Gordon Richards Stakes: Al Kazeem makes winning return

Al Kazeem returned from a 357-day lay-off with victory in the Gordon Richards Stakes...

Last seen when winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, Roger Charlton's charge travelled well throughout the 10-furlong heat in the hands of James Doyle.

Ektihaam set out to make virtually all but Al Kazeem was cruising in behind turning for home before finally making his move with a furlong to go.

Thomas Chippendale made it a three-way finish by launching his challenge down the outside and while Al Kazeem possibly felt his long absence in the dying strides, he hung on by.

Thomas Chippendale claimed a narrow second with Ektihaam third.

Al Kazeem has entries in races such as the Coronation Cup and Prince Of Wales's Stakes this term but Charlton is targeting a trip to Ireland at the end of May.

Charlton said: "I was a bit apprehensive because a lot of mine will come on for the run. He looked great and that was a good effort.

"We know he gets a mile and half, but a mile and a quarter is a more commercial distance, as long as he can win good races over that distance, but he will have entries over a mile and a half as well.

"In the immediate future, I think he will go to the Curragh for Tattersalls Gold Cup."

Doyle is expecting his mount to progress for the run and said: "Since he's come back he's been galloping great at home and doing everything right.

"We expected this today. Today is a stepping stone to bigger things and he couldn't have done it any easier.

"It was his first run for ages so I didn't want to ask him to do too much too soon and when he got to the front he pricked his ears and lugged into the rail."

Thomas Chippendale pleased connections on his return but is now set for a step up in trip.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: "The best three on form were first, second and third so you'd have to say that was a very good run. I think he might step up a couple of furlongs now."

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Timeform Radio Racing Tips: Josh's winning return?

Recommended Bets
Back Josh's Dreamway @ 4.03/1 in the 15:30 at Stratford
Back Marju King @ 16.015/1 in the 16:30 at Stratford

David Cleary serves up a pair of Sunday afternoon bets as he heads to Stratford for the jumps action...

After a week of high-quality action on the Flat and over jumps, today's fare in Britain has rather a low-key look to it, with Stratford and Wincanton staging some run-of-the-mill if quite competitive action over jumps.

The best bet of the day looks to be at Stratford, where Josh's Dreamway ought to get back to winning ways in the mares hurdle at 15:30. She probably found the ground a touch firm at Newbury last time but ran creditably from out of the handicap in the well-contested Mares Final, while on her previous start she hacked up at Exeter from a rival who's run well since. Conditions should be ideal for Josh's Dreamway and she's a confident selection.

More speculative is Marju King in the novices handicap hurdle there at 16:30. He is fitted with a tongue strap first time after finding little at Towcester earlier in the month. He traded odds on in running before fading that day and is on a good mark, while this sharp track ought to suit him much better than Towcester's stiff climb. This is quite competitive, and if there is money for Catch Tammy, who is very hard to assess, it should be noted, but Marju King has a better chance than his double-figure price suggests.

Recommended Bets
Back Josh's Dreamway @ 4.03/1 in the 15:30 at Stratford
Back Marju King @ 16.015/1 in the 16:30 at Stratford

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Home And Away: Happy return to Villarreal for Pellegrini

Daily Tipping / Jonno Turner / 12 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Manuel Pellegrini once led Villarreal to the Champions League semi-finals

Jonno Turner is backing Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini to pile on the pain for struggling former employers Villarreal, and also has an Allsvenskan tip...

I love April. The nights start to draw out, new flowers in bloom, but most of all - the Swedish Allsvenskan is back up and running!

The Scandinavians are now a couple of games into their new campaign, and we're going to focus on Mjallby's trip to Hacken this evening, as the hosts aim to continue their unbeaten start.

Hacken will be high on confidence following their 5-0 thrashing of Malmo at the weekend, and Peter Gerhardsson's side will be looking to make it two wins from two starts at the Rambergsvallen here.

A sixth place finish last season could've been worse, but the Gothenburg side are keen to build on that position, and to do so, they need to be churning out the wins on their own patch.

Mjallby have not so much flown out of the traps as stumbled - and an unspectular start of two goalless draws will have many of the Strandvallen faithful unsure which way this season is going to go.

Peter Swardh led his side to 10th place in the Allsvenskan last campaign, and that is also where the visitors sit after just two games of the new season.

Hacken won both meetings with Mjallby last season, scoring eight and conceding just one and I think that the home side are a shoe-in for another three points here.

Bet 1: Hacken (HOME) to win @ [1.69]

Over to La Liga for our second tip of the day, as fourth-placed Malaga travel to Villarreal, aiming to make it four wins from their last five outings.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have enjoyed an impressive campaign this year, and currently sit in the Champions League places, with a game in hand on their rivals.

Consistency has been the key for Los Boquerones, and they have won six of their last eight, an excellent return at this stage in the season.

And Pellegrini's side have the chance to make it four unbeaten on the road in this encounter, by securing their third win in four away from La Rosaleda.

Villarreal have won just one of their last nine games in La Liga, and currently hover precariously just outside the drop zone.

Miguel Angel Lotina's side are not safe yet, and will need to arrest a slump which has seen them take just three points from a possible 12 in their last four at El Madrigal.

It tops a disappointing season for the Yellow Submarine. Following the high of a fourth-placed finish last year, they've never quite been with it this campaign. A warning for Malaga, perhaps?

Regardless, Malaga have been churning out the wins left, right and centre - and I can't see them letting up this evening.

Bet 2: Malaga (AWAY) to win @ [3.0]

Mallorca travel to Racing Santander this evening on the back of having scored six goals in their last three away trips. Under 2.5 goals is trading at [1.8] and Paul Robinson believes that is definitely worth laying....

Jonno Turner isn't convinced that Wolfsburg's recent upturn in travelling fortunes is permanent, and also fancies PSV Eindhoven to boost their title prospects in the Netherlands......

Jonno Turner anticipates a shock for Championship promotion chasers Reading, but expects League One equivalents Sheffield United to prevail......

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Three trophies still up for grabs as Bayern Munich return to form

German Football / Michael Lintorn / 21 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Arjen Robben scored a penalty-aided hat-trick at Hertha Berlin on Saturday

"Bayern Munich already showed at the start of this season, when winning ten straight games and keeping a dozen clean sheets, that once momentum is on their side, anything is possible."

After months of poor results, criticism of coach Jupp Heynckes, underperformance by stars and even a brief Mario Gomez goal drought, Bayern Munich are back.

And fittingly for a club who flit between brilliance and ineptitude, incapable of locating a middle ground, their revival has been more sudden and spectacular than anyone could have predicted, their last three matches won by an aggregate scoreline of 20-1. Naturally, they failed to score in three of the four prior to that.

The Bavarian giants already showed at the start of this season, when winning ten straight games and keeping a dozen clean sheets, that once momentum is on their side, anything is possible, so will hope that their recent resurgence is occurring with precision timing.

A first treble in their history remains a possibility, albeit an unlikely one given the run that reigning Bundesliga champions and current leaders Borussia Dortmund are on as they bid to become the first team besides Bayern to finish top twice in a row since they last did it in 1995-96.

Bayern's thrashings of Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin saw the gap closed from seven to five points, but with just eight fixtures to play and Dortmund unbeaten in 20, they are [2.62] to dethrone Jurgen Klopp's ensemble, who look great value at [1.65].

The Champions League on the other hand feels very much obtainable at [7.4] following a quarter-final pairing with Marseille, who are somehow in the final eight despite a fairly calamitous campaign.

The 1992-93 winners are ninth in Ligue 1 and had lost six successive encounters in all competitions before perhaps their most undignified defeat yet on Tuesday away to third-tier relegation battlers Quevilly after extra-time in the Coupe de la France.

On that sort of form, it is arguably an even less complicated tie than Real Madrid's with APOEL, and that quartet are on a semi-final collision course, guaranteed to avoid Barcelona until the final.

For now though, Bayern's attention will be focussed on Wednesday's domestic cup semi-final away to Borussia Monchengladbach, who are third in the Bundesliga and did the double over their visitors.

Arjen Robben, who is in discussions about a new deal, has warned fans not to expect another dominant victory like the Hoffenheim and Hertha ones. Given their struggles against Gladbach this term, it might instead prove wise to lay them for 90-minute success at [1.76].

Currently five points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund face Werder Bremen this weekend. Michael Cox assesses the tactical battle....

Our Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard casts his eye over three of the division's bottom four this week, starting with a Kaiserslautern side looking for their first league win in five months....

Bayer Leverkusen were shredded by a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona in midweek, and Kevin Hatchard believes Wolfsburg may suffer a Bayer backlash this weekend....

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Betfair Free Friday Results: Zarkandar makes winning return at Newbury

News / Timeform / 17 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Zarkandar (centre) won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury

"Running from a BHA mark of 151, last season's Triumph Hurdle winner looked potentially thrown-in..."

Champion Hurdle hopeful Zarkandar landed Newbury's Betfair Hurdle on Friday, whilst Long Run got back to winning ways and Sprinter Sacre enhanced his already lofty reputation...

Turning into the Newbury straight, Zarkandar did not look the most likely winner, with jockey Ruby Walsh asking the five-year-old to try and pick the leaders up. Emerging between rivals at the final flight, Zarkandar's stamina really came into evidence, and he gradually asserted his authority on the field.

Running from a BHA mark of 151, last season's Triumph Hurdle winner looked potentially thrown-in, but the dawdling early pace was unlikely to play to his strengths. Darlan, under Tony McCoy, was arguably travelling best turning for home but took a crashing fall at the third-last, hampering eventual runner-up Get Me Out of Here, with Raya Star and Sire de Grugy filling the remaining places.

Zarkandar is sure to improve for this seasonal return and can presently be backed at [7.4] for the Champion Hurdle.

The Nicky Hednerson-trained Long Run, winner of the King George and Gold Cup last season, gained his first win of the term in the Betfair Denman Chase as he beat stable mate Burton Port, returning from over a year on the sidelines, and What A Friend into second and third respectively.

Long Run had come up against a resurgent Kauto Star on his two previous starts this season, in the Betfair Chase and the King George, but with that opponent not in the line-up he managed to get back to winning ways.

Long Run heads the Gold Cup market at [3.55], whilst Burton Port, who put up an excellent performance on his return, is available at [13.0] and What A Friend at [50.0].

Sprinter Sacre, also trained by Nicky Henderson, gained his third win from as many starts over fences when easily landing the Betfair Super Saturday Chase. He had been extremely impressive in his previous starts but, up against his elders, including French Opera and Hold Fast, this was expected to be a more thorough test.

However, Barry Geraghty was motionless throughout onboard Sprinter Sacre, the six-year-old simply strengthening his position at the head of the Arkle market at [2.36].
...........
Timeform's Horses to Follow Extra Ascot Chase issue is out now and features no less than six big-race previews and an interview with Alan King.

Last week the world's highest Timeform rated sprinter Black Caviar (135+) put to rest any doubts about her handling 1400m with an emphatic victory in the G1 C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield however on Saturday she faces a new challenge....

With a big weekend of action 'Down Under', Timeform Radio brings you another international racing preview......

Long Run's connections declared themselves thoroughly satisfied after the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero continued his Festival preparations with a workmanlike victory at Newbury....

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Danedream: Arc winner likely for German return

News / Timeform / 13 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Danedream could return in May.

"Everything is fine and she's keeping well..."

Prix de 'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream is likely to start off her season with a run at home in late spring before trainer Peter Schiergen plots serious European targets...

From humble beginnings, Danedream became the first German-trained winner of France's biggest race since 1975 when shattering the Longchamp track record.

She was unable to maintain the form in the Japan Cup but despite her value as a broodmare with three Group Ones in the bag, the daughter of Lomitas remains in training with Schiergen for her four-year-old career.

Danedream, rated 132 by Timeform, is only in light work at her Cologne stable, but Schiergen said: "Everything is fine and she's keeping well. She is just doing small exercises at the moment.

"I haven't decided quite yet where she will run, but she might start in Germany around the end of May and then she will have a lot of entries in Group races and we can think about France and England."

Schiergen said an entry at Royal Ascot would be among many events under consideration.

Voler La Vedette is to head for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham without another racecourse appearance....

Sponsors Betfair have made entry to Newbury's rescheduled meeting on Friday free to all racegoers......

French-bred Quel Esprit gave Willie Mullins his eighth Grade 1 Hennessy Gold Cup success when making all under Ruby Walsh in the Leopardstown showpiece on Sunday....

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Gulfstream Park Preview: Two Classic winners set to return

USA / Graeme North / 11 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Shackleford: Takes on Ruler On Ice in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap

"Shackleford... posted one of Timeform's best timefigures of 2011 in North America when winning the Preakness..."

Timeform's Graeme North previews the Grade 1 Donn Handicap and the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap....

The road to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby takes a back seat this weekend as some of the best of the older horses still around converge on Gulfstream Park where the highlight of a strong Saturday card there is the reappearance of two of last season's Classic winners, Shackleford and Ruler On Ice, in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Donn Handicap due off at 21:45 GMT.

So strong is the field that neither the Preakness nor the Belmont winner is top weight; that honour goes to the Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and Breeders' Cup Classic fifth, the largely consistent Flat Out.

Flat Out's subdued recent reappearance can be overlooked on account of it being his turf debut, but even back on dirt and at his best he looks to have something to find - around 4lbs on Timeform ratings - conceding weight to both Classic winners.

Shackleford, who posted one of Timeform's best timefigures of 2011 in North America when winning the Preakness before looking a non-stayer behind Ruler On Ice in a well-run Belmont on a slow track, is the more interesting of that pair despite his draw in stall 9 and the short run to the first turn.

Not only did Shackleford show marginally the better form of the pair subsequently when beating his old rival in the G1 Haskell Invitational (before ending the year with an excellent second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile after compromising his chance by disputing a strong pace that set things up for the winner) but Timeform's unique Early Position Figures - which indicate how today's race might well be run based on the in-running positions adjusted for field size of the runners at various points of call in recent races - suggests the Donn Handicap could be set up ideally for him.

Only the unbeaten and promising but still relatively-unproven Trickmeister seems likely to head him down the back stretch in a race that promises to test speed more than stamina and Shackleford's top-level mile form could prove decisive in the dash for home.

Of the others, Redeemed seemed to show quite a lot of improvement on just his second try in Graded company when winning the G3 Discovery Stakes on his final start but a timefigure of 92 for that win suggests it might be dubious form, while Mission Impazible is a regular foe of Flat Out's but looks to have a bit to find at the weights. Soaring Empire has already had a pipe-opener this year, but didn't do enough to suggest he's up to winning such a warm contest as this on just his second start back from a long break.

The other highlight at Gulfstream is the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (off 22:13 GMT) over the same trip, with the weights headed by the consistent Get Stormy who was much improved in 2011. For the second November running he didn't do himself justice in the Breeders' Cup Mile but before that he'd won a couple of Grade 1 events at Keeneland and Churchill Downs when allowed to set a leisurely pace.

Not withstanding his excellent chance at the weights on Saturday - he looks to have around 3lb in hand on Timeform ratings as it is on a couple of bits of 2011 form - that front-running angle might be the key to the race with few of his rivals inclined to go forward.

Yankee Fourtune has made the running in the past while Yummy With Butter did take the field along steadily in the Grade 3 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes over a slightly shorter trip here on his reappearance before being run down in a tight finish by the re-opposing Silver Medallion, but that's not his normal style and in any case he looks vulnerable again to the very progressive and younger Todd Pletcher runner, as well as perhaps too to Kindergarten Kid who was barely a length behind Silver Medallion in that race despite having started his run from further back. Morning Line odds of 4/1 look very fair on Get Stormy, with forecast favourite Sangaree (who is also entered in the Donn Handicap) still to prove he's as effective on turf as dirt or equitrack.
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Get a free form guide for racing in the USA at http://www.timeform.com/free/.

Tonight's SmartPlays in America consist of two backs at Aqueduct and a lay at Charles Town. Read on to get Timeform's selections......

Timeform's US team highlight two backs and a lay for Tuesday evening in North America.........

On the eve of the best sprinter in the world attempting to take her career wins to a straight 18, Timeform brings you another international racing podcast......

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Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting: Al preserved for spring return

News / Timeform / 28 November 2011 / Leave a Comment

Weird Al could be in line for a tilt the Gold Cup.

"We've yet to decide whether to go for the Gold Cup or go straight to Aintree, but we've got plenty of time."

Weird Al is set to have a long break before being prepared for a spring campaign following his fine effort at Haydock in the Betfair Chase...

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which Weird Al is currently available at [22.0] on Betfair, and a Grade 1 at Aintree are the races trainer Donald McCain has got in mind for the eight year-old.

McCain was delighted his charge showed he was up to taking on the best when third behind Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase, three weeks after winning Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase.

"Timmy (Murphy) made it look like he was travelling better down the back than he actually was, but to his credit he stuck at it and galloped all the way to the line to be a couple of lengths behind Long Run," McCain told At The Races.

"That's proved we can compete at that level and it also proved he's a better horse fresh, so he'll have a good long break and now and come back for the spring.

"We've yet to decide whether to go for the Gold Cup or go straight to Aintree, but we've got plenty of time."

Overturn could have another crack at the Champion Hurdle after making turf history at Newcastle on Saturday......

Current Arkle Chase favourite Peddlers Cross is set to complete the first half of his campaign in a two-mile novice chase at Haydock on December 17 when he will bid to complete a hat-trick over fences......

There were emotional scenes in the winner's enclosure at Newbury after Carruthers landed the Hennessy Gold Cup......

Betfair website

Brigadier Gerard Betting: Workforce set to return at Sandown

Tipping / Timeform / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Last year's Derby winner Workforce reappears at Sandown on Thursday

"if Workforce manages to run anywhere near his Timeform master rating of 133, he will be hard to beat."

Sir Michael Stoute's 2010 Derby and Arc hero Workforce is set to return at Sandown on Thursday, but will he have it all his own way as he attempts to concede weight all round?...

In recent years Sir Michael Stoute has used the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown as a stepping stone to kick-start his middle-distance superstar's seasons. He last took the race five years ago with Notnowcato, and in 2009 Conduit came into the race conceding weight all-round after winning the Breeders' Cup Turf, though the latter, who went on to secure a repeat win in America, could manage only second at Sandown, going down by a nose to Cima de Triomphe.

Last season's Derby and Arc hero Workforce is this year's representative for Stoute, and if he manages to run anywhere near his Timeform master rating of 133, he will be hard to beat. Being the only Group 1 winner in the field he does have to concede 7 lb, but nonetheless his rivals still have 5 lb to find on Timeform figures.

The Brigadier Gerard at Sandown is run over a mile and a quarter, which shouldn't be a problem for Workforce who is dropping in trip, as even if they do go steadily he has the gears to get himself out of trouble, as he showed in the Arc.

Workforce's performances at Epsom and Longchamp were arguably two of the best any racehorse produced in the world last year, breaking the track record at the former, but his flop in the King George at Ascot in between shows that he's not bomb-proof.

Two of Workforce's nearest rivals on ratings are Sri Putra and Cavalryman, though both have question marks over them, the former beaten at Lingfield last time when odds-on in a three-runner field and the latter probably better over a longer trip.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Jan Vermeer looks one of the only other runners who could possibly trouble the likely market leader. He was sent off favourite in last year's Derby but his stamina was stretched and it resulted in him being well beaten by Workforce. The drop in trip should help Jan Vermeer get nearer to his old rival and the form of the stable is clearly a positive.

The other notable contender is Elusive Pimpernel, who made an encouraging return when third in the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket. That was his first outing since fifth in the previous year's 2000 Guineas and the step up in trip is expected to bring something more out of him.

A competitive one-mile handicap looks one of the best races at Ripon today......

Three bets for Tuesday's US action......

Today's placepot comes from Ripon......

Betfair website

French Open Day One Tips: Montanes can make miserable return for Hewitt

French Open Betting / Ben Caudell / 21 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Montanes can send Hewitt packing

"Hewitt definitely won't be relishing a long dirt battle that will only hamper his Wimbledon preparations."

It's day one at Roland Garros and Ben Caudell is here to select the best bets and find the value that could give you a winning start...

For the next eight days I will be picking my best bets on players I believe offer a bit of value and explaining my reasons for backing them from both the Men's and Women's draws. If all goes well, we should end the first week in profit, fingers crossed...

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v Albert Montanes (ESP)

We kickstart Sunday with a real humdinger of between two base-line veterans. Former-Wimbledon Champion Hewitt puts himself back into the mix after a two month stint on the sidelines due to foot surgery. Having not played a match since his first round loss to Yen-Hsun Lu at Indian Wells back in March, coach Tone Roche says that the Australian enters this year's French Open with one eye on the grass courts of SW19.

Throw in the fact that Montanes is an accomplished clay-courter ranked 37 in the World, coupled with his five title wins and four final appearances all on clay; Hewitt definitely won't be relishing a long dirt battle that will only hamper his Wimbledon preparations.

Recommended Bet: Back Albert Montanes @ [1.5] to win match

Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Denis Istomin (UZB)

I'll be backing the Italian clay court specialist in this match at [1.70] to dispatch big-serving Istomin. Fognini has a decent 7-3 record at the French Open with his best performance at last year's Open where he defeated home favourite Gael Monfils in an epic five set battle that lasted well over four hours.

Fognini has also won eight in a row when priced as a favourite and will fancy his chances against Istomin who retired recently from Munich because of a leg injury, is 3-7 in all matches and unsuited to the slower red dirt.

Recommended Bet
Back Fabio Fognini @ 1.80 to win match

Sybille Bammer (AUT) v Mona Barthel (GER)

German youngster Barthel made light work of her opponents in qualifying for the main draw without dropping a single set. Up against her this Sunday is a woman ten years older and a player who has competed in just one match all year on the red stuff.

Bammer has lost four of her last five in Europe, on clay and at WTA Slam level, whereas Barthel has won six of her last seven in France, and on clay. The 21-year-old has competed in over 15 matches on the red dirt this year and even took Svetlana Kuznetsova to three sets at the Marbella Open earlier in the year.

Recommended Bet
Back Mona Barthel @ 1.90 to win match

On the eve of the French Open, Sean Calvert selects five matches in which punters could find the first round value......

The Boz tuned in to the French Open Women's draw on Friday and he's been at the form books ever since, working out his potential first round shocks. The following are his top five to turn over the odds....

She is the world number one but still doesn't have a Grand Slam singles title. Guy McCrea as if Caroline Wozniacki will end that wait at the French Open ......

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Winer Stays On: The return of you know who

Winner Stays On / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 05 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Paul Robinson's humble residence

"He didn’t want to play because he didn’t want it to all end up this way. He had entered for fun, for a laugh, to prove to himself he could win a couple of rounds and who knows, come close to winning the £100 prize. But defeat to Paul Robinson? To imagine Paul Robinson cackling away in his castle decorated by human skulls, no. That’s not what it was all about."

This week we 'welcome' back a familiar face to the competition. The truth is no-one is glad to see him back. But Winner Stays On must go on.

It must be truly horrible. You're on a great run, confidence is high and you're starting to believe you can go all the way. But then something happens that makes you realise it's just not going to happen.

It's the sort of sinking feeling that EddieHowedo must be feeling just now. Having won two editions of Winner Stays On he's only gone and drawn the one guy he really didn't want to. Of all the people you didn't want to be up against you've only got to go and play Paul Robinson. The Paul Robinson. The most successful WSO contestant in history. The man people were phoning and e-mailing me up about begging for his address so they could go and hurl abuse and missiles at him, such was the hatred. The hatred of course stemmed from jealously. The man is the best, of that there is no doubt. He's the best at what he does. And winning WSO is what he does best.

The way this works is that we receive e-mails from wannabe contestants and we draw the next one at random. There's nothing in the rules to say you can't play twice and it just so happened Paul Robinson's name came up. EddieHowedo did a Ronnie O'Sullivan and called me up saying he wanted out. He didn't want to play because he didn't want it to all end up this way. He had entered for fun, for a laugh, to prove to himself he could win a couple of rounds and who knows, come close to winning the £100 prize. But defeat to Paul Robinson? To imagine Paul Robinson cackling away in his castle decorated by human skulls, no. That's not what it was all about.

I had a hell of a job convincing him not all was lost. Paul Robinson could be beaten. He'd been beaten before. And EddieHowedo reluctantly, much like Ronnie, withdrew his request to be withdrawn. I hope you win mate, I really do. Because it's not just a football tipping comp at the end of the day. Beating Paul Robinson would be a triumph of good over evil.

This week's Matches

Man Utd v Chelsea
Schalke v Mainz
Lecce v Napoli

Conspiracy theories are the name of Mourinho's game. But what does Winner Stays On make of it all?...

We have two new contestants this week battling it out to stay on. Find out why......

It wasn't always the case that footballers were millionaires. Had they been born in another era this might have happened......

Betfair website

Find Me A 100 Winner: Return to Florida can suit Ames

Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 01 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Stephen Ames will be back on the greens he loves best

"Ames' last three PGA Tour victories came in Florida, where he played college golf. and the Canadian also has the tools to do well around the gruelling PGA National layout."

Recent form shouldn't be so highly prized now that the PGA Tour is back in Florida, says Paul Krishnamurty, and a Canadian could reward at a big price at this week's Honda Classic

This week marks the beginning of the Florida Swing, which often signals a significant turnaround in form for regional specialists. Many players, who've begun the season slowly in less favourable conditions, will relish the return to Bermuda greens, just as many others hate them. Consequently, there are always bound to be a few characters knocking around at ridiculous prices, purely because they lack very recent form.

Stephen Ames is exactly the type in question. Ames' last three PGA Tour victories came in Florida, where he played college golf. and the Canadian also has the tools to do well around the gruelling PGA National layout. Tee to green accuracy is going to be the order of the day, especially with strong winds and some rain forecast for the first couple of days. Ames has a reputation as one of the world's best wind players, dating back to the last century. He simply shouldn't be [200.0].

Secondly, an extremely speculative pick, Bobby Gates at [590.0]. This is an in-form player, who finished fifth on Sunday at the Mayakobo Classic, who could well thrive due to the bad weather. Gates' best form has come on tough Australasian courses, where wind is an almost permanent threat. He won the 2010 New Zealand Open before going on to finish 12th and sixth in the Australian Open and PGA last December. Those are excellent returns in decent events on tough golf courses - representing a better level of fairly recent form than most other rank outsiders could dream of.

The trading advice is to lay out 1.5 units, before placing two in-running lay orders at [16.0] and [5.0].

Recommended Bets:

1 unit Stephen Ames @ [200.0]
0.5 unit Bobby Gates @ [590.0]

Place order on each player to lay 5 units @ [16.0]
Place order on each player to lay 10 units @ [5.0]

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Watch the return of the Copa Libertadores

Betfair Live Video / Michael / 15 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Juan Veron's Estudiantes are amongst the teams to look out for in this year's edition

Fluminense and Argentino Juniors contested a 2-2 draw last week but officially the group stage of South America's Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, gets underway this week and all 14 of the matches taking place are available for Betfair customers to watch courtesy of Betfair Live Video.

There are matches on overnight and in the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for you to enjoy, with the holders Internacional kicking off their defence of the title at the home of Ecuadorian runners-up Emelec on Wednesday (well, midnight so technically Thursday!).

No Brazilian team since Sao Paulo in 1993 have managed to retain the trophy but Internacional may view opening up against the same side they started against last season as a good omen.

They were held 0-0 in the away tie on that occasion and Emelec have won nine in ten in front of their fans, so the upset looks overpriced is a reasonable possibility at [3.5], not least because three of the last four champions have lost their first away group game of the following campaign.

Another of the most high-profile fixtures taking place on matchday one comes at the same time as 2009 winners and Argentine Apertura victors Estudiantes, who count among their recognisable players Juan Sebastian Veron, host Brazilian Serie A runners-up Cruzeiro.

Between them the clubs have been crowned South America's finest on six occasions, with Estudiantes claiming four of those titles. They got as far as the quarter-finals in their defence last year and in that time managed three straight travelling clean sheets before falling to Internacional. That suggests that Cruzeiro should potentially be laid at [1.95], with under 2.5 goals likely at [1.87].

Among the continent's other big names that you can check out over the next few days are Santos, who visit Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela on Tuesday and 2008 surprise package LDU Quito of Ecuador, who travel to face Argentine debutants Godoy Cruz on Thursday night.

So what are you waiting for? Visit the Betfair Live Video site now!

South America's premier competition makes a comeback this week to coincide with the return of the Champions League and all 14 of the group matches taking place are available to watch on Betfair Live Video.

As ever there are ten Serie A games and nine Bundesliga matches available for Betfair customers to watch on Betfair Live Video this weekend, including improving Inter Milan's visit to in-form Udinese.

Javier Zanetti will break Inter Milan's league appearance record in Wednesday's Serie A clash with Cesena and you can watch the latest step in their revived bid to retain the scudetto on Betfair Live Video.

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