Lunchtime update from the Paddy Power Blog on all the latest betting moves in sport
Football
The Sun are reporting that Luka Modric has finally pushed through a transfer to leave Tottenham Hotspur for Real Madrid. The 26-year-old midfielder is having a medical before he will be unveiled this afternoon. Mourinho has been chasing the Croatian playmaker all Summer with Spurs very reluctant to let him go until now. In a strange move Spurs have announced a ‘partnership agreement’ between the two clubs. Your guess is as good as mine as to what that means I’m afraid!
Wayne Rooney is set for potentially two months on the sidelines following that horrific injury at Old Trafford against Fulham. In an accidental clash with Hugo Rodellega the United striker suffered a large gash down his right thigh that went through to the bone. It is feared that Wazza could be out for 14 games including clashes with Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle.
And Carlos Tevez has announced his desire to stay at Manchester City. The striker, who spent most of last season sulking and playing golf has told the club he has no problems extending his contract. Tevez expressing his commitment to a club is like Joey Barton promising not to cause any more scraps on the street though so don’t hold your breath. Tevez rescued the Champions at the weekend in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool and now Mancini’s men are 11/8 to retain their title.
Tennis
Andy Murray is hoping to break his major duck in the US Open which begins at Flushing Meadows today. The Olympic Gold medallist is looking to build on his success at London 2012 and is 7/2 to do the business.
The market leader for the title is last year’s winner Novak Djokovic who is 5/4 to retain his crown.
Elsewhere in the field Wimbledon champ Roger Federer is 5/2 to lift the trophy and Argentinian star Juan Martin Del Potro, who won this event in 2009 is 10/1.
Golf
Nicolas Colsaerts and Ian Poulter have been selected as Jose Maria Olazabel’s wild card picks for Team Europe in this year’s Ryder Cup.
It came as little surprise to see Padraig Harrington left out as captian Olazabel announced his team at Gleneagles this afternoon. Both Poulter and Colsaerts have been rewarded for coming closest to making the team on points.
Europe are 11/8 to lift the cup Team USA edging favouritism at 8/11.
Racing
There is an absolute bucket-load of racing action for punters to get stuck into today.
Meetings this afternoon come from Epsom, Ripon, Warwick, Newcastle, Bangor-on-Dee, Chepstow, Huntingdon, Dundalk and Downpatrick.
In The Sun, Templegate is napping Deauville Prince in the 4.10 at Ripon. The Tom Dascombe trained colt is currently has drifted from 11/4 to 7/2 for the race.
‘He beat subsequent Acomb runner-up Steeler at Haydock in July and was far from disgraced in a French Listed race two weeks ago. This drop in trip should suit’, writes the paper’s tipster.
