A son called Samuel or a daughter called Samantha for Kate and William?
Bookies report that bets are flying on the Royal baby being called Sam
Another day closer to the birth of the second Royal baby, and another name - this time a real outsider. Bookmakers Ladbrokes has announced it has slashed the odds on a real longshot in terms of the baby's name - Sam.
Whether this would be Samuel for a boy or Samantha for a girl (or even just a gender neutral Sam) no one knows, but the bookie claims there has been a real flurry of bets on the name in the last few days, taking the odds from 66/1 to 20/1.
It's all due to horse-racing! Ladbrokes reckons the name popularity is due to Kate and William's close friend Sam Waley-Cohen riding the winner, Radjhani, in Friday's Crabbies Topham Chase at Aintree.
Jockey Sam is said to be known as the 'Royal Matchmaker' who got the pair back together after they split up in 2007.
David Williams from Ladbrokes told the Telegraph that the Royal couple's friendship with Sam was no doubt behind the increase in bets, saying: "With Sam Waley-Cohen's close links to the Royals it seems punters are putting two and two together and coming up with Sam as their answer for the baby's name."
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Kate and William have said they do not know the sex of their forthcoming bundle, and have remained tight-lipped over possible name choices - not that that has stopped speculation. From Diana to Charlotte and Alice to Elizabeth for girls, and James, Harry and Charles for a boy, there has been much rumour and guess-work throughout Kate's pregnancy.
And while it's totally a gamble putting money on any of the suspected names, one thing is a dead cert - judging by Kate's baby bump, the Royal couple (and of course Prince George) are not going to have to wait long to meet Samuel/Samantha, Alice or James!
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