Just six horses go to post in this Saturday’s Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, supposedly one of the best flat races of the season. The 1m2f race has Group 1 status, but punters will be disappointed will the declared field of six. For a race that has been won by the likes of Dancing Brave, Daylami and Sea The Stars in recent years, the sponsors would have hoped to attract better horses than this bunch. That said, one of these will cross the finishing line in first place a couple of minutes after 3.10pm – so the question is, which one?

2/1 Twice Over

Twice Over is one of two horses representing owner Khalid Abdullah, but this one has been a stronger fancy in the ante-post market for the Coral Eclipse. Ran a fair second to Byword at Royal Ascot and his turn of foot could be lethal in such a poor Group 1. 2/1 with Ladbrokes is a pretty short price considering his participation was in doubt over the feared fast ground…

5/2 Dar Re Mi

Mares have a poor record in the race, but Dar Re Mi is a pretty special one, as she proved by winning the Sheema Classic earlier this year. I just feel she is better over one and a half miles, so I’d rather wait to back her for the Arc at 20/1 with Sporting Bet. Take her on at the prices.

9/2 Zacinto

Zacinto is something of an enigma, as he tends to follow up a cracking run with a disappointing one. Connections are right to step him up in trip to 1m2f, especially as he has already twice been beaten by the mighty Goldikova. He has stamina in his pedigree and appears to stay the mile well enough. Ryan Moore’s mount attracted money earlier this week which is significant, but punters are taking a risk that he has an off day. Is that factored into the current odds of 9/2 (Bet 365)?

7/1 Mawatheeq

This cracking horse was very progressive indeed last season, and ended up finishing an unlucky second in the Champion Stakes to Twice Over. His reappearance at Royal Ascot was disappointing, but he could be a different horse on Saturday. My one concern with Mawa is his stable’s patchy form.

7/1 Viscount Nelson

Finished fifth in the French Derby at a huge price and was thrashed by Canford Cliffs in the Irish Guineas. I don’t think he’s classy enough to win an Eclipse, but that won’t stop Johnny Murtagh’s fans from backing Nelson. Murtagh actually chose Cape Blanco in the French Derby, which tells you where Viscount Nelson falls in the Aidan O’Brien pecking order. Nevertheless, the trainer has won this race four times in the last 10 years.

33/1 Sri Putra

A Group 2 standard horse on a going day, but given this shoddy field he isn’t the worst 33/1 shot in the world in a six horse race. Trainer Michael Jarvis has reported him to be working well – in which case he could stun punters on Saturday afternoon. Or trail home in last place.

Conclusion

Negatives for all the runners, but one of them has to win it. Twice Over is a solid pick, but ZACINTO makes more appeal at double the odds. Dar Re Mi could get outpaced, and outsider Sri Putra could pick up the pieces on a going day.

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

Coral Eclipse Betting Odds

July Cup Betting Odds

Ladbrokes St Leger Betting Odds

Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe Betting Odds

Who would your money be on in a race between a top-class athlete and a Class 5 sprinter trained by Brendan Powell?

Well like any race it depends on the course, distance, going and more importantly the current form.

Peopleton Brook was last seen finishing fourth in a Newbury sprint handicap, whilst relay runner Jamie Baulch won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. However, even with a 20-metre head start he was no match for his equine opponent on the Kempton polytrack.

Here’s what happened last night:

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

Coral Eclipse Betting Odds

July Cup Betting Odds

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

THERE is plenty of sport to look forward to this weekend, as the Bookies.com team are making final preparations for a World Cup bonanza. We love our French horse racing, and given that At The Races are screening Sunday’s Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris card from Auteuil, we ought to take a look at the big race itself which is off at 2.12pm UK time.

Call it the French Gold Cup, call it the French Grand National, call it what you like, but the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is the highlight of the French jumps season. Fourteen horses are set to slug it out for €820,000 in prize money over the gruelling trip of 5,800 metres. The field have to negotiate a total of twenty three obstacles, and several horses will give up long before the final fence in the home straight.

Most of the talk in the French racing press has been centred around last year’s winner, Remember Rose. His preparation for the big race has gone very well, and thousands of punters will be trusting jockey Christophe Pieux with their euros on the PMU.

She may not win the 2010 Grand Steeple, but Princesse d’Anjou will bow out on Sunday as a champion. It is hard to believe, but the toughest mare in training ran in a claimer with a tag of €14,000 back in 2005. She has since won the Grand Steeple twice, in 2006 and 2008, both when partnered by Irish jockey Philip ‘Philippe’ Carberry.

She is now 9-years-old, but she still has a realistic chance of finishing in the places on Sunday. You can never afford to leave her out of your calculations, even if this is her swansong.  

So is Remember Rose a ‘good thing’ on Sunday?

100/1 Norville du Bois

On what he has showed us so far in his Auteuil career, Norville du Bois has absolutely no chance of winning this race. Better suited for handicap chases, or egg and spoon races like the €14,000 Grand Steeple-Chase de Saumur.

100/1 Mayev

Last won a race in 2008, and got absolutely trounced when he was last seen at the course in the Prix Guillaume Javoy. Strike a line through Mayev’s name on your racecard. 

33/1 Dayladam

Reported to be in fine fettle at home, and Dayladam comes here as a fresh horse. In 2009 he managed third place in the Prix La Haye Jousselin, so he cannot be ruled out as easily as a contender like Mayev. Other runners make more appeal.

14/1 Polar Rochelais

In my opinion, Polar Rochelais is not quite a Grade 1 horse. We know he is a quality animal on his day, as he won a Grade 2 chase last June, but I can seem him being outclassed here. Polar Rochelais is a genuine stayer, and his trainer Patrice Quinton has stated that he does not want the ground too soft for his stable star.

33/1 Lord Carmont

Lord Carmont is eleven-years-old, but he did not race at all last year. This is certainly his last Grand Steeple, and there is no doubt that he is suited by the marathon trip. Back to form this year, it would not be a shock to see him sneak into the places.

Blue Square are offering odds of 33/1 about Lord Carmont, but the French think that he will get sent off near the 6/1 mark on the PMU.

4/1 Doumaja

Doumaja warrants plenty of respect on the back of his win in the Prix Inge, in which he beat Remember Rose, who was at 17/10 on the French Tote. He is training very well at the moment, but his trainer Guy Cherel reckons that he will come up just short on the day.

Worthy of consideration.

16/1 Ramsès Bleu

Jockey Cyrille Gombeau won this race in 2007 on Mid Dancer, but this year he has elected to ride Doumaja instead of Ramsès Bleu.

Ramsès Bleu has had 6 starts this year, and it is not often that you see horses who spent the winter racing around Pau winning the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

5/2 Remember Rose

Remember Rose. Remember his win last year, when he was partnered by Christophe Pieux who finished the race with a fractured foot. Remember that he has won the last two renewals of the Prix La Haye Jousselin.

It never pays to get too attached to these champions, but Remember Rose will be spot on physically to win his second Grand Steeple on Sunday. He jumps and he stays, but he is a very short price for the demanding contest.

Hard to pick holes in this favourite - as he has never once fallen in his thirty races!

16/1 Odeillo du Mathan

Odeillo du Mathan finished second in the Prix Murat at 40/1, but he needs heavy ground to be seen at his best. Unlikely to reverse the Prix Ingre form with Remember Rose.

10/1 Objectif Spécial

Trainer Guy Cherel has 4 horses in the race, and Objectif Spécial is a previous winner of the Prix du Président de la République.

Has had an interesting preparation for the Grand Steeple, having raced on the flat at Compiègne and over hurdles at Auteuil. He is very fresh and could surprise a few punters on Sunday. 

11/2 Pommerol

Trainer François Doumen has won the Grand Steeple 5 times before, and is a master when it comes to the big occasions. Having just said that, Pommerol does not have the form to suggest he can get involved at the business end of this race. Dismiss.

7/1 Louping d’Ainay

You cannot miss Louping d’Ainay. He is a smashing grey who is running for the same connections as Princesse d’Anjou. In fact, if you bet on him on the PMU, the 2 horses will be coupled together.

As far as his form goes, he missed 2009 but has come back with a bang, managing to finish second in the Prix Ingre. He is flying at home, and is at ‘200%’ according to his trainer. Tempting.

6/1 Princesse d’Anjou

If you see Princesse d’Anjou in the parade ring you will probably laugh. The François Cottin-trained mare looks more like a yearling, who is racing against huge muscular geldings. But as a New York Times blogger puts it, ’she jumps like a flea and has the heart of a lion.’

She hasn’t won a race since 2008, but the French punters have fond memories of Princesse d’Anjou’s big wins at this course. Her trainer thinks that she is as good as ever at 9-years-old, and there are worse each-way bets out there on today’s card.

8/1 Slingshot

Slingshot is only 5-years-old, but the race he won earlier this month at the track was only listed class. Needs more experience, and connections are happy simply to be taking part. He should be more like 50/1.

bookies.com Grand Steeple 1-2-3:

1. Louping d’Ainay 7/1

2. Remember Rose 5/2

3. Doumaja 4/1

Prices quoted are Blue Square’s odds as of Saturday 29 May. I thought that Slingshot and Pommerol would be more like 33/1!

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

Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris Betting Odds

Prix La Barka Betting Odds (4.45pm UK time)

Season 9 of American Idol concludes on Wednesday night with a grand finale, and we already have some clues about which stars will perform on the final show of the year. As far as the betting markets can tell, Lee DeWyze will come into the finale as a hot favourite. 

Kris Allen and Carrie Underwood are both previous winners of the televised competition, and they will be joined for the singing extravaganza by the likes of Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias.

TV viewers can catch the finale at 8pm on Fox in the US, and each contestant will have to sing a total of 3 songs on the night.

Crystal Bowersox spent about 3 months as the bookies’ warm favourite to win season 9 of American Idol, but she has been recently displaced at the head of the betting market by finale-rival Lee DeWyze.

American Idol bettors are fully aware that men have won the previous two editions of the competition, and as a result are more than happy to support DeWyze in the betting at short odds of 4/9 (bet $90 to make $40 profit). 

DeWyze was discounted at the start of the show as a 20/1 outsider, but his odds have only recently started plummeting in the past few weeks. He is a former paint salesman from Illinois, and has serenaded voters with brilliant covers of ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Hallelujah’.

The favourite has been matched at odds of 64/1 on Betfair, and backers will be praying that voters remember him for his brilliant performances throughout the show if things do not go to plan on the night. Perhaps this will give him a significant edge over his rival, Bowersox, who has been noticeably weak of late and has even been described as ‘boring’ by leading pundits.

Bowersox is best-priced at 13/8 (bet $80 to win $130 profit) with UK bookies such as Stan James and William Hill. She won the coin toss and elected to go second in the finale, but it is not exactly a significant advantage. The underdog has been matched at a low of 1.20 (1/5) on the betting exchanges, but she still cannot be entirely discounted at decimal odds of 3.10.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing betting odds on American Idol.

2010 American Idol Finale Winner Betting Odds

2010 Eurovision Song Contest Winner Betting Odds

Never mind who wins today’s Heineken Cup final. The very fact that it will be contested by Biarritz and Toulouse confirms the recent French domination in rugby union. However that will not satisfy British punters, so we ought to take a look at the betting markets for the Heineken Cup final.

Toulouse are available to back at odds of 4/11 with Corals and Stan James, which makes them the overwhelming favourites to win a record fourth Heineken Cup today. Thierry Dusautoir’s team-mates ended a seven year trophy drought in 2008, and have since gone from strength to strength.

Today’s favourites were available to back at 5/1 before this tournament had even begun, and you would imagine that plenty of backers will be delighted to be holding betting slips with those ‘fancy’ odds. However punters seeking out a value bet today are not going to get rich quickly by betting £110 to win £40 profit on a Toulouse win.

Stade Toulousain lost the 2008 Heineken Cup final by 3 points, and there will be plenty who will side with a Biarritz win, which is priced at 100/30 with Irish bookmaker Boylesports. Totesport do not think that the match will end in a draw, and are trying to tempt punters with a 25/1 quote on the most unlikely outcome.

Centre Damien Traille has been ruled out of the final, but the news that Imanol Harinordoquy is fit for action is a big boost for the underdogs.

The France number 8 has won the Six Nations five times, and is a 22/1 chance with William Hill to score the first try of the match. Unsurprisingly, the bookies make Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc their 12/1 favourite in that popular market

Wingers have the best chance of registering the first try, but English punters may be tempted to have a dabble on either 20/1 Iain Balshaw or 28/1 Magnus Lund, who both play for Biarritz.

Odds compilers at Bet365 expect Toulouse to win the big match by 7 points, which is their handicap line. If you head down to Ladbrokes before the match begins, you can bet on Biarritz to win with a 20 point head start at odds of 1/8.

Toulouse are 20/1 with Paddy Power to win the Heineken Cup final to nil, and are 4/6 to win the race to 10 points.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing rugby union betting odds.

Biarritz Olympique v Stade Toulousain Match Betting

Biarritz Olympique v Stade Toulousain Handicap Betting

Biarritz Olympique v Stade Toulousain First Tryscorer Betting

It is not exactly breaking news when the richest football club in the world gets linked with a hot prospect, but the Yoann Gourcuff rumour may have some substance to it. The 23 year old French international is one of Lyon’s top priorities this summer, but Manchester City’s offer may prove too attractive to resist for the talented midfielder.

Last year’s French Player of the Year has had a disappointing season with Bordeaux, who only managed to finish 6th in the league. The departure of coach Laurent Blanc and a lack of European football next season means that Gourcuff will be desperate to find a new club this summer to showcase his talents.

City will not be playing Champions League football next season, but at the moment it looks like they are the only club willing to put the required €26m on the table. Roberto Mancini’s side are yet to make a concrete bid for the playmaker, but I bet they will before the 2010 World Cup. France are 20/1 with Sky Bet to win the competition, but even if Gourcuff plays a couple of decent matches in the competition against the top sides, he could attract further attention in the transfer market.

The President of Bordeaux, Jean-Louis Triaud, would like Gourcuff to stay with his club, but he admits that he is used to ‘letting talented players go’.

Man City are 7/1 with Corals to win the EPL title in 2011, but expect to see those odds tumble after they sign some big names this summer. For example in 2008 when City signed Robinho, punters could not get enough of City and started backing The Citizens in all sorts of markets.

Another big-money move this summer could be Lille’s Eden Hazard. The 19 year old has just been voted as the best young player in Ligue 1 for the second season running, and he could be set for a move. Unsurprisingly, Lyon are interested, but Barcelona have already made a €30m offer for the Belgian international. Zinedine Zidane has also pleaded with Real Madrid to make an offer for Hazard.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing football betting odds this summer.

2010 Fifa World Cup Betting Odds

Premier League 2010/2011 Winner Betting Odds