David Bowie with his acclaimed comeback collection 'The Next Day' and Sheffield rock kings Arctic Monkeys new album 'AM', are reportedly the front runners for Barclaycard Mercury Prize race.
The English indie rock band 'Arctics Monkeys', which won the annual music prize awarded for the best album from UK and Ireland in 2006 for their debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', is said to be heading for the first position, the Mirror reported.
Rupert Adams from the William Hill press office revealed that there are 12 strong albums representing a diverse range of styles from UK artists and all stand a good chance of winning.
Others contesting are Laura Marling for 'Once I Was An Eagle', Foals for 'Holy Fire', James Blake for 'Overgrown' and debuts from Disclosure, Rudimental and Jake Bugg.