Could the Hungarian wonder-horse, Overdose, be the betting highlight of 2010? Well, he’ll have some way to go if he is to capture the attention of English punters who will be fixated by the World Cup taking place this summer in South Africa.

In case you aren’t already familiar with the horse Overdose, you might be interested to learn that he has won 12 times from 12 starts. The ‘Budapest Bullet‘ is already on the way to emulating Kincsem – the wonder mare who won 54 of her 54 starts.

Overdose looked like brilliant antepost bet when the Royal Ascot markets came out in spring last year, but he had to miss most of it because of laminitis, a chronic inflammation of the hoof. The latest news from Berlin is that he is recovering well, and on track to run at Ascot this year on June 19.

That is certainly a date to have in your diary. Save up your pocket money and remortgage your house before he runs, he is a true superstar. Punters will worry though that the injury could have taken some of Dózi‘s spark out of him. However, there is every chance that he’ll be given a prep race over 1,000 metres at Hoppegarten on May 9. The plan is to then go for a Listed race on May 29 at Haydock. Fingers crossed, he then makes it to Royal Ascot.

He holds entries in both of the big Ascot sprints: the King’s Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes. The King’s Stand Stakes looks the likelier option, and Overdose can be backed at generous odds of 11/1 (bet $10 to win $110) to win that race with Victor Chandler.

Overdose has attracted bids of up to €5,000,000 – remarkable given that he was bought at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sales for only 2000 guineas, equal to £2,100.

This month it was announced that 5 companies had grouped together to purchase a 50% share in the horse. Zoltán Mikóczy will own the other 50%. Those 5 companies are CIG Életbiztosító, Euroinvest, oil company MOL, OTP Bank and construction company Közgép. The companies want to have a bit of fun and are also keen for the horse to represent the Hungarian economy abroad. So expect the horse to run on foreign turf this year, and win the Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc day at Longchamp.

bookies.com is the best place to head to if you want to bet on Royal Ascot 2010.

Fans of flat racing only have a couple of days to wait until their seasonal curtain-raiser at Doncaster on Saturday. The big betting race of the weekend is without doubt the 22 runner William Hill Lincoln Handicap. The cavalry charge gets underway at 3:10pm, and will be live on Channel 4 for UK viewers.

The race is open to horses that are at least four years old, and the distance of the race is one mile. The forecast going is SOFT, and connections of the winner will receive the tidy sum of £77,888.

Here are the runners for the Lincoln Handicap, complete with betting advice:

4/1 Penitent

Penitent’s trainer Willie Haggas has won this race twice: in 1992 and 2007. The mount of Johnny Murtagh is lightly raced and soft conditions will be to the four year old’s benefit. What’s more, the trip shouldn’t be a problem based on his Southwell run over a mile. Penitent looks an obvious choice for the punters after a string of bookmaker-friendly results at the Cheltenham Festival. But, ask yourself whether you really want to take a 4/1 shot in such a competitive race? Well maybe – after all, Expresso Star was last year’s antepost favourite…

11/1 Mull Of Killough

Mull Of Killough is drawn in 10 and has been well-backed having opened up at 33/1 in the antepost betting. Trainer John Spearing would prefer a bit of rain before Saturday for this €2,500 bargain purchase. He has some useful form behind Firebet and it has been reported that the owner landed quite a cute gamble at odds of 50/1 on Mull’s debut!

14/1 Huzzah

Michael Hills rides Huzzah for trainer Barry Hills. He managed to come fifth last year, despite a poor draw and he lines up for the 2010 edition 5lbs better off. The reason he has slipped down in the weights is that his form was pretty awful at the back end of last season.

14/1 Prime Exhibit

Richard Fahey‘s son of Selkrik was only sixth in the Lincoln trial that took place at Wolverhampton.

14/1 Tiger Reigns

Michael Dods saddles this useful four year old, who has won five times from ten starts. He has been described as ‘fit’ by his trainer, but Dods isn’t sure whether he has what it takes to progress up the ranks.

16/1 Albaqaa

Albaqaa finished a decent third in the Lincoln trial at Wolverhampton, but he has only won three times from 22 starts. Perhaps just another dart being thrown at the board by Richard Fahey.

16/1 Collateral Damage

Collateral Damage was the first name to be draw out of the hat today, and is drawn in stall 16. He has won 6 of his previous 7 starts. The Tim Easterby-trained seven year old was withdraw at the start from the Lincoln trial after playing up. Will that put punters off?

16/1 Doctor Crane

Trainer John Gosden won this last year with Expresso Star, but Doctor Crane has been off the track for ten months. Owned by Gosden’s wife, Rachel Hood.

16/1 Mia’s Boy

Mia’s Boy has to shoulder top weight of 9st10lbs, but Chris Dwyer reckons that he is well up to the task. Finished fourth in this race last year. Eddie Ahern keeps the ride.

16/1 Vitznau

16/1 Viva Vettori

20/1 Harrison George

25/1 Smokey Oakey

Smokey Oakey has been tried in Group company and is owned by actress Judi Dench. Won this race in 2008.

33/1 Dubai’s Touch

33/1 Kaolak

33/1 Lang Shining

Now in the care of Jamie Osbourne and has form on soft ground. Don’t discount from your shortlist, even at 33s!

33/1 Mister Hardy

40/1 Advanced

50/1 Full Toss

50/1 Reve De Nuit

66/1 Ishetoo

Ishetoo is a sprinter, which is why is odds are the longest of the lot. Notable in that he provided the late Jamie Kyne with the biggest win of his life in a six furlong dash.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing flat racing betting odds:

Lincoln Handicap Betting Odds

Dubai World Cup Betting Odds

2000 Guineas Betting Odds

Grand National Betting Odds

Here is what happened when pin-up jockey Hayley Turner teamed up with Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills at Kempton Park for Sport Relief:

Mills broke out slowly from the gates, but Hayley reported that her mount then ‘travelled well’. The paddock pick showed signs of fatigue during the race, but should improve for the outing. Punters will be wondering whether Scott Mills could be seen to greater effect on an artificial surface, but at least he has landed the odds for backers this time.

The Cheltenham Festival is over, and how sad that the 2010 Gold Cup didn’t materialise into the two horse race we were all hoping for. It means that jumps fans can now turn their attentions towards Aintree and Punchestown, whilst flat fans know that their season begins this Saturday with the William Hill Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

Irish flat racing began yesterday at The Curragh, as trainer Tommy Stack racked up a 3,387/1 four-timer from just four runners! Several of Aidan O’Brien’s string were given a racecourse gallop after racing finished yesterday.

All eyes were on St Nicholas Abbey, last year’s sensational winner of the Racing Post Trophy. The 3 year old son of Montjeu is already exceptionally short in the antepost lists for the 2000 Guineas at 9/4, and isn’t even guaranteed to run in the classic.

St Nicholas Abbey pulled clear of his field in the gallop, but he was still beaten by the useful Mikhail Glinka. It would be unwise to read too much into that gallop, as work rider Sam Curling never pressed his mount to lengthen his stride.

St Nicholas Abbey is generally a 2/1 shot for the Investec Derby, but I feel that many punters are getting carried away on the back of Sea The Stars’ exploits last season. If St Nicholas Abbey is indeed the next star, then we are in for a terrific flat season.

Let’s find the winner of the 2010 Grand National first, before getting immersed into the Derby betting!

bookies.com is the best place to compare odds on St Nicholas Abbey:

2000 Guineas Betting Odds

2010 Investec Derby Betting

Grand National Betting Odds

Lincoln Handicap Betting

Tuesday’s Mares Hurdle was a two horse race in the betting, but Friday’s Denman v Kauto showdown in the Totesport Gold Cup has been billed as one of the races of the century, and has a similar betting complexion.

So far this Festival, the Bookies Blog team have seen the two odds-on favourites get comprehensively walloped. Dunguib and Master Minded disappointed many, but there will be some each-way punters that saw those results coming. Will Big Bucks win the World Hurdle easily today at 4/6? Maybe. But that’s not a price I want to be taking in a competitive championship race.

* * *

8/1 Cooldine, 8/1 Imperial Commander and 14/1 Tricky Trickster are all worthy Gold Cup winners, but the paying punters on course want this year’s Gold Cup to materialise into a two horse race.

The one worry for trainer Paul Nicholls’ two ten year olds is that 15 of the last 16 winners have been aged between seven and nine…

Are you a Kauto fan? Is he still a bet at 8/13, or is Denman gigantic each-way value at 4/1?

4/6 KAUTO STAR

Kauto Star has been kept fresh since his blistering win in the King George on Boxing Day 2009, and it bodes well for Kauto fans that six of the eight previous winners of this race did not run in the same calendar year.

This blog has made no secret of its allegiance to the great Kauto Star, and its just a real pleasure to see him winning over and over again. Even if he were to fall at the first fence and get retired after this race, he will still be remembered as a true great. However, optimists will be already backing him for the 2011 Gold Cup at 5/2 with Skybet!

Kauto won his 4th King George Chase last year by 36 lengths, but on the balance of his performances, he prefers flat tracks like Kempton Park.

I don’t think the real Kauto turned up in 2008, and it would be unwise to pick holes in his performances. Ever since being he has sported a noseband, he hasn’t made a single jumping error. C’mon Ruby Walsh!

4/1 DENMAN

Much has been made about Denman’s new jockey, AP McCoy, but the fact is that Sam Thomas is injured and therefore he wouldn’t have got the ride anyway. Kauto’s jockey Ruby Walsh was quoted in The Times this week as saying that National Hunt results are 99% down to the horse itself. So yes, McCoy had a shocker in the Aon Chase and fell from Denman at short odds of 1/6, but Denman should improve a bundle for that run.

Front-runners have won six of the last 28 renewals of the Gold Cup, but I fear that Denman may have a fight on his hands this year up front with the pacey Carruthers. Ruby Walsh knows Denman well enough not to let him get first run up the Cheltenham hill, so don’t expect to see Kauto Star come from way off the pace.

On ratings Denman has 11lb to find with the favourite, but his fans will still hope that Denman can repeat his 2008 win and ‘break Kauto’s heart’ one final time.

The Newbury debacle wasn’t the ideal prep race though, and he certainly has to recover mentally. To his benefit, Denman has only had 13 runs over fences, compared with Kauto’s 23. Therefore some pundits could argue that Denman has more scope for improvement, albeit at the ripe old age of 10.

Corals tempted punters with 9/2 last week about Denman, but that was hoovered up by his legion of fans. If the expected rain doesn’t come though, his starting price could be bigger than the 4s currently available.

* * *

An interesting market is the ‘Gold Cup without Kauto and Denman’. Imperial Commander and Cooldine have both won around the course, and are the 15/8 joint favourites. Calgary Bay has been the subject of bizarre support and is 16s from 33s.

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

Triumph Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Hull City are now a best-priced 8/11 shot for relegation with Corals after sacking manager Phil Brown yesterday. Hull lost again at the weekend, this time to Arsenal, and are 3 points adrift from safety.

In the same relegation market, Burnley look like 2/9 certainties to me, whilst Wolves cannot be discounted at 9/4.

Unfortunately for Hull fans, the betting on the next Hull manager was suspended late last night following a number of market moves.

WIlliam Hill had Alan Curbishley as their even-money favourite, and also offered 4/7 about Phil Brown being the last Premier League manager to go this season.

Meanwhile Bet365 took a completely different view on the market, as they had installed Paul Jewell as their 3/1 market leader. The logic behind that one was that Hull chairman Adam Pearson has worked with Jewell before. However, Jewell insists that he hasn’t had any contact with Hull.

Remarkable, Skybet’s jolly was Gary Megson, who was cut yesterday into 11/4 from earlier odds of 4/1. Steve Coppell was weak in the Skybet market, as he drifted out to 5s. The last news was that Iain Dowie was well-backed, in from generous odds of 14/1.

This morning’s news is that Terry Venables and Mark Hughes are also in the frame for the Hull job! Betting has been suspended, but should a market re-open in the near future, shouldn’t the bookies go 10/1 the field?

Check out bookies.com to compare odds across a range of football betting markets:

Premier League Winner Betting

Premier League Relegation Betting

Premier League Top Goalscorer Betting

The Bookies Blog team have already decided that Dunguib will canter home in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but should that bet land us in trouble, which of the two fancied mares should we rely on to dig us of our financial hole?

Bookmakers took action today to cut Voler La Vedette‘s odds into 7/4, which means she is now the new market leader to win the third running of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The latest market move must also be put down to Quevega‘s weakness; I’m surprised to see bookmakers such as Sporting Bet offering 2/1 about last years winner recording a repeat success over the 2m4f.

The race looks between the pair of Irish raiders in my eyes. In 2008 the Irish sent over Sweet Kiln, who was a bitterly disappointing favourite, but this year they send over the first 3 in the betting.

Whiteoak was just a novice when winning this race at 20/1 in 2008, but she has since been retired to the paddocks.

7/4 Voler La Vedette

I’m already financially down on Voler La Vedette, before she has even set foot at Prestbury Park. I backed her each-way at 33/1 to romp home in a hurdles race on the opening day of the Festival. Unfortunately, it was for the Champion Hurdle, over a shorter trip that would’ve suited her better…

When Colm Murphy clarified the running plans atfer a February setback, I checked out her odds for this Mares race. 4/1.

She won 4 of her 5 starts as a novice, and then beat a below-par Go Native at the start of the 2009/10 season. Go Native wasn’t right on that day, so we shouldn’t read too much into that Down Royal success. She then swerved a clash with the smart Solwhit at Leopardstown, where she was tried over the 2m4f trip against inferior mares. She looked lazy when she hit the front, but she still managed to land the odds.

To me she has questionable stamina – but connections have every reason to have a crack at Quevega, who could be rusty after almost a year off.

Over 2m against Quevega, she’d be my idea of a banker.

2/1 Quevega

Quevega was heavily backed for last year’s Mares Hurdle, and she galloped away from United by 14 lengths to justify 2/1 favouritism. She hasn’t been seen since picking up an injury at Auteuil, but there haven’t been any negative comments from the Willie Mullins camp so far. She hasn’t had a prep run, but I wouldn’t be too concerned about that in such a weak race. Voler La Vedette has question marks over the trip, and I know that Quevega’s jockey Ruby Walsh is one to be trusted with my Cheltenham bankroll.

For me, Quevega should employ front-running tactics and make sure this race is a test of stamina. Not a stroll around Prestbruy Park.

She has a brilliant hurdling technique, and was only beaten 3 lengths by Solwhit and Punjabi at Punchestown last year. Those two horses are both at the head of this year’s Champion Hurdle market.

I have backed her at shameful odds of 11/8 and will step in again if she touches 5/2.

Voler La Vedette is a tempting place lay on Betfair.

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Betting Odds

Supreme Novices Hurdle

Arkle Chase

Champion Hurdle

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

RSA Chase

Champion Chase

Ryanair Chase

World Hurdle

Triumph Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

The first race of next week’s Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, will determine the fortunes of many punters, especially those travelling across the Irish Sea. Dunguib is the horse in question, and is the first so-called ‘banker’ to run. Combined odds of 6/1 about Dunguib, Big Bucks, Master Minded and Kauto Star all winning will tempt many – but will punters still be sitting pretty after the Supreme Novices’ – run over 2m110y?

9/10 Dunguib

Dunguib is undoubtedly the latest National Hunt superstar and he has won 7 out of his 9 races impressively. The most telling of which was last year’s Champion Bumper win at the Festival:

His jumping over obstacles has been atrocious though, and many pundits think that it will cost him the race. Those having large bets on this odds-on favourite will hope that his engine ensures that he trounces a weak looking field.

Last year’s favourite in this race, Cousin Vinny, was beaten at odds of 9/4. Another negative, is that Dunguib’s regular jockey, Brian O’Connell, has never ridden the Cheltenham hurdles course before.

7/1 Get Me Out Of Here

Get Me Out Of Here looks the natural each-way choice in this field. The JP McManus-owned gelding has a progressive profile with form that reads nicely: 11111. The last ’1′ being the Totesport Trophy Handicap at Newbury, which was hotly contested by some useful types.

AP McCoy rides for boss Jonjo O’Neill, and the Champion jockey would love to have a winner before taking the Gold Cup ride on 4/1 Denman on Friday 19th.

12/1 Blackstairmountain

Ruby Walsh takes this ride, the first of many next week. Willie Mullins looks to have a formidable team one again for this year’s Festival, but Blackstairmountain only has a maiden hurdle victory at Punchestown to his name. Such inexperience is a concern in this frantic race.

12/1 Menorah

Menorah is the 15/8 second favourite in the ‘Best of British’ market, contested by Oscar Whisky and Get Me Out Of Here. A slow pace was blamed for his recent odds-on Ascot defeat, but I’d want my cash to be carried by a last time out winner. Richard Johnson is amongst the best jockeys around Cheltenham, but he is yet to win this curtain-raiser.

20/1 Oscar Whisky

Yet another Irish bred gelding in the race, and another one that is unbeaten over hurdles. What to make of his wins though? They have all come at short odds in weak-looking races.

That said, jockey Barry Geraghty is a plus and Nicky Henderson is the leading Festival trainer.

20/1 Dan Breen

Has been backed into 20s from 33/1 last week. His Doncaster win could perhaps be a good bit of form, as the second placed Tanto Faz went on to win a race at Stratford. I can’t get too excited and I’d still rather back the machine that is Dunguib!

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

Supreme Novices Hurdle

Arkle Chase

Champion Hurdle

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

RSA Chase

Champion Chase

Ryanair Chase

World Hurdle

Triumph Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

In recent months, Tiger Woods has lost sponsorship deals with the likes of Gatorade, AT&T, Accenture, Gillette and General Motors. So when Irish bookmaker Paddy Power entered in talks with Woods’ management company, IMG, over a $75 million sponsorship deal for his image rights, it looked as if the two would find an agreement.

Reports state that Paddy Power were prepared to pay Tiger the $75 million over the course of 5 years, dependent on his performances, with $5 million up front, as they sought to secure their biggest ever sponsorship deal.

The Irish giant is used to creating enormous publicity through their advertising campaigns, but the $75 million deal would rank way above giving out green umbrellas on Paddy Power Gold Cup Day in November or refunding losing bets if Dunguib wins the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, IMG rejected the Paddy Power proposal, most likely because the PGA forbids golfers to have any ties with bookmakers.

Paddy Power are still keen to work with Tiger, and will reformulate their sponsorship proposal in the next few days.

Paddy Power offer the shortest odds about Tiger winning a fifth US Masters title this year – just 3/1.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing golf odds:

US Masters Betting Odds

2010 Ryder Cup Betting Odds

The Open Betting Odds

Maybank Malaysian Open Betting Odds

Last year’s 6/4 Champion Hurdle favourite, Binocular, could still run in the 2010 edition, despite having previously been ruled out by trainer Nicky Henderson.

It had been reported that Binocular was suffering from a muscle problem, but he has now been given the thumbs up from the vets at the Henderson yard.

The French-bred hurdler has been beaten twice by Go Native this season, but a win in a Listed Hurdle event at Sandown Park led to renewed optimism about his Champion Hurdle bid this year.

Binocular (pictured) is a best-priced 12/1 now with Boylesports to be crowned Champion Hurdler, in what looks to be a wide open race without any outstanding candidate. William Hill go 10/1 and will refund you bet if he doesn’t line up.

He is a 20/1 chance on Betfair, as there is still a doubt that he will run. Layers have a chance to collect their winnings before the race is even run, but should he line up, they could face damaging liabilities. £52 has been matched at 999/1!

AP McCoy would be retained to ride Binocular for his boss JP McManus, which would leave Zaynar jockey-less, as it has been understood that Barry Geraghty will ride last year’s champion Punjabi. Top jockeys Ruby Walsh and Paddy Brennan both have fancied rides, so it may mean that Felix De Giles gets the leg up on Victor Chandler’s grey star.

bookies.com is your No.1 bet for comparing Cheltenham Festival betting odds:

Supreme Novices Hurdle

Arkle Chase

Champion Hurdle

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle

RSA Chase

Champion Chase

Ryanair Chase

World Hurdle

Triumph Hurdle

Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup