blue at 4/1, or will she put on a more pastel display with peach/apricot at 5/1?
An insider's tip? A spokesperson for Paddy Power said: "Our fashion experts tell me that it's unlikely we'll see her in pink as she wore a pink hat to the Derby in 2008, so a pale blue number could be her pick this year!"
[Is someone actually employed to keep track of the colour of Her Majesty's hats??]
Current Odds at Paddy Power for the Colour of the Queen's Hat at the Epsom Derby:
4/1 baby blue
5/1 peach/apricot
6/1 green
6/1 pink
.....
500/1 a cross of St George!
