South Africa v British & Irish Lions

What a sensational few weeks of sport we have to look forward to and hopefully this blog has run in to form at just the right time! I hope lots of you backed Northumberland Plate winner, Som Tala, at 25/1 last Saturday.

Flintoff & Pitersen: double trouble?

Som Tala's tenacity did us proud and weren't the Lions just brilliant in defeat in Pretoria? I thought the Springboks would win easily and was taken aback by the Lions bravery, commitment and skill.

The 2-0 scoreline does them no justice and this tour has done the once endangered Lions a power of good. The team and coaching staff have been magnificent.

I would love to see them bow out with a win at Ellis Park and deny our ante-post bet on South Africa to win the series 3-0 at 15/8 with Sky Bet. However, despite being motivated by this week's crazy comments from the Springboks' coach, I can't see it happening (South Africa 2/9, Lions 3/1) as the crushing nature of the defeats and injuries must take their toll.

Ashes Series

As it says on Sky Bet's website: "It doesn't get any bigger than this!" The Ashes get under way in Cardiff on Wednesday and I'm expecting another compelling and incredibly tight series.

After the spate of Twenty20 cricket and the way the two teams play, I don't think there will be many draws and my fancy is a 2-2 scoreline at 7/1 as I think the two sides are closely-matched.

England will need luck with injuries as they cannot afford to lose Kevin Pietersen and will need Andrew Flintoff firing on all cylinders to rattle the Aussies.

It's hard to see Flintoff playing all five Tests and I fancy Stuart Clark to take more wickets at evens on Sky Bet's match bets.

I will put that in a treble with Pietersen to out-score Michael Clarke at 4/6 and the excellent Mitchell Johnson to take more wickets than Jimmy Anderson at 8/11.

It's going to be a brilliant few weeks of cricket and it's all live on Sky Sports and will look stunning in high definition.

Tour de France

Professional cycling has had its problems over the last few years but the Tour de France remains one of my favourite sporting events of the year and a fantastic betting medium.

This year's leading question is whether Lance Armstrong can win an eighth Tour title? He has had to overcome all sorts of problems, notably a broken collarbone and to me still looked bulky compared to the 'lean Lance' that flew up the mountains year in, year out. I will be fascinating to see what shape he is in on the start line in Monaco on Sunday and I'm sure he will go well but Sky Bet's 7/2 looks plenty short enough.

In sports betting there are good and bad even money chances and in a three-week race where so much can go wrong, it's often crazy to take a short price about any rider. However, I see Lance's team-mate, Alberto Contador, as an outstanding even money chance.

I think the Spaniard is miles clear of the rest of the peloton and, barring accidents, will win a second Tour de France. He sensibly missed the Giro and has been training specifically for the Tour and looked in great shape when having a 'sighter' in the Dauphine Libere. He's by far the best climber, one of the best time-triallers and, to complete the set, is part of the best team (Astana).

They say it's almost impossible to pull off the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double but I see Giro winner Denis Menchov as Contador's biggest threat. Menchov has threatened to do big things in the Tour in the past but seems to have lacked self-belief. The win in Italy will have filled him with confidence and he looks a great each-way bet at 12/1 with Sky Bet.

Of the other market leaders Cadel Evans has missed his chance, Andy Schleck is a serious talent and a certainty for the white jersey but tends to have one costly bad day, while the route will not suit defending champion Carlos Sastre.

My prediction for the podium is: Contador (evens), Menchov (12/1), Armstrong (7/2)

All British eyes will be on Mark Cavendish after his heroics this season and in last year's race. Sky Bet have a host of 'Cavendish specials' but I think he's too short at 4/5 to win the Green Jersey as there is no guarantee he will finish the race and won't enjoy the brutal penultimate stage up Mont Ventoux! Thor Hushovd (6/1) is a big runner.

One final bet is Garmin-Chipotle to win Stage Four's Team Time Trial at 3/1. They were hot favourites to win the equivalent at the Giro but made a mess of it and will be determined to make amends.

Another fascinating ingredient to this year's race is the imminent announcement of the riders that will make up Team Sky, which hopes to compete in next year's Tour. I'm told that the peloton is full of chat and gossip about who will be in Team Sky and any number of riders will be looking to catch the eye of Dave Brailsford and co.

Horse Racing

I can't promise you another 25/1 winner but I can promise you a thrilling race for the Eclipse at Sandown as we see the first meaningful 'clash of the generations'.

Many a Derby winner and top three-year-old has come unstuck in the Eclipse but I think this year's Classic generation are a top class bunch.

I'm a huge Sea The Stars fan but couldn't back him at 10/11 and think Rip Van Winkle is a huge danger at a bigger price.

This horse works like a dream at Ballydoyle and I was very taken by his instant change of gear in the Derby. This drop back to ten furlongs is sure to suit Rip Van Winkle and I think he's a stone-wall certainty for the frame so will be backing each-way on the day.

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