Details: BBs do not qualify you for this promotion ~ Promotion runs from Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd midnight ~ Only for Paddy Power Bingo players ~ Paddy Power hold the right to alter, end or suspend all promotions without warning.

Summer Sizzler
Everyone loves summer and with Paddy’s Summer Sizzler you are going to fall in love with it all over again, not only is he giving away £/€100 everyday but now he has added a fantastic Summer Goody Bag to the deal!
Simply spend £/€10 in a day on bingo and email us how you plan to make the most of your summer and the best entry of the day will win £/€100 & the runner up a Summer Goody Bag compliments of Paddy

Last Chance Saloon
You have more chances of winning with Last Chance Saloon. We are offering a free scratch card on a selected game for everyone who is unlucky enough not to win in the main bingo game. There are 3 Last Chance Saloon games in the Sapphire room on Thursday night between 8pm and 11pm. Last Chance Saloon also runs hourly in the Gold room from 9.54am right up to midnight.

The two will go head-to-head at Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium in an attempt to clean up in the season’s trophy department. Inter are the favourite at 5/4 but it really is anyone’s game and odds are bound to change as the big day gets closer!

Paddy Power Bookmakers think it will go right to the end so they’re offering the following money-back special: If the match is decided in a penalty shoot out, Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast singles on the match.

That’s right, if the game goes down to the wire you could still be a winner with this fantastic money back offer so if you want to cover all sports betting bases this weekend then get yourself to Paddy Power Bookmakers and take advantage of this incredible offer!

The latest iteration of the online festival also includes a ‘Mini’ series of tournaments with smaller buy-ins but substantial guarantees; the Mini ECOOP VI is scheduled from May 14th to May 23rd and features ten tournaments with an overall guaranteed prizepool of $600,000.

Following on from previous ECOOP festivals, Holdem, Omaha and 7 Card Stud are included in both series, with ECOOP VI buy-ins ranging from $100 + $9 to $2,500 + $100 and Mini ECOOP VI buy-ins from $5 + 50c to $75 + $7.50.

Satellites to the ECOOP VI and Mini ECOOP VI tournaments run daily on Paddy Power Poker, with buy-ins from less than $1.

To register for an ECOOP VI or Mini ECOOP VI tournament or qualifier, visit Paddy Power Poker, register, open the software lobby and select ‘ECOOP VI’ or ‘Mini ECOOP’ from the left-hand navigation pane, then sort the tournaments by name or date and select the tournament of your choice.

All of the final declarations have now been made so there should be very few changes to the line-ups below and the odds are no longer ante-post so what you see is what you get! The odds are from Paddy Power Bookmakers who have a fantastic ‘Bet £10 Get £20 Free’ offer on so you don’t just double your money, you treble it!

And watch out for their money back specials e.g. Paddy Power Bookmakers will refund all losing Win Singles if Dunguib wins the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The first race which is the Supreme Novices Hurdle will be a cracker of an opening with Dunguib currently the ante-post favourite. Past winners include Go Native in 2009 and Captain Cee Bee in 2008.

There are six races scheduled for today which are as follows:

1.30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1/2f

• Dunguib 4/5
• Get Me Out Of Here 9/2
• Blackstairmountain 10/1
• Menorah 10/1
• Oscar Whiskey 10/1
• Dan Breen 20/1
• Flat Out 20/1
• General Miller 25/1
• Vino Griego 66/1
• Spring Jim 100/1
• Cootehill 100/1
• Far Away So Close 100/1
• Fiulin 100/1
• Dream Esteem 100/1
• Chain of Command 150/1
• Hollins 200/1
• Mister Wall Street 200/1
• Takestan 200/1

2.05 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 2m

• Captain Cee Bee 5/2
• Somersby 7/2
• Sizing Europe 5/1
• Sports Line 7/1
• Riverside Theatre 8/1
• Osana 14/1
• Kangaroo Court 20/1
• Mad Max 25/1
• Woolcombe Folly 25/1
• Fosters Cross 40/1
• Quiscover Fontaine 40/1
• Im Delilah 100/1

2.40 William Hill Trophy Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1/2f

• Bensalem 11/2
• The Package 11/2
• Theatrical Moment 10/1
• Character Building 12/1
• Ogee 12/1
• Exmoor Ranger 14/1
• The Tother One 14/1
• Niche Market 16/1
• Casey Jones 16/1
• Razor Royale 16/1
• Beat the Boys 16/1
• Nenuphar Collonges 20/1
• Kicks For Free 20/1
• New Alco 25/1
• Chief Dan George 25/1
• Tatenen 25/1
• Joe Lively 25/1
• Comply or Die 33/1
• Officier De Reserve 33/1
• Offshore Account 33/1
• Stan 50/1
• Bible Lord 50/1
• Knowhere 50/1
• Ollie Magern 66/1

3.20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m 1/2f

• Go Native 7/2
• Solwhit 11/2
• Punjabi 7/1
• Binocular 7/1
• Khyber Kim 8/1
• Medermit 9/1
• Celestial Halo 9/1
• Zaynar 9/1
• Starluck 12/1
• Won In The Dark 50/1
• Jumbo Rio 80/1
• Raise Your Heart 200/1

4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 7f

• Garde Champetre 9/4
• L’Ami 10/3
• Sizing Australia 9/2
• Monkerhostin 12/1
• Another Jewel 16/1
• Drombeag 18/1
• Silver Birch 20/1
• Freneys Well 25/1
• Lacdoudal 25/1
• Double Dizzy 25/1
• Heads Onthe Ground 33/1
• A New Story 33/1
• Preists Leap 40/1
• Cornish Sett 40/1
• Tawnies 50/1
• Oceanos Des Obeaux 66/1

4.40 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle Race 2m 4f

• Quevega 7/4
• Volver La Vedette 7/4
• No One Tells Me 10/1
• Sway 12/1
• Zarinava 20/1
• Carole’s Legacy 22/1
• Easter Legend 22/1
• Stravinsky Dance 25/1
• Pepite de Soleil 25/1
• Argento Luna 33/1
• Amber Brook 33/1
• Aura About You 33/1
• Arctic Magic 50/1
• Alasi 100/1
• Here Comes Sally 100/1
• Just Beware 250/1
• Princess Rainbow 250/1

Usually stable jockey Barry Geraghty would ride him as he has done for his last five outings but he is already committed at Haydock so trainer Nicky Henderson has turned to the champion jockey McCoy to take the ride in his place.

Petit Robin is second favourite at 9/4 for the VC Chase and 10/1 for the Queen Mother Chase. Odds with Paddy Power Bookmakers are no longer ante-post and they also have a great offer on the race – If you take the current price and the Starting Price (SP) on your selection is greater, they will pay you at the greater SP. Can’t say fairer than that!

• Twist Magic 5/4
• Petit Robin 9/4
• Well Chief 5/1
• Cornas 15/2
• Fix The Rib 12/1
• Oh Crick 20/1
• Lennon 66/1
• Kinkeel 500/1

Irish Open satellite tokens can be won in more than a dozen tournaments each week. Two Irish Open freeroll (free-to-play) tournaments will take place daily from Saturday through Thursday at 7.30pm and 9.30pm, with a special with $200 in satellite tokens scheduled each Friday evening at 8pm.

The Irish Open freerolls appear in the Paddy Power Poker tournament lobby 90 minutes before each one is due to begin; this helps to ensure that all players will have an equal chance to register and take part.

Any player who wins a Paddy Power Poker Irish Open ticket after participating in the freerolls and going on to win a super satellite tournament will be eligible to take part in the €100,000 Sole Survivor qualifier promotion in April.

“We want to give all of our players, even those who are temporarily light in the wallet, a chance to win their way to the Irish Open 2010″, said Paddy Power, Communications Manager at paddypowerpoker.com. “Our daily freerolls are perfect for new players with a limited bankroll or existing players who want the chance to get to one of the biggest live events for free; if I wasn’t working at the Irish Open I’d be playing these myself!”

The paddypowerpoker.com Irish Open 2010 takes place in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin from Friday 2nd – Monday 5th April 2010. Weekly super satellites to the Irish Open 2010 Main Event run on paddypowerpoker.com each Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evening, with a variety of feeders running daily.

Visit Paddy Power Poker to book your place at the final table.

In Pool 1 Munster currently top the group but with a comprehensive win over the weekend under their belts, Northampton are hot on their heels and its now up to Munster to stop them in their tracks when they play each other again in Thomond Park on Friday evening if they want to qualify as group winners. In Pool 2 Biarritz have already qualified and its unlikely that a second best qualifying place will go to that group.

Still all to play for in Pool 3 with any of three teams potentially topping the group – its all to play for as Leicester, Ospreys and Clermont Auvergne battle it out on Saturday. Pool 4 is still up for grabs because if Ulster beat Bath with a bonus point and Stade Francais lose to Edinburgh a big upset could be on the cards for the french team as Ulster would go through and Stade’s current 17 points may not be enough to secure a much coveted place in the next round.

Pool 5 already has a qualifier in Toulouse but its results elsewhere that will ultimately determine the fate of either Sale or Cardiff Blues should they still be in with a best runner up spot.
And in Pool 6 Leinster look the most likely to qualify top but London Irish are at home to them on Saturday and could cause serious heart break for the current European Champions if they were to beat them.

Friday, 22 January 2010
Munster v Northampton, P1, 20:00
Perpignan v Treviso, P1, 20:00

Saturday, 23 January 2010
Bath v Ulster, P4, 15:45
Brive v Scarlets, P6, 18:00
Edinburgh v Stade Francais, P4, 15:45
London Irish v Leinster, P6, 18:00
Ospreys v Leicester, P3, 13:35
Viadana v Clermont Auvergne, P3, 13:35

Sunday, 24 January 2010
Biarritz v Glasgow, P2, 12:45
Harlequins v Cardiff Blues, P5, 15:00
Newport-Gwent Dragons v Gloucester, P2, 12:45
Sale v Toulouse, P5, 15:00

Below are the Outright Heineken Cup Winner odds at Paddy Power Bookmakers

• Munster 11/4
• Leinster 7/2
• Toulouse 4/1
• Clermont Auvergne 6/1
• Biarritz 8/1
• Stade Francais 11/1
• Ospreys 25/1
• Leicester 25/1
• Northampton 40/1
• London Irish 50/1
• Cardiff 125/1
• Ulster 125/1
• Sale 200/1
• Scarlets 200/1

The biggest thing to know about this race is that it generally leads very nicely into the Queen Mother Chase at the Cheltenham festival so this is where we get to see how the horses really perform up against each other and make some better educated guesses on who really has a shot at the big prize in March.

Three horses have won both races in the same season – Viking Flagship (1994), Call Equiname (1999) and Master Minded (2009) and this year, although there are only 10 contenders for the VC Chase, seven of them have been registered for the Queen Mother Chase so this is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Odds are still ante-post with Paddy Power and are below…

• Twist Magic 5/4
• Petit Robin 2/1
• Well Chief 9/2
• Cornas 10/1
• Fix The Rib 16/1
• Oh Crick 16/1
• Santas Son 25/1
• Lennon 66/1
• Oiseau De Nuit 66/1
• Kinkeel 500/1

Based on the saturday night hit TV game show hosted by Dale Winton, this cool online fruit machine game gives you the chance to see what you’re made of. Clear the walls and reap the rewards in a fun bonus round that plays just like the show. For the most part the fruit machine is a fairly standard multi-win line game, the difference between this fruit machine and others is the bonus round and the free spins you can win.

The bonus round works like this ~ get 2 or more ‘Hole In The Wall’ symbols in any position and you automatically get a scatter award. Get 3 or more ‘Hole In The Wall’ symbols to trigger the bonus game. Click on one of the bonus symbols to reveal a ‘starting award’, which is based on your total stake for that spin. This is yours to keep no matter what happens in the bonus. The number of triggering symbols, up to 5, determines how many walls you will face.

You enter the bonus round with the award amount you revealed on the bonus symbol. Each time you successfully clear a wall you earn an additional bonus multiplier that increases your starting award. The more walls you clear the larger the bonus multiplier. What’s more, the bonus multipliers you earn are added together.

This is a great little fruit machine from Paddy Power Games, considering you also get a free cash bonus when you join! I’ve made a video of the fruit machine so you can see how the game works.

You can watch a short video for the Hole In The Wall Fruit Machine below.

Paddy Power Bookmakers have priced him, ante-post, at 6/4, which to be honest is pretty poor odds for a race that is still months away but such is his pedigree that it’s already anticipated that he’ll run away with the coveted title.

Nicholls also has four more entries up his sleeve including Free World, I’msingintheblues, Takeroc and Twist Magic who has the shortest odds of those four at 8/1. But the race isn’t just about Nicholls and his seemingly endless capacity to win major races.

Also in the running is Voy Por Ustedes from Alan King who has hedged his bets by entering him in the Ryanair Chase as well so it’s up in the air as to which he will eventually enter. Don’t rule out Forpadydeplasterer, Petit Robin, Big Zeb or Kalahari King either as all are fine horses with immense capability and any of whom, on the day, could potentially snatch the title from Master Minded.

Full ante-post odds from Paddy Power Bookmakers are below…

• Master Minded 6/4
• Forpadydeplasterer 8/1
• Big Zeb 8/1
• Twist Magic 8/1
• Kalahari King 10/1
• Petit Robin 12/1
• Barker 12/1
• Golden Silver 12/1
• Sizing Europe 12/1
• Well Chief 14/1
• Voy Por Ustedes 16/1
• Tranquil Sea 16/1
• Free World 20/1
• Cornas 33/1
• Fix The Rib 50/1
• I’msingingtheblues 50/1
• Mahogany Blaze 50/1
• Tartak 50/1
• Newmill 66/1
• Oh Crick 66/1
• Takeroc 66/1
• Fiepes Shuffle 100/1
• Lord Henry 100/1
• Santas Son 100/1

So despite my reluctance to even mention the show here, I must concede that it’s my job to provide our lovely visitors with all the info they want and need…

Some of the fab bunch of 12 this year who will be staying in the house courtesy of Channel 4 include Vinny Jones, Ivana Trump, Stephen Baldwin, Basshunter and Sisqo. I know, I know – how on earth could I possibly not be delirious with excitement at the prospect of giving my evenings over to them every night?? Anyway, I think you get the picture so without labouring the point any further I’ll just give you the odds that you need should you fancy sticking a few quid on who you think will win it outright.

• Sisqo 5/2
• Vinny Jones 5/2
• Lady Sovereign 9/2
• Basshunter 5/1
• Stephanie Beacham 7/1
• Alex Reid 18/1
• Nicola Tappenden 22/1
• Dane Bowers 25/1
• Heidi Fleiss 25/1
• Stephen Baldwin 33/1
• Ivana Trump 50/1
• Katia Ivanova 100/1

The Serbian visited a specialist on Wednesday last for a full diagnosis of the nerve problem down the side of his right leg which ruled him out of the FA Cup defeat to Leeds. However, the injury isn’t considered serious and he could return for the Carling Cup semi-final, first leg tie at Manchester City on 19 January.

Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson explained “During the warm-up against Leeds, he felt a problem in the nerve, it’s something which has been a recent problem for him and he just didn’t feel confident enough to play. I understand that because it’s painful. We sent him to a specialist to get the problem diagnosed and we know what exercises he needs to do now. It’s not a long-term issue and we can control it.”

Manchester United fans are hoping that he returns sooner rather later as the defense appears to need to some serious boosting with Van der Sar and Ferdinand still out which didn’t help in the FA Cup when they went out to Leeds and the subsequent draw against Birmingham which saw them drop very valuable points.

Manchester United are currently at 9/4 odds with Paddy Power Bookmakers to win the Premier League outright, second to Chelsea at 10/11 who are favourites at the moment.

The chase is a Grade 1, 2 mile 1 furlong race over 13 fences and this year we could be on for one hell of a race as some of the top horses in this field go head to head for the title. And it’s not just about the horses, the trainers, jockeys and owners are also up against it with Paul Nicholls looking to continue his incredible winning form, David Pipe trying to usurp him, Nicky Henderson hoping to cause an upset and the Goat Racing Syndicate crossing their fingers that all of them will fail and they’ll scoop the winning prize!

Looking back over the last couple of years I think it’s going to come down to a mini battle between 2008 winning trainer David Pipe who took it home with Tamarinbleu and Paul Nicholls who’s Master Minded romped home last year under Ruby Walsh so what are their prospects like this January?

Well, Paul Nicholls goes in as favourite with Twist Magic (6F1-31), followed by Nicky Henderson with Petit Robin (2237-1) and then David Pipe’s offering of Well Chief (/2-132), the oldest of the three horses. Forpadydeplasterer (21-222) is coming up quickly behind them as fourth ante-post favourite and then there’s a bit of a gap to the rest of the field so basically the bookies think there are only four horses in it – at least at the moment….

Odds below are with Paddy Power Bookmakers…

• Twist Magic 6/4
• Petit Robin 5/2
• Well Chief 9/2
• Forpadydeplasterer 6/1
• Cornas 12/1
• Fix The Rib 16/1
• Free World 20/1
• Oh Crick 25/1
• Santas Son 25/1
• Lord Henry 33/1
• Lennon 66/1
• Oiseau De Nuit 100/1
• Kinkeel 500/1

Odds on him are not going to make you rich but if you fancy an each-way on another contender then check out these odds from Paddy Power Bookmakers.

• Kauto Star 4/7
• Imperial Commander 13/2
• Madison Du Berlais 9/1
• Deep Purple 14/1
• Barbers Shop 16/1
• Nacarat 18/1
• Albertas Run 25/1
• Master Medic 33/1
• Our Vic 50/1
• Tartak 50/1
• Ollie Magern 100/1
• Racing Demon 100/1
• Sandymac 500/1

The only other horse to even come close to such an achievement was Desert Orchid who won it three times but even he couldn’t manage to get a fourth under his belt so can Kauto Star do it?

Paddy Power Bookmakers have him at 4/7 with his nearest rival, Imperial Commander, at 13/2. He’s been paired with Ruby Walsh, who is quoted in Racing Post as saying “It is an incredible feat by the horse and a credit to his durability and consistency that he is going back to Kempton to have a go at winning a fourth King George and making history. What more can I say? He’s a wonderful horse and, hopefully, he will bring it off.”

His trainer Paul Nicholls is on the roll of a lifetime and word from his yeard is that Kauto Star is in fantastic form. One thing is for sure, the whole country will be glued to their tv’s today to see if Kauto Star really can pull of this feat of a lifetime and gallop right into the history books!

Well, that’s neither here nor there anymore as we are left with Joe McElderry, Stacey Soloman and Olly Murs to battle it out on Saturday night for the coveted title of X Factor Winner 2009, which of course comes with an almost guaranteed Christmas number one….

Joe is streets ahead as favourite with the bookies at 2/5, with Stacey and Olly both the same at 9/2. But if those odds are a little on the short side for your liking then check out some other more unusual X Factor bets that you can put your money on instead…

Paddy Power Bookmakers

Which Final night will have the most viewers? Sunday 1/5 or Saturday 3/1
Next permanent presenter after Dermot O’Leary? Holly Willoughby 13/8, Cat Deeley 4/1, Ant & Dec 6/1
Cheryl’s Dress Colour? Silver 4/1, Gold 4/1, White 4/1, Black 9/2

There’s loads more, all of which appear to be as equally daft as the next but maybe you have the inside scoop on Mrs Cole’s wardrobe and fancy making a few quid out of it….

This apparently hasn’t escaped the attention of the bookmakers who have revised their decision to make Atouchbetweenacara favourite and instead have bumped two of Nicholls three entrants into first and second ante-post favs for the Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.

Poquelin is now the favourite with odds on Paddy Power Bookmakers of 5/1, with Chapoturgeon a close second on 11/2 with Atouchbetweenacara falling to third on 6/1. The question is can Paul Nicholls keep up his amazing sequence of Saturday stunners tomorrow?

The last few weeks have been incredible for him starting back three weeks ago when Kauto Star had his thrilling Haydock battle with Imperial Commander. A week later it was Denman who provided the stuff of legends with his second Hennessy triumph and then last week Twist Magic turned on the style in the Tingle Creek when he outran the entire field.

Watch this space, or should I say, watch the Boylesports Gold Cup tomorrow at 14.25pm to see if Nicholls can pull off another masterclass in champion training!

• Poquelin 5/1
• Chapoturgeon 11/2
• Atouchbetweenacara 6/1
• Tamarinbleu 10/1
• Sky’s The Limit 10/1
• Razor Royale 10/1
• Skippers Brig 12/1
• Hold Em 14/1
• Mount Oscar 14/1
• Gwanako 16/1
• Jayo 16/1
• From Dawn To Dusk 20/1
• Our Vic 25/1
• Stan 25/1
• Bible Lord 33/1
• Idole First 33/1
• Knowhere 40/1

Currently the ante-post favourite across all of the bookmakers is Atouchbetweenacara who has been partnered with Barry Geraghty. The Irish eight year old is trained by Tim Vaughan and is currently at 5/1 with Paddy Power Bookmakers.

And of course it would be a chase without a few hopefuls from the Paul Nicholls stables so he has confirmed Gwanako, who will carry joint-top weight of 11st 12lb with Our Vic, the David Pipe horse, Poquelin who has been paired with Ruby Walsh, and Chapoturgeon with Timmy Murphy for Saturday’s race.

He could be in with another great shot here as both Poquelin and Chapoturgeon are 2nd and 3rd ante-post favourites and both currently on 6/1 with Paddy Power Bookmakers.

Here is the full list or runners and odds from Paddy Power Bookmakers…

• Atouchbetweenacara 5/1
• Poquelin 6/1
• Chapoturgeon 6/1
• Tamarinbleu 10/1
• Razor Royale 10/1
• Hold Em 12/1
• Mount Oscar 14/1
• Sky’s The Limit 14/1
• Skippers Brig 14/1
• Gwanako 16/1
• From Dawn To Dusk 16/1
• Jayo 16/1
• Our Vic 16/1
• Saphir Des Bois 20/1
• Stan 20/1
• Bible Lord 25/1
• The Sawyer 33/1
• Idole First 33/1
• Knowhere 40/1

The prizes will be given away in chat games, which run between 7.30 and 9pm on Saturday and 8-9pm on Sunday. Plus, Paddy Power Bingo be adding £500 each to selected jackpot games on both nights as follows: 20:48 Paddy’s 10p – £500, 21:24 Paddy’s 20p – £500, 21:48 Paddy’s 25p – £500. Even if you’re no Leona Lewis, I’m sure you’ll agree that these are prizes worth singing about, so make sure you join the fun on Paddy Power Bingo this weekend.

Anybody who thought Big Zeb and Well Chief might have put some fight would have been sadly disappointed as Twist Magic produced an awesome round of jumping that had his rivals in deep trouble a long way from the finishing posts. In fact, the only horse to actually try to contend for the title was Irish bred Forpadydeplasterer but even he could only succumb to a distant second on the day.

Nicholls said afterward “That was his very best performance, it was a very good run first time out at Exeter and he was awesome today. He goes out on his own at home because he’s a bit of a monkey but that was good and, tactically, it was a brilliant ride. Ruby didn’t get enough credit for his ride on Denman, but that was spot on.”

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve begun to wonder if anybody can stop the training machine that is Paul Nicholls. His incredible run of wins and production of such top class horses and performances has me keeping a a keen eye on who he enters into the big races at Cheltenham and the Grand National next year – watch this space because I don’t think he’s going to let go of his winning reigns any time soon.

For all ante-post odds on the Cheltenham Festival 2010 and the Grand National 2010 just go to Paddy Power Bookmakers.

The 11 year old who will be carrying 11-07 on the day has good form behind him, 12221-22, but the line-up is getting smaller with only five horses still left in it. Tom Cooper, his trainer, said this morning: “The horse left home for Sandown at 2am this morning and the plan is to run unless the ground turns heavy. I will walk the course tomorrow morning, but as long as it isn’t heavy he will take his chance. If it is no worse than soft it won’t be ideal for him, but it will still be a lot better than the ground we currently have in Ireland.”

So it looks like we could be in for some fantastic racing at the weekend and of course if you’re as excited about the prospect as I am then head to Paddy Power Bookmakers where the odds are looking very good at the moment!

• Big Zeb 6/4
• Twist Magic 9/4
• Well Chief 10/3
• Forpadydeplasterer 13/2
• Mahogany Blaze 20/1

His outstanding record for this race means that he’s hoping to clinch the Grade 1 for the fifth year running, despite not being able to call on Master Minded who would have been his best hope but is currently injured.

Instead he’s going with Twist Magic and Free World with great optimism about their prospects in a race that has drawn many of the main rivals in the field including Big Zeb and Well Chief.

At the moment there are 11 runners still in contention following Petit Robin’s withdrawal but it will all depend on the weather over the next couple of days before we can be really sure of who’s going to line up. At the moment it looks like this with Paddy Power Bookmakers…

• Big Zeb 13/8
• Twist Magic 3/1
• Well Chief 4/1
• Forpadydeplasterer 8/1
• Barker 10/1
• Crack Away Jack 12/1
• Tidal Bay 20/1
• Mahogany Blaze 25/1
• Fix The Rib 25/1
• Free World 25/1
• Newmill 50/1

He may have been lumbered with 12lbs over his closest rival but that didn’t stop him from jumping magnificently to become only the third dual winner of the Hennessy after Arkle and Mandarin. The Paul Nicholls-trained runner who was ridden by Ruby Walsh, took the lead from Niche Market with a monster jump at the cross fence on the second circuit but was being closed down by Barbers Shop and stablemate What A Friend, the Alex Ferguson horse.

What A Friend tried to put up a fight and was there to push Denman all the way, drawing alongside him at the final fence but a jumping error saw the title slip away from him and Denman roared over the fence and on to the winning post to triumph by three and a half lengths.

If you fancy Denman for the Grand National why not check out all the ante-post odds at Paddy Power Bookmakers.

Despite being current world champions and the world’s number one rugby team, the Springboks only managed one try against Ireland and that came from flanker Schalk Burger in the 16th minute. Fly-half Morne Steyn did convert it and also managed to notch up another three pointer drop-goal but missed three vital penalties which kept Ireland in the game.

Five successful penalties from Sexton and Ireland’s 15 points was enough to seal a famous victory which given that they were parading nine Lions who played in the Test series, were motivated by revenge as much as any desire to keep intact an unbeaten record that now spans 10 matches.

With the Six Nations around the corner why not check out Paddy Power Bookmakers for all of the latest odds.

Though his trainer doesn’t believe it’s anything to worry about and that it’s probably only travel sickness he has been withdrawn, much to the disappointment of his owner Ms Gillian Burke and jockey Noel Fehily who was due to ride him.

This means that just 20 horses remain in contention for the Hennessy Gold Cup title and £200,000 prize pool, with Denman the front runner with every bookie.

The most up to date odds from Paddy Power Bookmakers are below….

• Denman 4/1
• Barbers Shop 6/1
• What A Friend 7/1
• Killyglen 7/1
• Cappa Bleu 9/1
• Gone To Lunch 16/1
• Ballyfitz 16/1
• State of Play 16/1
• Nenuphar Collonges 20/1
• Snowy Morning 20/1
• My Will 25/1
• Kornati Kid 25/1
• Niche Market 33/1
• An Accordion 33/1
• Offshore Accoun33/1
• Joe Lively 33/1
• War Of Attrition 33/1
• Chelsea Harbour 40/1
• New Alco 40/1
• Mon Mome 50/1

It should come as no surprise that previous winner Denman leads the weights as well as being the bookies favourites at 4/1. Sam Thomas, who rode Denman to that 2007 victory, now partners second favourite What A Friend who also happens to be joint-owned by Manchester United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson so he could also be worth a punt, but if you think it’s not that straightforward and that maybe another horse has a serious chance of taking the title then check out Paddy Power Bookmakers odds below…

Paddy Power Bookmakers odds as of Thursday 26th November 2009

• Denman 4/1
• Barbers Shop 6/1
• What A Friend 13/2
• Killyglen 7/1
• Cappa Bleu 9/1
• Gone To Lunch 16/1
• Casey Jones 16/1
• State of Play 16/1
• Nenuphar Collonges 20/1
• Ballyfitz 20/1
• Snowy Morning 20/1
• My Will 20/1
• Kornati Kid 25/1
• Niche Market 33/1
• An Accordion 33/1
• New Alco 33/1
• Offshore Accoun33/1
• Joe Lively 33/1
• War Of Attrition 33/1
• Chelsea Harbour 40/1
• Mon Mome 40/1

The race itself takes place over 21 steeple chase fences for 3m2½f and has been designed to test even the most hardened and well seasoned of horses. Prize money has increased every year and now stands at a record £200,000 which has contributed to the attraction of such a quality field of entries from the best trainers the industry has to offer. The starting line up currently stands at 37 that should make it to Saturday.

And though winning this race comes with incredible prestige for the trainer, jockey and horse, it can also be very effective at indicating who could do very well in the following Grand National as many of the horses who take part in this race also compete heavily for the coveted National and a good performance here could see them favoured as potential winners in April.

This year is no different and with 37 horses lined up to start the Gold Cup race, quite a few of them are already being heavily backed on ante post odds with the bookmakers. For example Denman, Gone to Lunch, State of Play, Arbor Supreme, My Will, Snowy Morning, Mon Mome and War of Attrition, to name a few, are all tipped for both races.

The Hennessy Gold Cup is going to be a great race this weekend and for those of you looking for an inside edge on the 2010 Grand National potential entrants and winner this is the ideal place to start your research.

Hennessy Gold Cup Entrants – November 28th 2009, 2pm

Paddy Power Odds as of Tuesday 24th November 2009

• Denman 4/1
• What A Friend 6/1
• Barbers Shop 13/2
• Killyglen 7/1
• Cappa Bleu 9/1
• Carruthers 9/1
• Gone To Lunch 14/1
• Casey Jones 16/1
• Horner Woods 16/1
• Ballyfitz 16/1
• State of Play 16/1
• Nenuphar Collonges 20/1
• Arbor Supreme 20/1
• My Will 20/1
• The Package 20/1
• Roll Along 25/1
• Snowy Morning 25/1
• Kornati Kid 25/1
• Siegemaster 25/1
• An Accordion 25/1
• Offshore Account 25/1
• According To Pete 28/1
• Niche Market 28/1
• New Alco 33/1
• Joe Lively 33/1
• Calgary Bay 33/1
• Darkness 33/1
• Chelsea Harbour 33/1
• Dream Alliance 33/1
• Operation Houdini 33/1
• Treacle 40/1
• Hennessy 40/1
• Chief Dan George 40/1
• Mon Mome 40/1
• Ponmeoath 40/1
• War Of Attrition 40/1
• Freeze Up 66/1

The latest entry on the Paddy Power Bookmaker blog reads “Luck of the Irish me arse! Not only did FIFA change the rules to protect the big teams, but then we drew France and that dirty little thief Henry cheats us out of a place in the World Cup.

I know its small consolation but we’re refunding €110,000 to all those who backed Ireland to qualify for next years Finals as well as refunding €140,000 on tonights game after we pledged to refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast bets placed on the match if Ireland won the game in 90-minutes.”

It was a heartbreaking way for the Irish to be knocked out, a few years ago England suffered a similar fate at the hands of Maradona. FIFA now must realize that video replays must be introduced for high profile games like this one. Well done Paddy Power for refunding the bets, at least someone is playing fair!