Tiger Woods is 2/1 to retain the US Open at Bethpage

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Usually we’re the first to jump in and point out the ludicrousness of Tiger Woods starting every major as a ridiculously short-priced favourite despite having only won two of the last nine he has contested. However, after winning last year’s US Open with a torn ligament, it’s hard to argue with him starting at 2/1 on Betfair. Here are all the important stats:

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» If Tiger Woods retains he will become the first player to do so since Curtis Strange twenty years ago and only the third since World War Two.

» Last year Woods became the first American winner in five years. Prior to that the locals had dominated the tournament, with 52 wins in 58 years.

» This is the second time that the US Open has been held at Bethpage State Park on the Black Course. The first was in 2002 and on that occasion Woods won by three shots.

Posted: June 17th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Everything you need to know to bet on the Ascot Gold Cup

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Photo Credit: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

For many, the Gold Cup is the highlight of Royal Ascot and the big story this year is whether eight-year-old Yeats will be able to defy the age trends and become the first ever four-time winner of the race. Here are some stats to help you decide whether or not to back the favourite to make history:

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Pointers

» The last ten Gold Cup winners were all drawn in even-numbered stalls, with three of the last five winners drawing stall four. Veracity will be occupying that stall this year.

» 13 of the last 16 winners had won over two miles or more prior to the race. Of this year’s ten horses, only Geordieland, Veracity, Yeats and Patkai have been victorious over that distance.

» The last nine winners all triumphed in a Group 1 or 2 race prior to their Ascot success – Sagara never has.

» Geordieland and Hindu Kush are the only horses in the field to have won their last race – five of the last six champions won their final outing before the Gold Cup.

Age and weight trends

Posted: June 17th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Andy Murray odds-on to win at Queen’s after reaching last eight

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World number three Andy Murray has been slashed to just 10/11 to become the first ever Brit to win the singles’ tournament at Queen’s.

The 22-year-old secured a spot in the quarter-finals with victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez earlier today and his position as favourite has been strengthened by the withdrawals of Gael Monfils and Marat Safin with injuries and the surprise early exit of Marin Cilic.

Murray’s chances are soon to be further boosted when one of the two most successful Queen’s players on the tour eliminates the other, with Andy Roddick currently a set up against Lleyton Hewitt. Click here for more stats.

Posted: June 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Our first impressions of this year’s Big Brother contestants

We fancy Cairon to win, while Noirin and Charlie could do well

Major contender: Cairon
Curse of the early favourite: Rodrigo
Too old to win: Lisa, Angel, Marcus
Steph-a-like: Models Sophie and Karly probably won’t be popular with female voters just like Stephanie last year, Imogen (series seven), Sam (series six) and countless others.
Aisleyne-a-like: Noirin could be this year’s Kate (winner, series three) or Aisleyne (third, series seven), a  good-looking girl who is liked by women.

Posted: June 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment