This week on Bookies Blog we have been looking ahead to the weekend’s betting, and who can blame us. The top betting event during this week is probably the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Golf), in which Tiger Woods is the hot 5/2 favourite to defend his crown.

Friday’s practice sessions should tell us a bit more of what to expect from each team this weekend in the F1, but you can even bet on those. Bet365 go 4/1 about the hyped Jenson Button topping the 1st session.

The BBC have the TV rights to F1 this year, and many fans will be up on Sunday morning to watch the Melbourne GP live at 7am UK time.

For those that won’t be betting in running, there will be a replay at 1pm.

In the last 3 runnings of the race, the winners have all gone on to win the Drivers’ Championship. Kimi Raikkonen is the 4/1 favourite for the Drivers Championship this year, yet he is only the 6/1 second favourite for the race.

Ferrari look a very solid bet at 5/4 to win the Constructors Title. One of the biggest gambles of the year was Brawn GP who posted some impressive times in Barcelona, but Centrebet are now taking them on at 10/1.

Button’s only ever win came in the 2006 Hungarian GP, and I’m extremely eager to take him on this weekend. True, 4/1 could look like a massive price on Sunday, but for me it’s too short given what little we know about Brawn.

If you do think he has the fastest car, perhaps Fastest Lap would be a better bet at the same price.

McLaren are having trouble with the rear wing of their MP4-24, so I won’t be backing them this weekend. Stan James are sensibly taking on both Hamilton and Kovalainen at 11/1 and 50/1 respectively.

Ferrari have adapted well to the new regulations (or so we are made to believe by the press), and 7/1 for Felipe Massa looks like a fair enough each way bet.

Toyota have escaped under the radar again, but are 6/1 with Blue Square to win the Constructors Championship without Ferrari, McLaren and BMW. Readers of this blog will remember how we followed Timo Glock last year successfully, and I will be watching with interest this Sunday.

Jarno Trulli reckons that the new Toyota is the best that he has driven in pre-season testing, and is raring to go. Trulli is marginally preferred to Glock in the match bet at 5/6, and is 33/1 with Ladbrokes to win outright. He is worth an each way interest and is 5/2 to win a race this season.

We’ll also back him at 11/10 for a points finish.

Fisichella and Sutil are 8/1 co-favourites in the first to retire market, with Lewis Hamilton a massive 20/1! Ladbrokes go 5/6 that there is a safety car.

Recommendation:

1pt each way @ 33/1 J. Trulli Race Winner (Ladbrokes, 1-2-3, 1/4 odds)

3pts @ 11/10 J. Trulli Points Finish (Various)

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing Formula One betting odds:

Drivers’ Championship 2009 Betting

Constructors’ Championship 2009 Betting

Australian GP Race Winner Betting

Australian GP Pole Position Betting

Australian GP Fastest Lap Betting

Australian GP Points Finish Betting

Formula 1 betting has gathered momentum ahead of the Australian GP on March 29, but this year the betting story isn’t McLaren or Ferrari.

Well Lewis Hamilton is drifting out to 9/2 in the Drivers Championship is pretty significant, having been as short as 2/1, but this year is all about Brawn GP, the ex-Honda team led by Ross Brawn.

Last week they were 150/1 in the Constructor’s Championship, but now they are as short as 9/2 with bet365. Centrebet are best priced at 10/1, but aren’t offering any each way terms.

They have done very well in the testing, with Rubens Barrichello thrashing the likes of Felipe Massa (Ferrari) in Barcelona. Team-mate Jenson Button is also also topping the times, and is a crazy 11/1 to win the Drivers Championship.

The car is very well styled and has taken a lot of work. Obviously we don’t know how much petrol they were testing the cars with.

If you were interested in jumping aboard the gamble, I’d prefer to be on Barrichello at a much bigger price - 25/1. A classic case of the British public over-betting their man (e.g. Andy Murray, Australian Open fav. 2009). Rubens has 9 career wins to Jenson’s 1, and is a tempting 4/1 in the Drivers Championship without the Big 6.

Jenson Button is the 5/2 favourite for the Australian GP, but Fernando Alonso has also been supported into 9/1. Renault have progressed well with the R29, but will probably be outclassed. Alonso reckons that both BMW and Toyota will be quicker.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing Formula 1 odds -

Drivers Championship Betting

Drivers Championship W/O Big 6 Betting

Constructors Championship Betting

Australian GP Betting

Odds of 14/1 on the Queen to abdicate are shocking, it should be greater than 100/1! That said, Paddy Power are also running several specials, and have reminded us of what you could’ve got last year if you had lumped on:

8/11      Spice Girls were the first band to split

8/11      Mucca walked away with less than £50million of Paul McCartney’s fortune

15/8      Lewis Hamilton was crowned 2008 F1 champion

5/1        Team GB won more than 12 gold medals at the Olympics

11/2      Barack Obama was elected the 44^th US President

6/1        Madonna and Guy Ritchie were the first celebrity couple to file for divorce

12/1      Peaches Geldof was the first singleton to get married

18/1      Ibiza was Wayne Rooney’s chosen stag weekend destination

If you were pressing me to take one of Skybet’s specials, I’d probably take 10/1 about Chris Moyles being sacked from Radio 1. He has been on thin ice for a while now, and who knows what 2009 holds? Will we finally capture Osama bin Laden at 5/1?!

Perhaps one of the bets of 2009 is a General Election to be held in June 2009 at 4/1 with Ladbrokes. Gordon Brown may want to capitalise on the Obama visit or simply cash in before we find out how bad the economy really is.

I am looking forward to the Cheltenham Festival next year, as well as the Six Nations. Also of interest are The Tour de France, The Ashes, Wimbledon and the Champions League.

2009 SPECIALS:

X Factor Final 3 all have UK no. 1 singles 20/1

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson marry in civil ceremony 6/4

UK win Eurovision 16/1

X Factor Winner sing on American Idol as guest 3/1

Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Sherzinger marry 10/1

UK come last in Eurovision 3/1

Louis Walsh not to be X Factor judge for 2009 series 3/1

Kate Moss marry Jamie Hince 3/1

UK get ‘nul point’ in Eurovision   10/1

Robbie Williams replace Dannii Minogue as judge on X Factor 2009 5/1

Pete Doherty and Kate Moss get back together officially   4/1

Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder Civil to divorce 1/3

Simon Cowell not be X Factor panellist in 2009 3/1

Paul McCartney remarry 4/1

Kerry Katona and Mark Croft divorce 2/1

S Cowell announce he’ll stand as candidate in next election 20/1

Britney Spears marries again    4/1

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split    5/1

Simon Cowell come out as gay 50/1

Queen not record Xmas message 5/1

David Cameron have his bike stolen 6/1

X Factor Winner have 3 consecutive no. 1 singles by end 08    7/1

Chelsey and Harry get engaged 4/1

David Cameron grow a moustache   33/1

X Factor Winner not go straight to no. 1 official UK album chart with debut by end 08  5/6

Prince William or Prince Harry to marry 6/1

Madonna & G Ritchie get back together 50/1

X Factor 09 winner get Xmas no. 1 2009 1/4

Prince William and Kate Middleton get engaged 2/1

Osama Bin Laden be captured   5/1

X Factor winner 09 NOT get Xmas no. 1 2009 11/4

Queen to abdicate 14/1

Ant and Dec their get own individual TV shows 33/1

X Factor Final 3 all have UK no. 1 albums in 2008 8/1

Prince William and Kate Middleton split 5/2

Chris Moyles sacked from Radio 1 breakfast show 10/1

Diana Vickers and Eoghann Quigg release duet 3/1

Prince William become King 50/1

Russell Brand reinstated as Radio Two DJ 50/1

Cheryl Cole win FHM Sexiest Woman in the World 5/1

Terry Wogan Retire from his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show 6/4

Great white shark be caught off British shores 20/1

Girls Aloud split 5/6

Sports personality win Strictly Come Dancing 09 6/4

Gordon Brown be PM on 31/12/09 2/7

Leona’s fastest selling debut album record broken (375,872 in first week) 5/1

John Sergeant replace Bruce Forsyth as SCD host 10/1

David Cameron be PM on 31/12/09 11/4

Leona Lewis win best UK female at Brits 2/1

Anton Du Beke replace Bruce Forsyth as SCD host 6/1

Nick Clegg be PM on 31/12/09 100/1

Victoria Beckham have baby girl 6/1

Geri Halliwell do Strictly Come Dancing 09 8/1

Will Young announce his intention to stand as candidate in next GE 20/1

Cheryl and Ashley Cole have a baby 3/1

Bruce Forsyth NOT host Strictly Come Dancing 2009 5/4

PM to announce referendum on joining Euro 8/1

Charlotte Church has another baby 4/1

Jonny Vegas win SCD 09 16/1

UK adopt Euro as official currency 16/1

Posh & Becks adopt a child 10/1

Peter Mandelson win SCD 09 33/1

David Cameron arrested under anti-terrorism legislation 33/1

Angelina Jolie adopt again 2/1

Robbie Williams sing on a new Take That release (not old song)   3/1

The FTSE to be above 6000 on 31/12/09 6/1

Celeb Big Brother taken off air permanently mid series 10/1

Totally dry Wimbledon fortnight 10/1

The FTSE to be above 5000 on 31/12/09 5/4

Kate Winslet win Best Lead Actress Oscar 2/1

Rain every day Wimbledon 33/1

Congestion charge be introduced in a UK city by public vote 4/1

Heath Ledger win Best Supporting Actor at Oscars 1/4

David Beckham play in Premier League 3/1

Here are just some of the highlights from this weekend in terms of betting opportunities or just simply unmissable TV:

Saturday 13th December

Racing:

14:30 Boylesports Gold Cup

2/1 Imperial Commander could be a superstar in the making whilst 5/1 Silverburn will be popular with Ruby Walsh supporters. 15/1 Three Mirrors or 28/1 Abragante could be each way alternatives. Wait to see what the weather does tomorrow.

15.05 Boylesports International Hurdle

7/4 is way too short for Binocular who may not stay, perhaps Katchit is the value at 5/1 with a great course record.

Football:

12.45 Middlesbrough v Arsenal

Boro have a knack for conceeding late goals, whilst Arsenal tend to score them. Paddy Power offer 5/6 that the last goal is scored past the 75th minute.

17.30 Tottenham v Man U

Berbatov is doubtful, and I’d be keen to take on Man U. Spurs are unbeaten against the ‘Big 4′ this season, and Harry Redknapp had a great record against Man U with Pompey. Lay Man U at 1.93 on Betfair.

21.00 Barcelona v Real Madrid

Juande Ramos’ new side 11/2 to keep his 100% record.

TV:

19.10 X Factor Final

Bookies.com Betting Preview

Fingers crossed for 3/1 JLS!

20.55 Strictly Come Dancing

Lisa Snowdon will need an amazing performance to stay in the competition - 4/6 to be evicted.

Sunday 14th December

Football:

16.00 Chelsea v West Ham

1/4 Chelsea will be in plenty of punters’ accies this weekend.

19.30 Juvenuts v Milan

Both sides are 6 points adrift of Inter, so this one is absolutely crucial for the title race.

20.00 Lyon v Marseille

7/2 Marseille are more than capable of winning this, but it should be a close game.

TV:

19.00 BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Bookies.com Betting Preview

Rebecca Adlington now odds-on!

Ferrari are unsuprisingly the 4/5 favourites with Canbet and Victor Chandler, followed by McLaren at a best price of 15/8 with Stan James.

For those who think that Renault can improve massively this season then you can get 8/1 with Stan James about the Alonso led team being top dog in 2008.

BMW are on offer at a general 16/1 while every other team is on offer at 40/1 or bigger.

Given that many people think that FIA stands for Ferrari’s Interests Always then it is not hard to see why the bookies make them such short priced favourites. I don’t think there’s a huge amount of value in the market as it stands, certainly until we learn how Kovalainen adapts to his new car. If he does prove to be as good as many expect then the 15/8 McLaren may be the value wager. I have backed him at 16/1 each way for the Drivers’ Championship on the basis of the skill he showed last season but he’ll only really shorten up if he shows that he can drive the car as well (or better) than Hamilton.

Check out all the 2008 Formula One betting odds at bookies.com