Grand National 2009: Avoid the French horses, back Irish

It’s a century since a French-bred horse last won at Aintree

In each of the last two Grand Nationals, the top four places were all taken by Irish-bred horses (the ones listed with IRE after their names) while eleven French-bred horses (FR after their names) came nowhere in both, extending their winless run to a century. For your convenience, here is a list of the expected French and Irish-bred runners, alongside their Boylesports odds:

French Horses:
My Will 6/1
Butler’s Cabin 9/1
L’Ami 20/1
Golden Flight 50/1
Mon Mome 50/1
Nine De Sivola 50/1
Musica Bella 66/1

Irish Horses

Posted: March 31st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Past meetings: There’s good news for Scotland and Wales

However the Republic of Ireland always lose away to Italy

chickendinner have put the records of all the home nations against their midweek opponents into a handy table to help you decide where there is money to be made betting on the World Cup qualifiers.

Scotland’s 100% record against Iceland makes the general 4/7 being offered on the home win look less stingy but hopes of the Republic of Ireland taking a point against Italy in Bari at 3/1with Bet365 are damaged by the fact the sides have never drawn in eight meetings. Does the fact Wales have won half of their meetings with Germany in Cardiff tempt you to back an unlikely home win at 7/1 with Boylesports?

Check out all the information in the table below before making your mind up:

Posted: March 31st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Grand National: Writing off some of this year’s no-hopers

chickendinner is the place to go for stats on Aintree’s big race

Before we break your heart by telling you that the 100/1 horse whose name you like the sound of doesn’t stand a chance, here’s an encouraging stat to kick off with. In seven of the last nine Grand Nationals, at least one horse with a starting price of 33/1 or better has been placed. But for every rough diamond that has lined up at Aintree there have been dozens of donkeys. Here are a few methods to help you separate the reasonably good long shots from the disturbingly bad:

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WRITING HORSES OFF

» Not since Gunner Welburn six years ago has a placed horse in the most recent Welsh National finished in the top four at the Grand National. Cornish Sett looks like being the latest horse to suffer at the hands of that lean streak.

» Just three eight-year-olds have won this race in the last 35 years – Corbiere (1983), Party Politics (1992) and Bindaree (2002). Of the long shots, this trend is bad news for Battlecry, Nine De Sivola, Flintoff and Nozic.

» A mare hasn’t won the Grand National since Nickel Coin triumphed in 1951. Musica Bella and Pomme Tiepy are unlikely to buck that trend.

Posted: March 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Portugal’s qualification bid suffers yet another setback

Carlos Queiroz’s side could trail by seven points on Wednesday

There is now a distinct possibility that the reigning world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo will not be in South Africa next summer after Portugal drew 0-0 at home to Sweden.

Carlos Queiroz’s side have won just one of their first five qualifiers and find themselves four points behind Denmark and Hungary in Group 1 and that margin is likely to widen on Wednesday when they host Albania and Malta respectively, while Portugal aren’t in action.

Posted: March 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Australian success bodes well for Button and Brawn GP

Five stats about this weekend’s motor racing

Photo Credit: PA Wire

1. In fifteen of the last nineteen seasons - including each of the last three - the winner of the opening race of the season has gone on to win the Drivers Championship. Jenson Button is now the favourite and the best price available on him is 3/1 with Boylesports.

2. The winning team at the first Grand Prix of the season have won the Constructors Championship in seven of the last nine years. Brawn GP are still available at 11/5 with Boylesports but Ferrari, who broke this trend last season to triumph, are still favourites. The best price available on the Scuderia is 11/8 with Ladbrokes.

Posted: March 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The reigning F1 champion is 33/1 to win the opening race

Ten stats about the unpredictable opening race in Australia

Formula One still constantly has to defend itself from accusations of being boring despite the Drivers’ Championship being won by a point at the final race for the second season running. However, a series of rule changes designed to shake up the sport and level the playing field means that this has the potential to be the most unpredictable season ever, as reflected by the odds for the opening race. Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton, who won this race last year, is 33/1 to triumph with Ladbrokes while the 7/2 favourite is Jenson Button, who picked up just three points throughout last season and until last month was in danger of not even having a seat this year.

Click here for all the latest Australian Grand Prix odds

» The reigning world champion has won the opening race in just four of the last thirteen seasons (and on three of those occasions it was Michael Schumacher), so even if Hamilton was happy with his car he would struggle.

» If Button lives up to his billing as race favourite, he must be taken seriously as a title contender. In 15 of the last 19 seasons, including each of the last three, the winner of the opening race has gone on to win the Championship.

Posted: March 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment