Sport and showbiz betting: Monty 5-6 for Ryder place

SPAIN are the shortest-priced European side for the 2010 World Cup following their stylish victory in Euro 2008.

The Spaniards displayed flair, organisation and, for once, a steely resolve as they brushed aside the cream of European football with six victories in the tournament.

Bookmakers have reacted by making them 9-1 third favourites to claim the world crown in South Africa, behind Brazil (5-1) and Argentina (11-2).

England, laughably, are fifth favourites at 12-1, just behind champions Italy (11-1).

Fabio Capello may be a fine coach, but he will have his hands full trying to convince this overrated bunch to keep hold of the ball instead of appeasing the crowd by punting it forward and I can’t see why we are favourites to win Group 6 at 6-5.

Croatia, who beat England twice in European qualification and were unlucky in the latest finals, represent much better value at 13-8, while others in the group are Ukraine (15-2), Belarus (100-1), Kazakhstan (1,000-1) and

ANDY Murray’s heroic fightback from two sets and a break of serve down to Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon on Monday night has seen the bookies cut his odds for the men’s singles title to 16-1.

Murray was due on Centre Court today to face Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who is looking increasingly comfortable on grass and was likely to prove much too strong for the Scot.

Nadal was quoted at 2-9, with Murray 4-1 and a straight sets win for the Spaniard rated only an 11-10 chance.

As for the title, it looks a two-horse race between Nadal (13-8) and Roger Federer, whom the odds layers make a 4-6 shot to make it six successes in a row.




THE Ryder Cup at Valhalla is on the horizon and, rather predictably, competition hero Colin Montgomerie, who was second in the French Open on Sunday, is making a late charge to earn a place in Nick Faldo’s European team.

Monty, the man the Yanks love to hate, always rises to the challenge of the Ryder Cup, but needs to improve significantly on his current standing of 14th in the European list if he is to make the team automatically.

Faldo and Monty have had their differences, so a wildcard pick is no certainty, but Skybet’s 5-6 is the best price you can get about the Scot being in the team and the same firm go 8-1 about him being the top points scorer.

Europe are evens to retain the Ryder Cup, with the USA on 6-5 and the tie 12-1.




AS a person who dislikes engine noise, F1 is not really my scene, but sometimes one has to bow to popular demand and there is no doubt that Sunday’s British Grand Prix rivals Wimbledon as the country’s biggest sporting event of the weekend.

Kimi Raikkonen is 6-4 to win the race at Silverstone, followed by Britain’s Lewis Hamilton at 5-2 and Raikkonen’s Ferrari team-mate and world championship leader Felipe Massa on 3-1.

Raikkonen, with 43 points, is 11-10 to retain his world title, followed by Massa (48) at 5-2 and Lewis Hamilton (38) at 9-2.

Robert Kubica, despite being second on 46 points, is available at 16-1.




ENGLAND take on South Africa in the first Test at Lord’s tomorrow week and, after their shocking performances in the one-day series against New Zealand, I fear for them against a well-drilled, skilful and highly-motivated team.

Andrew Flintoff has been in action for Lancashire against Sussex this week, but it’s surely too soon to bring him back into the Test arena, so expect the selectors to stick with the side which defeated the Kiwis 2-0 earlier in the summer.

That will mean wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose keeping his place which, in my view, is ridiculous.

We have been down the batsman/’keeper road with Ambrose, Prior, Jones et al and it does not work.

It is a flawed policy whose aim is to unearth another Gilchrist, Boucher or Sangakkara.

Well, England have not got anyone approaching their all-round ability so, for heaven’s sake, let’s pick someone who can catch the ball, stump opposition batsmen and prevent needless extras.

That man is Chris Read, who may not be the best batsman in the world, but is certainly one of the top two or three wicket-keepers on the planet.




RECOMMENDATION: Croatia to win World Cup Group 6, 13-8 (betterbet, Paddy Power, betdirect, Skybet, Stan James).