Overdose

Overdose is a star Hungarian sprinter that has become a Bookies Blog favourite over time. He missed last season with a foot infection, but has won his 12 starts to date. Critics will say that those races were minor affairs, and that he has yet to prove himself at the highest level. However he showed bags of speed to win the voided Prix de l’Abbaye in 2008, and if the bargain purchase has recovered from his injury, I feel he may win some big sprints in Europe this season. He is entered in the Golden Jubilee Stakes and the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Cutlass Bay

Cutlass Bay won the Prix Ganay convincingly last Sunday, but perhaps his brilliant performance has slipped under the radar somewhat. This son of Halling beat Cavalryman as a three year old, and has since proved that he really is top class. With the likes of Sea The Stars and Zarkava looking on from their paddocks, I’m hoping that Cutlass Bay can win an eighth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for French trainer Andre Fabre. He looks a good antepost bet for that race at 10/1 with Bet365 and William Hill, and he is still unbeaten like Overdose!

Burj Nahar

Burj Nahar is another horse from the Godolphin team, and he is our only three year old to follow this season. His breeding is outstanding, as he is by Shamardal and out of Sea The Stars’ half-sister Melikah. He bolted up in his maiden at odds of 8/11 and was then given a 25/1 quote for the Epsom Derby. He will only reappear later on in the season, but he is certainly one for Frankie Dettori to look forward to, wherever he turns up.

Harbinger

Harbinger is a four year old colt, by Dansili, and trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He was talked up as a St Leger candidate last year, and made a great start to 2010 by winning the John Porter Stakes at Newbury comfortably. He is racing tomorrow in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester, which I expect him to win and go on to even better things as he certainly has a progressive profile. He stays one and a half miles and is ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore.    

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

Favourites had a pretty good time of it last night in the UEFA Cup, apart from Sampdoria and Deportivo. Manchester United won 3-0, and are as short as 1/8 for the Premier League.

Paddy Power have paid out on Manchester United as winners of the Premier League, FA Cup and the Carling Cup. They are 4/9 for the Carling Cup, but the FA Cup is by no means over at 7/4. Bet365 quoted them at 300/1 earlier this season for the quadruple! Paddy Power have done this stunt before, paying out on Obama and Master Minded. They also paid out on Stoke to be relegated after only one match.

I’m hoping for more upsets tonight – one such match could be Lech Poznan v Udinese. The Polish League is on a winter break, but Lech Poznan have been in good domestic form and beat Plock 4-0 in a friendly over the weekend. 5/4 for the Italians looks too short, but they were comfortable in the Group stages.

The home side are 9/4 with Sky Bet and will rely on counter-attacking football. Robert Lewandowski is only 20 years old, but is already in the Polish national side – he is 6/1 to score first. Udinese will start with Quagliarella and Di Natale up top. If you fancy goals, over 2.5 is 5/4 with Paddy Power.

Shakhtar are being punted into odds-on for the Spurs clash, but Boylesports still go evens.

Shakhtar Donetsk sold Brandao this winter to Marseille for €6m, who has yet to find the net. I expect OM to beat Twente at 7/10, but there may be some value in the 1-0 scoreline. Their last 4 matches have finished 1-0 (or 0-1) – the 1-0 home win is 11/2 with Victor Chandler.

Fiorentina are 8/13 against Ajax, with Blue Square going 7/1 that Adrian Mutu scores 2 or more goals.

Recommendation:

2pts @ 9/4 Lech Poznan to beat Udinese (Sky Bet)

1pt @ 11/2 Marseille 1-0 Twente Correct Score (VC)

Lech Poznan v Udinese Match Betting

Lech Poznan v Udinese Over/Under Betting

Shakhtar Donetsk v Spurs Match Betting

Fiorentina v Ajax Match Betting

Ireland travel to Italy as the 1/6 favourites, and should complete a massacre for the bookies. France and Wales weren’t exactly comfortable yesterday, but they obliged as the first 2 legs of the 4/9 treble.

Ladbrokes took at €20,000 bet on Wales for yesterday’s match and have been forced to cut Ireland into 1/9.

They were impressive in finally beating the French (30-21) and have never lost at the Stadio Flaminio – bad news for 7/1 Italy.

Declan Kidney will be fielding the same team, with Paddy Wallace at centre.

Mauro Bergamasco has a terrible game at Scrum Half at Twickenham, and will be playing in the 3rd line. Nick Mallet has reported the team to be working well this week, so I could be confident in backing Ireland with the -13.5 handicap.

The First Tryscorer market is difficult to get involved in, but Tommy Bowe is the 10/1 favourite with Skybet and should get involved. Alternatively you could back no tries at 33/1! The bookies are expecting plenty of points, but at 5/6 I’d be below the 42.5 line.

William Hill go 4/1 that the Irish get off to a great start, scoring a try as the first scoring play. An Italian penalty would be an exciting bet at 2/1 though.

For those readers who backed Ireland at 7/2 before the France match, I can’t see any reason to have a bet today. It’s a bit of a shame that we didn’t back Ireland at 11/1 for the Grand Slam, because it would’ve been a great trading bet ahead of the Wales match on the 21st March.

Compare odds on bookies.com before having a bet on the rugby:

Italy v Ireland Match Betting

Italy v Ireland Handicap Betting

Six Nations Winner Betting

Six Nations Grand Slam Winner Betting

Six Nations Triple Crown Winner Betting

Only 5 runners have been declared for Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase, after Knowhere and Monet’s Garden were withdrawn. The Grade 1 Chase is on BBC1 at 2.15pm, and will be run over 2m5f.

Yet another feature race with poor each way terms – the bookmakers must be licking their lips.

I will be taking on 6/5 favourite Voy Por Ustedes, even though he is miles ahead of his other runners in terms of ratings. The heavy ground is a huge concern for favourite backers, but Voy Por will like the drop back in trip after finishing 3rd in the King George behind Kauto Star.

The stiff track is a minor negative, added to the fact the Alan King doesn’t have a great record at the track. Voy Por is the 7/2 favourite for the Ryanair Chase.

The obvious alternative is David Pipe‘s Tamarinbleu, who is a 2/1 chance. Pipe has a habit of taking the feature races, even when his stable appears to be suffering in form. Tamarinbleu will go well after his break, and he looked the likely winner when finishing 2nd to Snoopy Loopy in the Betfair Chase (Haydock).

He ran below par in the King George, but that was when the stable was mis-firing. He is likely to run from the front, so you could even do a back-to-lay on Betfair.

7/2 Gwanako is the mounth of Ruby Walsh, and is a progressive young chaser. He won at Ascot last time out, albeit in a Class 2 affair. Paul Nicholls admits he will need to improve greatly to trouble the favourite, but the form from that Ascot race has worked out well, with Miss Mitch winning in January.

50/1 The Sawyer completes the field, but cannot he overlooked. He needs to find plenty according to the ratings, but he won on heavy ground in January, and then almost went on to score a hat-trick. See what the market thinks nearer to post time.

There are some other interesting races on the card, including the Novices’ Hurdle at 2.45pm. There isn’t much talent in the field, and I will be backing 11/8 WENDEL, who was a good 3rd to Medermit over 2m in a Grade 2 event. Should like the extra distance and should be too good for Chariot Charger.

Recommendation:

8pts @ 7/5 Wendel (Centrebet – Ascot 2.45)

bookies.com compares odds between bookmakers for antepost horse racing:

Haydock Gold Cup Betting

Betfair Ascot Chase Betting

Ryanair Chase Betting
Cheltenham Gold Cup 09 Betting

Chelsea are now in talks with Guus Hiddink, who is a 1/4 chance to become the next permanent manager. Well sort of, he will be in place until the summer, when Chelsea may look to Carlo Ancelotti.

Not all bookies will be paying out on Hiddink bets, so don’t be too smug if you have taken the early 3/1 quote. Betfair won’t settle bets if he becomes a ‘caretaker’ or ‘interim’ manager. Check with your bookmaker first. Ancelotti is 7/1 to be the next manager, but he’s not allowed to leave AC Milan just yet.

The Sun believe that Hiddink will earn £1.5m for 4 months work, with additional bonuses should Chelsea win the Premiership or the Champions League.

Avram Grant has traded at a low of 1/2 for the Pompey job, but is still the 9/4 favourite. Sven-Goran Eriksson was a 16/1 outsider, but is now 4/1 with Stan James. Eriksson wants to stay as Mexico coach until after the 2010 World Cup, which they are 100/1 to win with Ladbrokes.

Don’t discount him yet, but I expect a few other managers to shorten in the betting until Portsmouth finally decide on one. 66/1 Roy Keane is an interesting long shot, or even Gérard Houllier, who is 80/1 from 150/1.

bookies.com conveniently compares all football odds in one place – so make sure you always get the best available price!

Next Chelsea Manager Betting

Next Portsmouth Manager Betting

Spain v England Match Betting

7/2 tip Ireland beat France in a Croke Park thriller, whilst we also pointed readers in the direction of 14/1 winner, Madison Du Berlais.

If the Levy Board chase had one extra runner, we would’ve gone large on Madison Du Berlais. Instead I just had a few quid on at 19/1 on Friday night. We also forecasted the bookies’ reaction to a Denman flop:

I’d expect the bookmakers to cut stable-mate Kauto to about 6/4

Kauto Star is now generally a 7/4 chance, having been 3/1 with Coral in the morning.

We were thrilled with the Ireland performance, and they are now the 2/1 favourites for the tournament. I wouldn’t get too excited now because of their dreadful away record, but so far so good.

Wales cannot be backed at 8/15 for tomorrow’s trip to Murrayfield. The last time the 2 sides met on Scottish soil, Wales were taught a 21-9 lesson. Yes, things have changed dramatically in Welsh rugby, but Warren Gatland won’t be taking the fixture lightly.

England have often imploded at Murrayfield over the years, but Wales will be hoping to avoid the curse of the favourite. Gavin Henson is out, and they have only won once out of the last 5 encounters in Scotland.

Backing the away side will never make you rich, so I am tempted to give the Scotland a +5.5 head start at 10/11 with Ladbrokes. Another decent bet could be Scotland to score first at 11/10, which would really put the cat amongst the pigeons. As of early 2007, Scotland have scored the first points in 16 of their 22 matches.

2/1 Scotland are missing both Euan Murray and Nathan Hines, and will start the match without Chris Paterson.

Compare odds on bookies.com before having a bet on the rugby:

Scotland v Wales Match Betting

Scotland v Wales Handicap Betting

Six Nations Winner Betting

Six Nations Grand Slam Winner Betting

Six Nations Triple Crown Winner Betting

Like all big betting events, it makes sense to start with the favourites. Should we be backing 2/1 Wales, or be looking to take them on?

Last year’s winners Wales have been backed from 5/2 into 2/1, and are 6/1 for the Grand Slam. They may not have the best team on paper, but confidence will be brimming with the solid club performances of both the Ospreys and the Blues.

Ladbrokes are ducking the favourites by only offering 7/4, but I’d be looking to take them on, maybe as early as this Sunday. They are 1/2 for their away trip to Scotland, but I’d would opt for the home side on the handicap (+6) for value’s sake.

England aren’t of interest, even at 9/2. Then got trounced in the autumn internationals, but that was hardly surprising. Martin Johnson’s side haven’t had the best press, and brave selections such as Andy Goode are already being questioned before the tournament. They also have a difficult schedule, but expect them to make light work of Italy at 1/7.

In the outright winner market, I am caught up between France and Ireland – both 7/2. We’ll know more about the 2 sides after he clash in Saturday’s Croke Park fixture, but by then one of the 2 sides could be the new favourite.

French clubs have given a terrible showing in the Heineken Cup, but the international side are more than capable of pulling this off. Having been 4th in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, they have slipped down the world rankings to 7th. If they are well organised and if Lionel Beauxis is kicking well, 11/8 to beat Ireland will look lke a massive price.

French coach Marc Lièvremont is focused on the 2011 World Cup, meaning that I shall side with 7/2 IRELAND. If they win the match against France, they wil grow in confidence and give Wales a run for their money. Declan Kidney is a great tactician, who will be relying on his Munster pack and Brian O’Driscoll.

They beat Argentina 17-3 last November and are a fit team; so could be worth an in-running investment should they find themselves trailing in a match. Their recent away record is concerning, especially as they travel to both Scotland and Wales.

Italy are the 4/7 favourites for the wooden spoon.

Recommendation:

2pts @ 7/2 Ireland to Win 2009 Six Nations

Compare odds on bookies.com before having a bet on the rugby:

Six Nations Winner Betting

Six Nations Grand Slam Winner Betting

Six Nations Triple Crown Winner Betting

Magners League Winner Betting

Guinness Premiership Winner Betting

Heineken Cup Winner Betting

Rafael Nadal went into the Australian Open final as the bookmakers’ underdog, with Bet365 happy to offer 6/4. A barking price considering that he had won his last 4 matches against Roger Federer. Rafa beat the player of the tournament, Verdasco, whilst Roger beat Roddick with ease in his semi-final.

The money came in for Federer, who was the 4/6 favourite to win his 14th Grand Slam. We kept the faith in our 4/1 tip Nadal, telling readers that ‘he shouldn’t be dismissed’.

Before the tournament even began, we recommended Nadal as a strong bet to win the tournament at 4/1, steering readers past the overbet Andy Murray.

With question marks over Federer’s 2008, I’m happy to take 4/1 for Nadal to win. The reason Nadal’s odds are inflated is that he’s been out of action for 2 months with tendonitis, and he recently lost a match to Gael Monfils (66/1). That was a 2 set match and I’d expect him to give a better showing in Melbourne. He won the Olympic title on a similar surface last year in Beijing.

Perhaps you missed out on the 4/1 value bet of the tournament, well yesterday we pointed out some stunning value to be had before the final.

I won’t be topping up my Nadal bet, but those who didn’t take the price when advised to can have a look at the Set Betting. If you fancy an epic, Nadal is 6/1 with Sky Bet to win 3-2.

The 10/1 for Nadal to win the ‘Grand Slam’ was ‘bound to give you a run for your money’, and you wouldn’t bet against the World No.1 now. William Hill would, and they hold out at 11/1.

Nadal started as the outsider, but managed to break Federer in the first game of the match. Federer fought back gamely, which saw Nadal’s odds drift to 5/2 in running. Even though Fed won 1 more point than Nadal in the match, Nadal saw off his challenge in the first 5 set final in 21 years.

bookies.com compares tennis odds between the top UK bookmakers:

How many Grand Slams will Nadal win? Betting

Wimbledon 2009 Betting

French Open 2009 Betting