The bookmakers have reacted to Dev Patel’s shock success at the BAFTAs by slicing his odds for winning at the Oscars.

Patel was rated at 6/1 to take the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor – which he scooped for his performance in Lion. Mahershala Ali from the movie Moonlight had been a short as 1/6 for the honour.

Now with Patel being recognised by the British Academy, bookmakers have reacted cutting from as long as 20/1 in to 6/1.

Patel has never won an Oscar but was nominated in 2008 in the same category for his role in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.

“His BAFTA win was a shock given that he was the third favourite to pick it up and while he is still an outsider to win the Oscar, he is certainly picking up momentum before the big day,” said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.

After picking up the Best Picture and Best Director at the BAFTAs – LaLa Land is odds on to take the same respective gongs on Oscar night.

William Hill odds for the Oscars:
Best Picture: 1/10 La La Land; 8/1 Moonlight; 16/1 Hidden Figures; 20/1 Manchester By The Sea; 66/1 Hacksaw Ridge; 100/1 Arrival; 100/1 Fences; 100/1 Hell Or High Water; 100/1 Lion
Best Actor: 8/15 Casey Affleck; 6/4 Denzel Washington; 16/1 Ryan Gosling; 40/1 Andrew Garfield; 50/1 Viggo Mortensen
Best Actress: 1/6 Emma Stone; 9/2 Natalie Portman; 10/1 Isabelle Huppert; 33/1 Ruth Negga; 50/1 Meryl Streep
Best Supporting Actor: 1/6 Mahershala Ali; 6/1 Dev Patel; 12/1 Jeff Bridges; 18/1 Lucas Hedges; 25/1 Michael Shannon
Best Supporting Actress: 1/50 Viola Davis; 14/1 Michelle Williams; 16/1 Naomie Harris; 40/1 Nicole Kidman; 66/1 Octavia Spencer
Best Director: 1/20 Damien Chazelle; 10/1 Barry Jenkins; 12/1 Kenneth Lonergan; 33/1 Mel Gibson; 40/1 Denis Villeneuve