Tennis

Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters share $4 favouritism for the Australian Open now, but punters are very clear about which way they want to go.

Everyone wants to be with Clijsters and the ratio of bets are running highly in her favour.

The other good move has been for Justine Henin, who looks to have a nice clear path to the finals now after getting past Dementieva last night. She’s into $4.50.

Punters weren’t put off by Roger Federer’s slow start in the opening round and they expect him to warm to his task over the next week. He remains the $3.50 fav. But Rafael Nadal is starting to garner plenty of support.


Punters have liked what they have seen so far and he’s into $5 from a tournament opening quote of $6.
Davydenko also continues to firm. He flies under the media radar, but punters haven’t missed him and he’s a $9 chance. As we reported last week, as much as $34 was available at one stage.

Cricket

The ODI Series starts this weekend and punters are going to find it hard to get behind Pakistan after their capitulation in the Test Series. Australia are $1.32 to win the Series and $1.44 to win Game 1.

The Twenty20 Big Bash on the other hand has been a wonderful contest and captured the imagination of fans and punters alike.

South Australia have been assured of a home final for some time and were long odds-on last week, but remarkably, they have now been displaced as favourites for the final by Victoria. The Vics are $1.85 after ousting Queensland through the week.

It seems the move against SA ($1.95) is based on the absence of Afridi, who is required for Pakistan, but the Vics also lose some talent, including captain Cameron White.

We are happy to take them on at the current quote.

Rugby Union

The Melbourne Rebels have generated plenty of publicity about their 2011 entrance into the competition and it seems that has spurred punters into action about the looming Super 14 season, which is now only three weeks away.

The Crusaders continue to be heavily supported to win and after the support we reported a couple of weeks back at the $5, we took another $8000 on them at $4.50 to take the title this week. There was also two bets of $4000 at $1.50 on them to make the Top 4.

The Bulls are second elects at $5.75, but the Brumbies have been easily the best backed side outside away from the Crusaders, now into $6 from $8.

Conversely, punters seem to have grown tired of the Waratahs, who are $8 to $11 drifters.

The Brumbies are $1.52 to be top Australian side, from NSW ($2.90), WA ($12) and Queensland ($26).

AFL

In a bit of a surprise, there has been excellent support for Brendon Fevola to win this year’s Coleman Medal.
The Fev is $4.50 into $4, with punters obviously latching onto comments from Michael Voss suggesting he has settled in extremely well up north.

In another bad sign for Richmond fans, the Tigers have been backed from $5 to $3.75 to claim the Wooden Spoon. There has also been specking for Port Adelaide, with $1000 on them at $13.

NBL

The Melbourne Tigers have finally come good on their promise to pick up steam in the latter part of the season and they made it five straight when belting title favourites Perth overnight. They are not assured of making the top 4, but they are now into $7.

The return clash in Perth this weekend should be a cracker. The Wildcats are likely to be 4 point favourites, so we expect plenty of punters to come for the Tigers at those prices.

NFL

The countdown to the Super Bowl is on, with the NFL down to four.

Indianapolis are $2.25 favourites to take the big one and they are giving away 7.5 points at the line against the New York Jets this weekend. The Jets have been the fairytale story of the seasons. Now rated $8 Super Bowl chances, they were at one stage through the season $331 pops.

In the other conference final, Minnesota are getting 3.5 at the line against New Orleans.

Minnesota are $5 SB chances, while New Orleans $3 second elects. They opened the season at $26 before winning their first 15 games.

Horse Racing

The Group racing action starts to heat up in Melbourne tomorrow night, with star filly Black Caviar a long odds-on favourite to make a winning return to racing in the G2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Sydney hosts the $250,000 Inglis Classic and stunning debut winner Chance Bye can further her reputation here.
Trainer Michael Tubman won’t hear of her being beaten this weekend, predicting the filly may well set a new 2yo mark for the Randwick 1200m.

Attention then turns to Caulfield on Tuesday, where the highlight will be the return of star Darley colt Denman. The program will also help sort out the Blue Diamond market, with the running of two Previews.

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