IN CLOVER:  Punters who latched onto Paddy’s MBS  got cash back on Long Run

You backed second-placed Long Run in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown today you’re probably cursing your luck – and your empty wallet – right about now.

Your mates are quids in after backing the 2/1f Sir Des Champs and are down the pub giving it large.

But you’re a Paddy Power customer right? And what’s Paddy done? Only gone and refunded more than €100,000 to 7,500 customers as part of his 2nd to Sir Des Champs Money Back Special on day two of the five-day festival.

Punters who backed Long Run may have felt aggrieved but with our Money Back Special if 2^nd to Sir Des Champs at least they got their hard-earned cash back on the runner-up.

And with Paddy paying 5 places in the handicap hurdle at Punchestown 6.05 on Thursday that’ll give you just enough time to cadge a few free beers off them tonight before getting stuck in again tomorrow.

Ante-post punters are already in clover after Paddy refunded bets on Certify for the English 1,000 Guineas after it was revealed that trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was taking the Lance Armstrong approach to training Godolphin’s horses.

And with Paddy going Money Back if there’s a century break in the final frame of the World Snooker Championship matches and giving you a free bet if your golfer fails to make the cut in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this weekend – things could get a hell of a lot worse for the world’s greatest bookmaker.

• Betting: Sports homepage

By Josh Powell | Combined Horses

The Paddy Power office is emptying their pockets to get on Hidden Identity (11/2) in the 2.00pm at Cheltenham off the back of one tip. Now the tip has come from a lad whose brother’s neighbour used to see one of the stable lads’ mum at bingo. So it’s probably as trustworthy as CNN, but I wouldn’t want to miss out on the one occasion it does come good.

Then there’s Ma Filleule (13/8). Probably the best horse in the race but at the Cheltenham Festival he was as disappointing as the latest James Bond film. Can I forgive him that run? Probably, and you know you’re always in pretty safe hands when you’re backing Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson.

There are two horses in this 2pm today I’d like to back. I could work out an intricate staking plan were I Dutch them to ensure whoever wins returns profit. But that would take considerable time and some impressive arithmetic, neither of which I have in abundance.

Luckily Paddy Power is here to help me with my indecisive horse backing. We have a new product feature on PaddyPower.com (desktop only) called Combined Horses.

Thanks to the tech wizards in Power Tower you now have the option to combine both horses into some kind of super gee-gee. Simply select two or three horses in any race and Paddy gives you a single price for any of your selections to win the race. In this instance I got evens.

On the ‘Combined‘ section of the racecard you can add and remove up to three horses (four in larger fields) and Paddy will give you a single price. By adding that to the bet slip it becomes one selection so you just need one stake. If any of your gee-gees romp home then you’re a winner at the combined price. Happy days.

The Paddy Power Blog team has had a good old play with this new gadget and found it very useful. In particular when you can’t pick a weakness between two horses, when you fancy opposing the favourites in small fields and in massive races like the Scottish National on Saturday when you fancy backing a few horses in a huge race.

The combined feature is available on the day of the race when the markets are priced-up in the mornings.

Whenever you can’t decide between a couple of runners Paddy has you covered with his with combined horses. Now just put the beers on ice and watch as my pair charge to wards the finish together.

• Betting: Thursday’s racing

So here’s calling all first time text bettors! Paddy Power has an offer of thumb twitching proportions. Just keep moving your eyes in a generally downward direction to find out what it is.

5/1 HURRICANE FLY & QUEVEGA

BOTH TO WIN AT CHELTENHAM when you place your first text bet!

Send your stake & “TWITTER RUBYS BANKERS” TO 51465! Eg: 20 TWITTER RUBYS BANKERS
Standard network rates apply. And if you win, we’ll text you to let you know! How handy is that? Now let’s go enjoy that textual feeling.

T&C’s:

• First time text bettors only.
• Text betting requires a Paddy Power account.
• Multiple accounts from same address will not qualify.
• Available until midnight Sunday
• Max stake £20/€20, one bet per customer.
• Over 18’s only and terms & conditions apply.

• Betting: Cheltenham Festival

IF HE WINS – YOU WIN:  Paddy’s Money-back All losers special on Hurricane Fly.

Cheltenham 2013

You know how you’d wake up some mornings and have a look who’s sharing your bed and think maybe you shouldn’t had those four Jagerbombs in 30 seconds?

Well this isn’t one of those mornings. Today is the day you wake up with Kim Kardashian in the shower and Billie Faiers boiling the kettle as Paddy has not one – but two – knock-out offers for the Cheltenham Festival.

In a move that will have every other bookmaker choking on their cornflakes, Paddy has gone Money-Back all Losers if favourite Hurricane Fly wins the Champion Hurdle on March 12. And if that wasn’t enough all races at the Festival are now non-runner no bet with the world’s best bookie.

Now Paddy’s got simple tastes. A few beers, pizza, feet up in front of the TV watching sport normally leaves him happier than the judges of FHM’s sexiest Woman 2013.

But with just 12 days to go to Cheltenham he’s upped the ante on the competition by giving punters a stand-out Money-Back Special all Losers if Hurricane Fly wins the Champion Hurdle.

It’s very simple. If the 7/4 favourite Hurricane Fly wins the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle on March 12 Paddy will refund all losing single stakes on all the other runners in this race.

KNOCK OUT:  Georgia Salpa needed a lie down after hearing the Hurricane Fly MBS

If you back Hurricane Fly and he wins – Happy Days! Form an orderly queue at the counter or on the internet and collect your dosh. If you back one of the other runners in the race and Hurricane Fly wins – don’t sweat it. Your losing single stake will be winging it’s way back to you.

Too good to be true? Last year Sprinter Sacre was the ‘banker’ of the meeting in the Arkle Chase and one the bookies wanted beaten.

But Paddy put his money where his mouth was – and admittedly where his brain should have been – and offered to refund all Losers if Sprinter Sacre won. You can guess the rest and Paddy Power’s £2.5m Sprinter Sacre payout had punters in clover for the rest of the week.

The same could happen this year as:

• Hurricane Fly won the Champion Hurdle in 2011 and was third in 2012 but is unbeaten in four Grade One starts since then.
• Hurricane Fly has won 15 times from 18 starts including 14 Grade One contests.
• Hurricane Fly is 7/4 favourite for the Champion Hurdle 2013 and Ruby Walsh rides him despite having a choice of mounts

And if that wasn’t enough, all ante-post bets at the Cheltenham Festival are now non-runner no bet with Paddy Power. (T&C’s apply)

The world’s best bookmaker has winning form with his Money-Back Specials and in January 2013 alone he refunded more than €900k to punters with his Money-Back Special on two races every Saturday that left customers across online, mobile and in the shops quids in. 

Paddy mightn’t be on the panel when FHM choose the world’s sexiest woman but his Money-Back Special all Losers if Hurricane Fly wins the Champion Hurdle deserves an award.

• Betting: Champion Hurdle odds
• Betting:  Cheltenham Festival 

Money Back All losers if Hurricane Fly wins the Champion Hurdle!

• Max refund: €100/£100 per customer.
• Applies to bets placed on the Champion Hurdle from 12am, 28th February
• Applies to win singles and the win part of each-way singles only.
• Does not apply to extra racing markets or betting in-running
• Does not apply to Tote bets.

First time text bettors can get Evens on Barcelona to beat AC Milan tonight!

Send your stake & “ENHANCED BARCELONA” TO 51465

Standard network rates apply. And if you win, we’ll text you to let you know! How handy is that?

It’s a cracking offer on the Catalan giants who are 2/1 to go on and win the entire tournament. Barcelona have failed to score away from home on just two occasions in the last 12 months and with Lionel Messi averaging 1.33 goals every game it’s hard to see them not scoring.

It is so easy to get your text bet on even Kerry Katona could figure it out without much trouble. Now all you need to do is sit back and hope that the four-time winners can get the win in Italy. That congratulatory text from Paddy will be right around the corner if so.

T&C’s:

-          First time text bettors only.
-          Text betting requires a Paddy Power account.
-          Multiple accounts from same address will not qualify.
-          Price subject to fluctuation & available until 7.45pm Wednesday 2oth February 2013
-          Max stake £20/€20 & one bet per customer.
-          Over 18’s only and terms & conditions apply.

The Leinster-based customer, who wishes to remain anonymous, faced an agonising wait to collect his winnings as he had to endure a steward’s enquiry before the final leg of his accumulator, Atmospheric High, was declared the winner after a race at Dundalk, Co Louth, on Friday night.

A spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Having faced a steward’s enquiry on the last leg it’s fair to say that he’s earned it, this is truly weapons grade punting and I hope he enjoys his winnings!”

OH NO YOU DIDN’T: If you suspect something isn’t right with your horse, take advantage of Paddy’s offer

Paddy Power refunded on all losers in the 1.15 Cheltenham and the 3.10 Lingfield today.

Paddy has now refunded over €900k to punters this January on this special alone.

Paddy Power’s generosity in refunding all losers in two races on every Saturday in January ended up with the universe’s most popular bookie giving back a grand total of just over €900,000 in cold, hard cash after today he refunded €200k to 20,000 customers.

Punters in Paddy’s shops and online, who were aware of the offer but did not know which two races until as soon as the races begun, got their money back on the Murphy Group Handicap Chase (1.15pm Cheltenham) and the lingfieldpark.co.uk Handicap (3.10pm Lingfield) this afternoon.

€115,000 was refunded to 13,000 punters on the former, while €85k was given back to 7,000 backers on the contest, resulting in a grand total refund of €200k being paid out to 20,000 ecstatic Paddy Power customers today.

Paddy had already refunded €150,000 to 14,000 customers when he did the same crazy money back special on New Year’s Day, while 22,600 happy punters benefited from €235,000 given back on Saturday, January 5, around 25,000 backers were made up to receive €190,000 back on January 12 and €135k was refunded to 13,000 customers last Saturday.

Paddy Power said: “Punters who together have had over €900k refunded on losing bets this month have unsurprisingly been ecstatic about the initiative. We set out to come up with a highly generous offer for the New Year and I think that we can confidently say that we have surpassed backers’ expectations comprehensively!”

Money-Back All Losers – refunds so far

• January 1 – Musselburgh 1.05 Bocciani wins @ 7/1 and Paddy Power refunds on ALL losers in this race (€100k; 8,000 customers)

• January 1 – Exeter 3.15 Flying Award wins @ 11/2 and Paddy Power refunds on ALL losers in this race! (€50k; 6,000 customers)

• January 5 – Chepstow 1.35 Ruacana wins @ 10/3 and Paddy Power refunds on ALL losers in this race! (€140k; 11,400 customers)

• January 5 – Wincanton 2.40 Big Fella Thanks wins @ 6/1 and Paddy Power refunds on ALL losers in this race! (€95k; 11,200 customers)

• January 12 – Lingfield 12.50 Upavon wins @ 7/4f and Paddy Power refunds on ALL losers in this race! (€30k; 3,240 customers)

• January 12 – Warwick 2.25  Ely Brown @ 12/1 wins and Paddy Power refunds on ALL losers in this race! 

• January 19 – Kempton 1.45 Big Sylv wins @ 11/4 Paddy Power refunds on ALL losers in this race! (20k; 3,00 customers)

• January 19 – Naas 2.45 Un Atout wins @ 2/7f and Paddy Power refunds ALL losers in this race!
  

• January 26 – Cheltenham 1.15 Katenko wins at 4/1 Paddy Power refunds ALL losers in this race!

• January 26 – Lingfield 3.10 Robin Hoods Bay wins at 9/2 and Paddy Power refunds ALL losers in this race!

• Paddy Power will refund all losing bets from two races that take place in UK and Ireland that race day
• The offer will apply on Saturday 12th January and every Saturday in January
• The offer applies across all Paddy Power betting channels: online, shops, mobile, phone and text betting
• Max refund: €100/£100 per customer per race.
• Applies to win (and win part of each way) single bets only.
• Does not apply to extra markets or betting in-running.
• Does not apply to Tote bets.
• A minimum of two race meetings must take place each day.

• BETTING: Horse Racing

Expert football pundit and analyst Andy Gray was on the ball with an 11/1 double and 5/1 treble in the last round in the FA Cup. He’s joined The Paddy Power Blog to give his insight on the fourth-round matches coming up all weekend.

This weekend’s Andy’s gone for a Manchester United,  Chelsea and Leicester treble which pays about 3/1 with Paddy Power. [Tweet this tip]

And for those who fancy a Cup-set double he’s gone for Brighton and Bolton – both at 4/1 – to shock Arsenal and Everton that returns £250 to a £10 stake. 

Stoke v Manchester City, Saturday, Live ITV1, 12.45

This is the third time these side’s have met this season and the last two meetings at the Britannia have ended 1-1. I don’t see City will lose this and it could well be another 1-1 draw as I don’t see more than two goals. Under 2.5 goals is 4/5 with Paddy Power and that looks about right. Stoke will have that 4-0 loss to Chelsea in the back of their minds so they will make themselves hard to beat.

But for me City will get a replay at least and the draw is 13/5 with Paddy Power.

• Betting: Stoke v Manchester City 

Manchester United v Fulham, Saturday, Live ESPN, 5.30pm

Fulham pushed United all the way last August when Alex Ferguson’s side ran out 3-2 winners. The Red Devils manager will rest some of his players but I9 expect Wayne Rooney to play as he needs the games after injury. Fulham aren’t in great form and Dimitar Berbatov will want to prove a point

And if Berbatov scores, Paddy Power will refund all losing First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score & Scorecast singles on the match.

But I really can’t see beyond a comfortable win for United even with some tweaking to their team.

• Betting: Manchester United v Fulham 

Brentford v Chelsea, Sunday, Live ESPN, Noon

I’m really looking forward to this game and I think Uwe Rosler has done a magnificent job at Brentford. The Bees will do really well to hang onto him in the longer term and this will be a test for Chelsea. Rafa Benitez’ side looked a bit limp against Swansea and will want to get that semi-final exit out of their system.  Brentford were beaten last week which was their first defeat in about 15 games but the visitors should have enough in their locker to see this out.

The FA Cup is Chelsea’s only real option of silverware domestically this season and they’ll want to be in the fifth round draw.

• Betting: Brentford v Chelsea 

Leeds v Tottenham Hotspur, Sunday, Live ESPN, 2pm

If Leeds turn up with all guns blazing they can give Spurs a real game of it at Elland Road. But they have to iron out the inconsistencies in their play. The put Everton out of the Capital One Cup earlier in the season so they are dangerous on their day. But Spurs should have too much quality for them. Spurs at 8/11 with Paddy Power are my fancy to win this. 

• Betting: Leeds v Spurs 

Oldham v Liverpool, Sunday, ITV1, 4pm

Liverpool are going well at the moment but it depends what side Brenda Rodgers puts out. He almost paid the penalty in the last round against Mansfield and just scraped through 2-1. If he plays one of his strongest sides I think they’ll win well. But if he rests some big players then Oldham may have a chance. Daniel Sturridge will want to play and improve his fitness and has scored three goals in his last three games and you wouldn’t bet against him scoring at 3/1 in Paddy Power’s first goalscorer market.

• Betting: Oldham v Liverpool 

Bolton v Everton, Saturday, 3pm

David Moyes would dearly love to win a trophy after 10 years with the club. Everton to win at 7/10.

• Betting: Bolton v Everton

Brighton v Arsenal, Saturday, 3pm

The Seagulls beat Newcastle and Gus Poyet’s side will be up for this against the Gunners. I can see it going to a replay and the draw is priced at 11/4.

• Betting: Brighton v Arsenal 

Derby v Blackburn, Saturday, 3pm

Derby and Blackburn drew 1-1 in the nPower Championship and it wouldn’t surprise me if this went to a replay with the draw chalked up at 5/2.

• Betting: Derby v Blackburn

Huddersfield v Leicester, Saturday, 3pm

Leicester have already beaten Huddersfield in the league twice this season and with Simon Grayson gone I think the Foxes will win again at 5/6. 

• Betting: Huddersfield v Leicester 

Hull v Barnsley, Saturday, 3pm

Barnsley have started to put a few results together but Hull will want to put this to bed early and I fancy Steve Bruce’s side to win this at 7/10.

• Betting: Hull v Barnsley  

Macclesfield v Wigan Athletic, Saturday, 3pm

They did the business against a weakened Cardiff side but this might be a bridge too far from Macclesfield and I’d be happy to side with Wigan at 4/7.

• Betting: Macclesfield v Wigan 

Middlesbrough v Aldershot, Saturday, 3pm

Tony Mowbray’s team’s form has dipped a bit recently but they should have enough about them to beat Aldershot at 1/3.

• Betting: Middlesbrough v Aldershot 

Norwich v Luton, Saturday, 3pm

A good draw for Luton but Norwich will expect to win and need to win to kick their season on again. The Canaries for me at 1/3. 

• Betting: Norwich v Luton

QPR v MK Dons, Saturday, 3pm

This could be a tricky tie for QPR but I think Harry Redknapp will use it as part of their survival campaign and play a strong side. QPR should prove too strong at 8/13.

• Betting: QPR V MK Dons

Reading v Sheffield United, Saturday, 3pm

Whan a Premier League side is at home against a lower league side you always have to fancy a top-tier side and I do. Brian McDermott’s side for me at 7/10 with Paddy Power.

• Betting: Reading v Sheffield United 

Da

ALLY’S PALLIES: McCoist is overcome after hearing about Paddy’s payout

Paddy Power has banished the January blues by paying out nearly £40,000 to Scottish football punters four months early on Queen of the South and Glasgow Rangers winning Scottish football’s Second and Third Divisions respectively.

Dumfries-based Queens have proven to be the kings of the Second Division winning 18 of 21 games in their march to the title.

Meanwhile, Rangers have stretched 19-points clear in the Third Division and Paddy Power has decided that these titles are already sewn up.

Ally McCoist’s side – who have lost just one game all season – are even money to avoid defeat in the rest of their league campaign or 8/1 to win the rest of their Third Division fixtures.

Controversial Scottish league restructuring plans have led to fears that Rangers will up sticks and leave Scottish football altogether by the start of the 2013/14 season can take 25/1 with Paddy Power to insure against such a possibility.

A Paddy Power spokesperson said:

Once Queen of the South took the reins at the top, they’ve not let go. We see no chance of Queens or Rangers choking at this stage and so we’re paying out this January, although it will be us choking in May if either team lets it slip!

• Betting: Football Coupon 

I TOLD YOU TO PUT THE BET ON WITH PADDY POWER

Paddy Power’s at it again – refunding 13,000 customers and smashing through the €700,00 mark on Money-Back Special all losers in the 1.45 Kempton and the 2.45 Naas on Saturday January 19.

Take a bow if you backed Big Sylv in the 1.45 Kempton. But don’t despair if you punted anything else in the race as you will see that account being re-credited with some lovely dosh.

Not long after, there was another tasty refunded on all losers in the 2.45 Naas.

@Racing_Post @IrishRacing365 that latest money back all losers on the 2.45 Naas benefitted 3,000 customers and we refunded another €20,000—
Paddy Power Racing (@pphorseracing) January 19, 2013

The world’s favourite bookmaker also refunded €190k to customers across all channels in the 12.50 at Lingfield and the 2.25 at Warwick on Saturday, January 12, to add to the €235k (Jan 5) and the €150k on New Year’s Day that has been returned to punters since the Money-Back Special began on All losers every Saturday in January. 

With this gift that keeps on giving there’s still TWO more Money-Back Special All losers rces to come in January from your favourite bookie Paddy Power.

There’s no use talking to Paddy when he gets an idea in his head and this Money-Back Special All losers is the SIXTH refund of punters cold, hard, cash of 2013.

On January 5, the 1.35pm Grade One at Chepstow and the 2.40pm at Wincanton were the two races selected by Paddy himself and punters cashed in.

Ruacana won the 1.35pm at Chepstow at 10/3 and customers who didn’t back the winner got their money back in cold hard cash thanks to Paddy.

Paddy had to fork out €140,000 to 11,400 customers and before the men in white coats arrived to take him away he was at it again at Wincanton.

Big Fella Thanks won the 2.40pm race and punters were celebrating again as Paddy refunded all losers. 11, 200 punters benefited as Paddy coughed up an eye-watering €95k.

Just four days after refunding a whopping €150,000 to 14,000 punters on New Year’s Day he pulled off another couple of massive Money-Back All Losers offer. Tonight’s take-away is certainly on Paddy Power.

22,600 punters were left very happy today and Paddy was spotted rocking in the corner of a dark room at the top of Power Tower.

‘Our New Year Resolution was to give punters something no other bookie can even hope to match’, Paddy said. ‘The problem is we’ve come up with something so generous, it makes Roman Abramovich seem thrifty.’

Paddy is refunding two races every Saturday in January. So keep calm, punt as normal and enjoy the action. Paddy will spin the bottle and decide the race so keep your eyes on Facebook, Twitter, The Paddy Power Blog and in PP shops as we announce which races we’ve gone Money-Back All Losers on.

• More information on Money-Back All Losers 

Manchester United and Liverpool go head-to head in the glamour tie of the weekend – if not the season – in the Premier League.

United won 2-1 at Anfield last September, are 21 points clear of their traditional rivals and lead the Premier League by seven points.

But in an act of craziness not seen since Rafa Benitez was appointed head coach at Chelsea Paddy Power are offering an incredible 3/1 about Manchester United to beat Liverpool for new phone customers only.

To take advantage of this crazy offer CALL 08000 565 285 (UK) / 1800 812 280 (IRL) & quote TWITTER!

DON’T MISS OUT, CALL NOW!

T&C’s:

•         New customers who open an account over the phone only. Does not apply to existing phone or online customers.
•         Max bet £50/€50 & one bet per customer.
•         Multiple accounts from same address will not qualify.
•         Price subject to fluctuation & available until 1.30pm Sunday 13^th January 2013.
•         Over 18’s only and terms & conditions apply.

• Betting: Premier League Coupon 

Paddy said he’d do it and he did!

Nearly €100k was refunded to around 8,000 customers on the 1.05 at Musselburgh on New Year’s day while approximately €50k was given back to 6,000 clients on the 3.15 at Exeter the same afternoon.

That’s a grand total refund of €150k being paid out to 14,000 happy Paddy Power punters with the Money-Back Special on ALL losers offer.

Things are going to get a bit hairy for Paddy when the big bosses arrive on Wednesday. But they’re in for a shock as he’s already getting geared up to continue the Money-Back Special on ALL losers in two races on every Saturday in January.

Paddy’s Guinness intake may have been a pint or three more than his usual New Year consumption as he has also vowed to do the same brilliantmoney back offer again on ALL Losers in 2 races this coming Saturday and on every Saturday in January! [Share this offer on Twitter]

Paddy Power said:

Frankly the refund has cost us a small fortune. I’m expecting the men in the white coats to be banging at our door later as who else does offers this crazy and we’ve simply not learned diddly-squat from our mistake as we’ll be doing it again throughout January.

T&Cs:

• Paddy Power will refund all losing bets from two races that take place in UK and Ireland that race day
• The offer will apply on Tuesday 1st January
• The offer applies across all Paddy Power betting channels: online, shops, mobile, phone and text betting
• Max refund: €100/£100 per customer per race.
• Applies to win (and win part of each way) single bets only.
• Does not apply to extra markets or betting in-running.
• Does not apply to Tote bets.
• A minimum of two race meetings must take place each day.

• Betting: All today’s cards, form and odds

By Sean Goff

Channel 4 rings in the new on January 1 as horse racing on terrestrial TV gets a major overhaul for 2013 and beyond with the new-look show fronted by the brilliant Clare Balding.

The team’s racing coverage comes under orders from Musselburgh on New Year’s Day after Cheltenham’s first meeting of 2013 was postponed due to waterlogging.

There are four races live on CH4 with David Pipe sending the unbeaten Swing Bowler on the long journey to Scotland for her opening run of the season in the 2.45.

And somewhere, sometime, on New Year’s Day Paddy Power will be giving  Money-Back on all losers in two races on New Years’s Day and every Saturday throughout January.

It’s been a busy week in the jumps racing calendar and a few reputations have been enhanced over the Christmas period. Sam Waley-Cohen and Long Run claimed their second King George VI Chase and is firmly on course to regain his 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in March while Paul Nicholls’ won one of the races of this or any other season with Tidal Bay in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins’ Hurricane Fly is back at the head on the ante-post market for the Champion Hurdle while Flemenstar will bypass a crack at the Gold Cup and take on Sprinter Sacre instead in the Champion Chase.

But there’s a re-arranged Welsh Grand National to be decided next Saturday at Chepstow while the Irish Champion Hurdle takes place at Leopardstown at the end of the month.

• Betting: All today’s cards, form and odds

Paddy Power dominated the industry in 2012 with more than twice as many specials than any other bookmaker and more than one million bets, according to our number crunchers.

Paddy spent a good bit of 2012 mocking Wayne Rooney’s hair transplant but the United striker got back at us. Punters love him though. Rooney cost us the most money of all the Premier players, and Chelsea’s unlikely Champions League victory helped them become the most expensive team.

The biggest offers were paying out on all losers at the Arkle at Cheltenham after Sprinter Sacre romped home and paying out because Chelsea somehow won the Champions League. Don’t forget, when Paddy gives Money-Back it is cool, hard cash, not free bets like some other bookies.

It wasn’t just Money-Back Specials in the last 12 months as Paddy’s extra places meant bread and water was the only thing on the menu at this year’s Christmas party. Paddy Power paid out on 66 extra places this year which included 53 on racing and 13 on golf. That put several million back in the pockets of Paddy Power punters.

Paddy showed off his super-generosity by offering more places than all of the other big names on the golf including a crazy seven places on the Open, six places on the US Open and the USPGA, and an incredible five places on the Masters. We also offered punters their money back on Tiger, just because we’re a bit bananas.

Who’s the best bookie for 2013?

Despite having the kind of wisdom that makes Stephen Fry jealous Paddy doesn’t always get it right. We paid out early on Harry Redknapp becoming England manager before Roy Hodgson eventually took the poisoned chalice. So, we paid out twice. Paddy hadn’t learned his lesson though as we paid out on Barack Obama for President, Celtic to win the SPL and Boris Johnson for London major.

It has been a stunning year for Paddy Power punters with a refund or a justice payout nearly every week in the last 12 months. We paid out or refunded 30 times during the year on events such as the lighting of the Olympic flame when a grand total of seven athletes stuck their two-pennyworth into the mix and we paid out on all of them. We also refunded all first goalscorer bets when Tim Howard found the onion bag for Everton against Bolton, paid out on the draw in Ireland’s Six Nations game against France after it was rained off, and on a trolley-load more events.

It’s been a good year for Barack Obama, a great year for Lionel Messi but a really unbelievable year for Paddy Power punters. Who’s your bookie for 2013?

Chelsea haven’t had a great week after suffering back-to-back defeats and giving Roberto Di Matteo the heave-ho. But Paddy has got something up his sleeve that should have Blues fans excited to host the Champions on Sunday.

First time text bettors can get 3/1 on Chelsea to beat Manchester City on Sunday!

Send your stake & “TWITTER CHELSEA” TO 51465

Standard network rates apply. And if you win, we’ll text you to let you know! How handy is that?

It’s a cracking offer for Rafa Benitez’s new side when you think that since 1993 these teams have met 15 times at Stamford Bridge with Manchester City winning just the once. It’s a home record that would have most fans drooling an makes the 3/1 look even more appealing.

It is so easy to get your bet on and could be a far more profitable way of using your phone than ringing your parents, texting the other half or voting for Chris Maloney on the X Factor.

Now all you need to do is sit back and hope that Rafa Benitez can work his magic with Fernando Torres and await that congratulatory text from Paddy.

T&C’s:

-          First time text bettors only.
-          Text betting requires a Paddy Power account.
-          Multiple accounts from same address will not qualify.
-          Price subject to fluctuation & available until 4pm Sunday 25^th November 2012
-          Max stake £50/€50 & one bet per customer.
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