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:

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The Players Championship may not have major status, but it is still one of the betting highlights of the golfing year. This week we also have the Italian Open and the Michelob Ultra Open, but all eyes will be on Tiger Woods at Sawgrass.

The Final Round is on Mothers’ Day, and Stan James go 5/2 about another playoff.

Tiger Woods has a shocking record at Sawgrass, but is still the 4/1 favourite. Since he won in 2001, he has not finished in the top ten in six appearances. Admittedly he has finished in the top ten in the last four tournament, but with that record he is probably a place lay (bet that he doesn’t make the top ten). 

Laying at 1.51 on Betfair, you are getting odds of 2/1 that Tiger doesn’t finish in the top ten.

Boylesports, Stan James and Paddy Power are all paying six places, meaning that we can find options at bigger prices.

Sergio Garcia beat Paul Goydos in a playoff last year, but can still be backed at 40/1. His last top ten finish came in January and he clearly isn’t at the top of his game.

2007 winner Phil Mickelson has been nibbled at 11/1, and is an obvious alternative to the favourite. He could even become the new Number One this weekend. His playing style suits the course because it demands a mixture of shots.

Kenny Perry will also have his backers at 35/1, but is in danger of another meltdown. His Masters conqueror, Angel Cabrera, has missed four consecutive cuts here and is a huge 125/1.

The End of Round One Leader is anyone’s guess, but the Top American market is another one to oppose Woods in at 3/1.

Luke Donald has been backed into 40/1, and Brian Gay has also attracted money at 80s.

Jeff Klauk is an interesting bet at 150/1. The rookie grew up at TPC Sawgrass and should know the course very well indeed.

Anthony Kim is too erratic at 50/1, but Bubba Watson makes more appeal at 125/1, given that he tied for second at Quail Hollow.

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

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Leeds are now 15 points off leaders Leicester, and 5 points adrift of the play-off places. They are best priced at 3/1 with Skybet to be promoted from League One this season. There was already a market in place last week, which saw Gus Poyet attract a fair amount of money. Skybet were offering 7/1, but that price was cut to 4/1 and then 5/2. At the moment Victor Chandler have Poyet as their 6/5 favourite.

Poyet has been out of work since Ramos was sacked from Spurs, but the bookies feel that he’d relish a return to his former club Leeds. Next in the betting is Aidy Boothroyd, who has attracted support from 7/1 into 4s. Boothroyd was fine at Watford, but lost his job after a poor run of results. I accept that he’d do a good job at Leeds, but he recently rejected the opportunity to coach Huddersfield, saying that he needed some time out. On that basis, he won’t accept the Leeds job, but the club is a different proposition, making the 4/1 decent value.

Simon Grayson attracted some serious money on Monday morning, which saw him cut down to 7/4 from 20/1. The Yorkshireman has guided Blackpool from bottom of League One to mid-table in the Championship. He began his playing career at Leeds in 1988, although failed to make a breakthrough. Punters who want to jump on the gamble should question whether Grayson will want to step down a flight.

I think that Paul Ince was given a rough ride at Blackburn, so may jump at the chance to prove himself at 14/1 with another club. Roy Keane has been supported into 18s, but I don’t think the job is for him, and he’ll benefit from a break. 14/1 Curbishley is a betting mystery as he seems to be linked to every job going.

If you’re interested in playing this market, keep a watchful eye up the market moves. Sam Allardyce attracted heaps of money before landing the Blackburn job and there have been a handful of candidates backed for the Sunderland job at huge prices. I’m not tempted by any big prices for the Leeds job; Paddy Power go 33/1 about Martin Jol and Avram Grant, as well as 66/1 for Eric Cantona to make the step up from coaching the French national beach football team.

[EDIT 23/12/08 10.30am]

Simon Grayson has been eased from 1/20 to 1/5 by Skybet, as Blackpool have turned down Leeds‘ request to speak to their boss. A final decision is expected very soon.

bookies.com is number one for comparing odds between the UK bookmakers, especially across a variety of football markets:

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