Over The Line

The difficulty in predicting how Tiger Woods will return from his knee injury is that we’re applying what we know about other golfers to Tiger and at this stage, we know Tiger is utterly unlike any other golfer. Ernie Els suffered a similar knee injury to Woods and it’s only recently that he has rediscovered any semblance of the form that made him one of the world’s top players. It was a couple of years ago that Els began on the path to rehabilitation and even now he hasn’t got back to his normal self. That example could be irrelevant, because we’re talking about Tiger and who would have thought he could win the US Open on one leg? Timing his return to coincide with the Masters looks ideal because he knows what it takes to win at Augusta.

Posted in Sportsbook, Golf | Click here to comment »

Cricket - The Ashes
Looking at the recent form of both sides, England could win the Ashes at a canter. That would have been unthinkable about a year ago, but Australia have finally crash-landed following the retirements of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist. For a while, they got away without unearthing players of a similar calibre, but now the Aussies are discovering that you can’t replace the irreplaceable.

Posted in Sportsbook, Cricket, GAA, Motor Racing | Click here to comment »

There’s joy and even more joy at Wimbledon this summer when, in a typical piece of summer weather, SW19 is hit by a monsoon. Cliff Richard, spotting the microphone and an opportunity to flog more albums to exactly the kind of people who probably buy his albums, warms up his vocal chords for a spot of rain-delay entertainment. Just as he launches into the first few bars of ‘Summer Holiday’ some bright spark remembers that they’ve recently put a retractable roof over centre court. Cliff is devastated as he watches the iron behemoth glide across and shut out the rain, bringing an abrupt end to his impromptu gig, but the universal consensus is “brilliant, why didn’t we do this years ago?” And Marat Safin joins the UFC.

Posted in Sportsbook, Tennis | 1 Comment »

Harking back to the days when the ability to light your own farts and drink fifteen pints was seen as the main criteria for success as a rugby player, the Lions Tour is set to be the big news of 2009. But do they have a chance of upsetting the reigning World Champions? No is the short answer, but that doesn’t take up much space on a blog, so gazing into our oval shaped crystal ball, here’s some of what might happen in 2009.

Posted in Sportsbook, Rugby | 2 Comments »

At this time of year, that Friday feeling is a little different from the rest of the year. Normally it’s a day of not doing a whole lot and winding down for the weekend, but after the Christmas holiday’s it’s a day of going ‘oh crap, back to work on Monday, better make the most of the weekend.’ On that ray of sunshine, here’s today’s tips:

Irish Independent - Trav Corr: Collingwood 9.20 Wolverhampton
Irish Independent - Capt Keen: Aux Le Bahnn 2.05 Folkestone
Irish Times: Give 7.20 Wolverhampton
Daily Mirror - Newsboy: Minotaurius 8.50 Wolverhampton
Daily Mirror - Bouverie: Mr Big 12.30 Folkestone
The Sun - Tom Pepper: Aux Le Bahnn 2.05 Folkestone
The Sun - Templegate: Night Jar 12.40 Southwell

Posted in Racing, Sportsbook, Horse Racing Tips | Click here to comment »

A bizarre mix of lots of racing but hardly any newspapers means that we don’t have a whole lot in the way of tips this Thursday, but we can distract you with a vaguely topical joke:

What’s the difference between a tyre and 365 blowj … er … Actually, let’s scrap the joke and just carry on with the tips for today.

Daily Mirror - Peter O’Hehir: Good Fella 3.10 Fairyhouse
Daily Mirror - Newsboy: Majuro 3.15 Southwell
Daily Mirror - Bouverie: Calgary Bay 1.40 Cheltenham
The Sun - Templegate: Majuro 3.15 Southwell

Posted in Racing, Sportsbook, Horse Racing Tips | 1 Comment »

We’ve lost a good chunk of today’s tips due to abandonments, but not to worry, they’re normally crap anyway. For what it’s worth here are the tips for Wednesday 31st December:

Irish Independent - Capt Keen: Mister Thatcher 2.00 Lingfield
Irish Independent - Damien McElroy: Carnbridge 2.15 Punchestown
Irish Times - Brian O’Connor: Forest Leaves 12.45 Punchestown
Daily Mirror - Peter O’Hehir: Ebaziyan 1.15 Punchestown
Daily Mirror - Bouverie: Mr Willis 1.30 Lingfield
The Sun - Templegate: Mr Willis 1.30 Lingfield

Posted in Racing, Sportsbook, Horse Racing Tips | 2 Comments »

Tips for Sunday 21st December:

Sunday Independnt: Wheels Up 12.35 Thurles
Sunday People: Rosie All Over 2.25 Carlisle

Posted in Sportsbook, Horse Racing Tips | 4 Comments »

Tips for Saturday 20th December:

Irish Independnt - Trav Corr: Hairy Molly 3.05 Navan
Irish Independnt - Trav Corr: Can’t Buy Time 3.10 Haydock
Irish Independent - Curragh Corr: Kimberlite King 12.55 Navan
Irish Independent - Capt Keen: Mister Thatcher 7.20 Wolverhampton
Irish Times - Brian O’Connor: Kimberlite King 12.55 Navan
Irish Times - Captain John: Pettifour 2.10 Ascot
Daily Mirror - Newsboy: Issaquah 1.25 Haydock

Posted in Racing, Sportsbook, Horse Racing Tips | 1 Comment »

To shamelessly recycle something we used elsewhere on the website, Paddy Power Chase Day at Leopardstown is one of those great things that’s associated with Christmas - like turkey and ham, mulled wine and tolerataing the company of relatives you can’t stand.

We’ve got a wonderful VIP trip Leopardstown on Saturday 27th December up for grabs. This fabulous prize includes:

- a delicious meal for two

- FREE BAR!

- a racecard you can read whilst sipping a drink from the FREE BAR!

- €200 in spending money which you won’t be able to spend at the FREE BAR!

- €250 free bet that er … has no connection to the FREE BAR!

To be in with a chance of winning simply send your username and the answer to the following question to competitions@paddypower.com. The question:

Which of the following is a meal commonly associated with Christmas Day?
(a) Turkey & Pot Noddle
(b) Turkey & Ham
(c) Turkey & Cheesebrugers

Closing date is midday on Monday 22nd December. Winner will be drawn at random. Answers left in comments scetion don’t count as proper entires - sorry.

Posted in Racing, Sportsbook, Competitions | 90 Comments »