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Saturday, May 1
ST NICHOLAS ABBEY COULD START ODDS ON
The superstar in waiting that is ST NICHOLAS ABBEY is still odds against at the time of writing for today's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, the weight of money being wagered on the unbeaten colt is likely to see the hot favourite start at odds on this afternoon. 5/4 with William Hill and Sporting Bet is the best available at 9.30 this morning with Irish bookmaker Boyle Sports already going 10/11. All of which makes the 7/1 against ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL and the tens offered against CANFORD CLIFFS excellent each way value and those two are tipped to fill the minor places in today's first Classic of the season.
Tuesday, April 27
RACING NEWS
NEWMARKET GOING KEY TO GUINEAS’ PUZZLES
The first two Classics of the British flat racing season will be run at HQ this weekend with the forecast good to firm ground influential in the minds of punters.
Ante-post favourite for the 2000 Guineas on Saturday, ST. NICHOLAS ABBEY , slaughtered a quality field , including main market rival ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL, in last season’s Racing Post Trophy, however the ground that day was soft and the big question for the colt’s admiring band of followers is can the Aidan O’Brien trained three year old be as effective on a faster surface?
The major market movers for Saturday’s £400,000 classic were AL ZIR and CANFORD CLIFFS, backed in from 25/1 to 12/1 and from tens to sixes respectively. The gamble on Racing Post Trophy third Al Zir, was described by Ladbrokes’ David Williams as “enormous”and Canford Cliffs having been talked up by regular rider Richard Hughes in Monday’s Racing Post attracted major support during the day.
St. Nicholas Abbey however, remains firm at 13/8 with sponsors Stan James.
Kieren Fallon, who chose the Luca Cumani trained SETA in preference to Mick Channon’s filly MUSIC SHOW for Sunday’s 1000 Guineas admitted yesterday that he could be in trouble if the ground comes quicker than ideal for his mount. “If it doesn’t rain by the end of the week I could be in trouble here” Fallon said. The former champion also cast doubts over favourite SPECIAL DUTY staying the Rowley Mile, however Khalid Abdulla’s filly remains favourite at 7/2 with Stan James, with Music Show and Seta both priced at 6/1.
More Guineas news and final selections at the end of the week.
Friday, April 16
SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL
FAASEL TO MAKE AMENDS FOR CHELTENHAM SECOND
Cheltenham Festival winner POKER DE SIVOLA bids to give trainer Ferdy Murphy his fourth Scottish Grand National winner in ten years in Ayr’s feature race at 15.20.
The seven year-old’s most recent outing resulted in a two and a quarter lengths victory in Cheltenham’s National Hunt chase and although he has been raised 11lbs for that win, Murphy commented that the horse is very well and improving all the time. “Everything has gone well for him since Cheltenham and I couldn’t be more pleased with his preparation” Murphy said.
Champion jockey Tony McCoy, freh from his Grand National win on Don’t Push It last weekend, goes for a National double on the Jonjo O’Neill trained THEATRICAL MOMENT, while MEANUS DANDY tries to add to his recent Sandown victory for Paul Nicholls.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, successful in this race with Hello Bud last year, saddles RAZOR ROYALE, while the second , third and fourth from last year, GONE TO LUNCH, OUT THE BLACK and CHIARO all return for another crack at the £200,000 prize. KILLYGLEN, who will carry top weight, FAASEL, a fast finishing second in Cheltenham’s Fulke Walwyn chase, AURORAS ENCORE, MERIGO and ACCORDING TO JOHN are all previous winners at the Scottish track.
FAASEL, 14/1 with most firms, was hampered when second to Ballabriggs last time out at the festival. David Pipe’s 9 year-old will have Tom Scudamore on board and is Beat The Bookie’s tip for Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National.
Saturday, April 10
GRAND NATIONAL DAY 2010
The day has arrived – the day of the world’s greatest steeplechase, the race everybody’s granny has a bet on, the race where horses jump fences with names that have become part of British culture – the race that WE won in 1998.
The most controversial of obstacles in any horse race in the world is the once notorious Becher’s Brook. With a steep, unexpected landing on the blind side coupled with a ditch full of water, the 6th and 22nd fence in the Grand National was named after Captain Becher who fell from his mount Conrad in the first race in 1939. He then sheltered in the brook whilst the rest of the field thundered over. Fence number 9 and 25 Valentines has a drop on the landing side too. In 1840 the horse Valentine lterally stopped before leapfrogging the fence, making it look all too easy.
Foinavon took advantage of the biggest pile up in the history of the race by bypassing all the fallen horses at the 23rd fence 1967 to come home at 100/1. “Why didn’t they call it the Buckingham fence?” said jockey John Buckingham as the Foinavon took it’s place in Aintree history. The Canal turn, the chair, the water jump are others that make this race utterly unique, plus parts of the course the runners have to negotiate like the Melling Road and the elbow on the run-in.
The horse I had a sixth share in Earth Summit, jumped Bechers (and the rest) effortlessly in 1998 and ran home an eleven lengths winner from the grey Suny Bay. Today, my selection for the big race is also a grey horse, the Nina Carberry ridden CHARACTER BUILDING, available this morning at 20/1.
Others with chances are ELLERSLIE GEORGE at 100/1, CERIUM at 66/1, ERIC’S CHARM at 40/1 and ARBOR SUPREME at 16/1.
Good luck!
Thursday, April 8
AINTREE FIRST DAY SELECTIONS
2.OO Liverpool Hurdle BIG BUCK’S
2.35 4-Year-Old Novices Hurdle BARIZAN alt. SANCTUAIRE
3.10 Totesport Bowl Chase WHAT A FRIEND alt. CALGARY BAY
3.45 FOXHUNTERS CHASE BABY RUN alt. JOAACI
4.20 RED RUM HANDICAP CHAPOTURGEON alt. LENNON
4.55 NOVICES CHASE THE NIGHTINGALE
5.30 HANDICAP HURDLE WISHFULL THINKING alt. MAJAALES
Monday, April 5
GRAND NATIONAL NEWS
FIVE DAYS TO GO AND 65 STILL IN AT MONDAY’S CONFIRMATION STAGE
Sixty five horses remain entered for Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree. With a maximum field of 40 going to post, the 2007 winner Silver Birch needs three to come out before he can take part and Cheltenham William Hill Trophy hero Chief Dan George will not run unless nine horses above him in the handicap withdraw in the next few days.
Definitely out are Notre Pere, Air Force One and Razor Royale, leaving 66/1 shot CERIUM – 5th last year at 100/1 - as the last horse guaranteed to make the cut at the six day stage. Cerium has had just the one run since his excellent effort in 2009, warming up with an eighth of eleven behind Imperial Commander in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. After the National last year it transpired that the French Bred gelding had fractured his skull. One to keep an eye on.
Another horse in the Aintree news is CHARACTER BUILDING, fancied for last year’s race after an impressive Cheltenham victory, but forced to withdraw through injury. With less than a week to go before the National, the ten year-old has been sold to the Cheveley Park Stud’s owners, David and Patricia Thompson. In 1992, the Thompsons made a similar swoop just three days before the big race when they purchased the giant Party Politics who then went on to win the race. Could history repeat itself? Character Building has run twice since winning the Fulke Walwyn in 2009 and neither run could be described as good but this somewhat quirky character is no bigger than 20/1 for Saturday’s renewal in which he is set to carry 10st 11lbs. Interesting.
The weather still looks set to improve as the week progresses and Aintree clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch has predicted that the Grand National will be staged on ground no more testing than good to soft. That’s good news for 40/1 shot MALJIMAR who jockey Daryl Jacob described as “ A good jumper, a spring horse and definitely better on better ground”. Maljimar last ran at Cheltenham in December where he finished third to Garde Champetre over the 3 miles 7 furlongs of the cross Country course. The Grand National is run over four and a half miles, which ought not to inconvenience BLACK APALACHEE , currently listed at 14/1 and was going well in last year’s race before unseating his rider at the 22nd fence. He may prefer the ground to be very soft however as Black Apalachee won the 2008 Becher Chase at Aintree by 74 lengths on ground that was described as ‘ Swamp- like’.
David Pipe’s horse THE PACKAGE , mentioned in Friday’s National news, has shortened from 16/1 to 14/1, although Timmy Murphy is still to decide on his mount and DON’T PUSH IT, 50/1 on Thursday is now no bigger than 25/1. Champion Tony McCoy is still undecided as to whether he will ride Don’t Push It or Can’t Buy Time. In his column in Monday’s Daily Telegraph he seemed to be leaning towards the former on the premise that Saturday’s race will be run on soft ground and Can’t Buy Time definitely wouldn’t want it too soft.
My advice ? - DON’T BET ON ANYTHING YET!
Friday, April 2
GRAND NATIONAL NEWS
NICHE MARKET IN THE RIGHT PLACE
When Niche Market won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse last year, connections believed that the young gelding (he was 8) would be spot on for a tilt at the big one this year. With only a week to go before the 40 runners line up at Aintree, trainer Bob Buckler is convinced that the 16/1 available (you can get 22/1 on Betfair) is too big. In Friday’s Racing Post, Buckler said “ But for the fact that we are Grand National virgins, I’m sure he would be shorter, which he deserves to be because his form is very strong. I imagine he’d be shorter if he was trained by Paul Nicholls”.
What the Somerset trainer was referring to was the fact Niche market will be his first runner in the Grand National and jockey Harry Skelton will also be making his debut in the great race. The nine year-old is higher in the handicap this year and will carry 11-4 on Saturday week, but he has shown great improvement with a third to the mighty Denman in the Hennessy before finishing a short head second to Tricky Trickster in the AON chase in February (Denman fell). His latest run was on the first day of the Cheltenham festival where he was 9th, beaten 15 lengths by Chief Dan George in the William Hill Trophy. “ That was over three miles” said Buckler, “and we all know he is a four miler. They went that bit too quick for him, but he was staying on well at the finish, which was encouraging”.
NICHE MARKET will not want the going to be too testing at Aintree. After a downpour of over 30mm in the past three days, the ground has been described as soft, heavy in places. More rain is forecast but from midweek onwards things are going to improve – good news for Buckler’s debutant.
THE TWO TOP WEIGHTS in this year’s race are Madison Du Berlais and Notre Pere, both allotted 11 stone 10 lbs.
Madison Du Berlais is a former Hennessy Gold Cup winner. He beat Denman twice last year and was a distant runner-up to Kauto Star in the King George V1 on Boxing Day. Madison Du Berlais is currently 66/1 in betting and would appear to have it all to do off top weight. Trainer David Pipe has four other entries in the National, the 2008 winner COMPLY OR DIE as well as THE PACKAGE, Piraya and Pablo Du Charmil. Comply Or Die , ridden by Timmy Murphy, won the National two years ago carrying 10 – 9. Raised 11lbs for that victory, he finished second to Mon Mome last year, having looked a likely winner coming to the last. On that occasion, Mon Mome was in receipt of six pounds – this year Comply Or Die will race off 11-5, two pounds less than Venetia Williams’ horse. The eleven year-old has had just two runs since Aintree last April, the most recent when finishing thirteenth of twenty four to Chief Dan George at Cheltenham. Murphy has the choice of riding either Comply Or Die or owner David Johnson’s other entry, The Package, 2nd beaten a head by the same Chief Dan George at Cheltenham last month. Which one the jockey chooses will be significant – he rode The Package last time out and failed by a head to win the William Hill Trophy, for which he was favourite at 9/2. The weight of history is against the Kayf Tara gelding however as no horse under eight has won the National since the second World War. That’s not to say the seven year-old doesn’t have a major chance if taking to the Aintree fences and he is a best priced 16/1 at the time of writing, with Comply Or Die available at 28/1.
Neither horse will want it too heavy next Saturday.
NOTRE PERE won the Welsh Grand National and Guiness Gold Cup last year. He loves long distances when the mud is flying but his running this year has been very disappointing , too bad to be true some say. Notre Pere, off joint top weight is 66/1 to win next Saturday.
Thursday, April 1
GRAND NATIONAL NEWS
THE GREATEST STEEPLECHASE IN THE WORLD – JUST EIGHT DAYS TO GO
With just over a week to go before the Grand National at Aintree, Beat the Bookie begins a series of previews aimed at providing up to date news on the runners, riders, going and odds. Today we look at the greatest jockey riding and two of the country's top trainers.
McCOY DILEMMA
Tony McCoy, widely acknowledged as one of the best, if not the best, National Hunt jockey of all time, has a major Grand National dilemma as the great race approaches on Saturday week.
The Aintree spectacular is one major prize that has eluded the champion and it appears that his choice of rides centres on the Jonjo O’Neill trained pair of Can’t Buy Time and Don’t Push It.
CAN’T BUY TIME is generally available at 20/1 at the time of writing whereas DON’T PUSH IT at ten, two years older than his stable companion, can be backed currently at 50/1.
McCoy said “I’ll leave it as late as possible, but at the moment I’d say it’s 51-49 that I will ride Can’t Buy Time”.
Don’t Push it was disappointing when pulling up behind Buena Vista at Cheltenham two weeks ago and Can’t Buy Time, although winning at the Gloucestershire course in January, did not appear to stay four miles at the festival a year ago and then fell at the 18th fence in the Grand National.
TWISTON-DAVIES AIMS SIX AT THE NATIONAL
Gold Cup winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies hope to have six runners in the National as he chases his third success in the big race. Stable jockey Paddy Brennan will ride Irish Raptor in his bid for a unique double, having ridden Imperial Commander to success in the Gold Cup just thirteen days ago. Other runners are Beat The Boys, Ballyfitz and Ollie Magern with Hello Bud and Knowhere needing horses above them in the handicap to come out if they are to take part.
The eleven year-old IRISH RAPTOR has won at Aintree and also finished second , both times in the 2 and three quarter mile Topham Chase which is run over the unique National fences. At 10 stone 7lbs he is reasonably weighted but will be happier on good ground. “ He hasn’t been quite right “, Twiston-Davies said, “he’s had lung problems but he’s come back now as good as he’s been for a very long time”.
IRISH RAPTOR is currently available at 50/1 with Corals.
The big question mark over Irish Raptor is whether he has the stamina to last four and a half miles.
BIG FELLA THANKS
Is currently the 8/1 favourite. As a seven year-old, the Paul Nicholls trained gelding finished sixth in last year’s National, 23 lengths behind the winner MON MOME, a stunning 100/1 success for trainer Venetia Williams. 12/1 is the best you’ll get this time around for Mon Mome who carries seven pounds more than in 2009. The gelding finished a distant thirty lengths behind Imperial Commander in last month’s Gold Cup, but third place in that race accounts for a big plunge on the horse to follow up at Aintree in eight days time. Big Fella Thanks however, is highly regarded as an improving horse and looked good when winning a valuable handicap at Newbury on March 6th.
There will be more National previews as the big race approaches.
Friday, March 26
HUZZAH HOPING TO BE THE FIRST IN THE LINCOLN
After Imperial Commander's stunning Cheltenham Gold Cup victory Beat the Bookie turns it's attention to the Lincoln Handicap, flat racing's traditional opening event.
Drawn 20 of the the 22 runners, Barry Hills' HUZZAH has the right credentials to win a race of this sort over Doncaster's straight mile. Hills last trained the winner of this contest back in 1968 when Frankincense landed a monster gamble. Huzzah is currently available at 14/1 with Coral, William Hill and Bet 365 but only 12's with Ladbrokes and the 5 year-old is as short at 10/1 with Skybet and Boyle Sports.
Sunday, March 21
CHELTENHAM REVIEW
IMPERIAL COMMANDER DOES THE BUSINESS IN GOLD CUP
As tipped in the podcast and headlined on the Beat The bookie site on Friday
the 7/1 shot Imperial Commander romped home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The odds-on favourite Kauto Star fell four fences from home but was already
looking a beaten horse, having made a bad mistake early on in the race. It
was left to trainer Paul Nicholls' other former Gold cup winner Denman to
fight it out with the Commander, but as predicted here, Nigel
Twiston-Davies' charge was spot-on for this and after a faultless display of
jumping, surged clear on the run-in to win by seven lengths.
Friday, March 19
GOLD CUP DAY
IMPERIAL SPOT ON FOR THE GOLD CUP
There will be fortunes wagered at Cheltenham today and much of it will go on KAUTO STAR and DENMAN, both former winners of the great race. Kauto was awesome when winning the King George V1 on Boxing Day and will be worthy favourite, whereas Denman blundered last time at Newbury and is likely to start at around 9/2 or even 5/1. The value of the race however, lies with IMPERIAL COMMANDER , beaten the shortest of short heads by Kauto Star at Haydock. Nigel Twiston-Davies' horse is rumoured to be absolutely flying at home, he loves Cheltenham and can provide a massive shock by winning the £280,000 prize at rewarding odds of 10/1.
OTHER SELECTIONS;
CARLITO BRIGANTE in theTriumph Hurdle at 1.30
2.40 THE BETCHWORTH KID (EW)
4.00 DUN DOIRE
HERBERT NEHYBA'S TIPS
1.30 CARLITO BRIGANTE / SECANT STAR
2.05 BELLVANO / OLDRIK
2.40 TELL MASSINI
3.20 DENMAN
4.00 ROULEZ COOL
4.40 RADIUM / QUENTIN COLLONGES
Thursday, March 18
CHELTENHAM DAY THREE
PEDDLERS CROSS was a real bonus on day two of the festival. Jason Maguire punched home the 7/1 shot in good style, however the rest of the day was a Bookmaker's benefit.
NICANOR could get day three off to a good start at all too generous odds of 14/1.
PALYPSO DE CREEK at 33/1 is a tentative selection in the Pertemps Final at 2.05
The Ryanair Chase will feature Paul Nicholls' POQUELIN but TRANQUIL SEA is tipped to overturn the hotpot at odds of 9/2.
The Ladbrokes World Hurdle ought to go to BIG BUCKS, another Nicholls star, but TIDAL BAY (15/2) and KARABAK (9/1) may be more attractive ech way propositions.
The bet of the day is WATCH MY BACK in the handicap chase at 4.00. Ferdy Murphy's 9 year-old will start at around 9/1
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at 4.40 is another one for Ferdy Murphy and Nina Carberry in GALANT NUIT at 9/1.
Tuesday, March 16
CHELTENHAM DAY TWO
TWISTON AIMING TO RECOUP FIRST DAY LOSSES
Khyber Kim didn't exactly disgrace himself in tuesday's Champion Hurdle but seconds are no good for top racing yards. PETTIFOUR is trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' 'good thing' in the 4 mile National Hunt Chase on Cheltenham's second day opener. The eight year old has run just the three times over fences, his one victory coming here last November when he beat Toby Jug on soft ground. Pettifour is widely available at 12/1.
Trainer Donald McCain's PEDDLERS CROSS was also on offer at twelves last month but you won't get better than half those odds for wednesday's Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle at 2.05. This very exciting and improving 5 year-old bids to maintain an unbeaten record after four consecutive victories.
The RSA Chase at 2.40 features the much vaunted Nicky Henderson pair PUNCHESTOWNS and LONG RUN. 2/1 and 5/2 are the prices and it's 13/2 bar these two.
THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE at 3.20 should go to the Paul Nicholls' star MASTER MINDED but don't rule out stable mate TWIST MAGIC who can be backed at 15/2 and may be good each way value.
DEUTSCHLAND can be value in a very open Coral Cup Hurdle at 4.00. Willie Mullins' 7 year old has Ruby Walsh aboard and was tipped in the Hotel Bar on monday night. Deutschland notched a treble back in the summer in Ireland and is available at 9/1 with Ladbrokes.
Monday, March 15
IT'S THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL and here are TUESDAY'S TOP TIPS FROM OUR EXPERTS
First Day banker is CAPTAIN CEE BEE in the Irish Independent Arkle Chase at 2.05
Adam says " Captain Cee Bee has the profile of a champion having won all five of his completed starts over obstacles; he would probably have made it six if he had not fallen at the last fence at Leopardstown when having the Grade One Bord Na Mona Chase and sizing Europe at his mercy.
He is already a Grade One winner, however, having won the 2008 Supreme Novices in convincing style from Binolcular and the combination of these performances is probably the strongest form on offer. He beat Fosters Cross very easily at Naas in his final run before the festival, though the fact that he again got in too close to the final fence remains a cause for concern. Nonetheless, if he puts in a clear round of jumping in the Arkle he will be the one they all have to beat and his price of 3/1 appears quite generous in comparison to one or two other festival favourites".
ADAM'S TIP CAPTAIN CEE BEE 3/1 - 5 points to win.
THE GLENFARCLAS CROSS-COUNTRY HANDICAP CHASE AT 4.00 Will have many people asking why oppose Garde Champetre? His last four cross country runs at Cheltenham have ended in victory as have his last three in Ireland. But top Austrian tipster Herbert Nehyba says it's time for a change in the winners enclosure and goes for Sizing Australia (11/2) or Another Jewel (14/1) .
ADAM GOES FOR THE CLASSY L'AMI (2nd to Garde Champetre last year) at the revised weights and suggests 2 points win at 7/2.
The opening race, THE SPINAL RESEARCH SUPREME NOVICES HURDLE at 1.30 sees the Irish favourite DUNGUIB likely to go off as short as even money. However, Irish bookmaker PADDY POWER has offered to refund all losing bets if DUNGUIB does win, so our selection is Totesport victor GET ME OUT OF HERE - can't lose, can you ?
THE SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE at 3.20 is the big race of the day.
Herbert says it's BINOCULAR (8/1) from the heart and KHYBER KIM (8/1) from the head. Nigel Twiston-Davies trains the latter and is very very bullish about the improving Cheltenham specialist so it's worth noting. However, Alan King's MEDERMIT is Adam's fancy - the six year-old is another big improver, the stable is firing and he was impressive when beating Punjabi at Haydock last time. MEDERMIT is available at 9/1.
Monday, February 22
PREMIER PODCAST TIPS SIX TIMER!!!
Ricky George tipped six winners on last weekend's BEATTHEBOOKIE PREMIER PODCAST.
In the bet of the weekend slot at the end of the popular weekly feature, resident pundit George went for a LUCKY 63, tipping Everton, Arsenal, West Ham, Chelsea, Fulham and Aston Villa all to win at home.
A LUCKY 63 comprises of one six timer, 6 x 5 timers, 15 x 4 timers, 20 trebles, 15 doubles and six singles.
Returns for a fifty pence/ cents stake (31.50) total 320.34
CAN THE BOOKIE BE BEATEN?
The tip of the weekend was without doubt Everton's stunning 3-1 victory over Premier League Champions Manchester United, selected on the Beat The Bookie podcast at odds of 4/1!!
Friday, February 19
WINTER OLYMPICS DAY 7
After America snowboarding Superstar Shaun White sensationally grabbed back to back Olympic gold medals in the halfpipe competition on Thursday, attention turns to the ladies equivalent on Friday.
America’s Kelly Clark, winner of Olympic Gold in Salt Lake City in 2002, will start a warm favourite and 6/4 is the best price you’ll find with UK bookmakers. However, our ace winter sports watcher Herbert Nehyba reckons up and coming youngster Xuetong CAI from China can spring a big surprise at tempting odds of 15/1 with BET 365 and BWIN. The 17 year-old won her first ever World Cup event just last month in Stoneham, Quebec and displays the confidence of someone who had finished runner-up in only her second World Cup contest in Saas-Fee, Switzerland on Hanuary 23rd. “I got along with the pipe very good” she said “ So I’m super happy”.
And Justina Kowalczyk, the Polish girl who won two cross country golds in the World Championships and has already gained a silver medal in the individual sprint in Vancouver, is Herbert’s big tip for Friday’s cross country double pursuit. Take Coral’s 5/2 for the 27 year-old to triumph over Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla.
Carlo Janka, considered the rising star of the Swiss alpine ski team, is fancied to take Friday’s Super-G event at Whistler. The 23 year-old took gold and bronze at the 2009 World Championships in Val d’Isere and comes to Vancouver having won the Lauberhorn downhill in January, the longest and fastest race on the World Cup tour. Janka is 12/1 with BWIN and 10/1 with Ladbrokes.
HERBERT NEHYBA’S FRIDAY WINTER OLYMPICS TREBLE
XUETONG CAI in the Snowboard halfpipe at 15/1
JUSTINA KOWALCZYK in the Cross Country double pursuit at 5/2
CARLO JANKA in the Super-G at 12/1
Wednesday, February 17
Winter Olympics NEWS
LINDSEY VONN WINS GOLD IN HER GREATEST EVER PERFORMANCE
America’s Lindsey Vonn finally claimed the one medal that has eluded her on Wednesday when she routed 44 opponents in the Ladies downhill event at Whistler. Despite nursing a painful shin injury, Vonn’s performance on the undulating slopes was nearly flawless. In winning the Gold medal, Vonn became the first American woman to win the downhill at the Olympics.
HERBERT NEHYBA TIPPED VONN FOR THE EVENT IN HIS EXCLUSIVE OLYMPIC PREVIEW .
Thursday's PREVIEW
Sweden’s 25 year-old Biathlete Helena Jonsson is Herbert Nehyba’ s tip to win the 15k event on Day Six of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Jonsson can be backed at as low as 13/8 with Boylsesports and is real value at 4/1 with Manchester bookmaker BETFRED.
Brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger are vying for favouritism in advance of Thursday’s Luge Doubles event. The Austrian pairing can be backed at a best price of 2/1 with BETFRED and PADDY POWER, whereas Germany’s Andre Florschutz and Torsten Wustlich are available at 9/4 and 5/2 with LADBROKES and BET 365 respectively.
The men’s snowboarding Halfpipe event features a red hot favourite in America’s Shaun White who appears unbeatable at odds of 9/2 on. Punters may be gambling on White taking a fall and with his odds prohibitive, Herbert Nehyba suggests a small wager on Janne Korpi, the flying Finn who scored his first halfpipe gold of the season in last month’s snowboarding World Cup event in Stoneham , Canada. Korpi can be backed at big odds for the Gold Medal, 50/1 is rumoured to be available locally. In the UK only TOTESPORT offer a market but it may be worth shopping around.
TIPS FOR THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY
Ladies 15km Biathlon – HELENA JONSSON (USA)
Mens Luge Doubles – LINGER and LINGER (AUSTRIA)
Mens Snowboard Halfpipe – Janne Korpi (FINLAND)
Monday, February 15
TRAGEDY OVERSHADOWS OPENING CEREMONY
The untimely death of 21 year-old Georgian athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili in a final training run has cast a shadow over the opening of The Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Kumaritashvili died when his sled flipped and he smashed into a steel pole at the Whistler sliding centre on Friday. He was due to compete in Sunday’s Luge event, which will go ahead after serious discussions between local coroners and the International Luge Federation. Officials concluded the track was not unsafe but that the athlete “did not compensate properly” going into a bend. As a precaution, the walls at the exit of the final curve, where Kumaritashvili was thrown from the track, will be raised.
A Luge is a pod of moulded fibre glass, a sled upon which the Athlete lies flat, feet first, as he hurtles down an icy track at 85 mph. There are no brakes on the Luge, to slow down the slider drags their feet along the ice and grips the kufens which steer the pod through a series of curves and stretches towards the finish.
Georgia confirmed they will compete in the games as a tribute to Kumaritashvili and marched as scheduled at the opening ceremony, wearing black armbands. They were given a standing ovation.
TIPS AND ODDS FROM OUR AUSTRIAN CORRESPONDENT HERBERT NEHYBA
DAY ONE
On Saturday, the men’s individual normal, or short hill Ski jumping will see Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer start favourite along with Simon Amman, who won Gold for Switzerland in the SDalat Lake City Olympics in 2002. However, Schlierenzauer’s compatriot, Wolfgang Loitzl, who won individual and team gold in last year’s Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec will be great value and you can get odds of 17/1 with Ladbrokes and others. Poland’s Adam Malysz, considered one of the greatest ski jumpers of all time is a 13/2 shot and could go close.
Saturday’s marquee alpine event, the men’s downhill, could see a first ever Gold medal in a home Olympics for a Canadian athlete when local boy Manuel Osborne-Paradis goes into the race on his “home hill”. Just five days after his 26th Birthday, “Airborne Osborne” is a tempting 9/1 with Skybet. Osborne-paradis’ fellow North Vancouveran Robbie Dixon is priced at 14/1 with Corals with Swiss veteran Didier Cuche the likely favourite at around 4/1.
The Women’s 7.5km Spring Biathlon is one of those events for the purists and Germany’s pin-up girl, Magdalena Neuner, will start favourite at a best priced 3/1 with Sky Bet and Boyle Sports. Two years ago Neuner won the overall World Cup title at just 21, the youngest person to do so since the International Biathlon Union was formed in 1993.
DAY TWO
Canada’s golden girl, Jennifer Heil has predicted that her country will break the so called jinx of never winning a gold medal on home soil as she goes into Sunday’s freestyle mogul event as a red hot favourite. “We’re definitely going to win gold medals”, she said, “many of them”.
The reigning Olympic champion is a best priced 7/4 with Boyle Sports, Bet Fred and Blue Square.
The men’s Luge competition, so tragically overshadowed by the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili, will see police officer Armin Zoggeler attempt to become the first Italian ever to medal in five consecutive Olympics, winter or summer. Zoggeler, who has won gold at the last two Olympics, will start favourite at odds-on with most firms. The Italian is trading at odds against on the exchanges and Betfair may be the place to look when seeking value .
Biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen is just 8/1 to become the most decorated winter Olympian ever.
The 36 year-old Norwegian has won nine Biathlon medals and needs four more in Vancouver to surpass the record of compatriot cross country skier Bjorn Daehlie. Sunday’s 10km sprint sees Bjorndalen likely to start favourite at around 2/1 with most firms. Compatriot Emile Hegle Svendsen is likely to be his biggest rival and is available at 11/4 with Skybet.
Maria Reisch goes into Sunday’s super combined ladies event having warmed up with victory in last month’s World Cup in St. Moritz. The 25 year-old German clocked 1minute 41.31 seconds to win by 0.79 seconds to cut the overall World Cup rankings deficit to American Lindsey Vonn to 61 points. 7/4 is the best price available with William Hill, Stan James, Sky Bet and Sporting Bet.
The Men’s Nordic Combined Normal Hill event will be a true test of endurance as athletes combine jumping and cross country skiing. Felix Gottwald is the 2006 Olympic gold winner for the sprint and the relay and the Austrian also won silver in the 15km individual. Gottwald is available at a tempting 9/1 with Sky Bet, Boyle Sports and Paddy Power for today’s event. Fellow Austrian Mario Stecher is a huge 20/1 to spring a surprise and if Gottwald fails, Stecher could be the one.
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