Follow The Money: Captain Chris to cause Ryanair upset?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 15 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

"Captain Chris has had significant support to move from [16.5] in to [12.0]."

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Cheltenham, Towcester and Hexham.

Our first race is the 14:40 at Cheltenham where Captain Chris has had significant support to move from [16.5] in to [12.0]. On the face of it he has it all to do after a poor run in the Argento here in January. However, he had some classy types behind him (including yesterday's Champion Chase victor Finian's Rainbow) when winning last year's Arkle impressively. He obviously has talent in abundance, with the trip and ground expected to suit. If all is well, and the signs in the market suggest that they are, he could run a huge race at a tasty price.

For our next selection we go to the 15:05 at Towcester where there has been an early move for Marodima. Course form can be significant round this most punishing of tracks, and Marodima has the all important CD letters by his name. He has been running in better races than this, albeit over the bigger obstacles, but his hurdling form is also decent. He is also a multiple winner on all types of going and is best seen at this trip. Punters seem to have latched on to this one with an air of confidence backing from [3.65] in to [2.58] so the obvious recommendation is a back bet.

Our lay of the day can be found in the 15:35 at Hexham where Mr Woods has been drifting from [2.86] out to [3.75]. He has won his last two runs on heavy ground so is obviously in good form. However, this will be his third run in a week, with today's trip over a marathon 4 miles. His last try at this trip came here in November on soft ground, and he finished well down the field that day. It seems the market, while not totally dismissing his chances of the hat-trick, obviously didn't want to side with him at the skinny prices offered earlier. His latest exertions may well catch up with him today so the recommendation is a lay.

Recommended Bets
Back Captain Chris @ [12.0] Cheltenham 14:40
Back Marodima @ [2.60] Towcester 15:05
Lay Mr Woods @ [3.70] Hexham 15:35

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Cheltenham, Huntingdon and Southwell....

The Follow The Money team aren't fixated by Cheltenham, making just one pick from the Festival's first day offerings and including runners at Sedgefield and Southwell instead. Winners are winners, of course, so will their tactics prove successful?...

Today's Follow The Money selection can be found at Plumpton, Stratford and Taunton....

Amazon Watches Center

IPL Betting: Hired gun Chris Gayle is back

Indian Premier League - IPL / Frank Gregan / 05 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Chris Gayle is a hired gun these days, pictured here playing in the Australian T20 competition, the Big Bash.

"The winners in all this will be the Bangalore Royal Challengers who have now secured the services of the big hitting bat-for-hire on a permanent basis."

Despite a few issues concerning Yuvraj Singh's replacement as skipper of Pune, the IPL field has been finalised. Chris Gayle is back for the Royal Challengers Bangalore but a return to international cricket for him still seems unlikley at the moment.

There's a month to go before the Indian Premier League gets underway and for a tournament that enjoys every bell and whistle that it can lay it's hand on, the build up to IPL5 has been very subdued. It's been a political affair dominated by the dispute between Sahara India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Sahara India are the owners of the Pune franchise and a major sponsor of Indian cricket but it looked as if they were about to walk away from the sport.

The spat now appears to be done and dusted with Pune's inclusion in IPL5. The row centred around the replacement of their skipper Yuvraj Singh, who is having treatment in the US for a lung tumour. But the issue has now been resolved and Sahara has re-established itself as Team India's sponsor. Pune's inclusion means that nine teams will compete in IPL5 over an eight week period which makes one heck of a dent in the world cricketing calendar.

During IPL5, there are a number of international series including Australia touring the West Indies and at the back end of the tournament the West Indies being hosted by England. Three of the West Indian stars - Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle are already lined up for IPL5 - and have been joined by Marlon Samuels, who has recently signed for Pune.

It looks set to come down to the old chestnut of club (or franchise in this case) V country. The WICB does have control, No Objection Certificates are required for participation. But a bit like a bar tab at the local, refusal often offends and after the Chris Gayle fiasco the board will be eager to keep their stars sweet whilst still fielding a competitive international team. Compromise looks like being the buzz word that will be filling their press releases as they try to avoid more bitter arguments.

The ruck between Gayle and the WICB has dragged on and on and looks no nearer to a conclusion than it did a year ago. He has been left out of the 30 man squad which will take part in a fitness and training camp in Barbados before the arrival of the Australians.

It now seems so long it's easy to forget what started it all. It was a radio interview that Gayle gave after another disappointing World Cup campaign, which he used to let rip at both the WICB and coach Ottis Gibson. The WICB have made it quite clear that all Chris has to do is apologise for his remarks and the slate will be clean, but so far he has refused to do so.

The winners in all this will be the Bangalore Royal Challengers who have now secured the services of the big hitting bat-for-hire on a permanent basis. Gayle, along with the Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga, were the stars of last year's event and if the big West Indian shines again then his franchise could win their first IPL title.

The Chargers have reached two of the four previous finals and at odds of [7.0] to win the tournament look set to give their followers a run for their money. Chennai Super Kings who are aiming to secure their third successive title head the field at [4.6] closely followed by the Delhi Daredevils (who have yet to reach a final) at [6.9].

Chris Gayle's mind today is likely to be focussed on something other than cricket. The passing of his friend, former West Indian batsman Runako Morton, should serve as a reminder to him that life's too short for petty squabbles. If Gayle wants to chase the buck rather than represent his country that's fine but if he wants the best of both worlds then he has to accept he's not bigger than the game and eat a bit of humble pie. International cricket will be better with Chris Gayle on the inside.

After an exhausting 73 matches the showpiece of IPL4 takes place today. It should be a thriller as the Challengers take on the Super Kings at the Chidambaram stadium. Ed Hawkins has the stats and trends...

These sides meet in Chennai today with the winner progressing to take on the Super Kings in the final. Ed Hawkins previews a potentially thrilling contest...

Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians were all the rage in the IPL winner market a couple of weeks ago but they're in pretty poor form right now against a team who seems to be constantly improving. Make the most of the...

Amazon Watches Center