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issue 32 posted at 11.30am on 20 July 2007...

So what excuses have you come up with this weekend in order to watch every shot at The Open and / or every ball at the Test Match?

We got word that one punter has told his wife that he's on a business trip but is really staying round his mate's for the weekend. They've placed two TVs in the lounge in order to see all the action at Carnoustie and Lord's - now that's dedication!!

Yours in sport
 

It’s rare that Brazil are second favourites to win any football match but with the way Argentina have overwhelmed the opposition at the Copa America you could only see one winner. Although one client refused to believe that Brazil would rollover and sold Argentina’s supremacy at 0.6 for £500. Almost instantaneously the client was in profit as Julio Baptista hammered in a fine strike after just four minutes to put Brazil ahead. The ‘underdogs’ never looked back on their way to clinching their eighth Copa America title with the help of a Roberto Ayala own goal and a neat Daniel Alves finish. This brilliance from Seleção Brasileira meant that the happy client was left to trouser a £1,800 profit on the night.

Amazing how a London start can increase the interest in the Tour De France. We’ve seen much more business on the event but one of our traders will wish he hadn't taken this bet after one punter bought Seb Chavenel at 6 for £20 on our Stage 10 sprinters market (a selected sprinters 50-30-20-10 Index). The Frenchman was the surprise package as he broke from the peloton and crossed the line just ahead of green-jersey-wearer Tom Boonen. The market made up 50 which yielded a 44 point profit for the client who fell over his dog in delight at the win!
 

A special treat now as the The Mole himself lifts the lid on one of his own tales of punting pain……"having lived underneath some of the world's top golf courses and seen the best players up close and personal, I rate myself as a bit of a golfing expert. So, during The Open last year I fancied Ian Poulter to do well. The Englishman was in great form and was drawn to play with the legend that is Seve Ballesteros in the first two rounds. Now Seve’s golf has seen much better days and the Spaniard, having just returned to tour action after a two year lay-off, finished dead last in a European Senior’s tournament just weeks before. Poulter was 33 to buy in a match bet with the fallen great and even though he had to beat Seve by 8 shots to make a profit, I thought if the Englishman shoots anything around level par Seve would be closer to 90 than he would be to level and I'd be quids in! But how wrong I was as the legend's game was solid enough to shoot 74, ONE SHOT better than Poulter! This meant that the market made up -13 and I was left nursing the loss of a small fortune."

Chepstow in the wet has a reputation for being bottomless but this punter will hope he has bottomless pockets after a dreadful evening at the Welsh course on Friday. In a four horse novice stakes our man got heavily with the strong favourite Silver Guest buying at 41 on our 50-25-10 Index for £500. The Mick Channon trained 2-year-old led over 3 furlongs out until he weakened well inside the last to finish 4th, much to the dismay of the client who probably thought he could have ridden it better than the jockey! I’ll leave you to work out how much that slight misjudgement cost our man.
 

The Open Ernie Els warmed up for his Open campaign with an impressive third place finish at Loch Lomond. The South African star’s Finishing Position was traded down one point to 22-25 before he teed off yesterday morning. Punters though, weren’t so keen on Phil Mickelson’s chances despite his strong performance in Scotland last week. The lethal leftie’s Finishing Position was up one point to 29-32 before he started swinging at Carnoustie.

It may have been dubbed Car-nasty when The Open was last staged at the Scottish links, but there have been no complaints from Tiger about this year’s Championship. Although our punters aren’t so sure about the golfing legend’s assessment, as our players under par market was down 3 to 15-18 before the first tee-off.

Darts Donkey rides, ice creams, slot machines and DARTS! Heaven on earth or what? The World Matchplay kicks off at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday and there’s been a small move for Colin ‘The Wizard’ Osbourne, who’s up one point to 5-7 on our Outright Index.

Big Brother 8 Brian showed his emotional side when Charley launched a vicious attack on him earlier this week. Though it hasn’t done him any harm, quite the opposite. He’s up 5 points to 34-37 on our Big Brother Outright Index.
 

Can’t see a bet you like? Then make your own! With our Multiples feature you can pick the players or teams you want, pitch them together and get a price. It’s so easy to do, click here to find out more.

We do do things by halves! Buy a player in any 18 hole match in The Open and if he goes on to halve we'll refund your losses. Max refund per bet is £200. Max refund per client for the promotion is £1000. Multiples, LIVE and in-play bets are not included.
 
 
 


...avg winning margin (secs) in last 3 GPs
 
 


...Tiger's avg finishing
pos in last 3 British Opens
 
 


...% Test Matches won
by India on English soil
 
 


...avg Salford points in last 4 Super League games
 
 



...no. of successive NZ wins
v Aus at Eden Park
 
 



...fights since a Wright bout failed to go the distance
 
 


...Kilkenny's avg winning margin in last 2 All-Ire games
 
 


...avg Tendulkar 2nd inns runs in last 3 Tests at Lord's
 
 


...% US winners in
previous 12 British Opens