The new F1 season kicks off with the Australian GP on Sunday as some uncomfortably good-looking men get paid millions to drive very fast, sleep with pop stars and insist it’s a sport. Paddy likes their style.

[Click Formula One team guide to enlarge]

This weekend we’ll learn…

• If Fernando Alonso (9/2) or team-mate Felipe Massa (33/1) can transform the fortunes of Ferrari who came close to Championship glory last year despite their car being a total crock.
• How close the rest are to frontrunners Red Bull and ‘joint No1’ drivers Sebastian Vettel (13/5) and Mark Webber (17/2). Owner Dietrich Mateschitz insists Webber will enjoy equal status with the triple world champion. We’ll see…
• That Sergio Perez (16/1) will make team leader Jenson Button’s life (5/1) difficult at McLaren but at least the Brit has escaped Lewis Hamilton’s demented twittering over at Mercedes.
• If the best team on paper, Lewis Hamilton (13/2) and Nico Rosberg (16/1), can pay back heavy winter investment with a 2014 title challenge for Mercedes. They’ll have to hold off Sauber, a possibly resurgent Williams, and the chasing pack too.

(Outright odds for this weekend’s race in brackets)

• Betting: F1

HAMMIN’ IT UP: Vettel & Alonso were second to Lewis Hamilton in Texas (Pic: Getty)

By Lee Dover

Formula One (F1) fans have been treated to one of the most exciting and unpredictable seasons in the sport’s illustrious history and the title race will be decided in the final  contest.

We have just about seen it all in F1 over the past eight months – bar a Michael Schumacher victory.

There have been eight different race victors with the first seven Grand Prix events being won by seven different drivers.

However, the dust began to settle at the business end of the season and the wheat got separated from the chaff which leaves this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix as a no-holds-barred, head-to-head battle, between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.

Vettel is favourite to clinch his third F1 championship in a row this weekend, a scenario which will have motorsport fans reflecting that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The German heads into Interlagos with a 13-point cushion at the top of the drivers’ rankings. A victory in Brazil will guarantee that Vettel keeps the world championship trophy on the mantelpiece of the Red Bull garage.

Meanwhile, Alonso may feel that he will have a better shot of winning the lottery this weekend than the F1 title.

The Ferrari ace will win the championship if he finishes first in Brazil and Vettel passes the chequered flag lower than fourth place.

Alonso will be celebrating a legendary fight back if he clinches second place in Interlagos and Vettel crosses the finish line below seventh position, while a third-place finish for the Spaniard and then the German ending up in 10th place or below would also be in Alonso’s favour.

He knows it’s a tall order and said:

What will happen will happen and the important thing is that we do everything perfectly: then only luck can be out of our hands. We know that a place on the podium alone could be enough. I have confidence in myself and in the team and we will fight right to the end.

It looks like mission impossible for Alonso but the Spaniard knows he has nothing to lose.

• Betting: Brazilian Grand Prix 

THREE AMIGOS?: Vettel, Raikkonen & Alonso on the podium in Abu Dhabi (pic: Getty)

By Lee Dover

It is fitting then that the Circuit of the Americas is to be the venue for the epic showdown between Sebastian Vettel – who can claim his third consecutive Formula One (F1) world championship this weekend – and Fernando Alonso. Expect an explosive clash in Texas.

The Austin-based race is the first time that the US will have hosted a Grand Prix since Lewis Hamilton edged to victory over Alonso in Indianapolis back in 2007.

Since then Vettel has battled his way to the top of the food chain – leaving the others biting the superior Red Bull car’s dust.

While Texas may be known as the Lone Star State, the double world champion is not going into battle alone. Mark Webber is providing his Red Bull teammate with a helping hand in an attempt to sew up the world title race early.

The Australian told his home country’s newspaper The Age:

Clearly, Austin’s a very important weekend because Brazil can throw up some ‘funnies’. There can be a bit of rain around there, so that’s a bit more of a nervous venue. I’m not saying it can’t rain at Austin, but Brazil can be incredibly inconsistent with the weather, so that might come into the mix.

With the Red Bull duo working in tandem, Paddy Power’ make Vettel a short-price favourite. 

But the odds on a Webber victory is interesting too as the Australian’s plan B will be to keep Alonso off the top step of the winner’s podium.

The Spaniard is not willing to give in just yet. Instead the Ferrari driver is planning to unleash the fire in his belly at the F1 track this weekend to rein in Vettel’s 10-point lead at the top of the drivers’ rankings.

After his second-place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Alonso stated:

We have two important races. We will try to finish in front of Sebastian. We know that maybe with pure pace we cannot do it; we need to use other points.

Alonso was 5/1 to win in the States with Paddy Power and 3/1 to clinch the F1 2012 drivers’ championship – but those odds will tumble if he takes the chequered flag in Texas.

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton also fancies his chances.

This is a new circuit, a new challenge and a new opportunity – I’m definitely looking to be the first Grand Prix winner at the Circuit of The Americas.

Spare a thought for Kimi Raikkonen as well. The Lotus driver finally secured his first win in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago since his return to F1 at the start of the year. He is a huge 16/1 to make it two-for-two in Texas at the weekend.

• Betting: USA F1 outright 

The first half of the Formula One (F1) season was so unpredictable it had fans on the edge of their seats.

Seven different drivers won the first seven races including underdogs like Romain Grosjean, Sergio Perez and Pastor Maldonado fought their way onto the winner’s podium.

But normal service soon resumed and the last events in Singapore, Japan and Korea – have all seen Sebastian Vettel take the chequered flag.

These three victories was a return to the German’s dominance in the sport as the Red Bull driver shot up the rankings and replaced Fernando Alonso at the top.

START YOUR ENGINES:  Speed, gear figures and key statistics (pic: Graphic News)

Such momentum, on top of the fact that Vettel was the winner of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix last year, makes it little wonder that he is odds-on in Paddy Power’s online betting to celebrate another win in New Delhi on Sunday.

There’s a few who are capable of denying Vettel’s bid to become a three-time F1 champion and one is his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber.

The Australian may be 63 points behind his team-mate with only 100 points up for grabs, but he’s not going to allow Vettel just cruise to victory.

Webber said:

If I have a chance to win –  I’ll go for it. Mathematically I have a chance. If I’m in the lead this weekend then I’m not pulling over for anyone. That’s it.

Alonso must have been kicking himself when he saw his lead at the top of the drivers rankings slowly eroded – before being overtaken as top dog.

VETTEL DO NICELY: Sebastian salutes his fans after winning in Korea (pic: Getty Images)

He may be down, but the Spaniard is certainly not out just yet, saying:

There’s four races to go and we have nearly the same points as Vettel, let’s say, and we have all the possibilities open for the Championship.

The only way Alonso – second favourite with Paddy Power to win on Sunday – can justify that statement is by winning the Indian Grand Prix.

• Betting: Indian Grand Prix coupon 

Football

Both Chelsea and Manchester United recorded big 4-2 wins at the weekend with Di Matteo’s side hammering local neighbours Tottenham and United beating Stoke at Old Trafford. Manchester City left it late but they remain four points behind Chelsea after coming from behind to beat West Brom 2-1.

Reading and QPR both remain winless after the Royals were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool and Rangers drew 1-1 with Everton. Swansea picked up their first win in six beating Wigan 2-1 and Fulham continued their good form at home getting a late 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.

Elsewhere Southampton got thumped by West Ham 4-1 at Upton Park, Sunderland and Newcastle drew 1-1 in a fiery North-East derby and Norwich sprang a surprise by beating Arsenal 1-0 at Carrow Road.

City are 9/5 to retain their title with United now 2/1 for the crown. Both Manchester clubs are four points adrift of league leaders Chelsea who are 12/5 to lift the trophy.

• Betting: Premier League outright

Formula 1

McLaren are looking to reunite with Honda ahead of the 2013 Formula 1 season. McLaren had been getting their engines for free from Mercedes but will not fork out the £8million Mercedes are looking for next year.

McLaren and Honda dominated the sport in the late 1980s and early 1990s and the deal could pave the way for a realistic title challenge from Jenson Button.

It’s all about two men this year though as Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso fight it out with four races remaining. Vettel is the 1/4 favourite to lift the title with Alonso at 5/2.

• Betting: Formula 1 drivers championship

Racing

Racing today comes from Pontefract, Windsor, Plumpton and Tipperary.

The Sun newspaper’s leading tipster Templegate has been studying the card and his nap of the day runs in the 3.50pm at Pontefract which is a listed stakes race.

‘Oasis Cannes looks a picture in this race. He made all in a Newmarket nursery before finishing second in a French listed race. The winner went on to be placed in a Group 1 on Arc day at Longchamp’.

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

Football

England laboured to a 1-1 draw with Poland in Warsaw last night as their qualifying campaign hit a minor speed-bump. The Three Lions took the lead through Wayne Ronney but were pegged back when Joe Hart flapped at a corner and Kamil Glik took advantage. One of the reasons being reported for the poor performance by Roy Hodgson’s team is the sleeping pills they took on Tuesday night.

England are still unbeaten though and remain the 3/10 favourites to top Group H on the way to Rio.

• Betting: World Cup qualifying group winners

Darts

One of the richest competitions in darts reaches Group Six today as three-time world champ John Part, 2009 Championship League winner Colin Osbourne and Jamie Caven join the party.

The Championship League of darts winning pot is £10,000 but with money up for grabs in every leg it is one of the most exciting tournaments on the floor.

The darts isn’t on your television screens but you can see all the tungsten tossing action streaming live on PPtv. 

Formula 1

Felipe Massa has signed a new one-year deal with Ferrari meaning he will be at the team until the end of 2013. The 31-year-old only collected 11 points from the opening eight races this season but has suddenly seen a resurgence in form.

Massa’s team-mate Fernando Alonso is the only man who can realistically challenge Sebastian Vettel for the F1 Drivers Championship with four races remaining. The Spaniard is a 5/2 shot with the Red Bull driver a clear 1/4 favourite to retain his crown.

• Betting: Formula 1 drivers championship

Racing

There is racing today from Uttoxeter, Wincanton, Kempton, Wolverhampton and Punchestown. Unfortunately the card at Brighton was abandoned as the track was waterlogged.

The Sun’s leading tipster Templegate has his nap running in a handicap chase at 3.50pm at Wincanton.

‘Last Shot can hit the bullseye today. He stepped up on his chasing debut when a good second at Fontwell two weeks ago. He looks well weighted and is still improving’.

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

Football

Steven Gerrard has come out fighting ahead of England’s trip to Poland  and told Patrick Vieira that the country’s youngsters do dream of playing for The Three Lions. Vieira questioned how many players pull out of the England squad but Liverpool and England captain Gerrard told him not to doubt the team’s passion.

Gerrard and manager Roy Hodgson have also backed Ashley Cole who could win his 99th cap tonight. After Cole called the FA a ‘#BUNCHOFTW*TS’ on Twitter there were questions raised about his international future. Luckily the gaffer and the captain have made it clear that despite him being an idiot and not someone you’d want to go for a pint with, he’s the best left-back of our generation.

England are 19/20 to win tonight with Poland 3/1 and the draw in Warsaw is 12/5.

• Betting: Poland v England
• Ruthless Roy: Hodgson could hit England for six

Elsewhere Ireland are under huge pressure to get a result against the Faroe Islands after that disastrous 6-1 thumping by Germany on Friday. Scotland and Wales face very difficult away trips to Belgium and Croatia respectively in Group A and Northern Ireland welcome Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo will be making his 100th appearance for the national side and a win for Portugal could spell the end for Michael O’Neill’s side.

• Betting: International matches coupon
• World Cup Qualifiers bankers and blowouts

Formula One

Lewis Hamilton has tipped up Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to win the Drivers Championship with four races remaining in the F1 season.

Reigning champ Sebastian Vettel won his third race on the spin in Korea and has a six point cushion over Alonso. Hamilton admitted his title chances are over but thinks the Spaniard deserves the title.

‘His team haven’t made one mistake. He hasn’t always been the fastest but he has been up there. He has driven like the champion he is all year and I feel as though he is a three-time world champ’.

Vettel is odds-on at 1/4 to win the championship with Alonso at 5/2. The next race is in 12 days time in India.

• Betting: Formula One Drivers Championship

Boxing

Unsurprisingly Tyson Fury could land himself in a spot of bother with the British Boxing Board of Control for abusing David Price on twitter.

WARNING! Mum if you’re reading this, ignore the tweet below. It contains lots of rude words.

@davidprice_1 I’m gonna smash your face in u shithouse scouse prick I look in your eyes and c fear! I’ll take your sole and give it the devil

— Tyson Fury (@Tyson_Fury) October 15, 2012

General secretary Robert Smith has hinted that Fury could receive a fine and possibly a suspension.

Racing

Yesterday Richard Hughes had Paddy Power running for cover as he rode an incredible seven winners at Windsor at odds of 10,168/1. It cost Paddy more than €1 million as Hughes became only the second jockey to ride seven winners on one card in England.

• Hughes sorry now? Paddy Power gets bashed at Windsor

There is racing today from Leicester, Huntingdon, Wolverhampton and the Curragh. Unfortunately the eight race card at Newcastle has not survived the torrential rain in the North East and has been abandoned after an inspection this morning.

The Sun’s leading tipster Templegate has his nap running in a mile-and-a-quarter handicap in the 5.10 at Leicester.

‘Stop the bookies in their tracks with Exning Halt. He was unlucky to bump into a couple of well handicapped horses on his last two but this looks easier. Conditions will suit and trainer James Fanshawe is in terrific form’.

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

Football

It is being reported in a number of today’s papers that Roy Hodgson is ready to make six changes for England’s key World Cup Qualifier in Poland. Ashley Cole, Joleon Lescott, Steven Gerrard, James Milner, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe could all come into the team as England look to continue their good qualifying campaign after the 5-0 hammering of San Marino.

• Betting: Poland v England

There are reports of trouble in the Ireland camp this morning as Giovanni Trapattoni starts to feel the heat. The Irish gaffer is under huge pressure after the 6-1 thumping by Germany in the Aviva and the match to the Faroe Islands has a ‘must-win’ feel to it. Trap has said he will not step down as Irish manager and believes the FAI understand this is a transitional phase for the team.

• Betting: Faroe Islands v Ireland
  
• Betting: International matches coupon

Formula One

Sebastian Vettel recorded his third win in a row at the Korean Grand Prix followed home by Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. 

Jenson Button was put out of the race by Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi and could not contain his anger after the race. The Englishman is 500/1 to win the Drivers Championship and admits his chances are pretty much over after having his race ruined by ‘Kobacrashi’.

Vettel is the 1/4 favourite to retain his title with Alonso possibly the only man who can stop him at 5/2 in the betting.

• Betting: Formula One Drivers Championship

Racing

There is racing today from Musselburgh, Salisbury, Windsor and Roscommon.

The Sun’s leading tipster Templegate has his nap running in a maiden stakes at Musselburgh in the 2.10.

‘The bookies can pass us a parcel of cash after Leitrim Pass ran well behind a couple of more experienced rivals on his debut. He has been sent on the long trip from Newmarket to Scotland for his second start and the journey should pay off’.

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

BEST OF ENEMIES: Jenson Button (left) and Lewis Hamilton (Getty Images)

By Lee Dover | F1 betting preview

How to lose friends and alienate people, Lewis Hamilton style

Forget that Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso are preparing to do battle in a thrilling end to the 2012 Formula One (F1) season, or that Felipe Massa has remembered that his Ferrari parks in a different spot when he finishes in the top three.

There is only one talking point at the moment – the simmering rivalry between soon-to-be former McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Jenson Button.

Hamilton had barely put pen to paper with Mercedes, which sees the 2008 world champion replacing Michael Schumacher from next season, before he had a misguided dig at Button.

The 27-year-old took to Twitter @LewisHamilton earlier this week:

Just noticed @jensonbutton unfollowed, thats a shame. After 3 years as teammates, I thought we respected one another but clearly he doesn't.—
Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 07, 2012

However, Hamilton was soon forced into a U-turn when he realised that Button had not ‘unfollowed’ him – as the McLaren driver had never ‘followed’ him in the first place.

My bad, just found out Jenson never followed me. Don't blame him! Need to be on Twitter more!—
Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 07, 2012

Now that the bridges are burnt it will be intersting to see how they act on the track when the Korean Grand Prix rolls around at the weekend.

VA VA VROOM: The Korean Grand Prix Circuit (Graphic Images)

While Button faces an almost impossible task to nab the F1 world championship this season – he is 63 points behind leader Fernando Alonso after all – Hamilton is 42 points adrift and could reignite his hopes of capturing a second title in with victory on Sunday.

The question is whether Button, who is 13/2 to win the Korean Grand Prix, will put his differences with Hamilton to one side and help his McLaren team-mate stay in the hunt for the World Championship.

A double podium finish at 3/10 for the McLaren pair will be keenly watched but the 7/2 for Hamilton to go it alone and take the chequered flag in Korea might be the safer play.

Either way, F1 lovers are in for a treat over the weekend when the racing eventually takes centre-stage.

• Betting: F1 Korean Grand Prix
  

We can only imagine the scene when the visionary behind the Singapore Grand Prix first pitched his idea of hosting a Formula One race at night.

A boardroom table full of shocked and scared faces. Someone hidden in a corner on the phone, desperately asking for white men holding a straitjacket to be brought in. That’s how we see it.

However, this grand prix has since captivated audiences and even led to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone hailing it as “the jewel in F1′s crown which keeps getting polished”. Whatever, Bernie.

SUP FOR IT: Fernando Alonso has good form in Singapore but watch out for an outsider

Everyone loves this race – well, except for the person left with the electricity bill on the Sunday evening.

The question on the lips of punters though is just where to put your money for the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix.

Well, if history and form are anything to go on, Fernando Alonso would be considered a sure-fire bet.

The Spaniard has been exceptional in F1 in 2012, winning three grands prix so far this season and topping the drivers’ rankings with a 37-point cushion ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Furthermore, Alonso has been victorious on the Marina Bay Street Circuit on two of the four Singapore Grand Prix events that have taken place so far.

With all this in mind, the price of 4/1 for Alonso to make it a trio of victories in Singapore this weekend will sound like a steal.

However, Lewis Hamilton is heading into the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix on a wave of momentum, having driven to victory with ease at Monza two weeks ago.

The McLaren driver also knows what it feels like to achieve glory under the floodlights of Singapore – marking this win in 2009. Hamilton is the favourite at 12/5 with Paddy Power to repeat the feat over the weekend.

Another name to keep an eye on is Felipe Massa – no please, don’t get that straitjacket out again. The Brazilian just about hit rock bottom in F1 a few months ago, as he constantly struggled to climb into the points.

However, a fifth-place finish in the Belgian Grand Prix and then racing to fourth in the Italian Grand Prix a week later has given the Ferrari driver renewed hope.

While a victory in the Singapore Grand Prix may sound like too much of a longshot – it is priced at 40/1 if you are feeling confident – a double podium finish for Ferrari at 18/1 may well prove a very valuable bet.

Need a little more inspiration? Then listen to these words from Massa himself…

I like the Singapore track and I feel the circuit suits me, even if I’ve never had much luck there. So I’m definitely looking for another good result and I hope I can do even better than in the last two races.

Wise words from a Brazilian racer scrapping to keep his motorsport dream alive.

• Betting: Singapore Grand Prix

I’d say Fernando Alonso might have needed a clean pair of underwear after this moment at the first corner of the Belgium Grand Prix.

Romain Grosjean was more aggressive than Joey Barton on a night on the town and clattered into Lewis Hamilton causing this massive accident at the start of the race. Grosjean, Hamilton, Alonso and Perez all had their race ended and Hamilton was clearly furious with the recklessness of Grosjean.

Fortunately Alonso was pictured happy in the Ferrari garage later on in the race but it cannot have been a nice moment for the Spaniard.

In the race itself Jenson Button led from pole to win, with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikonnen joining him on the podium.

Alonso stays on top of the Drivers Championship with 164 points and is 6/5 to lift the trophy. Vettel has narrowed the gap and is 24 points behind him on 140. The German is 5/2 to retain his title this year.

His team-mate Mark Webber is a whopping 12/1 despite having 132 points and Kimi Raikkonen is one point behind him on 131 but is expected to make more of a challenge for the title and is 6/1.

Englishmen Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are 7/1 and 22/1 respectively with eight races to go in the season.

• Betting: Drivers Championship

WHAT DOES AGGER-DO? Barca and City are interested in the Liverpool man

Afternoon update from the Paddy Power Blog on all the latest betting moves in sport 

Olympics

It’s been a cracking morning for Team GB on the water with Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins setting a new Olympic record in the double sculls rowing competition. The pair absolutely nailed their heat setting a time of six minutes and 44.33 seconds to qualify for the final. The team led from start to finish and will be confident they can claim the gold medal after going 22 races unbeaten.

Later on today Tom Daley and Pete Waterfield will be hoping for a strong performance in the 10 metre synchronised dive as they start hunting for a medal.

Team GB have a medal interest on the floor as the gymnastics team start their hunt for gold and Zoe Smith who won Commonwealth bronze in 2010 is in the weightlifting. Stuart Pearce has played down Britain’s chances in the football but there is every chance the Team GB men’s hockey team could come away with a medal as they take on rivals Argentina.

• Olympic football betting
• Olympic coupon

Football

Barcelona and Manchester City are fighting it out for the signature of Liverpool defender Daniel Agger. The Danish centre-back has two years left on his contract and Anfield and has expressed a desire to stay but will a healthy offer sway the club to sell? According to reports City have already had a £12million bid rejected as they look to provide cover for Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott.

Spurs have stepped up their interest in Ricardo Carvalho after the Real Madrid defender was omitted from a pre-season tour of the US. Carvalho is now 34-years-old but AVB is keen to fill the void left by Ledley King by an experienced centre-back. It may be that the former Chelsea man is used in the ongoing Luka Modric saga.

The barney between Gareth Bale and Charlie Adam continues with Bale branding the Liverpool midfielder a ‘coward’. The Welsh winger has said he hasn’t received an apology but will refuse it if one comes his way. The Spurs player will have a scan on his ankle in New York today to assess the damage amid fears he will miss the opening game of the season. Team-mate Kyle Walker has also crashed in saying that Adam is ‘jealous’ because Bale is such a skilled player.

• Betting: Premier League opening games
• Betting: Premier League outright

Racing

The Galway Festival gets under way today with the opening race of the meeting at 4.00pm. The ground at the course is officially yielding.

The biggest race of the day is the Carlton Hotel Galway City handicap at 5.35pm. 23 runners will take on the two-mile trip fighting for the €42,000 prize including last year’s winner Fosters Cross who has drifted to 14/1 after being 11/1 this morning. Nina Carberry has every chance on Buy Back Bob at 10/1  but Caim Hill looks like the best value after scoring twice on the flat and over fences recently. You can back him at 7/1 with Paddy Power.

Elsewhere today there are meetings at Ayr at 2.05pm, Yarmouth at 2.15pm and Lingfield at 2.25pm.

• Betting: Today’s racing
• Betting: Galway Hurdle
• Betting: Galway Plate

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton has said there is still an awful lot of work to be done at McLaren if they are to catch championship leader Fernando Alonso. Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix from start to finish at the weekend but is still 47 points behind the Ferrari driver in the overall standings. There is a break now before the last nine races which start in Belgium on the first week of September.

• Betting: F1 Drivers championship

SILVER LINING: Armitstead bags Britain’s first medal of London 2012. Picture: Reuters

#eveningfeed

Evening update from the Paddy Power Blog on all the latest betting moves in sport

Olympics

Great news! Team GB won a medal! Lizzie Armitstead won silver in the women’s road race to give Britain their first medal at the games. The rain lashed down but Lizzie persisted and had every chance of winning going into the final straight. In the end though Holland’s Marianne Vos was strong enough to hold of the Brit.

Rebecca Adlington made it through to the final of the 400 metres freestyle by the skin of her teeth. Adlington dominated her race but then had to watch to see if her time of 4:05:75 was good enough to see her qualify. Luckily it was as she sneaked into tonight’s final in eighth place.

Elsewhere Andy Murray managed to exorcise some of his Wimbledon demons by beating Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets 6-3 6-3 on SW19.

• Betting: Olympic coupon
  

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton managed to hold off the challenge of Kimi Raikkonen to lead the Hungarian Grand Prix from start to finish. The McLaren driver started on pole and nobody could catch him as he recorded his 19th career win. Raikkonen was second with Romain Grosjean in third making it a double podium for Lotus.

Reigning champion Sebastian Vettel was fourth in front of the current leader Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard’s lead at the top of the championship is now 40 points over Mark Webber who had a disappointing Hungarian Grand Prix finishing eighth.

• Betting: Formula 1 outright

Racing

The Galway Festival gets under way tomorrow with the opening race of the meeting at 4.00pm.

The biggest race of the day is the Carlton Hotel Galway City handicap at 5.35pm. 23 runners will take on the two-mile trip fighting for the €42,000 prize including last year’s winner Fosters Cross. Nina Carberry has every chance on Buy Back Bob but Caim Hill looks like the best value after scoring twice on the flat and over fences recently.

• Betting: Galway Plate
• Betting Galway Hurdle

Darts

Tonight sees James Wade take on Phil Taylor in the final of the World Matchplay. These two have met in the final of this competition on three occasions in 2006, 2008 and 2011 with Taylor winning every time. The Power is aiming for his fifth successive Matchplay and his 13th overall.

The machine won this tournament back in 2007 and brings out his best darts in the Winter Gardens. He’ll need an excellent performance in Blackpool tonight to bring a halt to Taylor’s dominance.

• Betting: Darts coupon
• Betting: World Matchplay outright

GUTTED: Disappointment for Team GB and Cav in the road race

#morningupdate

Morning update from the Paddy Power Blog on all the latest betting moves in sport

Olympics

No medals for Team GB yesterday and plenty of disappointment for Mark Cavendish in the men’s road race. But today is a new day at the games.

Rebecca Adlington will be looking to defend her 400 metre freestyle title in the pool today and Nicole Cooke leads Britain’s chances in the women’s road race in which she won gold in Beijing.

In sad news it looks as though Paula Radcliffe won’t make the marathon after a foot injury flared up again. The 38-year-old world record holder has been struggling to get fit for London 2012 and is expected to withdraw from the competition this week. Radcliffe has won many lucrative marathons over her career but an Olympic medal has always escaped her.

• Olympic football betting
• Olympic coupon

Football

Andre Villas-Boas has hit out at Charlie Adam after a nasty looking tackle on Gareth Bale left the Welsh winger with an injured ankle. The tackle came in a relatively uninspiring 0-0 draw between Liverpool and Spurs last night. Adam and Bale have history after the former Blackpool midfielder put Bale out for three months in May 2011 with a ruptured ankle. AVB deemed the tackle ‘very, very nasty’.

It looks as though Luka Modric is finally off to Real Madrid. The stories been rumbling on for a few weeks now with Modric managing to offend everybody at Spurs while he waited for Madrid to stump up the cash. According to reports the £36million fee has been met and the 26-year-old looks set for sunny Spain.

• Betting: Premier League opening games
• Betting: Premier League outright

Formula 1

It’s the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton is on pole! The Englishman is 62 points behind the Championship leader Fernando Alonso but the track is notoriously difficult to overtake on which will play into the Englishman’s hands.

Lotus driver Sebastian Grosjean will be alongside Hamilton at the front of the grid with Sebastian Vettel in third and Jenson Button fourth. Vettel’s team-mate Mark Webber is all the way down in eleventh to top a difficult day for Red Bull who hold a 53-point advantage in the constructor’s championship.

Hamilton was the only driver to clock a time of less than one-minute-and-21-seconds.

• Betting: Saturday’s cards and form

Darts

Tonight sees James Wade take on Phil Taylor in the final of the World Matchplay. These two have met in the final of this competition on three occasions in 2006, 2008 and 2011 with Taylor winning every time. The Power is aiming for his fifth successive Matchplay and his 13th overall.

The machine won this tournament back in 2007 and brings out his best darts in the Winter Gardens. He’ll need an excellent performance in Blackpool tonight to bring a halt to Taylor’s dominance.

• Betting: Darts coupon
• Betting: World Matchplay outright

ROYAL APPROVAL: The cyclists make their way past Buckingham Palace

#eveningfeed

Evening update from the Paddy Power Blog on all the latest betting moves in sport

Olympics

It was a disastrous opening day for Mark Cavendish who was the big favourite to claim gold for team GB in the men’s road race. It wasn’t to be though as Kazakhstan’s Alexandr Vinokourov triumphed in a sprint finish followed by Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran, and Norway’s Alexander Kristoff. The Manxman was well supported by his British team-mates and by the hundreds of fans that lined the streets but ended up finishing well down the field.

Swimming champion Michael Phelps didn’t have it all his own way either as he almost missed out on qualifying for the 400 metre individual medley. He scraped through last in eight place with a time of four minutes 13.33seconds. The American is going to have to up his game if he wants a similar medal haul to the one he had in Beijing four years ago.

• Betting: Olympic coupon
  

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton will start the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole after a blistering qualifying session. The McLaren driver is 62 points behind the Championship leader Fernando Alonso but the Budapest track is notoriously difficult to overtake on which will play into the Englishman’s hands.

Lotus driver Sebastian Grosjean will be alongside Hamilton at the front of the grid with Sebastian Vettel in third and Jenson Button fourth. Vettel’s team-mate Mark Webber is all the way down in eleventh to top a difficult day for Red Bull who hold a 53-point advantage in the constructor’s championship.

Hamilton was the only driver to clock a time of less than one-minute-and-21-seconds.

• Betting: Hungarian Grand Prix

Racing

There are meetings tonight at Lingfield (5.55pm – Good to firm) and Salisbury (6.10pm – Good to firm, firm in places)

The Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes was won by Roger Varian’s Sri Putra at 12/1. Neil Callan timed the ride perfectly to beat the 9/4 favourite Afsare by a neck and the 6/1 Side Glance a further three and 3/4 lengths back in third.

• Betting: Saturday’s evening cards
• Betting: Galway Plate
• Betting Galway Hurdle

Darts

The World Matchplay is at the semi-final stage with some cracking contests lined up for tonight. In the first bout James ‘The Machine’ Wade, who threw very well to beat nine-dart hero Mighty Mike yesterday, faces Terry Jenkins. The Bull has found some serious form and has been the underdog in every round so far beating Kim Huybrechts, Raymond Van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis to get to this stage.

In the other clash 12-time Matchplay champion Phil Taylor takes on the local lad Ronnie Baxter. The Power will be looking to reach yet another Matchplay final and record his fifth title in a row.

Wade in on The Machine to meet Taylor in the final!

• Betting: Darts coupon
• Betting: World Matchplay outright