Cricket, Racing and Football

Getting back towards flat again. A winner today and we're back in the black...

4.40 Michael Lumb to topscore for Hampshire 4/1 (LOST -1.98 - Typical. We get on and he scores 1 run!)
Michael Lumb is fast becoming another journeyman of county cricket, but of late he has switched well to the 40 over format. Hampshire were 31 runs short of Notts 231 last month, but Lumb still scored 63 of the 200, at just shy of a run a ball; and then scored 88 off 91 balls in the 236 target his side set Gloucs in 35 overs on Sunday. Both were easily the highest scores on the Hampshire card, and he is available at 4/1 in a number of places.

8.10 Sandown Riverscape 4/1 (4th -2.98 - looked like the winner 1.5f from home but weakened on the run-in. Maybe prefers the quicker ground)
This is pretty much a rematch from 2 weeks ago over course and distance when Riverscape finished a neck clear of Rock Peak, 2l clear of Silk Mill who carries 2lbs more but Kirsty claims 3lbs, and a further 4l clear of Tyrells Wood who carries 2lbs less. So I expect it to be between Riverscape and Rock Peak again and with Riverscape improving, while Rock Peak is still dropping to find his level, I'll take the favourite.

And one of my rare long-term bets. The Premiership is down to your own opinion. For me its Chelsea as they had a lot of hurdles to overcome last year, still finished only 2 points off United, and have improved their squad again this year. But the best bet for me is in the goalscoring department. Darren Bent was an excellent striker, which is why Spurs shelled out £18m for him. However, a poor start by the team in general and a lack of goals for Bent weighed on his confidence and his spot in the side last season. But that hasn't made him a bad striker, and to prove that in pre-season he has netted 13 goals. With Berbatov set to leave he will be Ramos' first choice and with David Bentley adding to the creation of chances, Bent could soon be justifying that price tag, without it weighing on his shoulders this season. There are question marks over all the other market leaders - will Torres play enough Premier League games? Ronaldo cant do it again can he? Which Adebayor will we see - early or late season? Tevez/Ronaldo/Berbatov will rotate too much? And with 1/4 odds for the first 4, 25/1 seems a cracking bet.