bwin

Get on defending champion Adrian Lewis at Boylesports and bwin‘s 9/1 for the PDC Darts World Championship, which gets underway at Alexandra Palace on Thursday.

Since the PDC and the BDO spilt in the 1990s, only the legendary Eric Bristow and Phil Taylor have successfully managed to defend their crown and some would argue that ‘Jackpot’ hasn’t been the same player since beating Gary Anderson in last year’s final. However, that’s a bit of a broad generalisation as Lewis, still only 26, has reached a couple of finals in 2011 and the fact that he’ll be playing on the first night of the championship, against Nigel Heydon, should help settle any nerves, not that the Stoke-born player has displayed many signs of apprehension in the past. He did, after all, become the first finalist to produce a nine-dart finish 12 months ago. I’d much rather have a flutter on Lewis rather than last year’s losing finalist Gary Anderson at shorter odds.

‘The Flying Scotsman’ regularly posts plenty of maximums but it’s consistency that you need in a tournament of this nature, which will extend well beyond the Christmas break before the winner is known. That’s where Anderson has always fallen short in the past. He was long odds-on to beat Lewis in last year’s final after breezing through the earlier rounds but that one below-par night cost him dear and one just gets the feeling that he’ll have at least one of those before this year’s event runs its course. Whether it will prove decisive is another matter, but is it worth the risk at the general 17/2?

Of course, the obvious bet is Phil Taylor, who has already had another terrific year and has laid to rest any thoughts of retirement. ‘The Power’ has already won six major titles in 2011 and only Blue Square, 888sport and Ladbrokes are prepared to offer Evens that a 14th World Championship won’t come his way over the next few weeks. The one worry is that he’s in the same half of the draw as Raymond van Barneveld and the ebullient Paul Nicholson. Van Barneveld (33/1 with Boylesports and Paddy Power) appears on a downward curve but Nicholson, who beat Taylor and Anderson in the UK Open earlier this year, isn’t short of confidence when it comes to facing ‘The Power’, though I know whose side the crowd would be on if both players justify their seedings. ‘The Asset’ can be backed at a general 50/1. James Wade, 11/1 with Boylesports and Paddy Power, has been the other attracting support but it’s difficult to see the winner coming from outside that group and we’re sticking with Lewis to produce fireworks again en route to a second title.

Lee Westwood returned to winning ways in stunning fashion in last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge and the Worksop-born player is a worthy favourite at the general 5/1 ahead of the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

It’s not only Westwood‘s recent form that makes him such an attractive proposition at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, it’s also his record at the luxurious golf resort in the desert. Westwood won the Dubai World Championship in 2009 and was third 12 months ago when finishing just a shot off the pace. He’s had no trouble winning back-to-back tournaments in Korea and Indonesia earlier this year  so is clearly worth following once in the groove and he may be operating under less pressure than the likes of Luke Donald (a general 11/1), who knows a place in the top nine would be good enough for him to make history as the first player to top the US and European money lists in the same year, that’s providing Rory McIlroy doesn’t win in Dubai.

The young Ulsterman is suffering from a virus, however, and struggling to maintain energy levels which isn’t ideal with so much riding on the next four days. The US Open champion is a general 6/1 to win in Dubai. Sergio Garcia has enjoyed a successful second part of the year and should be refreshed having taken a few weeks off. The Spaniard is available at 14/1 with most layers while the 20/1 about Paul Casey with bwin very much catches the eye. Most bookmakers are paying out on the first five for each-way purproses and the Englishman wouldn’t be far away if reproducing the form he showed in the final three rounds of last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Others to consider include Ian Poulter (27/1 on betfair) who was beaten in a play-off in Dubai last year by Robert Karlsson (a general 25/1) and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (a general 14/1). The latter has won twice on the European Tour this year but his two previous appearances in this event have been disappointing and that may be the case again this season and, if I was forced to put up a big-priced outsider in this it would be Gregory Harvet. The Frenchman has secured a top six finish in three of his last six tournements, a second in the UBS Hong Kong Open last week guaranteeing his place in Dubai. He’s consistently recorded four-round under-par totals over the last few weeks yet Victor Chandler are prepared to put up 80/1 against his name. He’s the alternative value bet but Westwood may well show his class again in a tournament he clearly loves.

• Lee Westwood to win Dubai World Championship at a general 5/1
• Paul Casey (Each Way) at 20/1 with bwin
• Gregory Harvet (Each Way) at 80/1 with Victor Chandler

Ladbrokes are refunding all losing outright bets on the ATP World Tour Finals if Andy Murray wins and that could cost the Harrow-based bookmakers a pretty penny.

Murray is only a best 3/1 with sportingbet to end his season on a high despite being drawn in the same first-round group as world number one Novak Djokovic (a general 9/2). The Serb was forced to pull out of the recent Paris Masters with a shoulder injury and has been struggling to regain full fitness ahead of the season finale at London’s O2 Arena. Murray also beat him at Cincinnati before the US Open, though again Djokovic was hampered by his shoulder. Also in their group are David Ferrer (66/1 with sportingbet and bwin), whom Murray beat in the final of the Shanghai Masters, and Tomas Berdych. Given Djokovic‘s current problems, it may well be the Czech (22/1 0n betfair and with bet365) who provides the Scot’s biggest challenge in the group matches as he holds a 3-1 career advantage over Murray and knocked him out of the Paris Masters at the quarter-final stage.

The second group sees yet another clash between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer but it’s the Swiss who comes into the ATP World Tour Finals in the better form. He’s won back-to-back tournaments in Basel and Paris and has already won this event six times. Nadal may have won 17 times in head-to-head encounters compared to Federer‘s eight but hasn’t won a tournament since beating his old rival in the final of the French Open in May and was a long way below his best when losing to Florian Mayer in Shanghai when last on court. There’s a chance a rest will have done him some good but sportingbet think otherwise and are prepared to offer 6/1 against the Spaniard. Federer, on the other hand, is a best 21/10 with Boylesports to go on and win the event after emerging relatively unscathed from a group that also includes world number six Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and American Mardy Fish. Fish (90/1 with Paddy Power) has only won one of seven previous meetings with Federer and, as the rankings and betting suggest, looks the weak link in the ATP World Tour Finals but Tsonga has had a good year, winning in Vienna and Metz, and will give both the Swiss and Nadal a game.

Stan James have also opened a book on naming the two finalists and lead with a Federer/Murray showdown at 11/4. They would have to be the two on current form, while Ladbrokes are out on a limb in offering 6/5 against Murray reaching the final.

With the boxing world still obsessed with the prospect of Manny Pacquiao squaring up against Floyd Mayweather, it’s been kind of overlooked that the Filipino superstar has a very tough fight on his hands against Juan Manuel Marquez this weekend.

Marquez‘ fights don’t normally attract a lot of media attention but the 38-year-old has been one of Mexico’s most resilient fighters of modern times and is greatly respected within the sport. He has also given current pound-for-pound number one Pacquiao an almighty scare in their two previous meetings, even though the results did not go his way. Pacquiao put him on the deck three times in the first round of their opening clash in 2004 but the Mexican still got up to claim a deserved draw and it was a split decision when Marquez lost in 2008. That decision still rankles with the veteran and he will undoubtedly give his all to rectify the perceived wrong – but does he still have the strength and desire to upset the odds?

Continued talk of a showdown between Pacquiao and Mayweather must be in Marquez‘ favour as there’s just a chance that the Pacquiao camp hasn’t been totally focused on the Mexican this weekend. Pacquiao, now a congressman for his native  Sarangani Province, says he would never underestimate Marquez and has trained hard for the fight. If that’s the case, then the champion should have no trouble retaining his crown at bwin‘s remarkably generous 1/7 (the Filipino is less than half those odds with Stan James). Marquez is, after all, moving up two weight divisions to tackle Pacquiao and, no matter how much fighters pretend otherwise, that always affects stamina and performance. Age also takes its toll at the highest level and Marquez has never been a smart enough fighter to keep his chin out of the way of the big shots.

Pacquiao has won his last 14 fights since losing an IBF and WBA super featherweight title bout to Erik Morales in Las Vegas six years ago. He later took his revenge on Morales and has also beaten Oscar De La Hoya and Marco Antonio Barrera in the intervening years and you wouldn’t put an ageing Marquez in the same bracket as those two. Despite the challenger’s bluster, I fancy this to be over pretty quickly so Ladbrokes‘ 8/11 for a Pacquiao win by KO, TKO or disqualification looks fair. The champion to win in rounds 1-6 is 5/2 at William Hill.

Tiger Woods will return to action in the Emirates Australian Open this week ranked 58th in the world. It’s only a year since Tiger lost the number one spot to Lee Westwood but he’s trying to look forward rather than reflect on a traumatic period in his life which has seen his career blighted by controversy and injury. One of the most recent contentious aspects of Woods‘ fall from grace has been the breakdown of his friendship with former caddie Steve Williams, who admitted that remarks he made about the American last week “could be construed as racist”. Williams has since issued an apology but a reconciliation is unlikely in Sydney this week as the New Zealander caddies for local favourite Adam Scott, who is a general 8/1 to win the tournament. Woods is 11/1 with Betfred, totesport and Victor Chandler and has been promised that he won’t be paired with Scott and Williams in the first two rounds, though it will be interesting to see what happens if both are in contention on the final two days.

The Emirates Australian Open is big enough to stand on its own, however, without relying on a possible flare-up to spark interest. It’s being staged at the Lakes Club again this year and has attracted a host of big names from the US PGA Tour including Jason Day (11/1 with bet365 and William Hill), Hunter Mahan (16/1 with bwin and Paddy Power) and Dustin Johnson (a general 16/1). One who deserves a change of luck, however, is Matt Kuchar.  He’s tied for second place in The Memorial and filled the same spot in The Barclays Championship recently so could be a decent bet at the 20/1 with Boylesports, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power in Sydney.

This is a tournament in which the home team have proved almost irresistible in recent years, however. Lee Westwood is the only player from outside the southern hemisphere to have won the Australian Open since 1994 and South African Tim Clark the only non-Australian to have triumphed since 1998, so it may pay to concentrate again on those familiar with local conditions. Holder Geoff Ogilvy is 16/1 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, while Aaron Baddeley has won the tournament as both an amateur and a professional and is a general 20/1 this year.  I’ll put up the latter as a viable candidate again this year and he can also be backed at an attractive 15/8 with Skybet to achieve a top 10 finish.

Australia may have come up short against New Zealand in the 15-man version of the game but the Kangaroos are hot favourites to win the upcoming Gillette Four Nations (7/15 with bwin) having trounced world champions the Kiwis in their final warm-up match at the Ausgrud Stadium. To be fair New Zealand, who can be backed at 7/2 with Skybet and Ladbrokes, were without most of their first-choice starting XIII but they are unlikely to have all of their reinforcements in place by the time they kick-off the tournament against the Aussies at Warrington at the end of this month and an early heavy defeat would be detrimental to their chance of progressing to the final. It probably should be noted that the Kiwis don’t have a great overall record on British soil. They failed to qualify for the final of this tournament in 2009, beating only the hapless French, who aren’t competing this year having lost out to much-improved Wales in the European Cup last year.

Wales (a general 250/1) are unsurprisingly massive underdogs for the Four Nations as probably only Warrington‘s Lee Briers can be described as world-class. Bradford Bulls front-rower Craig Kopczak will have to get through plenty of work but the remainder of the Welsh squad has an awful lot to prove at international level and are likely to be on the end of some real hammerings.

Australia won the 2009 Four Nations in England without losing a match, though they were held to a draw by New Zealand in the group games. The tournament will be the swansong of the legendary Darren Lockyer and he’ll be deternmined to end his career on a high. Alongside Johnathon Thurston, the Aussies have the best half-back pairing in world rugby and now that Fijian Akuila Uate has switched his allegiance to the gold and green, it’s difficult to see how the Aussie backs can be halted as a big pack will again provide a solid platform.

England, of course, have home advantage but Steve McNamara is still developing his squad and may use this tournament to weigh up his possibilities in key areas. The hosts also have a few injury problems so Wigan‘s classy young full-back  Sam Tomkins may be given an opportunity further forward, possibly alongside the exciting Rangi Chase. England’s clash with the Kiwis at the KC Stadium in the final round of first-stage matches will almost certainly decide who faces the Aussies in the final at Elland Road and England are a best 39/5 on betfair to win the Four Nations. As in 2009, a place in the final isn’t beyond Jamie Peacock and his team but the Kangaroos will surely triumph again.

Sebastian Vettel is no bigger than 6/4 with Betfred and Victor Chandler to win a third successive Formula One world title after clinching the 2011 Driver’s Championship in the Japanese Grand Prix with four races to spare. The German only needed a point to secure another championship and he duly did so at Suzuka, finishing third behind Britain’s Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso.

Unsurprisingly the Red Bull driver is a hot favourite to complete the hat-trick in 2012 but there are signs that McLaren are beginning to close the gap on their great rivals and, having just signed a new contract, Button could well mount a more concerted challenge to Vettel next year. He is 9/1 with William Hill to win his second world title in 2012.

Ferrari‘s Alonso, already a two-time world champion himself, is second favourite behind Vettel at 9/2 with bet365 but what now for Lewis Hamilton. Continually courted by controversy this season, (he had yet another coming together with Felipe Massa at Suzuka) Hamilton needs to get his head down and concentrate on doing the basics as he’s just taking too many risks at the moment in an attempt to remain competitive and that level of  indiscipline is unlikely to be tolerated again next year by those holding the purse strings at McLaren, especially with the Brit’s contract up for renewal. Hamilton is 6/1 with William Hill to regain the Drivers’ Championship in 2012.

Incidentally, you can still bet on this year’s championship, without Vettel of course. Button, currently in second place, is 11/17 with bwin to finish as runner-up with Alonso at a general 7/2 and Vettel‘s team-mate Mark Webber a general 6/1. More immediately, Vettel is 13/10 with Blue Square and 888sport to win next week’s Korean Grand Prix, with Button 9/2 with the same two firm and Hamilton 5/1 at Victor Chandler. Alonso, winner of the inaugural race at the Korean International Circuit last year, is 11/2 at Paddy Power.

The NFL owners have got their way over a new financial package and the new season will get under way this week. The New England Patriots are marginal favourites to land the SuperBowl in January at a best 13/2 with bwin, ahead of defending NFL champions the Green Bay Packers (7/1 general).

The Patriots undoubtedly have the most streamlined offense in the NFL and their defensive record will improve this year if Leigh Bodden stays fit to bolster the right side. They are unlikely to be far away again and look a stand-out for the AFC Championship at Blue Square and 888sport‘s 10/3. The only fly in the ointment would appear to be the Baltimore Ravens, whose apparent decision to dispense with veterans like Todd Heap and Derrick Mason, who have served them so well in recent years, and turn to youth will either make or break the franchise. Much will depend on the emergence of Ed Dickson but the Ravens will almost certainly win more than they lose this year and can be backed at 17/2 on betfair to thwart the Patriots in the AFC and 18/1 with Stan James to win SuperBowl.

Turning to the Packers, who are a general 7/2 to win the NFC Championship. Of course, if they can maintain the same intensity as last year then there’s no reason why their won’t be another SuperBowl title winging its way back to Lambeau Field in January. Aaron Rodgers will again be the focus of media attention this year and many pundits are predicting he and his young team can scale even greater heights in the years ahead. But how many times have quarterbacks been promoted to legend status on the back of one brilliant season only to fall flat on their face the next? So comfortable was it for the Packers last season that there is almost certain to be complacency in some quarters this time around and, though much was made of their extensive injury list at the back-end of last year, few of those missing could be regarded as regular starters. I’d be a little bit wary of backing them at restrictive odds until seeing evidence that they were in the right frame of mind.

If I was a having a bet, therefore, I’d be looking at the Philadelphia Eagles. I really like the way they’ve restructured since last season and the hiring of ex-Colts offensive line coach Howard Mudd could be a master stroke. If former bad boy Michael Vick can stay match-fit, the Eagles could make serious inroads this season and make plenty of appeal at 9/2 with Stan James to oust the Packers and win the NFC. They are 9/1 with the same firm to win SuperBowl, which is just too big if most of owner Jeffrey Lurie‘s gambles pay off. Even if quarterback Vick misses a few games, the Eagles have an excellent back-up in Vince Young and it shouldn’t be forgotten that they had the third-best scoring record in the NFL last year and second in yardage gained. Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin will add further steel to their defense this season and the Eagles may well to be the team to beat in 2011.

Andy Murray is 6/1 with Betfred to win the US Open following his victory in the Cincinnati Masters last week. The 24-year-old world number four beat Novak Djokovic in the final after the Serbian was forced to retire with a shoulder injury when trailing in the second set. Supporters’ confidence ahead of Flushing Meadows will have been boosted by the fact that Murray‘s previous tournament success in Cincinnati preceded his best run in New York, in 2008, when he reached the final before losing to Roger Federer. The Scot is hoping for another good run this year, with conditions in Cincinnati likely to be almost identical to those he will encounter in the Big Apple.

Djokovic, however, is on the drift for the US Open and is now out to 6/4 with Paddy Power and Skybet even though his defeat to Murray in Cincinnati was only his second in 57 matches this year. He only has eight days to recover and is looking increasingly weary so those odds look on the short side for a player who has already been a beaten finalist twice at Flushing Meadows.

Murray, of course, has already reached the final of the Australian Open, where he lost to Djokovic, and the semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2011, and on that evidence you would say a maiden Grand Slam title can’t be far away. But he’s also lost to relative unknowns Donald Young, Thomaz Bellucci and Kevin Anderson recently and never makes it easy for himself or his legion of fans.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both exited at the quarter-final stage in Cincinnati but are likely to be much more focused in New York. Nadal (5/1 with totesport) won the tournament 12 months ago, while Federer (11/2 with Coral) has already won the US Open five times and was runner-up to Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in 2009. The latter is still on his way back following injury and can be backed at 18/1 with Boylesports to repeat his victory of two years ago, but fellow big-server Thomas Berdych could be interesting at Boylesports and Betfred‘s 50/1 and the in-form Mardy Fish will have plenty of support in New York. He is 33/1 with Betfred, Boylesports and Victor Chandler. Andy Roddick, the last American-born winner in 2003, looks big at bwin‘s 150/1 considering his pedigree but he’s been woefully short of form in recent months and may struggle to justify his home crowd’s expectations having dropped out of the world’s top 20 for the first time in 10 years.

Normally, you’d expect some sort of a reaction after a team had just been deposed as the best in the world. But, quite frankly, I can’t see a way for India to gain any kind of consolation in the final Test of their series against England. Lack of preparation, too much emphasis on one-day cricket, injuries and fatigue. All have been blamed on India‘s demotion in favour of their opponents at the top of the international test rankings. But I think you can add disinterest and lack of heart to that list. I made the cardinal sin of forecasting that the weather and the class of the Indian batsmen would contrive to thwart England at Edgbaston. I really should have known better! You can’t trust the English weather nor weather forecasters and the less said of the performance and attitude of supposed top-class players like Virender Sehwag, the better. It says plenty that India’s best player by far in this series has been medium-pace bowler Praveen Kumar, who has at least shown the stomach for a battle with both ball and bat. But he’s been badly let down by more exalted and experienced team-mates. India’s much-vaunted top six have simply crumbled in the face of England‘s pace attack and, though captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni insists there is not yet a need to panic, I’d strongly disagree. Sachin Tendulkar is still a class act but not the player of old on this summer’s evidence. Neither Sehwag nor Gautan Gambhir seem able to cope with top-class swing bowling and the years appearing to have worn down Raul Dravid traditional resilience. The Indians just have no middle order and there are likely to be few takers of the 6/1 available for a tourists’ victory in the Fourth Test with Blue Square, 888sportand William Hill. England are a best 6/4 with bet3 65, while the draw is 7/5 with bwin but I’d rather concentrate on some of the other markets surrounding the match. There is still a slight doubt about the fitness of Jimmy Anderson but England have shown they can cope easily when losing first-choice bowlers in the short term. Graham Onions is standing by to make his return to the test arena and will make a good foil for Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan if selected. There may also be a change in England‘s batting line-up with Johnathan Trott likely to come straight back in after missing out at Edgbaston, replacing the unlucky Ravi Bopara. Trott is 4/1 with Skybet to be England’s leading run-maker at the Brit Oval but Alastair Cook heads the betting at a general 7/2 following his magnificent double century in Birmingham. Eoin Morgan, who also scored a century, is a general 8/1 with captain Andrew Strauss at 9/2 with totesport.