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Greetings from the Pom de Turf

Greetings from the Pom de Turf

Please don’t be perturbed by the nature of my terribly-punned title. I may be a Pom, but I love my Aussie turf. I am however, definitely not French in any way whatsoever- but I felt suitably chuffed with the world play, and besides, time was getting on.

Spring is upon us and the online horse racing bookmakers are looking all plump and ready for a roasting from the punters. Early season enthusiasm, that’s the spirit. These boys are waiting to handover cash whatever your nationality. There is no prejudice here, only the sound of electronic dollars winging their way over the wires.

The smell of freshly-gouged turf is also in the air, and will be joined by the smell of fresh English tears mixing with warm beer if the start of the fifth Ashes Test is anything to go by. But more on the cricket in a moment or two.

Firstly to some tipping for the track and a look at what has been bubbling under the surface over the last day or two.

We have action at Canberra, Horsham, Townsville and Taree on Friday but most eyes will be on Saturday and especially the 1400m Warwick Stakes at Randwick. Dreamscape was the early clear favourite at 3.50 with Centrebet.com but I’m tempted by Voice Commander, who is in good shape according to trainer Nick Olive. With the more famous gallopers only really warming up in this one I fancy him for a win at 3.30.

Elsewhere, at Moonee Valley, there’s the BC3 100m Future Stars sprint. Secret Flyer is at 2.70 for this one with Centrebet, which doesn’t look terribly sexy, but he’s gunning to return to group 1 racing this season and has had his most trouble-free preparation yet, according those in the know. Therefore I would stick a reasonable wedge on this one.

So, to the cricket. Do we have to? It makes me ill. Alistair Cook has just been caught at slip after waving a girly-looking hello at a Peter Siddle delivery. Anyway, early online cricket betting odds are tight on who will win this one, if I had to call it, I’d go for the draw early on, but avoid if possible.

Methinks something more creative could be a better shot. Now then, Ben Hilfenhaus has bowled well for Australia all series and could be on the verge of a stellar performance, while Mitchell Johnson has returned to fine form. Add to this the fact Andrew Flintoff is playing his final Test for England and we have 2.02 for a bowler to take five wickets in an innings with Betfair. Worth a Cook-style tickle I’d say.

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