We’ve got a VIP Trip for two to give away for the Paddy Power Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham on Saturday, 14th November. We are the sponsors, so we’re a bit biased, but it’s going to be the best day of racing this side of Christmas and if it’s not, you’’e going to get VIP treatment so who really cares? The fantabulous prize includes:
 
- Club Badges for Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday 14th November for winner and a guest
- Champagne Reception
- VIP lunch in the Paddy Power hospitality suite
- £100 Free Bet on the Paddy Power Gold Cup
- Friday night hotel stay in Cheltenham
 
You’re going to be rubbing shoulders with some pretty high brow people [and the Paddy Power Marketing Department], so if we’re going to be sending you, we need to know you’ll be able to hold your own in grey matter department. Obviously, this test of intellect doesn’t apply to our marketing department or else there’d be no-one there to run up a massive bill at the bar.
 
We’ve borrowed a bit from a certain word based gameshow and added our very own Paddy Power-mind in-the-gutter slant to it. We need all three answers (don’t just send in the one you got and forget about the other two), so when you’ve used your noggin to work it send all three answers and your username to competitions@paddypower.com
 
The brainteaser:
Which of the horses likely to run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup are anagrams of the following?
(you might want to look at the betting for this)

(a) Nan Teet
(b) Anal Rhino Lectern (or Carnal Neon Hitler)
(c) Press Hob Bra
 
This is kind of important:
**Entries in the comments section won’t count as official entries, but you can use it for general gamesmanship and gameswomanship etc.**
 
Conditiony stuff
In the likely event more than one person gets it right, the winner will be drawn at random. Paddy Power decision is final. Competition closes at midday on Tuesday 10th November 2009.

Posted in Competitions, Racing | 9 Comments »

“It’s always everybody else’s fault.”

Any one who backed 4/1 joint favourite to win the 2.20 Wetherby might be feeling that way right now. She looked almost certain to claim victory heading into the home straight, but the jockey pointed her the wrong way and she snatched instant disqualification out of the jaws of triumph. Blame your bookie, blame the jockey, blame the horse for not saying something sooner, but you can’t blame Paddy Power. We’re refunding all single bets on My Petra to win the race.

Posted in Justice Payouts, Racing | 117 Comments »

This competition is now closed

They call themselves the People’s Republic so of course they need their own Grand National. The paddypower.com Cork National is one of the most exciting races on the Irish racing calendar and you could be making the trip to the Rebel County for the VIP treatment. Passport not necessary.
 
This year’s race takes place on Sunday 1st November and we’ve got a fantastic trip for two people to enjoy this prestigious day thanks to the nice guys in the Paddy Power marketing department who haven’t used up all the complimentary tickets for themselves. This prize is so good we like to call it the Ceann Comhairle Treatment and includes:
 
- Reserved Enclosure entrance tickets
- Complimentary race card and tipster
- Four course silver service meal in the restaurant
- Complimentary drinks for the afternoon
- Overnight accommodation in Cork
- €200 travel expenses
- €200 free Paddy Power betting vouchers
 
To decide who gets the prize, we’re going to play a game badly named ‘If You Like It You Should Find A Ring On It’. Cork hurling legend, Christy Ring is hiding somewhere on paddypower.com (the bit with the sports odds, not the poker, casino, games, bingo etc. bits) and all you need to do is find out where he is and tell us.
This is what he looks like:

Email your answer and your username to competitions@paddypower.com.
There is a clue and it’s that he’s hiding somewhere vaguely related to this competition.
 
In the highly likely event that more than one person finds Christy, the winner will be drawn at random. Entries in the comments section won’t be counted, but feel free to use it to send your opponents on wild-goose chases. Closing date for entires is 12pm on Tuesday 27th October and the Paddy Power decision is final.

Posted in Competitions, Racing | 46 Comments »

John Oxx has made the right decision – and, even if you disagree, it doesn’t affect our customers as we’ve refunded bets on Sea The Stars to win the Breeders’ Cup!

Retiring Sea The Stars at the height of his powers with nothing to prove is the correct decision. Many will argue it’s the coward’s way out. Cynics will say, “oh, he doesn’t want to have a George Washington on his hands” or another Rock of Gibraltar. As has been Oxx’s approach throughout the season, the horse’s best interests have been to the fore. Accordingly, it was the trainer’s decision - not the owners - who decided against a trip to Santa Anita. Yes, it protects his stud value – the colt’s, not Mr Oxx’s - it isn’t the main reason. He has nothing to gain from the trip.

Perhaps prematurely, the experts waded in on the debate about the six-time group one winner’s greatness following his Arc win. Some have even assessed him on that victory in Longchamp alone. On ratings some cited the mighty Sea-Bird as the marker for all things brilliant - which is fair enough. On race-record, though, the Guineas, Derby and Arc treble had never been achieved. Racing aficionados, however, have missed the proverbial boat with punters on this great Champion and have been swallowed up by all their own hackneyed rhetoric – the good and the bad. Sea The Stars is, quite simply, a hero and history will award him the tag of legend. No one else.

The Cape Cross colt may not have captured the imagination of the public like jumping greats such as Desert Orchid or Istabraq, but he was certainly loved by those who appreciate his wonderful ability – even those who opposed him through their pockets. Walking tall after the Guineas victory, Stevie Wonder could see he was a champion in the making. The steely, determined three year old has spectacularly delivered on his early promise and beaten all comers.

Some argue he’s beaten nothing, but he can only defeat what’s put in front of him. Gauging equine brilliance seems to be based on the manner of victories as opposed to its merits. This is wrong. Barcelona outplaying Man Utd to win Champions League 2 - 0 is surely more impressive than a 6 – 2 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga? Isn’t it? Some even have the temerity to say STS doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Nijinsky, Shergar or Dancing Brave. He’s deserving of equal acclaim. He’s my Nijinsky. My Secretariat. His unique Triple Crown, I can assure you, will never be repeated.

Posted in Horse Racing Tips, Racing, Sportsbook | 15 Comments »

Declan is the typical armchair pundit as he thinks he knows his sport – Horse Racing. Paddy Power have invited Declan to write a weekly piece for our new section - The Armchair Pundits’ Lounge. Today Declan steps up to the big league as we’re publishing his post on the regular blog. (more…)

Posted in Armchair Pundits, Horse Racing Tips, Racing | 14 Comments »

A lucky English punter will be thanking his lucky stars along with raising a toast to Paddy Power after his £5 each-way bet returned a whooping £11,944 along with a gigantic £29,680 bonus courtesy of the generous bookmaker.

The London based punter placed a £5 each-way treble on three horses running in England on Sunday; Raslan (Newton Abbot, 3pm), Creese (Folkestone, 3.10pm) and Lakeman (Musselburgh, 5.20pm). All three selections obliged to make it a day to remember for the delighted punter returning over £11k for his tenner stake.

Even more good news was to follow in the shape of the generous concession offered by Paddy Power where they guarantee all horse and greyhound prices in favour on their customers which translated to an extra £30k bringing the total return to a staggering £41k.

Paddy Power said “If this bet had have been placed with certain other bookies it would have returned thirty grand less. Yet another clear reason why you should bet with Paddy Power”

Posted in Racing | 4 Comments »

Some of them are even winners! Not such a great record on Day 2 but we had a winner in the Prince Of Wales Stakes which should have had you covered for the day. Onwards and upwards - Thursday features another great card and a couple of tasty outsiders. If they come in I could end up rolling around on the bed in a pile of money - like Demi Moore except significantly bigger.

As it’s Ladies Day let’s start with the fillies in the Ribblesdale Stakes. Now a greater collection of Oaks-dodgers I have never seen and on the basis that nothing really stands out to me I fancy July Jasmine at a very tempting 7/1. Sir Michael Stoute has two runners here and I don’t believe he’d do that unless he thought both had at least a chance, and more to the point July Jasmine finished 2nd to Midday in the Lingfield Oaks Trial.

Given that Midday then went on to be beaten by a mere neck in the Oaks itself, and that Jule Jasmine didn’t really handle the course that day, I can’t help feeling she is under-rated here and well capable of pulling off a win.

The main event for an awful lot of people is the Gold Cup and Yeats is the horse we’re all desperately hoping to see win it. It may put something of a hole in the PP balance sheet but there will not be a dry eye in the house if Aidan O’Brien’s star makes it an incredible four in a row.

But Yeats IS getting long in the tooth and at 9/4 he really has to be taken on. The column inches have been full of Godolphin’s woes recently but I believe they may just pull off this one with Frankie on board Veracity. He’s crying out for the trip and there are just too many question marks over some of the other horses at the top of the betting.

Last but probably least, how about Freemantle in the Hampton Court Stakes. At 11/8 he’s a clear favourite but frankly he deserves to be. After a strong run in the Dante he ducked the Derby to focus on this race and let’s be honest, this is a step down in class. Looks to be a winner all over with Glass Harmonica the only competition I would be concerned about - and he hasn’t shown much this year despite his reputation.

Best of luck with your selections on Thursday!

Posted in Horse Racing Tips, Racing, Sportsbook | 7 Comments »

“Don’t be sad, cause THREE OUT OF THREE ain’t bad” as Meatloaf never quite sung. World’s worst tipster? I think not! Now’s the time to turn our winnings into some serious cash / give it all back (delete as applicable) on a truly mouth-watering Day 2!

First up let’s get the simple stuff out of the way. Lush Lashes in the Windsor Forest Stakes is the proverbial penalty kick without a goalkeeper. 13/8 is about as generous as you’ll get (in fact it’s probably not available by the time you read this) and any sane punter is going to take that. I don’t even feel the need to explain this one, it’s a certainty! (more…)

Posted in Horse Racing Tips, Racing, Sportsbook | 11 Comments »

It’s here. The undeniable highlight of the flat racing season isn’t just about swanning around in a top hat and tails and betting on the colour of the Queen’s hat. There’s some serious horse racing involved too. (more…)

Posted in Horse Racing Tips, Racing, Sportsbook | 13 Comments »

It’s tough being a bookie. All week long punters have been asking me for my Derby tips. They obviously didn’t follow my Cheltenham or Grand National tips - if they had, they might have learned their lesson by now. My only defence is that I’m not doing this deliberately. (more…)

Posted in Horse Racing Tips, Racing, Sportsbook | 6 Comments »