The Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa once again plays host to the Nedbank Challenge beginning Thursday. With only 12 players making up the field, there’s a much better chance of picking the winner and we’ve put a bit of a guide together for you.

Favourite is the in form Spaniard Sergio Garcia. The newly installed world number 2 is playing the best golf of his life, with two wins in his last three events and two wins here at Sun City he’s a worthy favourite and totesport go best price 11/4 here.

Swedes Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson won the World Cup last week after a blistering final round of 63 in the foursomes. They’re next best 6/1 and 13/2 in the betting respectively and if we were to take anyone to beat Garcia it would be Stenson at that price.

If Stenson’s a next best, Lee Westwood wouldn’t be far behind. The Englishman’s had an astonishing year, with so many top ten finishes, including numerable runners up spots, it’s remarkable that he’s yet to win a prize in 2008! A fitter than ever Westwood could get that first win of the year here at 7/1, that’s for sure.

The lowest South African in the betting is Trevor Immelman, a 7/1 shot with totesport. The 2008 Masters winner has dropped off the radar a bit since his win back in March but he won this title last year and deserves respect again here.

Justin Rose went toe to toe with Immelman here last year eventually losing out by a shot. The Englishman’s had a poor second half of the year, except for a fine debut in the Ryder Cup in September, but he’s difficult to back here at 12/1.

Rory Sabbatini’s another player you could easily put a line through. The South African’s a 14/1 shot with totesport but hasn’t threatened the leaderboard in the last few months and will do well to improve on his fifth place here last year, with other players having better chances.

Three players sit on 16/1 in the betting with totesport, with Miguel-Angel Jimenez probably representing the best chance of the trio. KJ Choi and Kenny Perry have played very little golf in the past couple of months and if Jimenez can overcome the length of the monster Sun City track he might be a good value each-way bet after his strong showing in the World Cup last week.

As for unknowns, Luke Donald hasn’t been spotted on a golf course for most of the year due to injury so it’s a bit of a ‘finger in the air’ job about his chances here. This is reflected in the 22/1 on offer at totesport and it might be worth a small each-way bet as it’s terrific value if he’s close to his best.

The outsider of the pack and the last of the South African players on show is James Kingston. The European Tour player is a 40/1 shot and only has some modest results in the last month or so. He does however have some excellent top ten finishes to his name in 2008 and could spring a surprise here.

For all your golf betting this week visit totesport.

The football betting opportunities are coming thick and fast as the winter chill descends across the country, but as long as you’re tucked up by the fire there’s a couple of live games from the Carling Cup to warm the cockles this week.

The much maligned competition has reached the quarter finals, with Burnley hosting Arsenal at Turf Moor. Arsene Wenger will be once again blooding the youngsters in tonight’s live game and totesport have made a brave call going best price 4/5 the away team. After getting stung laying the Gunners at the weekend, it looks as if the totesport traders have faith in the old adage that nothing is a certainty. However, the Arsenal Carling Cup team have brushed aside Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic already in this competition, albeit at home and look an attractive prospect here. Burnley are a 7/2 shot after their away win at Chelsea in the last round and will have a full crowd to cheer them on here again tonight. Perhaps the only certainty here is that there’ll be more gloves worn by the away team than an octopus with circulatory problems!

Tonight’s other match sees Stoke host Derby. Stoke are big favourites here at 8/13 but could be opposed if they leave out some of their first team regulars. Derby (4/1) are improving in the Championship and will be buoyed by the fact they’re potentially only three matches away from Wembley.

Wednesday’s live action comes from Vicarage Road as Watford (7/2) host Spurs. If the laying of Arsenal on Sunday cost the traders at totesport, they may well have made some of that back by also going best price Spurs at home to Everton. The Merseysiders inflicted Harry Redknapp’s first home defeat at the weekend and totesport have gone best price Spurs again tonight. Watford, under new manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for some of that ‘new manager syndrome’ that Redknapp had upon his arrival at Spurs. There’s no doubt it’ll be a tricky fixture for the holders but the 8/11 available at totesport looks pretty attractive.

The remaining quarter final match played on Wednesday night is Manchester United (4/9) versus Blackburn Rovers (11/2). On paper the home win looks a shoe in but in reality, the United team that stuttered to victory against QPR in the last round will find this much tougher going and despite all of Rovers problems, a win at Old Trafford is not beyond them. The draw looks the best bet at 11/4.

Click here for all of this weeks football betting, including betting in-running on the live Carling Cup action.

The Hennessy Gold Cup takes centre stage at Newbury on Saturday afternoon. Always a competitive affair, this is a hotly backed race at the best of times, made especially so this year with a favourite on the drift!

Current favourite in the non runner no bet market with totesport is Big Bucks at 5/1. The five year old’s been steadily on the drift over the last fortnight, after a nightmare for trainer Paul Nicholls last weekend and the beating of Battlecry at Cheltenham a fortnight ago raised question marks over the form. Big Bucks was a 2 1/4 length winner over Battlecry last April in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree and the latter’s lacklustre display on his reappearance did little to encourage form backers.

So, who else can take the £100k prize on Saturday? Well, I like the look of Albertas Run. Although finishing third when beaten favourite in the aforementioned race at Aintree last season and running like a dog beaten 29 lengths by Tidal Bay in its reappearance this season, a return to the form that won it the Royal Sun Alliance at the festival in March will see it go close here. The negatives are reflected in the price at 10/1, but I’ll probably have a dabble each-way.

Elsewhere, a mention for Island Flyer. Carrying a featherweight 10 stone in the shape of Denis O ‘Regan it has the course form and talent to run a big race here.

Remember, 8 punters are going for the totescoop6 bonus this Saturday with the chosen race being the Hennessy. They’re are playing for a massive £1,529,525 in the bonus fund and remember, if it doesn’t get won this week it could be you next week!

Click here to bet on the totescoop6.

For all your weekend horse racing bet with totesport.

Seven Premier League clubs face the proposition of European ‘hangovers’ this weekend after yet another busy week in the Champions League and UEFA Cup, so there’s plenty of betting opportunities on offer.

One team that had a week off from European competition was Aston Villa and they host Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday. Martin O’Neill’s team haven’t won in two outings at home and will be looking to get back to winning ways here. They’re a short price at 8/13, although in Fulham (5/1) they face tricky opposition. Last week I wrongly advised that you steam in to Liverpool at home to the Cottagers and we all know what happened there. Fulham have yet to win away this season though and the best they could hope for is a draw (13/5).

It’s a north-east derby in, well, the north east on Saturday as Middlesbrough host Newcastle. The totesport traders went best price Boro last weekend and they went on to slip up at home to Bolton. You can back Boro at best price 5/4 totesport again this week as Newcastle (21/10) look to celebrate temporary manager Joe Kinnear’s contract extension to the end of the season. The draw is 12/5.

Two of the promoted teams do battle for the second week in succession at the Brittania. Last week Stoke saw off the powder puff challenge of West Brom and although they’re not as likely to get things all their own way here they’re still backable at 11/8. Hull (15/8) have failed to win in five outings now although arrive on the back of two draws. You can back the draw again here at 12/5 with totesport.

The award for least attractive game on paper goes to Sunderland v Bolton at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland (13/10) were poor in defeat at home to West ham last week and that’s now four defeats in the last six. Contrary to this, Bolton are in a rich vein of form with three wins in their last four matches, including a win in the north-east against Boro last time out. You can back the Trotters at an attractive looking 2-1 with totesport. The draw is 12/5.

It’s fill your boots time at the JJB stadium as Wigan, fresh from victory at home to Everton on Monday play bottom of the table West Brom (7/2). Totesport go best price 4/5 and that just looks too good to be true. The Baggies have one point from a possible eighteen and have lost the last four matches on the road. Although Wigan’s form isn’t spellbinding, they should have enough here. You can back the draw at 5/2.

It’s the Manchester derby in the early kick off on Sunday, with United firm favourites at 10/11 with totesport. Fergie’s men will feel like they missed out last weekend when dropping points along with the other top clubs, so another slip up here will have them worried. Of course, they were ousted 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium last season and City (3/1) have strengthened the squad since then, swapping Brazilian Geovanni for another samba star, the brilliant Robinho. I really can’t split them after City bounced back in the last week from a shaky line of form, so the draw looks the best bet at 12/5.

Portsmouth (evens) will be looking to bounce back from what would have felt like a defeat last night versus Milan. They hope to bring back Jermain Defoe into attack and that should be enough for a home win. Blackburn(11/4) looked very poor against Spurs last weekend and although Pompey seem to have draw-’itis’ at the moment but the diminutive striker could fire them to all three points. The draw incidentally is available at 23/10 with totesport.

Totesport have gone best price even money about Spurs chances at home to Everton on Sunday. Off the back of two consecutive 1-0 wins the Spurs have been mis-firing somewhat and Everton are exactly the kind of team that can ruffle feathers. Everton (13/5) won this fixture last season but before that had a very poor record at White Hart Lane. Spurs on the other hand will be buoyed by the ‘rick’-free performance of goalkeeper Gomez on Thursday and that kind of confidence at the back will make them difficult to beat. The draw looks the pick for me at 5/2.

Despite what the press have been writing, William Gallas looked visibly rocked by the last few weeks controversy surrounding him on Tuesday and it isn’t going to get any easier as he travels to old club Chelsea on Sunday. Arsene Wenger claimed his young guns had got back on track with victory versus Kiev but they looked far from their best in this scrappy win. That saying, Chelsea (8/11) seem to have hit a bit of a slump performance-wise also, although they still top the Premiership. It’ll take a display like they had at home to Man United three weeks ago to get anything at Stamford Bridge and I’d be surprised if they can muster that kind of effort here. The draw is 5/2 and Arsenal are a best price 4/1 with totesport.

Finally, Liverpool host West ham at Anfield on Monday night. The price of 3/10 would suggest this is a shoe-in but there’ll be the odd doubter after the Reds failed to beat Fulham at home last week. Add to that fresh injury concerns over Fernando Torres and a rare victory for West Ham (9/1) last week, their first in six matches which might just be a ray of hope for Gianfranco Zola’s men. With that in mind, totesport have gone best price 4/1 the draw, but it’ll be a big surprise if Liverpool don’t get back to winning ways here.

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It’s a strange time of year on the golfing calendar. No sooner had the European Tour finished for 2008 than the Race to Dubai started in China in earnest. As the weeks go by it’s difficult to know which event is affiliated to which tour and plenty names are missing as they take a well earned break in the tax havens around the world.

So, where does the golf World Cup stand in all this? Well, it’s not included in the Race to Dubai, but 28 teams of 2 do battle for $5 million worth of prize money and a bit of national pride to boot.

The tournament’s still out in the far east as the Mission Hills Country Club in China hosts the event. This shouldn’t have too much affect on the betting as the players have been playing all their latest golf in that part of the world and should be well acclimatised.

The format of the event sees 36 holes each of foursomes and fourballs, there’s no individual competition and no cut. The fourballs are played on Thursday and Saturday and the foursomes Friday and Sunday.

When approaching this format from a betting perspective you need to look at the teams and how they complement each other. If you look at the top of the betting, Sweden and England are 4/1 each a two. The Swedes are both huge hitters in the shape of European Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson and world number 12 Henrik Stenson. Both this and their combined Ryder Cup experiences should help them here on this mammoth Mission Hills layout and look worthy joint-favourites.

The English duo of Poulter and Fisher also look a strong pair. Ross Fisher’s length off the tee and Ian Poulter’s combative style of play could make this a dream team.

You might be better placed though to invest your well earned cash on a few longer priced options , with Thailand and Italy eyecatching runners.

Prayad Marksaeng comes here off the back of a victory in Japan last week and with European Tour regular Thongchai Jaidee by his side make a very attractive pairing at 14/1.

The Italians are an even bigger price at 33/1 and very much fall under the ‘outsider’ category. The Molinari Brother’s sound like a circus act, but there’ll be no clowning around here with Francesco losing in a play-off in last weeks Hong Kong Open. Their week will very much depend on older brother Edouardo if they’re going to climb into the places and they’ll definitely have to improve on their ‘down the field’ finish in this event last year.

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It always used to have an after the Lord Mayor’s Show feel about it but the UEFA Cup looks a really good tournament this year and with the Champions League becoming ever more predictable, tonight’s fixtures make a refreshing change.

The pick of the ties involving English clubs is undoubtedly at Fratton Park, as Portsmouth host European giants AC Milan. It’ll be somewhat of a culture shock for the majority of the Milan stars but a trip to a wet and windswept English coastal town is all they deserve after missing out on Champions League last season.

I’d like to say that I can see Pompey (2/1) giving Milan an awful scare here but missing four first team players and failing to see off Hull City in the Premiership at the weekend doesn’t bode well. Jermain Defoe, Sol Campbell, Lassana Diarra and Nico Krancjar all miss out tonight with John Utaka also sidelined.

Milan however have rediscovered some league form, currently lying second in Serie A and the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho and Pirlo should have enough here for Portsmouth. You can back the Italians at a tasty 11/10 with totesport.

Kaka was reported as showing an interest in joining Manchester City when interviewed this week. God help us if that happens but his inclusion tonight may have shortened the Blues odds as they travel to Shalke 04. City are without fellow Brazilians Elano and Robinho and with wretched away form in the Premiership, just one win this campaign, they don’t look backable at 9/4.

The Germans currently top Group A and a win here will ensure a safe passage into the knockout rounds. You can back Shalke 04 at even money with totesport.

The remaining match involving English clubs see former winners of the competition Spurs, make the short trip across the North Sea to play Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen. I’ve had to do some serious digging to analyse NEC’s chances here and I can tell you that they currently sit eighth in the Dutch Eredivisie and have yet to lose at home. On the surface that looks pretty good form but the Dutch league lacks strength in depth and Spurs probably represent the best chance of an English club winning in the UEFA Cup tonight.

NEC lost their first game of Group D versus Dinamo Zagreb who Spurs went on to beat 4-0 at home in their second match. An away win here will virtually see Spurs through to the knockout stage for the third time in consecutive years.

Spurs do travel without the cup-tied pair of Roman Pavlyunchenko and Vedran Corluka whilst they miss Luka Modric and Alan Hutton with injury and Ledley King is rested. That means there’s chances for Frazier Campbell and sixteen year old John Bostock to make names for themselves and the 11/10 about a Spurs win looks too good to turn down.

You can bet in-running on all three of the English clubs involvement in the UEFA Cup tonight by clicking here.

To bet on any of the UEFA Cup matches click here.

It’s a strange time of year on the golfing calendar. No sooner had the European Tour finished for 2008 than the Race to Dubai started in China in earnest. As the weeks go by it’s difficult to know which event is affiliated to which tour and plenty names are missing as they take a well earned break in the tax havens around the world.

So, where does the golf World Cup stand in all this? Well, it’s not included in the Race to Dubai, but 28 teams of 2 do battle for $5 million worth of prize money and a bit of national pride to boot.

The tournament’s still out in the far east as the Mission Hills Country Club in China hosts the event. This shouldn’t have too much affect on the betting as the players have been playing all their latest golf in that part of the world and should be well acclimatised.

The format of the event sees 36 holes each of foursomes and fourballs, there’s no individual competition and no cut. The fourballs are played on Thursday and Saturday and the foursomes Friday and Sunday.

When approaching this format from a betting perspective you need to look at the teams and how they complement each other. If you look at the top of the betting, Sweden and England are 4/1 each a two

Day two of match-day five sees two more British clubs trying to gain qualification to the last sixteen of the competition with a game in hand.

Chelsea travel to Bordeaux (7/2) with only a point between them, who could have predicted that after the home team Chelsea’s hammering of the French side on match-day one? Group A is still very tight, with all four teams still in with a chance of progression. Chelsea stuttered away against Cluj and Roma so the pressure’s on tonight. Chelsea are an 8/11 chance if you fancy having a bet on them at totesport, the draw is 5/2.

The other game in Group A sees Roma (10/11) travel to Cluj (5/2). The Romanians surprised Roma in the Olympic Stadium on match-day one with a 2-1 away win. Since then the team from Transylvania have backed up that win with a home draw against Chelsea and although two defeats against Bordeaux, they’re only two points behind the French and qualification is still a possibility. The draw is 9/4.

Liverpool look to get back to winning ways in Group D as they face Marseille (6/1) at Anfield. Two consecutive draws versus Atletico Madrid means there’s still work to do for qualification to the last sixteen. Although on paper this looks like a home win and the betting certainly suggests this with Liverpool a 4/9 shot, however a home defeat to the same opposition last season will be fresh in the mind of the ever cautious Rafa Benitez, so don’t expect an open game! The draw is 10/3.

Atletico Madrid also have the chance to secure qualification tonight as they host Dutch champions PSV. At 1/2 to win the match with totesport, it’s probably worth piling into as they look to follow up their 3-0 win in the reverse match on match-day one against a team with only one win to their name in the group. Back the draw if you dare at 3/1.

In Group B leaders Inter can secure a spot in the last sixteen with a game to spare by picking up at least a point in the home match versus Panathinaikos (8/1). Jose Mourinho’s side currently lead Serie A and despite slip ups dropping points to Werder Bremen and Anorthosis they should be too strong here against a Greek team with a shocking away record. You can back Inter at 2/7 with totesport, the draw is 7/2.

Anorthosis have been the surprise package in Group B and after a terrific 3-3 draw at home to Inter they currently sit second place in the group. They host Werder Bremen (11/10) tonight and the 2/1 price available looks attractive, as the Germans languish at the bottom of the table and once again look like coming to terms with the competition. The draw is 9/4.

Finally Group C, where there’s not too much to play for with Barcelona (23/20) and Sporting Lisbon already having qualified for the knock out stages. With this in mind it might be worth taking on the team from Catalonia as they make the short trip to Portugal. You can back the home side at 5/2 with totesport and this looks like a juicy price, especially considering Barca’s slip up at the weekend at home to Getafe in La Liga. For those a little more cautious you can back the draw at 9/4.

The also-rans meet in the Ukraine as Shakhtar face Basel. I’m afraid another defeat for the group whipping boys Basel looks on the cards and you can steam into Shakhtar at 1/2. The one shred of hope for the Swiss is a fine 1-1 draw in the Nou Camp last time out in match-day four and if you think that’ll inspire them again tonight, they’re back-able at 11/2. The draw is available at 11/4.

You can bet in-running on both the British clubs involvement in the Champions League tonight by clicking here.

To bet on any of the Champions League matches click here.

It’s match-day five of the Champions League and here’s the latest Champions League betting with totesport.

Zenit host Juve in the early kick-off in Russia. It looks as though the game will go ahead after a grenade explosion led to early security fears. From the football perspective, I’m sure the Italians would love to get out of dodge as soon as possible, win lose or draw. Juventus are sitting pretty at the top of Group H after back to back victories over Real Madrid and look a decent price at 3/1 to repeat the win they got over Zenit (5/6) on match-day One. The draw is 12/5.

The other Group H match sees Real Madrid (1/2) in desperate need of a morale boosting win in the competition and cement their claims for qualification through to the last sixteen. An away trip to Belarus is on the cards here versus BATE Borisov (11/2), whom they defeated 2-0 at the Bernabeu on match-day one. BATE are in desperate need for a win to stand a chance of qualification but Madrid should have too much here. The draw is 3/1.

Arsenal (4/9) look to put a nightmare few weeks behind them at home to Dynamo Kiev. After resolving the captaincy issue and re-instating William Gallas to the squad the Gunners should have too much against the Ukrainians who have only one win from their four games so far. That saying, that one win came away versus Porto and they were unlucky to give away a late equaliser at home against Arsenal back in September. After drawing a blank versus bottom of Group G Fenerbahce (6/1) last time out perhaps the draw looks the best bet again here at 10/3 with totesport.

Elsewhere in Group H, Fenerbahce are a 5/4 shot with totesport to beat Porto. As alluded to above, the Turks are bottom of the group and yet to win a match. Luis Aragones’ team are yet to blow the domestic opposition away either after a poor start to the season and the 3/1 available on Porto looks an outstanding bet. You can back the draw at 9/4 with totesport.

Manchester United (13/8) travel to Spain joint leaders of Group E with tonight’s hosts Villarreal. Villarreal (2/1) are currently third in La Liga but seemed to approach the reverse fixture in a negative manner, leaving out some of their better-known stars and losing 1-0. Tonight is very much a dead rubber though with both teams needing a draw to proceed to the last sixteen. The draw is a 9/5 shot with totesport and looks the bet here.

The other fixture in Group E sees luckless Celtic travel to Denmark to face Aalborg. It’s probable neither of these teams will progress to the last sixteen but there’s always the UEFA Cup place to play for and both teams will be up for this. Celtic (11/8) are the lowest scorers in the competition and Aalborg have the worst defence! Not really sure where that leaves us from a betting perspective so back the home team to send the Scots packing at 15/8. The draw is a best price 12/5 with totesport.

The remaining games tonight come from Group F, with Bayern Munich hosting Steaua Bucharest and Lyon travelling to Italy to face Fiorentina. Bayern are a 2/7 shot to beat the Romanians (10/1) and I can’t really see past a home win.

The other match in Group F is much closer to call though with Fiorentina (6/5) desperate for a win to keep their chances of qualification alive. Lyon (21/10) should have too much here not to lose after drawing against both the Italians and Bayern in the campaign so far. You can back the draw at 11/5 with totesport.

You can bet in-running on all the British clubs involvement in the Champions League tonight by clicking here.

To bet on any of the Champions League matches click here.

There are plenty of betting opportunities in the Premier League this weekend, here’s our guide to the betting at totesport.

Newcastle may have had a mini revival under the steer of Joe Kinnear but the 11/1 about their chances at Stamford Bridge against top of the table Chelsea probably says it all. That saying, totesport go best price Chelsea (2/9) and the draw (5/1) so perhaps they see an upset here.

Second place on goal difference Liverpool host a Fulham team (11/1) with a woeful away record. We’ve been opposing Liverpool on here for the last few weeks but even we can’t see past a home win for the Reds at Anfield and at 1/4 with totesport, you can pile in with confidence. The draw is 9/2.

One of the most attractive fixtures on paper this weekend sees a Man City (21/10) lacking in wins recently pit their wits against Arsenal who if you believe the press are in disarray. The knives are out again at the Emirates but lest we forget a fortnight ago when a similar build up saw the Gunners defeat City’s local rivals United 2-1. You’d do well to back Arsenal again here, despite the dressing room unrest at 5/4 with totesport.

Middlesbrough host Bolton at the Riverside and totesport are going best price the home side at 10/11. Boro are having a terrific season but have been inconsistent, often struggling to score at home. Bolton need to bounce back from a home defeat to Liverpool and are a 3/1 shot here.

Hull City (16/5) make the long trip to Portsmouth winless now in four matches and racehorse owner Phil Brown might just have one eye on the totescoop6 record rollover as his team takes to the field. Portsmouth (5/6) have equally shaky form of late so the draw might be the pick at 5/2 with totesport.

Stoke and West Brom do battle at the Britannia in one for the purists. Tony Pulis’s sides physical advantage should shade this for them and the 6/5 about the home team looks the bet. West Brom are a good footballing side but look toothless in the final third. They’re a 9/4 shot with the draw 23/10.

Aston Villa have a dreadful record versus Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United but Saturday could be their best chance of late, with Dimitar Berbatov missing, Wayne Rooney an injury doubt and Cristiano Ronaldo having had a round trip to Brazil midweek to recover from. Villa are 7/2 to take the spoils with United a 4/5 shot. The draw is 5/2.

On Sunday, the first of the live matches sees Spurs play Blackburn (18/5) at White Hart Lane. Spurs are sixth in the form table (last six games) and Blackburn are eighteenth. Read into that what you will and while you’re at it pile into the home side available at 8/11 with totesport.

West Ham (12/5) make the long trip north to the Stadium of Light in the days other live game. Gianfranco Zola’s Hammers have taken only two points from their last six games and are in freefall. Although slightly better form, you couldn’t back Sunderland (11/10) with much confidence either so the draw looks the pick here at 12/5 with totesport.

Finally, we’ve not saved the best till last but Monday night’s north-west derby sees Wigan (13/8) host Everton at the JJB. The home teams form is patchy at best whilst Everton (13/8) are looking for their third away win on the bounce. The odds suggest the draw is also the best bet in this one at 9/4.

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