Betting Punter

When it comes to betting, we like to think of odds and markets as following a logical path. The best team, player, horse, etc., is backed as favourite because there seems to be an overwhelming sense that it is the most likely to win. It’s the reason you would know – without looking at the odds – that Man City and Bayern are favourites for the Champions League. Or that the odds will drop for the LA Lakers when there is news of a Lebron James injury.  But when it comes to horse racing, the markets can be a little more unorthodox and sensitive. Often, it is a case of the betting markets following the money.   Horse Racing Market Movers A good example of a market mover was in the 2016 Gold Cup, when the odds for Don Cossack started to plummet overnight, and the Gigginstown horse eventually went off as a 9/4 hot-favourite. In this case, punters were right and the price was evidently justified, as Don Cossack romped home with Bryan Cooper in the saddle.  However, these ...

When Is 2,000 Guineas Day 2021? 2,000 Guineas Day at Newmarket is on Saturday 1 May 2021, and it is the first day of the two-day Qipco Guineas Festival. 2,000 Guineas Day features an eight-race card that starts at 13.15, with the last race due off at 17.25. The 2,000 Guineas is the highlight on the card, with the first Classic of the season scheduled for 15.40. The other Group races are the Palace House Stakes and the Jockey Club Stakes. 14.25 – Palace House Stakes 2021 The Place House Stakes is a Group 3 race run over five furlongs. Palace House Stakes 10-Year-Trends 2021 A high draw has been an advantage in the last six editions of the Palace House Stakes. In field-sizes ranging from nine to 21 runners, the winner has been drawn in one of the four highest-numbered stalls. Five winners in the last decade were aged four, with one 5-year-old, three 6-year-olds, and one 7-year-old also successful. Only two of the last ten winners carried a penalty to victory, while six were making...

Hawkesbury - Race 2 12:25pm AEST No. 6 Luvoir Luvoir returned to the races with classy win at Hawkesbury and a repeat of that effort would make him very tough to beat. He has recorded two wins from as many starts at this venue and he generally does improve second-up. The Deep Field gelding will get the run of the race from barrier three and is great value to make it three wins on the trot. Bet Now: Hawkesbury Race 2 Hawkesbury - Race 5 2:10pm AEST No. 5 Athiri Athiri is well-placed to make a winning return to the races in the Hawkesbury Crown. She could hardly have been more impressive during her Summer campaign and she finished a close second behind Krone in the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares. Athiri has won first-up in the past and she will get a dream run in transit. Bet Now: Hawkesbury Race 5 Eagle Farm - Race 8 3:49pm AEST No. 1 Trekking Trekking is the class horse in the Victory Stakes field, and he is deserving of his status as a dominant favourite....

Cranbourne - Race 2 5:49pm AEST No. 6 Whos The Man Whos The Man put together three impressive wins at Bendigo to finish out his last campaign by a combined 18+ metres. He’s won four of his nine career race starts to date and has been unplaced just once. Looks well placed yet again in a race of this quality. Bet Now: Cranbourne Race 2 Cranbourne - Race 3 6:27pm AEST No. 2 Sonnys Amazing I can’t help but think it was a Tottenham supporter who names this horse but just like the sensational Spurs’ striker, he has been very consistent throughout his career. He has not finished worst than fourth in his last six in a row and he will again feature in the finish from the good draw. Bet Now: Cranbourne Race 5 Cranbourne - Race 5 7:31pm AEST No. 2 Calf Pen Calf Pen kick started this campaign with a second at Kilmore over 2180m before dropping back in distance last start and breaking his maiden duck. He was dominant at Yarra Valley that day as the short priced favourite a...

The third Grand Prix of the Formula 1 season gets underway on Sunday with all eyes at the top of the driver’s standings. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have both traded blows so far in Bahrain and Emilia Romagna, leaving us with even money atop the market this week. The Algarve International Circuit is a tricky one to navigate with plenty of demanding turns, meaning we could be in for our fair share of drama on race day. To help you come up with a betting strategy, you can find our best bets in our 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix Preview here! Race Winner The battle atop the driver’s standings paints a pretty compelling picture. Lewis Hamilton currently leads the charge by a single point thanks to a fastest lap at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but after Max Verstappen’s success at the Imola Circuit, it’s likely the Mercedes team are beginning to feel the pressure. Portugal was the site of Hamilton’s famous 92 nd Grand Prix win last year that saw him pass Michael Schumacher on th...

Albion Park - Race 6 7:04pm AEST No. 2 Ringbark Thunder Ringbark Thunder was impressive when winning on debut at this track and distance, recording a 19.07 when scoring by three lengths. She recorded her second win at just her fourth start last time out and she will appreciate stepping from box two. Bet Now: Albion Park Race 3 Albion Park - Race 8 7:42pm AEST No. 4 Classy Zoro Classy Zoro has been an incredibly consistent greyhound throughout his 53 start career having won 26 times and he has been unplaced just 10 times. he holds the fastest time of any dog in this race at the track and distance and has managed to win three of his past four. With even luck from the middle draw he will be going close. Bet Now: Albion Park Race 8 Albion Park - Race 10 8:27pm AEST No. 4 Just Amazed It has been a while in between wins for Just Amazed who has been racing over varying distances so far this year. The daughter of Paw Licking is yet to win from four starts over the 331...

Menangle - Race 1 5:22pm AEST No. 5 Bundoran Bundoran has shown a love for Menangle in short racing career to date having won three times from five starts here including his last two in a row. He could not have been much more impressive when winning last start over the short course, running a very slick time in the process and it will take a very good one to beat him in this sort of form. Bet Now: Menangle Race 4 Menangle - Race 5 7:18pm AEST No. 8 Jay Ok Jay Ok is one of the best sprinters in the country and while it has been a while in between wins, he has been competitive in high quality races in recent times. He has placed in five of his last six race starts and I like the fact that his runs have been spaced and he been kept fresh. Bet Now: Menangle Race 5 Menangle - Race 7 8:18pm AEST No. 8 Alta Orlando Alta Orlando won a Group 3 at Goulburn over 2240m just four starts back in January and has finished in the top two in four of his past five. The nine year ...

Geelong - Race 1 1:10pm AEST No. 10 Salamanders Salamanders has shown enough during her racing career to date to suggest that she has some ability and she should prove too strong for the rest of this field. This is a genuine drop in class and on exposed form she does look to have an edge over her rivals. Damien Oliver in the saddle is a positive and she should have every possible chance in the run. Bet Now: Geelong Race 1 Geelong - Race 5 3:30pm AEST No. 1 Magnetic I am confident that Magnetic is a better horse than his recent form suggests and he finds himself in a very winnable contest at Geelong this afternoon. This is the weakest field that he has met in recent starts and he does have a genuine class edge over the rest of this field. He may never have a better chance to return to winning form. Bet Now: Geelong Race 5 Geelong - Race 7 4:30pm AEST No. 6 Surecan Surecan is a lightly-raced filly that has plenty of upside. She was unlucky not to get the job do...

As the 2020/2021 European domestic seasons draw to a close, the action across the continent is heating up with several huge matches this weekend. We have studied the form, analysed the markets and have found our five best bets below. Borussia Dortmund Vs RB Leipzig Saturday 1 May, 11:30pm, Signal Iduna Park It’s been a rough week for RB Leipzig with gun manager Julian Nagelsmann announcing he will leave the club at the end of the season for Bayern Munich. He can secure one last parting gift for his current employers by confirming a spot in next season’s Champions League with at least a draw in this match. Dortmund is one point out of the Champions League placings thanks to a four match winning streak which has catapulted them up the ladder. Head to head there is a great case to be made on Dortmund winning the match and I’ll back them to extend their current winning streak. For some extra value, I’ll go into the doubles market and back over 3.5 goals with both sid...

Ladbrokes Park will host Melbourne’s major Saturday metropolitan card this week and nine races are on the program. The rail will remain in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range. Race 1 - 12pm Ladbrokes Handicap (1000m) See You In Spring was an impressive winner on debut and can continue her rise through the grades at Ladbrokes Park on Saturday. The Siyouni filly showed ability at the trials prior to making her debut and put the writing on the wall with an easy win at Cranbourne. She’ll take plenty of improvement for that experience and she can win again. 3 Units See You In Spring Bet Now: Ladbrokes Park Race 1 Race 2 - 12:35pm Clanbrooke Racing Handicap (1000m) This is an open race from a betting perspective and at publish, we’re faced with a little under $5 the field. Harlem Blues recorded a well-deserved victory in a midweek race here last time and looks a winning chance again. The Your S...

The PGA Tour shifts back over to Florida on Friday (AEDT) for the 20th edition of The Valspar Championship at the Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor.  This event was canceled last year due to the pandemic, meaning English golf fans have waited an extra 12 months to watch Paul Casey try and make it three wins in a row.  Internationals have won four of the last five editions of this tournament, while Australia’s John Senden also claimed the spoils back in 2014.  As far as Copperhead goes, the course this week calls for a strong tee-to-green game – especially when it comes to the final three holes appropriately named, ‘The Snake Pit’.  Favourites have typically struggled at this tournament over the last decade, so be sure to find out who we’re backing in our 2021 Valspar Championship Preview here! Valspar Championship Best Bet Louis Oosthuizen – $29.00 Copperhead is one of the more challenging courses on TOUR, largely due to the fact it requires players to bri...

Wentworth Park - Race 3 6:47pm AEST No. 4 Ice Cream Story Ice Cream Story has not been at his best in her last three outings but she is capable of a high rating performance on her night. This is evident by eight wins from 17 career starts and by her personal best time at this track and distance of 29.55 which is the quickest of any dog in this race here. Bet Now: Wentworth Park Race 3 Wentworth Park - Race 4 7:07pm AEST No. 2 Second Exit Second Exit has been an incredibly consistent race bitch throughout her career, placing in 50 of her 61 starts. She ran a personal best time of 29.64 at this track and distance when scoring by over four lengths last start and stepping out from box two is only an advantage for her. Bet Now: Wentworth Park Race 4 Wentworth Park - Race 5 7:30pm AEST No. 6 Let's See Let’s See has gone 10 races without a win but she has been competitive in just about all of them. She was beaten by half a length at Group 1 level just three starts...

Black type racing continues in Brisbane this Saturday with the running of the Group 2 Queensland Guineas over the mile.  With the Doomben 10,000 only a week away, now is the perfect time to build a bank before the Brisbane Winter Carnival well and truly gets underway.  To help you out, we’ve run the rule over Saturday’s entire card below.  Race 1 - 11:30am Treasury Brisbane Benchmark 75 Handicap (1400m) Big fan of Westlink in the first coming off a narrow second to Enterprise Keren last time out over the same track and trip.  The son of Casino Prince strips fitter for three runs back now and is no doubt on the verge of winning another race very soon.  He looked well on his way to greeting the judge first at this venue two weeks ago before being pipped right on the line, but with some added fitness on his side now, I’m confident he’ll finish this race off.  Darren Hyde’s six-year-old has also ran well on rain-affected tracks in the past, so if we...

Richmond - Race 7 8:45pm AEST No. 2 Sound Of Silence Sound Of Silence has won his last three in a row by a combined 10 lengths. He is yet to break through for a win at this track and distance but he still holds the fastest time of any dog in this race at the T/D and his last two wins have been over 600m at Dapto. Bet Now: Richmond Race 7 Richmond - Race 8 9:02pm AEST No. 5 Belfast Express Belfast Express has contested the 330m at Richmond in his last three race starts winning twice in the process. He has stepped out of the boxes really well in all three starts and that will again be important of the short distance. The one to beat. Bet Now: Richmond Race 8 Richmond - Race 10 9:45pm AEST No. 5 Late Night Meet Late Night Meet has raced consistently throughout his racing career to date having placed in 10 of his 18 starts. He is a winner at this track and distance just two back when recording a slick 22.71 and repeat of that effort would almost certainly see him ...

Gloucester Park - Race 3 8:24pm AEST No. 2 Jimmy Mack Jimmy Mack returns after five months away from the track but this is a very winnable race for him first up from a spell. It has been a while in between wins for the nine year old gelding but he has raced consistently in a high level of racing throughout his career and he has drawn to get a nice run in transit. Bet Now: Gloucester Park Race 3 Gloucester Park - Race 4 8:54pm AEST No. 2 Perfect Major He will start a very short favourite but Perfect Major looks the safest bet of the entire card at Gloucester Park this evening. He was dominant when resuming with a win at this track and distance last start and will only improve of that effort here and from the good draw, he should be just winning. Bet Now: Gloucester Park Race 4 Gloucester Park - Race 6 10:00pm AEST No. 9 Star Of Diamonds I’m keen to take on the favourite Alice Kay in this Group 3 event for the fillies and mares. Star Of Diamonds has been placed i...

The Adelaide Racing Carnival officially kicks off on Saturday with the running of the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.  A quality field has assembled for both features, while there are also five other black-type contests on the nine-race program.  With value across the board, our best bets for Australasian Oaks Day can be found below! Race 1 - 12:15pm Listed Without Fear Stakes (1050m) Interesting race between the two-year-olds with some good value on offer for Gulf Of Suez atop the betting.  The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained sprinter has failed to finish off in his last to starts in the Listed Vobis Gold Rush at Bendigo and the Vobis Showdown at Caulfield, but I think getting back to the 1050m now is a big plus for him.  The son of Fighting Sun appeared to be heading towards the Blue Diamond after running third in the Preview, but instead he’s sort of continued on his prep without any real...

Penrith - Race 4 7:39pm AEST No. 8 Elroy Jetson Elroy Jetson was racing extremely well at Menangle over the short course in some very good company before stepping up in distance at his past couple. His wins over 1609m at Menangle in March and early April were very impressive and if he comes to the races in that sort of form, he will be tough to beat in a race of this quality. Bet Now: Penrith Race 4 Penrith - Race 5 8:06pm AEST No. 2 Mi Furioso Toro The fifth event of the day at Penrith is a very open betting race and I’m keen to take on the favourite Faire La Fete. Mi Furioso Toro finished his last campaign with a really nice victory at Newcastle over 1609m when running a pretty slick time in the process. There will be others with a fitness edge on him but if he can repeat that effort he can run a cheeky race at double figure odds. Bet Now: Penrith Race 5 Penrith - Race 6 8:36pm AEST No. 6 Kamendable Feeling This was not the easiest race of the day to assess b...

The NFL Draft is one of the few remaining times during the season where just about every team has some hope about their future. Every team is searching for that difference maker to fall to their spot and sometimes, the months of research pays off… other times it sets teams back several years and results in a whole lot of change in the organisation. With the 2021 NFL Draft on the cards for this weekend and plenty of betting markets available, we are running through some of the best and worst picks in NFL history. Best Picks Tom Brady 2000 Draft: Pick 199 Come on, where else could we start outside of the greatest quarterback of all time? Then Patriots quarterbacks coach Dick Rehbein insisted that Brady was the guy for Bill Belichick to take a sixth round flyer on. 18 months later an injury to Drew Bledsoe began the greatest era of dominance in NFL history that resulted in seven Super Bowls from ten appearances. Can you believe the Patriots let him go? Although it’s kind of easy...