British contenders 9-2 to land the Oscar hat-trick

British film 12 Years a Slave picked up nine nominations this afternoon ahead of this year’s Oscars ceremony and bookmaker Coral is offering 4-1 that director Steve McQueen, leading actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and the critically acclaimed film itself win their respective categories on Sunday 2^nd March.

The award winning production has already won a Golden Globe for Best Drama, and Coral make it the red-hot favourite at 1-4 to win the Oscar for Best Picture, ahead of American Hustle and Gravity which are 4-1 and 13-2 respectively.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is the leading contender to pick up the Oscar for Best Actor at 4-6, but will face stiff competition from Golden Globe winner Matthew McConaughey at 6-4. Meanwhile, Steve McQueen faces the stiffest competition for Best Director and is the 9-4 second favourite to scoop the prize, behind Gravity’s Alfonso Cuaron at 4-11.

“British hopes are stronger than ever with 12 Years a Slave leading the charge, and with the film odds-on to take home the award for Best Picture and Best Actor, Steve McQueen might have a fight on his hands to make it a hat-trick,” said Coral’s Nicola McGeady.

** Best Picture

1-4 12 Years a Slave, 4-1 American Hustle, 13-2 Gravity, 33-1 The Wolf of Wall Street, 40-1 Captain Phillips, 50-1 Philomena, 66-1 Dallas Buyers Club, 100-1 Her, 100-1 Nebraska

**Best Director

4-11 Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity, 9-4 Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave, 12-1 David O Russell – American Hustle, 33-1 Martin Scorcese – The Wolf of Wall Street, 100-1 Alexander Payne – Nebraska

** Best Actor

4-6 Chiwetel Ejiofor, 6-4 Matthew McConaughey, 12-1 Leonardo DiCaprio, 14-1 Bruce Dern, 50-1 Christian Bale

** Best Actress

1-10 Cate Blanchett, 8-1 Sandra Bullock, 12-1 Amy Adams, 20-1 Judi Dench, , 50-1 Meryl Streep

**British hat-trick