Tesco's convenience chief executive Colin Holmes is narrowly ahead of its commercial and trading director, Richard Brasher, in the race for Bob Stott's job at Morrisons, according to an analysis of runners' and riders' odds produced for The Grocer by Cantor Index.

Holmes was 9/4 favourite, while Brasher was given 5/2. The analysts' favourite, Halfords CEO Ian McLeod, a former Asda man, was given odds of 8/1.

Morrisons has said that it would like to announce a replacement for Stott, who stands down as chief executive to become a consultant later this year, by the annual general meeting on May 25.

It is understood to have drawn up a shortlist of five potential candidates.