Stay calm, Lewis

LEWIS HAMILTON lost his head and his chance of winning the Formula 1 world title in Brazil a year ago.

Now he has the chance to wipe the slate clean by clinching this year’s championship in Rio De Janeiro.

Hamilton’s erratic manoeuvre leaving the pit lane 12 months ago ruled him out of contention and handed Kimi Raikkonen the chance to secure an unlikely success.

Surely Hamilton will not make the same mistake twice on Sunday when a conservative drive should enable him to finish in the first five and secure an unassailable advantage over the only man who can beat him, Felipe Massa.

Massa will be racing in front of his own fans and is 6-4 to win the race, but Hamilton is 1-5 to clinch the world crown, with the Brazilian a 9-2 shot.

Come on Lewis, you can do it if you stay calm!




CHELSEA have been eased from evens to 5-4 to win the Premier League crown after suffering a surprise 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday.



The Merseysiders have been cut to 4-1 to win the title, while Manchester United – apparently given zero protection by the referee in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Everton – are 5-2 shots to come out on top.

United entertain West Ham tonight and are fully expected to justify odds of 2-9 for a home win, while Manchester City are 8-5 favourites to win at Middlesbrough, who are priced at 15-8. The draw can be backed at 12-5.




HARRY Redknapp’s appointment as Tottenham manager and the team’s subsequent win at home to Bolton has prompted a big drift in the White Hart Lane club’s odds for relegation from the Premier League.



Despite Sunday’s 2-0 win, Spurs remain at the foot of the table and are 11-2 to go down which, amazingly, is the same price as that attributed to third-placed Hull City!




THERE’S $20m up for grabs on Saturday when the West Indian select team, aka the Stanford Super Stars, take on England for a winner-takes-all purse, starting at 9.30pm, GMT.


These games can go either way, but with such riches at stake, the team which holds its nerve best is likely to prevail – and for that reason you have to fancy the more professional England outfit, who can be backed at 8-11. The SSS are available at 5-4.



ANDY Murray’s sensational form continued when he retained his St Petersburg Open title.


In his current mood, there are few, if any, better tennis players in the world, so it is no surprise that Paddy Power make him only 15-8 to win a Grand Slam tournament in 2009.


DIANA Vickers continues to be backed to win the X Factor and is now down to a best-priced 2-1, ahead of Laura White (9-2) and Alexandra Burke (5-1).


And it’s a similar story in Strictly Come Dancing, for which Austin Healey is 2-1 favourite after sustained support.

Tom Chambers is 4-1, while Cherie Lunghi has eased to 5s.