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Kathryn Bigelow was divorced from James Cameron in 1991. They continued to work together, however, Bigelow directing Strange Days in 1995 to Cameron’s script and, according to Hollywood sources, remain good friends. Cameron, director of Titanic and the Alien franchise, may have to swallow a little pride however if, as expected, his sci-fi epic Avatar is pipped at the post by Bigelow’s powerful Iraq War drama The Hurt Locker for the Best Picture at this year’s Oscars. The Hurt Locker’s budget pales into insignificance alongside the $300million splashed out on Avatar, but Bigelow’s film about US bomb disposal teams has hit all the right notes with critics whereas Cameron’s spectacular animated yarn has been more popular with cinema-goers, who nowadays seem to prefer adventure to gritty drama. The Hurt Locker (evens with bwin) wiped the floor with its likely chief rival at the Baftas, which are usually a decent guide to how the voting will go in Hollywood, but Avatar remains popular with punters who think the’blue’ movie will come out on top this week and it’s now no bigger than 5-4 (bet365 and betfred) to scoop the Best Film award. Whatever her fate in this section, however, Bigelow will surely win the Best Director award for which she is best 1-4 (victor chandler, Paddy Power, bwin). Colin Firth earned rave reviews for his performance in A Single Man but can be backed at 18-1 on betfair to be handed the Best Actor award with most pundits predicting Jeff Bridges already has that category sewn up with his portrayal of a fading country and western singer in Crazy Heart (Bridges‘ best price is 1-6), while the Brits may also be left out in the cold in the Best Actress category. Both Dame Helen Mirren (66-1 with Coral) and relative newcomer Carey Mulligan (12-1 with bwin) have been nominated but face Hollywood big guns Sandra Bullock (4-6 with betfred, blue square and 888sport) and Meryl Streep (a general 2-1). I must admit, I thought Streep, who last won an Oscar in the early 80s, was brilliantly funny as chef Julia Childs in Julie And Julia, almost funny enough to make me forgive her for Mamma Mia, and she’d be my choice ahead of Mulligan, who still has a big future in the movie business if her early work is an indicator.

The weights for the John Smith’s Grand National in April were published this week and, as always, they’ve invoked optimism and disappointment in equal measure. Trainers who have been pleasantly surprised by the weight their charges have been allotted are usually, understandably, coy about revealing their feelings but those who feel the handicapper have served them an injustice are never slow in letting those involved know about it! One such is Mouse Morris, who has all but already ruled out former Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition (quoted at 20-1 by Blue Square and 888sport) telling the Racing Post he was, "more than a bit baffled and very disappointed" having been given 11st1lb. Former winners Mon Mome (33-1 with Stan James), Comply Or Die (a general 25-1) and Silver Birch (a general 50-1) remain on track for the big race, however, as do Tricky Trickster and Niche Market, first and second in Newbury’s Aon Chase. The former heads the early ante-post market at a general 12-1, while the latter can be backed at a general 16-1 along with Dessie Hughes‘ Irish raiders Vic Venturi and Black Apalachi, first and second in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse and both already winners over the Grand National fences. Coral will give you odds of 2-1 that an Irish horse wins the race again in 2010 and another interesting runner from the Emerald Isle could be Willie Mullins’ Arbor Supreme. Successful in long-distance chases at Punchestown and Fairyhouse in 2008 and usually at his best in the spring, the eight-year-old has been lightly campaigned this season and  is by no means overburdened with 10st8lbs. He can be backed at 40-1 with sportingbet, Coral and William Hill. Big Fella Thanks (20-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill) looks to be the number one hope of the powerful Paul Nicholls yard but I like the early look of Character Building at 33-1 with Victor Chandler, Ladbrokes and William Hill. John Quinn’s grey, winner of last season’s Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, proved his stamina when runner-up in the 4m National Hunt Chase when only a seven-year-old and looks to have been campaigned with an Aintree bid in mind this term.

Miko De Beauchene, 10-1 with sponsors Blue Square and 888sport to win this year, managed the feat and Dream Alliance can follow in his hoofprints in 2010. What am I talking about? The Coral Welsh National/Blue Square Gold Cup double! Philip Hobbs has been unstinting in his belief that his gelding would one day develop into one of the country’s leading staying chasers and Dream Alliance finally appeared to come of age at Chepstow in December. Runner-up to subsequent Gold Cup winner Denman in the Hennessy in 2007, connections of the nine-year-old than had to endure a frustrating sequence of runs in which Dream Alliance failed to complete. But it transpired he had a tendon injury that required complete rest, indeed there were fears that the horse may never race again. But, after 18 months on the sidelines, he delighted his trainer with a second over hurdles in November and proved he was back to his best when storming to victory in the Welsh National, beating Silver By Nature, Le Beau Bai, Miko De Beauchene, Ballyfitz and Coe in the process. Now some would argue that a few of those behind have every chance of turning the tables here with the winner racing off a 9lb higher mark and Le Beau Bai (6-1 with Blue Square and 888sport) has won over hurdles since to prove his wellbeing. But I think Dream Alliance (7-1 with Blue Square, 888sport and William Hill) will be even better over this slightly shorter trip and could yet prove he is a high-class stayer. Of those behind at Chepstow, Coe (a general 7-1) is arguably the most interesting this weekend as he travelled strongly for a long way in front before tiring and has a decent record around Haydock. Another with a proven track record is Our Vic (20-1 with Victor Chandler and Stan James) who had 2009 Grand National winner Mon Mome (a general 12-1) trailing under a similar weight over 3m here last month. His welter burden may bog him down over this extra half-mile, however, and a more interesting each-way prospect could be Nick Williams‘ mare L’Aventure (a general 16-1) who is a former Welsh National winner herself. She won over 4m at Kelso in December so clearly retains plenty of ability and is the type to run a big race off a light weight in the mud around here.

The frost may have deprived us of one major national hunt betting heat at Doncaster last week but the weather forecast for Town Moor looks more favourable for this weekend and I fancy the talented Tartak to go very close in the Blue Square Handicap Chase. Traditionally, this is a race in which the up-and-coming classy chasers excel. No horse carrying less than 11st has triumphed since 2003, while you would have to go back another year to find a winner aged nine or older. Take into account those stats and what, on paper, looks a very tricky puzzle to solve suddenly becomes less complex. I’ve a lot of respect for top weight Kalahari King (available at 10-1) but trainer Ferdy Murphy has already stated that his season-long target is the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, for which he is also a general 10-1 chance, so this run might be needed after a 287-day break. Not surprisingly, Paul Nicholls‘ two runners are well to the fore in the betting with stable jockey Ruby Walsh preferring the consistent Free World (5-1 in most places), who has been placed in his last six starts, ahead of last year’s winner I’msingingtheblues. The latter, available at a general 8-1, is 7lbs higher in the weights this time around. But if you’re looking for value (and who isn’t), how about Tartak? The seven-year-old can be backed at 12-1 with totesport, betfred, victor chandler, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and William Hill, who seem to have priced up Tom George’s gelding on the basis that he’s never won over a trip this short before. His stamina, however, is what attracts him to me in this contest. He’s been pitched in against top-class opposition so far this term and was far from disgraced when 5th in the Arkle Chase last season over 2m when finishing ahead of I’msingingtheblues (4lbs worse off). The weights today also give him every chance of reversing that form with runner-up Kalahari King and, with a plethora of front-runners to ensure a strong gallop, Tartak should also have the race run to suit. You only have to go back to Aintree last year, when Tartak beat Deep Purple, Planet Of Sound and Calgary Bay, to realise that he shouldn’t be anywhere near his current price!

France are 13-8 favourites with Blue Square, Stan James and 888sport to win rugby union’s Six Nations, which gets under way at the weekend, and as short as 11-8 in places. Are they having a laugh? Seriously, how could anyone put money on Les Bleus while the enigmatic Marc Lievremont remains in charge? Prone to unfathomable errors of judgement where team matters are concerned and liable to change a winning formula on a whim, half the time not even the French themselves seem to know what to expect from their team and that would be amajor worry for anyone thinking of following the market. Despite their clubs dominating in the Heineken Cup this season, they are just too unpredictable to back in my eyes and it’s no coincidence that they haven’t won the Six Nations title for six years. So with Italy (250-1 with most bookmakers) again set for their annual role as whipping boys – who are we putting up? Well, in all honesty, there can only be one answer. Ireland, I believe, are a class apart from the other northern hemisphere countries at the moment, a fact reflected in the autumn internationals against the big teams from south of the equator. A victory over South Africa and a pulsating draw against the Wallabies was followed up by a demolition job on Fiji, results which put the efforts of their Six Nations rivals in the shade. Brian O’Driscoll is still the best in his position in the world, and Rob Kearney can also rightly call himself world-class nowadays as well. Add to that, a powerful pack and the experience of last year’s Grand Slam and you should have a winning formula. I wouldn’t have marked up the Irish anywhere near the widely avaiable 5-2 and, though they have to go to Paris and Twickenham this season, another Irish Grand Slam (generally 6-1) is by no means out of the question. Extrabet have also priced up straight forecast odds this year and I might be interested in the Ireland-Scotland combo at 40-1. The Scots are a bit like the French in that you never know what you are going to get but they may have made a shrewd move in appointing Andy Robinson as coach and won’t be easy to beat if the autumn internationals are a good guide. A remarkable victory over Australia showed what the Scots can do when they stick to their game plan and they are more than capable of springing a couple of surprises this term. England’s dismal showing in last year’s champiosnhip and an injury-hit autumn doesn’t inspire confidence that they’ll be in the shake-up so extrabet and totesport’s 5-1 looks short but what of Wales? Winners of the Grand Slam in 2008 but disappointing in the main last season, they looked a dispirited bunch on their last outing at the Millenium Stadium and would probably have to win at Twickenham on the opening day if they are to get themselves back on track. I think that’s unlikely and I’m not remotely interested in Paddy Power and Ladbrokes‘ quote of 5-1 against the Welsh winning the Six Nations – that’s reserved for the men in green!

One of the great features on Blue Square, which will appease many a horse racing fan, is their pretty awesome I-card. What is an I-card you may be wondering? Well, it is everything that you need at your disposal online, when it comes to making bets on the horse racing. The I-card opens up in a new window, so it won’t get in the way of the main betting site, instead it runs side-by-side, allowing you to keep it open to explore while keeping your eye on other stuff. The home page of the I-card lists the Race Cards for the day, and not just from the UK. You are not going to miss a race with this application open. Looking at Kempton for today, there is a list of races as well as a Course Info link. Clicking on that will take you to a page about the course, where it is located, a graphic of the track, their website, admission, and everything else you may want to know. It will also give you the results from previous meetings if you’re interested.

The interface is fairly intelligent, so if you browse across the top tabs to the all important statistics, then you will have the options to just see the statistics for the courses hosting race cards for the day, so you don’t have to go searching around. There is some vital information in there, and you can cast a knowing eye over everything from Top Track Trainers, Top Track Jockeys, Hot and Cold Jockeys and Trainers, Beaten Favourites and the Top Earners. Let’s say for example you wanted to look into more depth at Trainer Jonjo O’Neill, just click on his name and you will get the full list of his last 50 races, plus detailed summary of performances at the given track. Want more, there are video highlights to back up some of the races as well, so you can see the horse in action. Just to round things off on the I-card, there is also a news tab which is worth checking out, as Blue Square post their own racing news which can keep you up to date with the day’s racing.

Well, as impressive as all of that is, there is much more to Blue Square’s Sports Book than just the horse racing. The home page will give you access to sections such as the sports book, poker, games and the casino. The sports book is where will concentrate, and when you first land there you will see the live betting, which is presented really nicely. When you click on live action to follow, such as the Masters semi final between Stephen Maguire and Mark Selby, you get a cool graphic with the score, and then the list of betting option beneath. Keeping an eye on it, you can see the movement in the prices, which get highlighted red and green with arrows to see what is happening. Even when you click on particular bet, you will still see the other live action down the left hand side, very well presented.

Blue Square do extend their service even more with a blog. Here you can find previews of forthcoming sporting events (sports are listed by section for you to browse around), as well as some great features and bonuses which can be earned with the online bookmaker. Sports betting can be embellished with services like this, and Blue Square deliver well. You can also navigate to other things like live scores, live betting and other areas of the website. The main area of the sports book is navigated through a left hand menu which is extendable and collapsible. Dipping into the football section, they present some great options, such as enhanced multiples, short priced favourites, as well as the leagues and cups from around the world. I took a look at the Goal Crazy Coupon, and you are presented with a coupon with selections for forthcoming games where you pick matches with “both teams to score” option to build your bet. The presentation of the Blue Square website is excellent and a bit of a treat to be honest.

There are specials and lotteries to keep you entertained, as well as the mini games to try and secure some instant wins. Everything seems very understated on the website, but very well executed, and is pleasurable to find your way around. You can even become a Blue Square VIP, which will give you an even more enhanced service, such as email address, personalised betting service, extra cash bonuses, free bets for the sports customer and much more. Check out their VIP link for more information. No online bookmaker would be complete without a welcome bonus offer, and Blue Square offer a free £10 bet for customers who open a new account. Simply open an account, and when you make a deposit, Blue Square will match the deposit up to £10 in a free bet.

Get in on the excellent betting service which Blue Square, starting with Aston Villa v West Ham on Sunday. Blue Square are offering some good prices, with a win for Villa at 8/15. If you sign up and make your deposit, then you could use your free welcome £10 bet for it. It would bring a return of around £5, which isn’t too bad for not gambling with your own money to start with. So, with caption competitions, a £1 million Live football challenge where you predict scores, in-depth sporting analysis and a great horse racing service, Blue Square provide some great coverage. Visit their website today and check all the good stuff at Blue Square.

Would you believe Dancing On Ice has around 28,000 followers on Facebook? Or that you can get up-to-the minute news via Twitter? No. neither would I! Regular readers of this column, of course, will know that I’m not the greatest fan of these TV reality marathons but they are becoming increasingly popular with punters who do tend to get a run for their money, regardless of which D-Lister they attach their colours to (and often get a reprieve from the public after the expert judges have shown their selection the red card). So, Dancing On Ice, what a parade of stars ITV have come up with this year for Torvill and Dean to lick into shape! If I tell you panto star and one-time impressionist Bobby Davro (readily available at 33-1) and ex-swimmer-turned commentator Sharron Davies (16-1 with Blue Square, 888sport and Coral) are two of the more well-known names in the starting gate, you can imagine what the rest of the line-up looks like. It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how the much-maligned Heather Mills (a general 33-1) copes with being back in the limelight, however, as well as the obvious disadvantage of having one less foot than the opposition, though at least GMTV’s Dr Hilary Jones (a general 40-1) will be on hand in case of medical emergency. Someone with less tact than me might say that Daniella Westbrook (33-1 in most places) would be happier if the programme was called ‘Floating On Snow’. I wouldn’t, of course, nor would I suggest Boyzone’s Mikey Graham (8-1 with Blue Square and 888sport) will be aiming for the sympathy vote given the band’s recent loss. Rugged actor Jeremy Sheffield is the bookies’ current favourite at a general 4-1 but, as usual, it will be the soap actors who hog most of the headlines. Coronation Street’s Danny Young will attract interest at a general 6-1 but there has already been significant support for Emmerdale’s Hayley Tamaddon, which suggests she has been showing up well in practice, so Coral’s 7-1 might be worth grabbing while it’s on offer.

On current form and throughout recent history, there is very little to choose between South Africa and England when it comes to Test cricket. Historically, since the Proteas were readmitted to Test cricket after the abolition of apartheid 30 year ago, South Africa have won 10 matches to England’s nine with 13 drawn. In seven Test series, that amounts to three wins for the home side, two for the tourists and two series which ended all-square. All of which suggests that Andrew Strauss and his team are way overpriced at 5-2 on the Draw No Bet line (William Hill) to triumph in the latest four-match head-to-head which gets under way at Centurion next week. South Africa have recently forfeited their number one ranking in the five-day game to India and their recent loss to England in the one-day series underlined why they must be considered a risky bet at 4-6 with skybet, blue square and 888sport for the upcoming series. I’ve no qualms with the top end of the home side’s batting, indeed Graeme Smith is a world-class opener and Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers will give him ample support. But recognised all-rounder Jacques Kallis may not be fully fit until the Third Test, while Alvaro Pietersen and Ryan McLaren lack experience. The Proteas‘ real problems are in the bowling department, however. While England come into this series with James Anderson, Graham Onions and Graeme Swann firing on all cylinders, South Africa are still over-reliant on the ageing Makhaya Ntini to take wickets. Plenty of shrewd judges have expressed that the veteran is past his best as he approaches a century of Test caps and a back up of youngsters Wayne Parnell, Friedel de Wet and an injury-prone Dale Steyn shouldn’t have the England batsmen quaking in their boots. I’ll admit I’d have like to have seen Kevin Pietersen have had more time at the crease lately, but Strauss, Alistair Cook and Jonathan Trott have all looked in good nick with the bat for England, as has Paul Collingwood. As long as the tourists keep their heads, it’s hard to see South Africa taking 20 wickets in a match given their current line-up but, that said, this is England we are talking about and they are more than capable of a major wobble when none is envisaged. With that in mind, have a bit of the 7-1 for a 1-1 series score with Ladbrokes. A drawn series can be backed at a general 7-2.

Now I’ve heard two trains of thought regarding England’s World Cup draw. On the one hand, euphoria that Fabio Capello’s men somehow avoided dangerous wild cards like The Ivory Coast, France and Portugal in their first-round group, but in the opposite corner nervous fans who point out that England’s potential first match in the knockout stages of the tournament will be against either Australia, Germany, Ghana or Serbia. I suppose it depends if you’re a glass half-full or glass half-empty kind of guy as to what your viewpoint is on this but surely the World Cup finals are all about making progress one step at a time and, on that score, England just can’t complain about the hand they’ve been dealt. The Three Lions are now no bigger than 6-1 with Coral to win only their second World Cup and a best 4-11 (Skybet and Paddy Power) to win Group C ahead of the USA, Algeria and Slovenia. The Americans, England’s first opponents in Rustenberg on June 13th, are generally regarded as their most dangerous group rivals and can be backed at 5-1 with bet365 and Betfred to top the section, while Slovenia are 12-1 and the Algerians 25-1. One should never underestimate any country who have made it through to the finals of a major tournament but if England don’t make the last 16 with the minimum of fuss they will surely never be forgiven. Slovenia, who failed to muster a single point in their only previous appearance in the finals, and Algeria, easily the weakest of the African nations to qualify, both needed a play-off to reach South Africa, while the USA eventually struggled to top the North and Central American qualifying group despite winning their first four games without conceding a goal. American soccer fans still fondly recall their country’s famous win over England in Brazil in 1950 and several of their key players nowadays ply their trade in Europe. But the majority of their squad are still based in the less-than-competitive MLS and even though they had an excellent Confederations Cup campaign recently, where they beat Spain and ran Brazil close, they will surely struggle to contain a full-strength England who’ll be backed by a huge following in South Africa. I’m sure we’ll cover the 2010 World Cup in more depth next year but other early odds that catch the eye are hosts South Africa to win Group A at 8-1 with 888sport and Blue Square against woeful France and regular under-achievers Mexico and Uruguay (they are only 4-1 with Ladbrokes), and the Netherlands at 4-5 with Paddy Power and Victor Chandler to win Group E. The Dutch are in a different league to fellow Europeans Denmark on their day and, now that they’ve found a level of consistency in tournament finals, should know too much for Cameroon and Japan.

I would imagine that sales of Gillette razors in Ireland have suffered somewhat since Thierry Henry decided to give his French team a helping hand towards the World Cup finals last week. It was certainly a bizarre way to audition for the Cirque du Soleil, where such manual dexterity surely belongs. Henry’s faux pas, of course, has had repurcussions far beyond the world of football with questions asked in The Oireachtas (Irish Parliament to you and me) and a war of words exploding between Irish ministers and their French counterparts. Even the Gallic press were pretty united in their condemnation of the national side. Le Monde’s headline read "Blues Relieved, Irish Disgusted", while Le Parisen led with "Henry Saves France With His Hand". Former World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu went as far as to say that the French performance was ‘catastrophic’ so it’s no surprise to see Raymond Domenech’s side can be backed at 18-1 with Blue Square and 888sport to triumph in South Africa. Incidentally, in a post-script to the World Cup qualifier in Paris, FIFA have announced they are to discuss the Henry incident at an extraordinary general meeting just two days before the draw for the group stages of the finals is made, with an inquiry into alleged irregular betting patterns in other qualifiers also due to take place. Unfortunately, the Irish won’t get a second chance, which is a pity because all this has rather taken the shine off a joint Franco-Irish venture which should have captured more headlines than it did. The Paris-Mutual Urbain is the largest betting organisation in Europe and its decision to use the technical know-how of Paddy Power for its move into fixed-odss betting is a ground-breaking deal for the innovative Irish bookmaker. The five-year agreement is expected to create more than 200 jobs at Paddy Power’s Dublin head office with, ironically, the new technology’s first big test being the 2010 World Cup. So more jobs for Dublin but worrying times in Liverpool after Ladbrokes announced that they are to close their call centre near Aintree racecourse. The firm will retain its call centre at its UK headquarters in Harrow but, of course, it now does most of its business out of Gibraltar. It’s probably fair to say that the betting industry no longer offers the job security it once did.