Bookies Blog

The bookmakers took a right pounding at Royal Ascot last week, and will be hoping that the winner of this Saturday’s big betting race, the Northumberland Plate, is not one of the well-fancied runners. The 2m9y race at Newcastle racecourse is for staying handicappers, and the ground is forecast to be good to firm.

The current antepost favourite for the race, Deauville Flyer, hails from the Tim Easterby yard and is a 7/1 chance with Bet 365. The race has not been too kind for the favourites over the last 10 years, as the only favourite to oblige in the time period was Juniper Girl in 2007 at 5/1. Only three winners of the race had a single-figure starting price and last year’s winner, Som Tala, was sent off at 16/1.

Deauville Flyer is a progressive handicapper chasing a hat-trick, but the four-year-old son of Dubai Destination is not guaranteed to make the cut. Another runner short in the antepost betting is this year’s winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle Overturn, generally available at 8/1 . If he can translate his hurdles form to the level, he must surely have a big chance, and connections have had the race in mind for some time now.

Junior won the Ascot Stakes last week for trainer David Pipe, and he could be well-handicapped off an official mark of 90. The seven-year-old made all the running over the 2m4f trip at the Royal meeting and is proving terrific value for his £35,000 auction price in May.

David Pipe also has the option of running Mamlook, the winner of this year’s Chester Vase. Mamlook swerved the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he has never won on ground faster than good.

Chiberta King is at 10/1 with most firms, and Red Cadeaux can be backed at 11/1 with Boylesports.

One runner that has been attracting bits and pieces of money in recent days is Elyaadi, who is at 12/1 with Boylesports. John Queally’s mare has been tried over hurdles before, and hails from the yard famous for Aintree specialist Al Eile.

If you are going to have an each-way bet on the Northumberland Plate, all of the bookmakers are offering four places at 1/4 the win odds.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing antepost horse racing betting odds.

Northumberland Plate Betting Odds

July Cup Betting Odds

Ladbrokes St Leger Betting Odds

Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe Betting Odds

STEVE GILL is the 9/2 favourite to win the final series of Big Brother in the UK with Sky Bet, but the other UK bookmakers are ducking the 40-year-old father of eight by only offering 4s. The former soldier lost both legs when serving for the British Army in Northern Ireland, and patriotic punters were more than happy to get stuck into an opening show of 8/1 about Steve.

The ailing Channel 4 Reality TV show has revolutionised betting in the 21st century, but the latest series of BB has a tough task competing with the World Cup. Punters can follow their picks via a 24 hour live streaming service, and as well as Steve Gill, they have also been backing Corin Forshaw, who is at 7/1 with Stan James. She may have a huge bust, but it remains to be seen whether she is genuinely a bisexual, or whether she is simply trying to pick up a few votes on the side.

Nathan Dunn lives with his grandparents, well at least he did until he entered the Big Brother house, and he is also a 7/1 poke with the bookies. After Nathan in the betting lists comes Josie Gibson, who is 8/1 with Stan James at the moment, but as short at 5/1 with Ladbrokes.

John James, formerly known as ‘Achilles’ until he sensibly decided to change his name back to its original, is also causing confusion in the betting markets. He is 9/1 with Sky Bet to win BB Series 11, but Corals are running scared at 4/1. It may be that Corals have amassed big liabilities on the body-builder, but 4s seems very short indeed.

Mario Mugan had the onerous task of wearing a mole suit upon entry to the Big Brother house, but now that he has become a full house mate, punters can back him to go all the way at 10/1 on Betfair.

Continuing down the pecking order, we have Ben who is at 14/1, and then Caoimhe at 18s with Bet 365. The advantage of betting with Bet 365 is that they offer each-way terms on the win market (1/5 odds, three places), which means that you can assure yourself of a payout if your pick makes it to the final three. Think of it like a Formula One Grand Prix – your house mate just needs to finish on the podium!

In the Top Male betting, Steve is at 11/4 with Corals. Corin is the 2/1 jolly in the Top Female market and lesbian Shabby Eliot-Katchadourian is 4/5 with Paddy Power to be the next to be booted out the house.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing betting odds on specials markets.

BB Series 11 Winner

BB Series 11 Next Eviction

BB Series 11 Winning Gender

BB Series 11 Top Female

BOOKMAKERS across the country are doing their best to cash in on this summer’s Fifa World Cup in South Africa by offering specials markets and concessions.

As for innovative markets, plenty of bookies are taking bets on teams’ stage of elimination and each team’s top goalscorer. Paddy Power also have a market on the referee chosen by Fifa to preside over this year’s World Cup final, which will take place on 11 July at Soccer City.

Swiss referee Massimo Busacca has been chalked up as the 7/2 favourite, and perhaps is significant that he has not been handed an early game in the competition. In his career to date the 41-year-old has taken charge of the 2007 UEFA Cup Final and last year’s Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona. In Euro 2008 Busacca was given the semi-final between Germany and Turkey.

It goes without saying that Busacca will be immediately ruled out of the running if his native country Switzerland make the final, but that looks unlikely at 100/1 with Totesport.

Jorge Larrionda is well-known for dishing out red cards, but he is next in the referee betting at 9/2. He was in charge when the USA famously beat Spain 2-0 in last year’s Confederations Cup semi-final, but American will remember Larrionda for giving out three red cards in the 2006 World Cup match between the USA and Italy.

Benito Archundia could have a chance at 6/1, especially considering he was given a total of five matches at the last World Cup.

Roberto Rosetti is fluent in three languages and is a 15/2 chance in the betting. The Italian ref is best know for taking charge of the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain, so perhaps the authorities will want to give someone else the chance.

Englishman Howard Webb is at 16/1, but the fact that he reffed this year’s Champions League final could count against him. Webb has been handed an intriguing clash between Spain and Switzerland in the first round of matches, and he is 2/1 to award two or more penalties during the World Cup finals. It is 11/10 that he does not award any red cards in South Africa.

Paddy Power are giving punters £100 when they bet £50 over the phone on the World Cup. Bet 365 will refund your outright bets if your chosen team gets knocked out on penalties. 888sport are refunding losing bets up to £20 and Stan James are sticking their necks out by refunding bets up to £250 if favourites Spain win the World Cup in South Africa.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing 2010 World Cup odds this summer.

2010 World Cup Outright Winner Betting

2010 World Cup Golden Boot Betting

2010 World Cup Outright First Winner Ever Betting

OVERDOSE, the star Hungarian-trained sprinter, will not be running at Royal Ascot this year.  The ‘Budapest Bullet’ was set to be one of the star attractions at the mouth-watering Royal meeting, and he was a 12/1 chance with Ladbrokes to win the five furlong Kings Stand Stakes on the opening day.

Dozi (pictured) is unbeaten in 12 starts and has still not fully recovered from a foot injury that kept him off the track last year. The latest news is a blow to his fans and antepost backers, but they can still cross their fingers that he eventually makes it to Longchamp in October to line up in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

The writing was on the wall this time last week when Overdose did not feature in the five day declarations for Haydock. He had been targeting the listed class Achilles Stakes on May 29, but his seasonal reappearance has now been delayed until June 6 at Bratislava.

Overdose is one of our four horses to follow this season, but we are not giving up with him just yet. Cutlass Bay flopped last time out, but that run was too bad to be true. Harbinger is still unbeaten this year and will next run at Ascot.

Another big story breaking today is that St Nicholas Abbey, the long-time antepost favourite, will miss the Investec Derby this Saturday. Jan Vermeer is the 13/8 favourite with the bookies.

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

Investec Derby Betting Odds

Investec Oaks Betting Odds

Ascot Gold Cup Betting Odds