MIGHTY MIKE: He looks like a giant man-baby but he is awesome at darts

By Josh Powell | UK Open

The UK Open is the darting equivalent of the FA Cup but you don’t have to deal with Mark Lawrenson spewing out footballing clichés, Adrian Chiles’ smug grin, or Millwall fans. It’s perfect.

What the tournament does have in common with the FA Cup is that qualifiers have been held up and down the country for months and a random draw is staged after each round.

What does this mean? Essentially Old Man Colin from the Red Lion could have won a handful of qualifiers and on Thursday night he could be lining up against Raymond van Barneveld in front of a sell-out crowd competing for £40,000. You don’t get much more exciting than that.

There’s plenty to enjoy about the UK Open that makes this tournament completely different. From the games being played simultaneously, to the short format benefiting the underdogs, the nine-dart history and the walk-on girls.

Here are seven reasons why you would be mad to miss this years competition.

1. The race to seven legs

2. The random draw

3. Ooohhh Michael van Gerwen

4. The walk-on girls

5. The multi-board action

6. The nine-darters

7. Paddy Power’s Money-Back Special

Michael van Gerwen is the 7/4 favourite after winning his 10th tournament of 2013 in Austria last week. The Premier League champ has been demolishing everything in his path over the last six months and the short format will benefit his explosive start.

The greatest chucker in darting history Phil Taylor is 7/2 with his fierce nemesis Raymond van Barneveld at 12/1. Both Simon Whitlock and James Wade are 14/1 with the out of form double world champ Adrian Lewis at a massive 22/1.

Check out the latest outright odds for the UK Open and
take advantage of Paddy’s MBS on the match coupon

THE YEAR OF MVG: Van Gerwen is favourite to lift the Premier League crown

The final of the Premier League of darts has finally arrived. The top four warriors of tungsten will go to battle in the O2 Arena tonight and Sky Sports’ Dave Clark has picked out the best bets on the card…

Dave’s darts double
Michael van Gerwen to win 8-5 and Phil Taylor to win 8-6: 48/1

These are the form players in world darts right now and there is an argument for every single one of them to win the crown tonight and walk away with £150,000.

Michael van Gerwen is the 11/10 favourite from Phil Taylor who is 15/8. Raymond van Barneveld is 5/1 and James Wade is the outsider after qualifying on the final night at 17/2.

My money would be on the Power to retain his title.

If van Gerwen plays his best darts he will win and there is no doubt about that. He is 3/10 but it is 1-1 in the season on head-to-heads. Wade won 7-4 in Glasgow and van Gerwen won 7-4 in Sheffield so nothing to split the two but on form the bet is van Gerwen. He has had a spectacular debut season where he became the first man in history other than Phil Taylor to top the table. He won 11 of his matches and drew two from 16.

James Wade qualified for the play-offs after drawing with Phil Taylor in Newcastle. The Machine’s form line isn’t bad and punters will feel the 5/2 is an attractive price but it is better to side with Michael van Gerwen to win 8-5 at 11/2.

MVG is in with a chance of getting a nine-darter tonight. It is 20/1 to happen in his match against Wade and you get the feeling that with a passionate crowd, the last night of the tournament, it could just happen. Van Gerwen should easily get more 180s than James Wade at 2/5 and he could be tickling that nine-darter.

Raymond van Barneveld has played Phil Taylor 17 times in Premier League history and never ever won. The Power has won 14 and they have drawn three times. In Dublin this season it was a fantastic match and Barney should have won after missing five darts for the win but it ended 6-6. Taylor beat him 7-3 in Glasgow and both men averaged 103.

Wayne Mardle strongly fancies Raymond van Barneveld to cause the upset and beat Taylor for the first time tonight. He thinks Barney is playing the best darts of his career. But you look at the stats and the Dutchman has never beat Taylor in the Premier League, and hasn’t beaten the Power in any tournament since the 2008 UK Open. Taylor is hungry for this and is very upset that he didn’t top the table. He topped it every year from 2005-2012 but finished third this time around.

Taylor is going to do a job on Barney tonight at 4/9. Don’t listen to Mardle, go for a Taylor win 8-6 at 13/2.

Taylor should beat Barney and beat him reasonably well.

Check out all the odds for tonight’s action here
(darts pun definitely intended)

DEFEATING THE BARNEY ARMY: Van Barneveld’s poor run against Taylor is set to continue

By Josh Powell | Premier League Darts

Fancy dress, gallons of booze and as many innuendos written on 180 cards as you can think of. The Premier League darts circus arrives in Glasgow, the rowdiest place on the circuit, for week eight of electrifying action.

Judgement day is just two games away so every player is fighting for points with relegation looming. it is the tightest Premier League in years and Paddy Power is refunding correct score bets if the match you punt on ends in a draw. It is an MBS that has had traders scrambling and it has clicked seven times already this year.

Sky Sports’ Dave Clark has given his exclusive tips to the Paddy Power Blog ahead of tonight’s titanic tungsten.

Adrian Lewis v Andy Hamilton

• Betting: Adrian Lewis v Andy Hamilton
  

Simon Whitlock v Robert Thornton

• Betting: Simon Whitlock v Robert Thornton
  

Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld

• Betting: Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
  

Gary Anderson v Wes Newton

• Betting: Gary Anderson v Wes Newton

Michael van Gerwen v James Wade

• Betting: Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
  

NOOOOOO: Barney is gutted about the Girls Aloud news. Probably

By Josh Powell | Premier League Darts

‘Dear Alouders, we just want to say from the bottom of our hearts Thank you!! This tour has been an amazing experience and the perfect chance to say thank you for being on this journey with us through a decade. Your love and support will stay with us forever but we have now come to the end of our incredible time together.’

It is the devastating message that shook the world this morning. Girls Aloud have officially spilt up and if Twitter is anything to go by it has ruined more teenager’s lives than the Advanced Maths A-Level.

Fear not though, because all is not lost. The Premier League of darts returns tonight from Cardiff. The top ten players will be slogging it out on the oche in front of almost 10,000 people who probably couldn’t care less about what Nicola Roberts does next.

Sky Sports’ Dave Clark has given his exclusive tips to the Paddy Power Blog ahead of tonight’s titanic tungsten.

Andy Hamilton v Simon Whitlock

• Betting: Andy Hamilton v Simon Whitlock
  

Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen

• Betting: Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
  

Robert Thornton v Adrian Lewis

• Betting: Robert Thornton v Adrian Lewis
  

Wes Newton v Phil Taylor

• Betting: Wes Newton v Phil Taylor

James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld

• Betting: James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld

MISSING THE TARGET: Jackpot can’t hit the heights in the Premier League

By Josh Powell | Premier League Darts

60 180s. A 99.40 average. A perfect nine-darter on the biggest stage of them all, the opening set of the World Championship Final at the Alexandra Palace. Life in January 2011 was pretty sweet for ‘Jackpot’ Adrian Lewis and it got even better when he retained his world title in 2012. He was just the third player to ever retain his crown after his debut win and according to the pundits, he had the world at his feet.

Now he sits rock bottom of the Premier League with three games to go until possible relegation. James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld’s careers are exploding back in to life. Phil Taylor is proving there is still plenty of fight left in the 52-year-old 16-time world champ. Andy Hamilton and Rob Thornton are two of the toughest and grittiest players on the circuit, and the man everyone is talking about is ‘Mighty’ Michael van Gerwen.

At the end of the day I'll keep trying my best despite what people think or say an I'll always give 100% if it goes t*** up there's nexttime—
Adrian Lewis (@jackpot180) February 28, 2013

Adrian Lewis has never been particularly good in the Premier League. Is it is the short leg formats, the raucous crowd, or the weekly travelling? Maybe it is because he’s a Stoke fan and another season subjected to Tony Pulis’ philosophy is just too much to bear. Maybe his missus keeps putting too much mayo on his butties. We can only speculate, but Jackpot has played in the Premier League five times and made it through to the play-offs just twice.

In three of the five competitions he has played he has won just four of the 14 games, giving him a win rate of 28 per cent. In his Premier League debut he averaged 35 per cent and in the 2011 tournament when he managed to make the final he still won less than half of the games he played (7/16).

In fact the World Champs appear to be Adrian Lewis’ only concern. In the other major tournaments in 2011 and 2012 he didn’t win one, going out before the semi-final stage 76 per cent of the time.

True fans http://t.co/pyZtO2BcWq—
Adrian Lewis (@jackpot180) February 27, 2013

There is no doubting Jackpot’s talent. He is arguably one of the most naturally gifted players on the tour, and you would have to be more mentally unstable than Lindsay Lohan to back against him winning more world crowns.

The Premier League is not his friend though, and it would take a remarkable recovery for him to make the play-offs let alone win this year’s competition. That makes Robert Thornton a decent bet to beat Lewis. The Thorn has just one blemish on his record after a defeat to James Wade who averaged an incredible 105 a fortnight ago. Thornton has never lost a game on his throw and he is 7/5 to notch up another victory in Cardiff.

• Betting: Rob Thornton v Adrian Lewis
• Betting: Premier League darts coupon

Football

Liverpool have to overcome a two-goal deficit against Zenit St Petersburgh at Anfield tonight (8.05pm ITV1) if they are to advance to the last 16 of the Europa League. Brendan Rodgers’ side are 7/10 favourites to do the business against the Premier League side and desperately need a performance like the one that saw them run out 5-0 winners over Swansea last weekend. Daniel Sturridge and new-signing Philippe Coutinho were on the mark against the Swans but both are cup tied tonight.

While Liverpool won their Group to advance to the last 32 of the competition they only managed to win one of their home games – 1-0 against Anzhi – and Zenit may be overprived at 4/1 to win the game.

• Betting: Liverpool v Zenit 

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew must be cursing his look – in French – as two disallowed goals leaves this tie finely balanced at 0-0 against Metalist. An away goal may not be good enough to see the Magpies through as the Ukranians were unbeaten at home in the qualifying stages scoring at least two goals in all three games on their own patch.

• Betting: Metalist v Newcastle United

Tottenham face a more straight-forward task as they travel to Lyon and defend a 2-1 lead thanks to Gareth Bale’s free-kick magic while Chelsea’s away goal in Prague should make the hostile atmosphere at Stamford Bridge a little easier to manage.

• Betting: Europa League coupon 

The Champions League betting was thrown into turmoil last night as AC Milan beat Barcelona 2-0 at the San Siro and the Catalans are in real danger of being knocked out of the competition. Bayern Munich are the new 3/1 favourites in Paddy’s online betting with Barca and Real Madrid second favourites at 9/2.

• Betting: Champions League outright 

Racing

It’s a long time since Paul Nicholls was 8/1 in Paddy’s top trainer at Cheltenham betting. But with Kauto Star retired and Big Buck’s on the injured list England’s champion trainer has no stand-out bankers for next month’s Cheltenham festival. The master of Ditcheat held a press day at his yard on Wednesday and put up his Dodging Bullets at 12/1 as the ‘forgotten horse’ of the Supreme Novice Hurdle which opens the Festival.

With live chances in the Champion Hurdle (Zarkandar), Gold Cup (Silviniaco Conti) and Triumph Hurdle (Far West) it would only take a handicap win or two  - and Nicky Henderson’s string to underperform – for Nicholls to be leading trainer at Cheltenham 2013.

There are inspections at Ayr (8am), Huntingdon (8am) and Sedgefield (8.30am) but Clonmel in Ireland and Kempton’s twilight meeting should go ahead. problems.

#19sleepsuntilCheltenham

• Betting: All Thursday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

Golf

A freak snow storm in the Arizona desert has delayed the opening round of the WGC Matchplay Championship as players took to Twitter  at the freak event.

While the caddies had snowball fights to pass the time none of the first-round matches were finished which leaves the tournament looking at playing the semi-finals on Saturday – after the quarter-finals – or going to an extra day next Monday.

If your selection is leading through 12 holes but fails to win, Paddy Power will refund your losing bet on that match.

• Betting: Matchplay coupon
• Betting: Matchplay outright

LEGENDS OF THE OCHE: Dave Clark predicts a good night for Barney and Taylor

The face of darts on Sky Sports Dave Clark has given the Paddy Power Blog his hottest tips ahead of the second Thursday of Premier League darts. The arrows tipster has gone through the card tonight and picked out a red-hot treble for punters.

Dave Clark’s Premier League double 
Phil Taylor, Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld to win: 9/2

Wes Newton v Raymond van Barneveld

You have to say Barney all the way tonight. He’s the five-time Premier League semi-finalist and he averaged 10.2 and hit four 180s in a 7-4 victory over Gary Anderson. He is in great form and won the Grand Slam. Wes Newton is the World number seven but was disappointing in that 7-4 defeat to James Wade last week. He only averaged in the 80’s which isn’t anywhere near good enough.

The atmosphere in Aberdeen will be unbelievable and Barney gets massive support in Scotland. It is a nailed on victory for Barneveld at 8/13 and he wins fairly easily.

• Betting: Wes Newton v Raymond van Barneveld

Andy Hamilton v James Wade

It is worth looking at the 180 market in this match tonight. James Wade didn’t hit any last week so the Hammer is a pretty sure thing to hit more maximums at 5/6.

The Hammer might bounce back from last week’s defeat. He reached the semi-finals last year in his first year in the Premier League, he loves the atmosphere and the big crowds this tournament generates. He lost 7-5 to Robert Thornton but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Thornton went 5-1 up and the Hammer made it 5-5 but hit form just at the wrong time. He’ll have been on the practice board and he could just nick it.

It’ll be close so Paddy Power’s Money-Back Special if it is a draw is very important in this tight clash. At 13/8 Hamilton can just edge an extremely tight game though.

• Betting: Andy Hamilton v James Wade

Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock

Adrian Lewis’ poor performance against Simon Whitlock really flattered the Wizard. He wasn’t at his absolute best but he made the final last year and hit a nine-darter in the semi. How will Gary Anderson deal with a passionate Scottish crowd behind him? Remember he does suffer with nerves and Whitlock could nick it. This will be a tight match, around the 7-5 scoreline probably, but the Australian can edge it at 6/5.

• Betting: Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock
  

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor is 8/15 for this game and there is no way Lewis, on his current form, can beat Taylor. We’d love to see him back to his best but at the minute he has no chance the way he is playing. He showed frailty against Simon Whitlock last week losing 7-3. Taylor can cruise this game.

The scoreline of 7-2 is 8/1 and looks appealing. Taylor will destroy Lewis unless Jackpot has had a miraculous turnaround in the last week which is very unlikely. Phil Taylor is guaranteed to beat Jackpot. Lewis will not get anywhere near The Power on Thursday night.

• Betting: Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor

Rob Thornton v Michael van Gerwen

Thornton was not just a good winner in week one, but an amazing winner. He came out of the blocks and took a 5-1 lead against Andy Hamilton, averaging 98.84. He took out three checkouts over 100 and hit five 180s in that 7-5 victory. Thornton, in front of the Scottish crowd, could, could, just be worth a cheeky tenner tonight.

The Thorn made a guest appearance in the Premier League in 2009 when Wayne Mardle was ill and it gave the Scot that fire in his belly. There will be a cauldron of an atmosphere in Aberdeen. Given Michael van Gerwen missed doubles last week the 7/2 on Thornton might be tempting. Thornton could just sneak a narrow victory over MVG.

• Betting: Rob Thornton v Michael van Gerwen

• Betting: Darts coupon

Football

The big game certainly lived up to all the hype Sky Sports had thrown at it, as Manchester United drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in Spain. Danny Welbeck opened the scoring midway through the first half before Cristiano Ronaldo rose like a salmon to nod in the equaliser after half an hour. It means the tie is delicately poised going into the second leg at Old Trafford with both managers backing their sides to progress.

Tonight the Europa League takes centre stage with Tottenham, Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool all in action. It’s the tournament nobody really wants to be in but none of these teams will want to suffer any embarrassment. There’s 16 Europa League games in all tonight which is great news for coupon lovers.

• Betting: Europa League coupon
  

Read all about it: Paddy Power pays out on Manchester United to win the league!

Golf

Phil Mickelson is catching some sunshine up in California and will try to continue his blistering streak in the Northern Trust Open and put Pebble Beach behind him. Good old ‘Lefty’ led wire to wire in that remarkable Waste Management Phoenix Open and after flirting with a round of 59, Phil would love to seal the deal again at Riviera County this weekend. He’s won this tournament twice before and finished runner-up twice making him the clear 12/1 favourite.

Bubba Watson is another left-hander who could excel at the quirky course while Sergio Garcia has been showing all the signs that he is ready to finally win a major this year. Throw in last year’s runner-up Keegan Bradley and Englishman Luke Donald and you have a tournament that is jam-packed full of quality, class and questionable fashion sense.

• Betting: Northern Trust Open outright

Darts

Robert Thornton is back in his native Scotland tonight as the Premier League rolls into Aberdeen. He notched up his first win on his debut under the bright lights but has a tougher ask tonight against World Champ finalist Michael Van Gerwen. The Thorn will have the majority of the support in front of what is always a raucous atmosphere in Scotland but he might need more than that to stop Mighty Mike. The Dutchman had darts to beat Phil Taylor last week and won’t be in the mood to hand Thornton a win on home soil.

In other games Wes Newton faces Raymond van Barneveld, Andy Hamilton takes on James Wade and Gary Anderson will try to use the home crowd as motivation against Simon Whitlock. Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is in action against double-World champ Adrian Lewis who will easily be the most-booed man of the evening.

If any game ends in a draw tonight Paddy will refund losing singles on that match! This special clicked on the opening week and Paddy could be emptying his pockets for punters again if any game ends all square this evening.

• Betting: Darts coupon

Racing

Today’s racing comes from Kelso, Kempton and Thurles. Unfortunately Leicester has been abandoned due to the severe weather. You can keep up to date with all the racing in the UK, Ireland and abroad right here.

With just 25 days to go Cheltenham you’d be forgiven for thinking some of the senior jockeys in the weigh room might start to pick and choose their rides ahead of the Festival.

Wrong! AP McCoy travels to Kelso today for four rides and only one of them – Unique de Cotte in the 3.10pm – is for his guv’nor JP McManus.

The iron man of jumps racing has ridden seven winners from 19 rides in the past week and if you put two and two together you’ll get the number of mounts he has at Kelso today. Which fits nice and snugly into a Yankee.

• Betting: All Thursday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

Football

Premier League managers will be glad to get their players back in one piece after the midweek internationals where England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all won to bring up the yankee.

Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard were on the mark for the Three Lions in their 2-1 win over Brazil which should boost Chelsea and Manchester United ahead of their games with Wigan and Everton respectively at the weekend.

But an under-fire Rafa Benitez will need to make sure that Gary Cahill remembers he was signed from Bolton – not Santos FC – as he tried to out ‘Brazil’ Brazil to gift the visitors an equaliser before his club-mate saved his blushes.

Rooney should line up against his old club Everton on Sunday before United face Real Madrid on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

And if Wayne Rooney scores the last goal against Everton Paddy Power will refund all losing First/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match.

Gareth Bale continues his goal-scoring form which will please Andre Villas-Boas as he slalomed past the Austrian defence – without even looking like falling – to slot the ball home.  Spurs are breathing down Chelsea’s necks for third place and they face Newcastle in Saturday’s early kick-off.

• Premier League Coupon

Darts

Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and Michael van Gerwen played out an incredible repeat of the World Championship Final in the Premier League drawing 6-6. Mighty Mike had darts for the match but the 16-time World Champion Taylor kept fighting back to record a point in the opening week.

Because the match ended a draw Paddy Power refunded losing singles on that game as punters cashed in on some more of Paddy’s generosity.

Earlier in the evening Rob Thornton won his first ever Premier League match beating Andy Hamilton and Wes Newton’s poor finishing allowed James Wade to steal an opening week victory 7-4. Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld continued their good form beating Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson respectively.

• Betting: Premier League outright

Golf

Last weekend was all about Phil Mickelson but ‘Lefty’ could only shoot a round of 69 at the Pebble Beach National as Hunter Mahan and Russell Knox share the lead on six-under-par.

Scott Langley is one of six players one shot off the lead with Lee Westwood on four-under. Brandt Snedeker is a man in form and he heads the in-play betting at 5/1 after a solid opening round of 66.

• Betting: Golf Coupon

Racing

Today’s racing in the UK and Ireland comes from Bangor, Kempton, Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Dundalk. For all the racing information at home and abroad keep an eye on Paddy Power’s weather update right here. We can assure you he’s a touch more reliable than Michael Fish.

A fantastic weekend of racing at Newbury at Leopardstown in Ireland. The 23-runner Betfair Hurdle throws up more sub-plots than the average episode of Eastenders with trainers wanting to take advantage of good handicap marks for this valuable prize as Cheltenham looms into view.

Nicky Henderson’s Supreme Novice hope My Tent or Yours heads Paddy Power’s market on 4/1 with dark horse Cotton Mill - making his seasonal debut at 9/1 third favourite where Paddy Power is paying 1/4 the odds the first 5 home.

Something’s going to give at Leopardstown as Gold Cup hopefuls Sir Des Champs and Flemenstar go head-to-head in the Hennessy Gold Cup.

Depending on the manner of the defeat one set of connections are going to have their Cheltenham dreams dashed – although a repeat of the Lexus Chase – where the first four home were within kicking distance of each other – may see both take their chance in jumps racing Blue Riband.

• Betting: All Friday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

Football

Premier League managers will be glad to get their players back in one piece after the midweek internationals where England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all won to bring up the yankee.

Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard were on the mark for the Three Lions in their 2-1 win over Brazil which should boost Chelsea and Manchester United ahead of their games with Wigan and Everton respectively at the weekend.

But an under-fire Rafa Benitez will need to make sure that Gary Cahill remembers he was signed from Bolton – not Santos FC – as he tried to out ‘Brazil’ Brazil to gift the visitors an equaliser before his club-mate saved his blushes.

Rooney should line up against his old club Everton on Sunday before United face Real Madrid on Wednesday night at the Bernabeu in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

And if Wayne Rooney scores the last goal against Everton Paddy Power will refund all losing First/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match.

Gareth Bale continues his goal-scoring form which will please Andre Villas-Boas as he slalomed past the Austrian defence – without even looking like falling – to slot the ball home.  Spurs are breathing down Chelsea’s necks for third place and they face Newcastle in Saturday’s early kick-off.

• Premier League Coupon   

Darts

The Premier League kicks-off in Belfast tonight with 10 titans of tungsten doing battle as everyone tries to get their league campaign off to the best possible start.

Ten of the most accurate and exciting darts players will take to the stage with the feature match being a repeat of January’s World Championship Final at the Alexandra Palace. Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor beat Michael van Gerwen on the biggest stage of them all to collect his 16th world crown, but Mighty Mike can upset him in week one of the Premier League.

MVG is quicker out of the blocks than a doped-up sprinter which is crucial in a race to seven legs.

Paddy Power has ironed his fancy dress costume, meticulously planned a funny slogan for his 180 sign and has wisely taken Friday off work ahead of the action. The excitement on the oche might have got a bit much for Paddy though and he’s refunding losing singles on any match that ends in a draw.

There were 13 draws last year and with a shorter format this time around and an even more competitive league, that number is set to rise. Paddy’s offer is crazier than  Gary Anderson’s fashion sense and punters can start the weekend early with a draw in the darts.

• Betting: Darts Coupon 

Golf

Last weekend was all about Phil Mickelson’s flawless display in winning his third Phoenix Open and Leftie is Paddy Power’s 13/2 favourite to retain his title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California this weekend.

Mickelson is chasing his fifth win in this event while Brandt Snedeker – a two-time runner up this term already looks a solid each-way bet at 12/1 with Paddy Power paying ¼ the odds the first 5 home. Dustin Johnson returns to the US Tour after winning the delayed Hyundai Tournament four weeks ago.

South African Richard Stern has made a flying start to the Joburg Open with defending champion Branden Grace still to tee off.

• Betting: Golf Coupon

Racing

Today’s racing in the UK and Ireland comes from Doncaster, Huntingdon, Taunton, Wolverhampton and Clonmel. For all the racing information at home and abroad keep an eye on Paddy Power’s weather update right here. We can assure you he’s a touch more reliable than Michael Fish.

It may still be February but the UAE 1,000 Guineas comes under orders in Meydan at 4.25pm  with Mike De Kock’s Emotif getting the nap vote from the Racing Post.

• Betting: All Thursday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

THE YEAR OF MVG: Van Gerwen’s explosive start is a huge positive in a race to seven legs

By Josh Powell | Premier League Darts

The Darts Premier League has had a makeover and the sport’s most exciting competition just got even better. Instead of eight of the world’s best players battling it out over 15 weeks to determine a worthy Champion there will now be 10 players in the league.

The standard of darts last year was so mind-blowing, tournament organisers have expanded the Premier League format to feature five matches a night, each the best of 12 legs. After nine weeks the round robin will be complete and the bottom two players will be relegated, leaving eight players to battle it out for the remaining five weeks before the play-offs in London.

With the matches being a race to seven, your pick for the title will have to be quicker out of the blocks than a doped-up sprinter and that’s where the explosive ‘Mighty’ Michael van Gerwen comes in. The Dutchman is 11/4 to win the Darts Premier League and could be the one to side with on the back of his incredible last 12 months.

Unsurprisingly 16-time world champ and reigning king of darts Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is the 2/1 favourite to win his seventh Premier League title but van Gerwen is hotly tipped to be the man to take Phil’s crown.

The two titans of tungsten met in the World Championship final at the Alexandra Palace in January and the two biggest names in darts battle it out in the show piece event on the opening night of the Premier League in Belfast.

On the biggest stage of them all at the Worlds, Taylor won 7-4 in sets, but the Premier League is very different because it is leg-play. If you break down that final to legs, MVG would have won 7-3 in a best of 12 and he is good value to get a result in a thrilling opening week.

Week One tips

Andy Hamilton v Rob Thornton: Both men were whitewashed by Phil Taylor at the Alexandra Palace and there’s little to separate them here. Thornton edges the head-to-head 6-4 but Andy Hamilton’s Premier League experience could be an advantage in what will be a tight opener. Draw – 10/3

James Wade v Wes Newton: James Wade made the semi-finals of the World Champs but is a slow starter and it took him until week four before he registered a win last year. Wade narrowly beat Newton at the Ally Pally but the opening 12 legs were shared 6-6 and Wes can nick it here. Newton – 13/8

Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson: In the short format Anderson’s poor form on the doubles could be costly. The flying Scot will score heavily but in a race to seven he can’t afford to be missing his doubles. If Barney continues his World Championship form he wins. Van Barneveld – 11/10

Simon Whitlock v Adrian Lewis: The Wizard beat Lewis twice in the Premier League last year and leads the head-to-head 9-7. Jackpot will want to come out firing after losing his World Championship title but despite retaining the World Cup for England this month, Whitlock can beat him here. Whitlock – 5/4

Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen: The master v the young pretender. Is MVG the next big thing in darts? He beat The Power twice last year but lost out in the World Championship final despite leading 4-2. If Mighty Mike starts quickly again he can lay down a marker in week one. Van Gerwen -  17/10

• Betting: Premier League coupon
  
• Betting: Premier League outright

It doesn’t quite have the same level of intimidation as the All Blacks’ Haka in rugby. But the New Zealand darts team gave it a shot yesterday in the PDC World Cup of Darts.

Did it work? Well, no. Last year’s beaten finalists Australia were 5-2 winners. Still, fair play.

• Betting: PDC World Cup of Darts

Football

Chelsea are in action tonight as Rafa Benitez’s side look to reclaim third place in the Premier League tonight against lowly QPR. Harry Redknapp hasn’t managed to work the miracle just yet and time is running out if they are to haul themselves out of the drop zone before the sat-nav gets set for Huddersfield and Burnley next season.

The Blues have nine points from nine in their last three games with 11 goals scored and just two conceded and believe they can be major players in the title race now that things have settled down since Roberto Di Matteo got the heave-ho.

Liverpool had little trouble dismissing the R’s 3-0 last Sunday and face Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland side who beat the champions Manchester City 1-0 on Boxing Day before Spurs did them 2-1 at the weekend. The Black Cats are going the right way in the table again and while Liverpool’s home form is decent, 3-1 losses at home to Aston Villa and away to Stoke doesn’t leave any room for complacency.

The live game on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm sees Everton and Newcastle renew rivalry after drawing 2-2 earlier in the season at Goodison Park.  Newcastle are struggling at the moment losing four of their last five (three away) concededing 16 goals in the process. If they can tighten up at the back they can give the Toffees –  who lost their unbeaten home record to Chelsea last Sunday – plenty to think about going forward.

• Betting: Chelsea v QPR 
  
• Betting: Liverpool v Sunderland 
• Betting: Newcastle v Everton

• Betting: Premier League coupon

Darts

Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor launched a thrilling fight back from 4-2 down to beat ‘Mighty’ Michael Van Gerwen 7-4 in the PDC World Championship Final at the Alexandra Palace. It was The Power’s 16th world title and at the age of 52 the man from Stoke continues to break records and dominate the sport.

Fans of the arrows don’t have to wait long for their next dose of tungsten tossing with the BDO  World Championship starting on Saturday at the Lakeside.

Defending champion Christian Kist is 13/2 to lift the title with world number four Scott Waites the 10/3 favourite. Three-time world champion and crowd favourite Martin Adams is 7/1 with the ‘Silverback’ Tony O’Shea at an appealing 16/1.

• Betting: BDO World Championship outright
  

Racing

Paddy had the racing world buzzing yesterday with his Money Back Special All losers on the 1.05 at Musselburgh and the 3.15 at Exeter on New Year’s Day.

He’s going to have to come up with a good excuse to explain that one away to the bosses but giddy on his own invincibility he’s decided to extend the offer to this Saturday and every Saturday in January.

So for the month of January Paddy is going to play fast and loose with his career prospects each and every Saturday with a Money-Back Special on all losers in two races.

Today’s racing comes from Ayr, Kempton, Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

The most popular nap in the Racing Post today is Tap Night who runs in the 1.20pm at Ayr.

• Betting: All Wednesday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Paddy Power future racing

Football

Good morning and welcome to 2013! If your head is in a bit of a spin – put the kettle on and have a read of what’s happening today – the first day of the New Year.  Resolutions? You’re cutting down on the drink this year remember? No more bacon butties – well maybe just two at breakfast and you’re definitely opening a Paddy Power account. The run and a swim can wait until tomorrow. Or the weekend.

There’s plenty of football as the Premier League and nPower Championship enters the second half of the season with titles to be won and fortunes to be wasted as teams try to buy themselves out of relegation and secure promotion.

Premier League leaders Manchester United travel to Wigan who put a dent in their title aspirations last season as United blew an eight-point lead to lose to Manchester City on goal difference on the final day. City have stuttered in the first half of the new campaign and a home tie against Stoke could prove trick if they don’t get an early goal and force the Potters to leave their penalty area.

Spurs have taken 10 points from a possible 12 since mid-December but Gareth Bale is missing for Tottenham’s clash at home to Reading. Another Swan Lake impression from the Welsh international against Sunderland at the weekend earned him his fifth booking of the season and a one-match ban.

A win for Andre Villas-Boas’ side would see them leapfrog Chelsea into third place before the Blues entertain lowly QPR at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

The Gunners have really gotten their act together after their season threatened to disappear down the pan and Arsene Wenger’s side take on a Southampton side who came very close to ending Stoke’s unbeaten home record on Saturday when leading 3-1 before eventually drawing 3-3.

• Betting: Premier League coupon
• Betting: nPower Championship

Darts

Every time someone writes off Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor he comes back flying. The greatest darts player ever is safely through to the PDC World Championship Darts final against Michael ‘Mighty Mike’ van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace tonight.

The pundits are split as Sky Sports’ Dave Clarke fancies The Power but Josh Powell thinks ‘Mighty Mike’ can take the big leap forward.

Taylor is looking for one final burst of energy to carry him through to his 16th World Championship win with the 23-year-old van Gerwen looking for a maiden victory on the biggest stage in world darts. It should be an absolute belter to round off two cracking weeks of arrows action at the Ally Pally and if a 100+ checkout wins the final Paddy Power will refund selected losing bets on the game (T&C’s apply).

• Betting: PDC World Championship final 

Racing

Paddy’s lost the plot on the opening day of the New Year with his Money-Back Special all losers on two races on January 1st. It seemed like a good idea at the time but there could be carnage later when the bean counters start to see the cash flowing in the opposite direction. But there’s nothing they can do now except sit and wait until the TWO races are confirmed later today from Musselburgh, Exeter, Wolverhampton, Catterick, Fakenham, Tramore and Fairyhouse.

The new-look C4 team are broadcasting four races live from Musselburgh this afternoon as racing fans ring in the New Year and a new era and start to countdown to Cheltenham 2013.

• Betting: All New Year’s Day cards, form and odds
• Betting: Paddy Power future racing

TAYLOR MADE: Dave Clark fancies Taylor to win his 16th PDC World Crown

After correctly predicting both men to reach the final the face of darts on Sky Sports Dave Clark has given the Paddy Power Blog his hottest tips ahead of Tuesday night’s action at the PDC World Championship final  at the Alexandra Palace.

Dave Clark’s Final prediction
Phil Taylor to win @ 10/11 ; Taylor to win 7-5 @ 11/2 [Share this tip on Twitter]

It’s amazing really as the pair are meeting for the first time in a major televised final and it’s the PDC World Championship. Michael Van Gerwen has been playing the best darts of his career this season. I just think that when his back’s to the wall Taylor produces his best.

He’s 52 now and there’s been talk of retirement but he wants to go out on a high and this is the way to do it. It’s the King against the pretender to the throne and I can see Taylor edging this 7-5 for one final lap of glory. This could be an absolute Classic.

There will be a lot of tension but MVG  throws 180s for fun. He threw 14 in his semi-final win over James Wade but Taylor could only manage four in his semi against Raymond van Barneveld.  Van Gerwen to throw most 180s in this match is a nailed-on bet at 1/8.

MVG’s check-out percentage is worrying at just 38.1% even though he’s a power scorer. Taylor’s is 40.74%. Van Gerwen hit as nine-darter against Wade then got eight of the nine darts in the next leg but remarkably still lost the set. I don’t think Taylor would let anyone of the hook like that.

While James Wade didn’t play too well it was MVG’s lack of finishing allowed Wade to win four sets.

Taylor will want to prove a point and try and get a nine-darter. He told me that he’s never even done it in practice and neither had Van Gerwen before he did it on the stage on Sunday night. It’s a big ask for either to do it again but there’ll be plenty of takers at 9/2 that a nine-dart finish is thrown in the final.

You can get 15/2 about Taylor or the same price on Van Gerwen throwing another nine-darter with Paddy Power.

• Betting Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen