Author: Online Betting Pro

I am a punter that loves to follow the horse both in Australia and the United Kingdom. I enjoy writing about sports betting and also casino, poker and bingo. In my spare time I like to keep fit by playing football and going for long bike rides. I also like to travel the world and see amazing place s and meet wonderful people along the way.

It’s Time To Sheikh It Up For Dubai World Cup

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The racing world is dotted with “must-see” events that any true thoroughbred aficionado would love to tick off the ultimate bucket list. Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, the Melbourne Cup, Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival … it’s a list that could run as long as the Straight Six at Flemington. One venue which deserves to be added is the stunning Meydan complex, home of the Dubai World Cup.

Horse racing in the United Arab Emirates dates back to just 1981, when the dusty old Camel Track hosted its first thoroughbred meeting as per the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai (and the owner of the Darley and Godolphin operations). The first Dubai World Cup was held in 1996 and received the best possible PR boost when American wonder horse Cigar, claimed the inaugural trophy. After 14 years at Nad Al Sheba, the meeting was moved to Meydan – the world’s largest integrated racing facility, with grandstand seating capacity for more than 60,000 nestling alongside the luxury Meydan Hotel.

The World’s Richest Raceday

Fast forward to 2017 to find the USD $10 million Dubai World Cup surpassed for the first time as the world’s richest race following the inaugural running of the USD $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Florida’s Gulfstream Park in January. But the Dubai World Cup race card still occupies the top spot, with USD $27.5 million up for grabs across the six Group 1s and three Group 2 races scheduled. Yet, there’s a strong link between the Pegasus and Dubai World Cups. And that’s the presence of Arrogate. Unknown a year ago, Arrogate burst onto the racing scene with a record-setting performance in the Grade I, $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga last August, winning by 13.5 lengths. He followed up that freakish performance victory in the USD $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November, then kept his winning streak intact with a 4.75-length victory in the Pegasus World Cup. The 4yo grey’s record stands at 7:6-0-1 with prize money of more than USD $11 million. He’s a $1.35 favourite (with William Hill) to complete a historic year, and only bad luck will stop him tonight.

Arrogate Unlikely to be Challenged

Outside of the favourite, only Gun Runner is priced under $10 ($9 with Paddy Power) and just four others are rated at better than $50. Mike De Kock’s Mubtaahij was second last year to California Chrome and, despite drawing the outside gate of 14, makes a logical choice to fill one of the places. Outside of the feature, our best on the card is in the USD $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic over 2000m on the turf. It’s the race with the smallest field of the night but the most quality. Postponed is the highest-rated in the field and won this race last year convincingly but comes into this after a second in the Dubai City Of Gold earlier this month. His $2.60 favouritism looks unders, so we’ll be taking the $4.20 (with Ladbrokes) on the well-travelled Highland Reel. He wasn’t at his best when fourth in this race 12 months ago, but had another remarkable globetrotting campaign in 2016 (including victory in the USD $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf) and there’s a strong likelihood of him getting an easy lead here for champion hoop Ryan Moore.

Hotshot Hamilton Sets Pace in the Park

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According to the shrewdies, there are two certainties about this season’s Formula One world title – Lewis Hamilton is nailed on to win the drivers’ championship, and his team, Mercedes, are even bigger certainties to win the constructors title.

While it’s hard to bet against Hamilton, who was quickest in both practice sessions at Albert Park on Friday, the skinny odds about Mercedes taking the constructors championship might not look that attractive if Ferrari can get off to a flying start in Melbourne, and then again in the ”flyaway” races which dominate the early part of the season.

The Silver Arrows are a best priced $1.47 with Betfair to win the championship again this season, with Ferrari at $4.40 with the same company.

Should Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen confirm that the offseason testing was a good guide to the season – the Scuderia was quicker than Mercedes in the last tests in Spain – and both snatch podiums at Albert Park, interest in Ferrari will surely intensify.

A New Season So it’s All Up for Grabs

It might be wishful thinking, and it’s certainly a big if, but in Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton has a new team-mate not yet steeped in the ways Mercedes works.

The Finn is quick and talented, as he proved with strong performances in Friday’s 90-minute practice runs. That might help push Hamilton to the limit and only make the German team even harder to beat.

But Bottas is not yet bedded into the Mercedes system, and if for some reason he gets off to an uncertain start in the opening couple of races, confidence might ebb a little, giving Ferrari, with its settled driver line-up, an opening.

It may be pie in the sky, but that’s what’s so interesting at this point of a new season: everything is possible, and nobody is yet shown to be driving a dud or to have lost their form.

Red Bull is priced up at around $7.60 with Betfair’s fixed odds market, and while it is an interesting price, it is hard to see Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen actually winning enough races to give them a real shot in the constructors battle.

Hamilton tried to talk up Ferrari’s chances at the pre-race press conference on day one of the Grand Prix festival, suggesting that the Italian squad should be favourites. Vettel was doing the opposite, suggesting that testing was merely a guide that could perhaps mislead, and the real laboratory was out on the track from the first practise session onwards.

”So far we don’t know anything. We will get the first impression on Sunday. There are a lot of new things (this season),” the four-time champion Vettel told journalists.

Hamilton Sets the Friday Benchmark

Certainly, Hamilton was able to show he was in the groove right from the off on Friday, in the first 90-minute practice session posting a time of 1.24.220, more than half a second quicker than Bottas. Daniel Ricciardo was fractionally behind the Finn and just ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Verstappen.

Raikkonen was quickest of the Ferraris with Vettel just a smidgen slower.

In the second session, Vettel was second best, but he was half a second down on Hamilton. All look to have their work cut out to match the Brit on Sunday, but qualifying on Saturday will provide more clues.

Sydney Still Soggy For BMW Day At Rosehill Gardens

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Another week, another 100 millimetres of rain for Sydney, meaning Saturday’s Group 1 meeting at Rosehill Gardens again looks set to be run on a heavy track. But in stark contrast to a soggy Randwick, the Rosehill track held up remarkably for last week’s Golden Slipper meeting and we’re expecting a fair racing surface. It was also a surprisingly easy assignment for punters with most races dominated by genuine wet trackers that had race fitness on their side. But before the main course of The BMW is served on Saturday, there’s a tasty entrée in store as the Melbourne autumn winds down.

G1 Friday at the Valley

With the Mornington Cup occupying stand-alone Saturday status, city racegoers will be heading to Moonee Valley on Friday night for the running of the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes at weight for age conditions over 1200m. Melbourne’s final Group 1 race of the season was first run in 1925. It was famously won by Manikato five years in a row (1979-1983), while Ascot champions Black Caviar and Miss Andretti are also past champions. There’s a very even field of 12 engaged this year, with Star Turn a narrow favourite ($4.20 with Ladbrokes), while The Quarterback is the rank outsider at just $20 (with William Hill). Last year’s winner Flamberge is a $16 chance with bet365. Gary Portelli celebrated victory with She Will Reign in the Golden Slipper last week and we like his chances here with #1 Rebel Dane ($10 with Luxbet). The 7yo entire won the G1 Manikato (this track/distance/grade) last October while jockey Ben Melham is in superb form.

Mare a Fair Chance in Tough WFA Test

Showers are forecast in Sydney for the 48 hours prior to this weekend’s showpiece race at Rosehill, meaning a track upgrade is unlikely at this stage. The feature has been known as The BMW since 2002 and was normally held on Golden Slipper Day but was shuffled to build some space between the Golden Slipper and The Championships. Only nine horses will line-up from the 2400m start for the $1.5 million weight for age race this year, with four well clear in the betting – last week’s Ranvet winner Our Ivanhowe ($4.60), 2017 Australian Cup victor Humidor ($4.20), Sky High winner Tavago ($6.00) and Jameka ($3.80), which won last year’s Caulfield Cup. The former was superb in similar conditions last week and could well go back-to-back but with a slight pull in the weights, we’re leaning to #8 Jameka. The 4yo mare is fourth-up this prep, proven at the distance and will get through the slop.

Kiwi Filly to Bounce Back

Aspiring Australian Oaks runners will come to the fore in the traditional lead-up race – the G1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m for the 3yo fillies. It’s a race with an honour roll that includes Lucia Valentina (2014), Mosheen (2012), Miss Finland (2007) and Special Harmony (2004). In the past 15 years, the winners have come through 10 different races across nine different tracks while favourites have snared five of the past 11 editions. The Chris Waller-trained Foxplay holds favouritism with Unibet ($3.30) with another four runners rated at better than $10. We’re going to give the Kiwi filly #1 La Bella Diosa ($6 with Sportsbet) one more chance. Her form had been faultless until a horror run in the G1 Coolmore here on March 11. She’s been passed fit by vets and has worked well since under Jason Collett, who rode her to victory in the G2 Surround at Randwick on February 25.

MLB 2017 Season Preview: LA Dodgers Look Great Value

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We are now just a week away from the start of the 2017 Major League Baseball season, which begins with 2016 World Series champions Chicago Cubs playing the St Louis Cardinals. The Cubs are the favourites to regain their crown, but it looks to be ferociously competitive, with the Red Sox, Indians, Nationals, Dodgers, Astros, Giants, Mets, Blue Jays and Yankees all in the mix, and plenty of dark horses lurking further down the field. Here we run through some of the leading contenders for the 2017 World Series and the value in backing them.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are as low as 10/3 with some bookmakers, but Bet Victor has a market leading 5/1 on the reigning champions. This looks a risky bet, as no team has won back-to-back World Series since the 1998-2000 Yankees. It is not easy to recover from a long and gruelling season and to do it all again, particularly when you become a scalp for every team in the land looking to beat the champion. The Cubs, led by Kyle Schwarber and more of Willson Contreras, are arguably still the best team in their league, but it will be extremely difficult and not worthwhile for such low odds.

Boston Red Sox

Ladbrokes and Paddy Power have the best odds on the Red Sox (13/2), and they will be a huge threat in the AL, despite the retirement of David Ortiz. If David Price’s arm does not ache too badly, and Boston can get over a lack of bullpen depth, it should win the AL East, but would face a monumental challenge if up against Cleveland in the Championship Series.

Cleveland Indians

The beaten World Series finalists will be back with a vengeance and if they can keep everyone healthy – always a huge if in baseball, with 162 regular season games to contend with in little more than six months – they have the best rotation in baseball. But Cleveland faces a similar issue to Chicago in being a scalp for all teams in the league. It is not impossible to reach back-to-back World Series – three teams have done it in the past decade – but Cleveland, 8/1 with Sky Bet, is another risky option due to the risk of injury to stars like Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Michael Brantley.

LA Dodgers

The Dodgers have the world’s best pitcher in Clayton Kershaw, the best closer in Kenley Jansen and a wealth of talent in the likes of Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Jo Pedersen, Logan Forsythe, Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal. They have amazing strength in depth and a $236 million bankroll, and at 12/1 with William Hill and Ladbrokes, they look the best value right now.

The Rest

The Washington Nationals (11/1 with Bet365), Houston Astros (16/1 with 888 Sport), Toronto Blue Jays (22/1 with Bet Victor), San Francisco Giants (18/1 with William Hill) and St Louis Cardinals (28/1 with William Hill) all look dangerous and all have a legitimate claim.

The Fastest F1 Cars Ever Break Cover

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With Lewis Hamilton a short priced favourite to begin his assault on a fourth world title in Melbourne, punters looking to bet around the outright market are spoilt for choice if they are looking to find value investments.

The opening race of the season is always fascinating, and not just because it satiates the appetites of F1 fans left hungry for the four months of the off season.

Part of the intrigue is because there are invariably new rules and regulations, either to the way races are run or the technological changes which have been made to the cars to bring them into line with the new rules.

This year, for example, there will be a standing start if the heavens open at 4 pm on Sunday afternoon, rather than the traditional rolling start behind the safety car.

New Rules and Regulations Increase the Intrigue

The cars are wider and will have larger front wings and wider rear wings set at a lower level. The tyres will also be wider and ”fatter”, the end result that they will have much more aerodynamic downforce – a critical factor in allowing them to approach corners much quicker and make turns much faster as their grip will be even better.

Restrictions on teams developing their engines during the season have been removed, which in theory should assist Ferrari and Red Bull improve their cars to challenge Mercedes.

Many experts are touting them as potentially the fastest breed of F1 cars the sport will have ever seen. The increased speeds and faster cornering will, of course, make it far more physically demanding for drivers and ensure their concentration levels have to be greater than ever.

Those factors mean that there will be plenty of uncertainty about the opening couple of races, even though pre-season testing has delivered some clues, and that is where investors looking for some value might find something to interest them.

To Finish First, You Have to Finish

Inevitably there are retirements and breakdowns with some teams, including the best, suffering unexpected problems.

In those circumstances, it might be worth taking a punt on an experienced driver for an unfancied team to perhaps navigate his way into a top-six finish.

There are few more experienced in this field than Felipe Massa, who was going to retire but answered an SOS from his former team, Williams, to stay on for another year to replace Valtteri Bottas, who has gone to Mercedes.

Massa finished all but four races last season and was in the top six in three of the first four, including Australia. His odds of $1.83 with Sportsbet and Bet 365 to do so again could prove rewarding.

McLaren once used to be the dominant team in this sport, but they have fallen well behind now and anyone expecting them to have another poor weekend can take the odds of $1.14 (Bet 365) for one of their cars not to finish the race.

If you fancy Hamilton to get off to a horror start, he can be backed at $7 not to finish in Melbourne, something he failed to do twice last season.

March Madness Sweet 16: Outright and ATS Picks and Predictions

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There are four highly anticipated Sweet 16 games taking place on Friday as March Madness rages on, and there looks to be plenty of value on offer. Here we run through the four games and offer predictions on each.

Butler v North Carolina

Chris Holtmann taking Butler to the Sweet 16 is a tremendous achievement. He has fostered a versatile and balanced team, and they will not be intimidated by the Tar Heels here. They can slow the pace down and make life very difficult for them. North Carolina can win it, but it will be a tall order to cover the 7.5-point spread set by Vegas. UNC failed to cover an 11.5-point spread against Arkansas in its last game and was really pushed to the brink. The Bulldogs could well do the same here, as they are savvy and disciplined. North Carolina is joint-favourite for the tournament and should win this against a Butler team punching above its weight, but the best prices – 5/17 at Bet365, 2/7 at SkyBet – are not particularly appealing. You could see North Carolina win by four or five points, so Butler against the spread looks interesting at 19/20 with Coral.

South Carolina v Baylor

The east is a mess and Baylor will fancy its chances of progressing to the final four now. Seventh seed South Carolina pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the tournament in the last round by beating second-seeded Duke, pre-season favourite and many experts’ pick to win the tournament, thanks to a strong defence and a great performance from Sindarius Thornwell. But this could be a step too far. Baylor is now the highest remaining seed in the east after Villanova also crashed out, and has a clear route to the Final Four. All it has to do is beat a team that was 2-5 in its seven games before the tournament. Baylor has won its last three games against South Carolina, a team that is 3-7 against the spread versus winning teams. Baylor -3.5 at 10/11 with Bet365, William Hill and Ladbrokes looks good.

UCLA v Kentucky

The third and second seeds in the south face each other in what should be a fantastic game. It is the closest in the betting – Kentucky is 10/11 at William Hill and UCLA is 20/21 at Ladbrokes – and the spread is just -1 for Kentucky. It should be very close, but UCLA is such an exciting team at present and the slight underdogs can pull off a victory thanks to the superb form of Lonzo Ball, who is surely the best player in the tournament. Back him to lead UCLA to the next round.

Florida v Wisconsin

Fourth seed Florida plays eighth seed Wisconsin, giant killers of Villanova, in the final game. Wisconsin has gone this far thanks to its strong defence and will have momentum after toppling Nova, while Florida’s leading scorer KeVaughn Allen is struggling, so Wisconsin +2 with William Hill and Ladbrokes looks a good bet.