The value bet in this weekend’s showpiece is the St Leger winner Lucarno - currently available at 8/1. He is a big stuffy type who has taken plenty of time to get fit. His last run at Newmarket over 1m 4f on July 10 was a huge step up on his previous run at Saint-Cloud behind Youmzain.

At Newmarket Lucarno giving Papal Bull 5lbs made all and went clear over 1f out to score impressively by 1.25l.

On a line through Papal Bull who was 2l behind Youmzain at level weights in the Coronation Stakes Lucarno should finish in front of Youmzain.

The Aidan O’Brien trained Duke Of Marmalade looked a world beater when trotting up by 4l from the subsequent Eclipse second Phoenix Tower at Royal Ascot but that was over 1m 2f.

He has never run over 1m 4f and being by Danehill out a King Mambo mare his pedigree does not shout stamina. An interesting King George stat is that 21 of the 22 winners of the race have reached the first four in a Group 1 over 1m 4f emphasising the stamina requirements of the race.

Youmzain a thoroughly genuine animal ran a great race at Saint-Cloud when reversing Coronation placings with Duke Of Marmalade’s stable companion Soldier Of Fortune.

He was well suited by coming off a very strong pace that day. Saturday’s race is likely to be run at a steadier rate. The very progressive Lucarno looks the one to be on.

Click here for horse racing betting

With 150k GBP prize money guaranteed this looks a very competitive affair. Barry Hills has the best record with one winner and three placed from six runners.
Both his entries Zaahid and Giganticus must be considered. The former disappointed in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last time behind Little White Lie, but landed the Victoria Cup over course and distance in the spring.

Giganticus who was fourth in this race last year ran a promising race at Newmarket finishing 5th - 2l behind Little White Lie. He is very well suited by fast ground and may be Hills’s best chance.

The Willie Haggas trained King’s Apostle ran a great race in the Wokingham at Ascot staying on strongly over the 6f for 3rd place beaten half a length.

He was running on with great resolution at Ascot and it looks like 7f may be the 4-y-o´s optimum trip.
Another to consider is the Mark Johnston-trained Lovelace. The stable has a good record in the race with two placed from seven runners. If the Royal Applause colt reproduces his run in the Bunbury Cup when a head behind Little White Lie he will go very close.
Slowly out of the gate that day he was still last after 2f out. He flew home however and just failed to get up off a mark of 108. Off a 3lbs lower mark on Saturday his chance is obvious and he is the selection.

Click here for horse racing betting

Phil “The Power” Taylor is totesport’s strong favourite to bag the World Matchplay Darts Championship that gets underway in Blackpool this week.
Maybe only a strategically aimed stick of Blackpool rock chucked from a well-oiled supporter could knock the greatest darts player of all time out of his stride right now.

The Stoke-on-Trent maestro has been chalked up at 8/13 with in-form defending champion James Wade second in the betting at 5/1 and Dutch-ace Raymond Van Barneveld next at 8s.

Taylor is certain to be a warm order with punters following his devastating performance in Las Vegas recently where he recorded a stunning three dart average of 104.

By the time he swept aside Wade in the final Taylor had claimed an awesome 49 of 70 legs.

With only a couple of the past 20 majors going to a player not in the top three of the betting it’s hard to make a case for any of the arrowsmiths further down the betting. In fact, let’s not even entertain the thought.

Of the second and third favourites its Wade who is preferred on account of his liking for this event and his runner-up finish in Vegas. The Hampshire youngster is clearly a progressive type and it would be no surprise to see him reach another final here given his draw in the other half to Taylor.

Dutchman “Barney” looked well below his best in exiting in the second round in Nevada to Alan Tabern and is probably best avoided for this.

Click here for darts betting

With Rafael Nadal now crowned Wimbledon Champion the Spaniard’s sights now turn to Flushing Meadows, New York, the famous home of the US Open.

Yet again the man he will be looking to dislodge is Roger Federer who is gunning for his fifth straight US Open title.

Totesport go 9/4 that Rafa will do it - a tasty bet indeed when you consider the massive psychological boost that thrilling five-set win over the Swiss has given him. Federer is 11/10.

Nadal’s best effort here was a QF in 2006 and he no doubt disappointed many backers in losing to David Ferrer in the 4th round of 2007, but a year on and a year considerably wiser and richer we expect a far bolder show.

Already the master of clay and now the green stuff, Nadal has the game to prosper on hard-courts make no mistake about that. He’s won Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Canada and is learning all the time.

It wasn’t so long ago that many said he didn’t have the game for grass…

Third favourite is Novak Djokovic, the man who lost in straight sets to Federer in last year’s final. But that was then. The Serb has since vanquished that painful memory by beating Federer in the Australian Open final in January.

At 11/4 he could be the value bet of the main runners.

Of the rags, only Marat Safin makes some appeal. 66/1 for a former winner and this year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist is worth a small interest.

Click here for tennis betting

With the Beijing Olympics just around the corner totesport are preparing a veritable punting feast for customers.

The Summer Games boasts of total of 28 sports, that comprise 302 events (165 men’s and127 women’s) - which means there is going to be plenty of markets available.

How is your track and field knowledge? With a hectic schedule ahead for odds compilers to get their heads around you might just be able to steal an edge on them.

Tyson Gay will most likely head the men´s 100m betting, just ahead of Jamaican flyer and new world record holder Usain Bolt. But you´ll need to keep an eye on those heats, because once they begin we´ll really start to get an idea as to which athletes are showing Gold Medal form.

Events covered by totesport will encompass the 100 metre distance through to the longer distances as well as some of the field events in Beijing. Keep an eye out for Olympic Sports betting as well.

The race to top the Gold Medal table is a market that traditionally arouses plenty of interest.

The USA have won that for the past three Summer Games but Uncle Sam might not have it all his own way this time round because the Chinese are closing in. The Chinese won 32 Gold Medals four years ago compared to the USA’s 36 Athens total.

Could home advantage be the key this time?

Click here for Olympics betting