Forget your Dubai World Cup, the Breeders Cup, Royal Ascot, or dare I say it as someone born in Australia, the Melbourne Cup, nothing and I mean nothing is as good as the grand final of jumps racing held every year at Prestbury Park Cheltenham. The Cheltenham Festival.

I have been lucky enough to go to this meeting at least 12 times in my life and I have also had the good fortune to have runners there, thanks to the outstanding purchasing and training abilities of the Pipe family. For someone who has been able to perform on sporting fields around the world and been blessed with a degree of good fortune to experience the nicer things in life I rate my experiences and times at Cheltenham as the most enjoyable and most cherished memories of my life. To stand in the parade ring as an owner is to feel more alive than you believed possible and if you love horses as I do then you must make this your goal. Even if you don’t achieve it, know this is as good as it gets and you are one of a privileged few. It really is that good.

If you haven’t been before then buy yourself some tickets now, find a Hotel/B&B somewhere nearby ( it really doesn’t matter where all the people are fabulous), stay over and treat yourself to one of life’s great pleasures.

What do you get for your money? Firstly you get to see up close and personal the supreme athletes that these horses are, competing in their discipline’s grand final for the season. The right to be called the best. Let’s not underestimate these horses and believe for one second they are competing because they couldn’t make it on the flat. You will see two mile hurdlers, jumping 8 flights with flat speed capable of winning 10 furlong groups races, 3 mile plus chasers that can gallop at 30+ mph for over 6 minutes and produce up to 18 jumps during that time over 12 feet in distance and 6 feet in height. Make no mistake this is equine brilliance. And let’s not forget the unbelievable skill and bravery of the small guys on their backs. Men who ask tired horses for one more jump knowing that if they and the horse get it wrong serious injury awaits them and sometimes worse. Their ability to judge pace, length of stride and to find the sweet spot in the race is of such high standard that ours is just to marvel. Ye we have our McCoys and Walshes who dominate, as you would expect on the best horses but last year it was the unknown Bryan Cooper who dominated amongst others.

I’m not going to make this piece the definitive case for backing this horse over another in the middle of January. It’s just that it’s time to start thinking, planning and working your theories through if somehow entertainment during that week can be further enhanced by winning a few quid and believe me it can- this week and a profit = Heaven

So lets take the 4 majors across the 4 days and see where we are with just 2 months to go.

Day 1 – The Stan James Champion Hurdle.

What a picture this is developing in to and what a race to kick off proceedings. Is Hurricane Fly at 10 years of age back to his best and capable of putting all the young pretenders back in their box? You can have a very attractive 100/30 about that if you believe it. Just before Christmas the 3/1 about The New One claiming the crown would have looked huge but that last flight mistake (jockey error in my opinion) saw My Tent or Yours saunter past and if you believe that form to be good then you simply have to have some of the 4/1 about AP & JP picking up the trophy. What about Jezki at 6/1 and Our Conor, last year’s convincing Triumph Hurdle winner at 9/1. Surely the winner comes from one of these 5 – or does it? They are all capable of winning and of rightly being crowned a good champion in a good year.

Day 2 The Betvictor Queen Mother Champion Chase –

A One horse race I hear you say – is it? Surely Sprinter Sacre wins, or does he? The machine broke at Kempton, first time ever. If Nicky Henderson can change the fan belt and fix the problem then you won’t see a better price than 4/5, all week. Sire De Grugy his conqueror at Kempton is 4/1. The admirable and ever improving Benefficient is 10/1 and looks booked for a place, although I think he wants further and lurking at a bigger price of 16/1 is Avrika Ligeonniere, who has a lot of ability and shouldn’t be this price on one failure. How about one of the new kids on the block, Dodging Bullets at 20/1 or a the previous Champion, who as yet hasn’t sparkled for Henry DeBromhead, Sizing Europe at 20/1 and perhaps even the very big priced, Cheltenham loving, Kid Cassidy at 25/1. Is the winner in that lot? I think so. More than any other, time in this one will reveal all. It’s a more competitive race without the Sprinter but at his best there is not better horse in training and that’s what this week is all about. All Hail the King (Queen – sometimes as well)

Day 3 The Ladbrokes World Hurdle

Another race that revolves around health and entries. Sadly last years winner Solwhit wont take part after being declared unfit by his trainer, so where does that leave us?Will Big Bucks be back and continue his amazing unbeaten run in this race, at 5/2 if you knew he was lining up fit and well, you would be filling your boots. What about the incredible unbeaten run of Annie Power, she hasn’t been off the bridle to win so far, has been given the all-important Cheltenham experience and looks a winner in whatever race she contests, save the Quevega Testimonial, otherwise known as the OLBG Mares Only. It might fall to the rapidly improving and eye catching More of That (6/1) who looked so strong in his last win or perhaps Boston Bob (12/1) will turn up in this race rather than a chase, with his head right and prove unstoppable for Ireland and what about the forgotten horse for Rebecca Curtis, At Fishers Cross, at a tantalising 14/1, surely the Champ can get that in to a place as a minimum. If it comes up soft don’t rule out the very brave Reve De Sivola at a huge 25/1. Have we covered the winner here? I don’t know. But make no mistake, whoever wins this staying title will be a deserved winner capable of taking all before them.

Day 4 The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup

What a race, what a year and what a prospect we have. Last year’s winner Bobs Worth looked so impressive in Ireland when the turbos kicked in and he is rightly at the head of the market at 9/4. Chinks in his armour – I see none. My one question is – was Silviniaco Conti travelling equally as well when he uncharacteristically fell 2 out last year, or was the tank emptying? Either way he will be popular after the way he swept past Cue Card in the King George and 7/2 seems about right for him. As to Cue Card, well if the Tizzards don’t know what they saw at Kempton on Boxing day then neither do we. I think he was fairly and squarely beaten but was he beaten for a turn off foot or beaten for class? If you think the former then you must take the 8/1. First Lieutenant has had a great preparation and looks a realistic contender with a great deal of ability and 12/1 is tempting and will be taken by the Irish if they have their tails up. This could be the best anti-post price in terms of how small it could go. Dynaste has flattered to deceive and I just don’t think he stays this trip so 33/1 looks about right and I wouldn’t be surprised if David Pipe finds another race for him that he can win at the festival over slightly shorter. You note that the name Long Run doesn’t appear anywhere. Sadly I think he has had one too many battles. I will always believe that he has been ridden poorly in his life and that because of this he has one too many scars both mentally and physically so at 40/1 I’m not tempted but it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if he served it up to them – he is all heart. Whoever comes out on top this is a race to savour and just once a year we truly do see the best of the best and that’s what this Gold Cup is.

So what does all this mean 60 days before the event. What it really means is that these are only 4 races of 27 championship events and there is so much more to consider, so much more to anticipate and so much more to work on. However the fun really starts now so if I have done nothing else hopefully it’s got you thinking and hopefully you have found a day or two’s holidays to get yourself to the greatest racing spectacle since the days of the Coliseum.

Wild Card Weekend – Our Tips

It’s Wild Card Weekend

Sunday 5th January

Game 3 Chargers @ The Bengals 6.05 Sky Sport 1

The consistent and exciting Cincinnati Bengals (I never thought I would write that) take on the incredibly fortunate but talented San Diego Chargers in Ohio tonight. This game is simply full of questions, like – Have the Bengals final arrived as a play off contender after so many years in the wilderness? After such an amazing route in to the play-offs are the Chargers pre-destined to greatness like the Ravens were last year. Can the Chargers play in the cold? Can Dalton play gun fighter football in the play-offs and still be relaxed enough to deliver under pressure?

My thoughts are disregard all the question and stick to the facts, which are. Rivers and Dalton have both delivered about the same amount of yards, roughly 4,300 each. BenJarvus Ellis-Greene is the best running back in either team. The Bengals score 2 more points per game than the Chargers and concede 2 less points per game. The Bengals are playing at home in freezing temperatures. The Chargers come from San Diego, where its hot.

I don’t think there is much in this game but I’m going with the Bengals.

My Bet : Bengals 4 units win @ 1/3 Sportingbet

Game 2 49er’s @ The Packers 9.40 Sky Sport 1

Last years Superbowl Finalists take on a standing dish since the arrival of Aaron Rodgers, in the Green Bay Packers – in sub zero temperatures. I think this game could be a belter. These two teams can play and Aaron Rodgers is the definition of a Franchise Quarterback. He wins games others cant and don’t.

So what of the 49er’s. They had a mid season wobble, righted the ship and bring a 5 game winning streak to the party tonight, with two of those wins on the road. The question is, can the Packers Defence contain the power running of Frank Gore and the unorthodox QB skills of Colin Kaepernick and if they cant can Rodgers find a way to score more points against one of the best defences in the league than his defence leaks? Confidence is high at Green Bay- the staff and the supporters believe Rodgers makes them walk on water and they may be right.

My view is, he cant. I think that the Packers simply cant score enough points, even with Rodgers fit and healthy, in a game, that if the weather allows will see a lot of points and if it doesn’t makes his job even harder. I think this game will be one in the trenches and on the ground.

My Bet : 49er’s 4 units win @ 20/31 Sportingbet

Saturday 4th January

Game 1 Chiefs @ The Colts 9.35 Sky Sports 1

The first game sees The Indianapolis Colts, who won the AFC South with an 11-5 record entertain the early season high flyers the Kansas City Chiefs, who finished second in the AFC West with a similar 11-5 profile but only second. Early in the season the Chiefs were unbeatable and were a lot of people’s lively outsider for Superbowl Glory. Alex Smith was on fire and he could find his running back Jamaal Charles both with a well disguised hand off or a bullet like pass. The Charles package soon got closed down and teams started to work out how to stop the Chiefs getting down the ground. That includes tonight’s opponents the Colts who disposed of the Chiefs just two games ago.

Whatever anyone says about the league being a Quarterbacks league, and it is during the normal season, when it comes to play-offs, defences win championship football. So for that reason I’m with the |Colts tonight to win the game. The have conceded just 20 pts in 3 games and the Chiefs have conceded 81 in the same 3 games. Obviously its not as simple as that but I don’t think there is much offensively between the two and for that reason least mistakes will win. For me that’s Andrew Luck and his crew who are now back on form with 3 consecutive wins.

My bet : Colts, 4 units win @ 6/5 Bet365

Game 2 Saints @ The Eagles 1.10 Sky Sports 1

This game is one of contrasting styles. The Saints and Drew Brees destroy teams by throwing the ball down the field and moving it with apparent ease to Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston and Darren Sproles. On the other hand the Eagles have clawed their way in to play off contention by playing controlled football and relying on the legs of Running back LeSean McCoy who has over 1600 yards this year. It has meant that his Quarterback Nick Foles has rarely been under immense pressure and with a 3rd down conversion rate of 40% McCoy has been phenomenal.

So, here’s the rub. Quarterbacks win regular season games and defences win play-off games. So who does that favour. The figures say New Orleans have both the better defence and the better QB, yet the layers say because of home ground advantage and how poor the Saints are on the road that the Eagles are favourites. Sod-em I say. We are going to go with Drew Brees to get the job done on the road and outdoors.

My Bet : Saints, 4 units win @ 31/20 with Bet365

Also recommend 2 units double both teams.

Our New Years Resolution will be sorely Tested in Sydney – does Polska have the answers?

A Fairytale for Sydney?

But come Christmas morning there it is – just what he asked for. Nestled among the socks and jocks and the rest of the crap is a brand new English cricket team! Leeful has a closer look.

What have we got here?

Two new openers: Little Barry Wood and Sgt Wilson (Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard). Good choice he thinks. His dad had regaled him with great stories of derring-do as Little Barry withstood an avalanche of intimidatory chin music from the fearsome Australian spin twins Ashley Mallett and John Inverarity in 1972. Perched on his toes and looking every bit his full four-foot-seven; Little Barry ducked, weaved, dodged, twisted and turned as he stared down the relentless, frightening barrage of well flighted, full length, gently turning throat balls from our wily spinners. Yep, who better to open with?

His partner has to be Sgt Wilson. Who could ever forget the graceful 78no for the home guard against the wardens in that classic 1970 Dad’s Army episode? The way he kept his cool while Mainwaring, Pike, Jones, Fraser and Walker succumbed. His glorious square drives and deft late cuts were in their zenith when Godfrey’s six ended the match.

At number three we’ve got the legendary Colin Cowdrey. Do you remember when they bought him out of retirement to help out in the 1974-5 Ashes series down under? Australia had a new bowler called Lillian Thomson, Sounded pretty easy so old Colin thought he’d help himself to a few runs to bolster the average. I can still remember him wearing thirteen sweaters in 60c heat in Perth. He made 3 runs and 150 leg byes in the series, taking the brunt of the Lillie and Thomson barrage on the body. He was 67 years old and it was one of the gutsiest performances you’ll ever see.

At number 5 we’ve got Lady Herries – Colin’s old lady. Now there’s a socks down no nonsense type if ever we saw one. So tough she could have won an Iditarod. She bought Taufan’s Melody down under for the 1998 Caulfield Cup. She didn’t suffer fools so it was never going to be easy for the Victoria Racing Club. She proceeded to tell them that her horse would be running in the Cup and the fact that it wasn’t qualified was irrelevant. Her only instructions to jockey Ray Cochrane were: “Flatten ‘em!” He did that – took out half the field and the first five rows of racegoers. He got a nice holiday but the Lady got the bikkies! Plenty of British spunk there. In fact, I think we’ll make her captain.

At number 6 we’ve got Liz Hurley. England wouldn’t have won the three Ashes series without her. (Ex) lover boy was dead set going to make a comeback until she got the better of his googlies. If Warnie plays England lose – and lose and lose and lose. Don’t worry about it. It’s just a law of nature.

At number 7 we’ve got Sir Ernest Shackleton. Don’t know if he could play but he sure was good at digging in, holding on and getting out of a jam. He might as well keep wickets and probably has some of them big woolly Antarctic gloves out in the shed. He’s 139 these days but he’s got to be better than Prior doesn’t he?

Leading the attack and batting at 8 is John Snow. Now he was up for it. He flattened Terry Jenner in 1970-1 and I figure he wouldn’t mind doing the same to Dave Warner. Nothing scarier than facing John Snow on a sticky.

Sharing the new ball is Robert George Dylan Willis. If you want to shut an Aussie up just say the magic words: “Headingly 1981’. It still gets us right where it hurts. It turns out that Bob is still a Dylan tragic. That makes two of us.

And now for the spin twins: Tuffers and Dirty Underpants.

You’ve got to pick Tuffers because…..because…. well you just have to don’t you? It wouldn’t qualify as an England test team without at least one genuine eccentric froot loop.

As for Dirty Underpants? Well for a start you don’t see comb overs like that in test cricket these days. And he was a beauty – absolutely unplayable on a sticky. He made his first and only first –class century in his 591^st match. How’s that for persistence? Not a strong point of the current tourists.

So there you go Leeful Lee. The jolly ol’ Polska has produced the goods – an England team with ticker. Some would say it’s a Christmas miracle!

That’s it for me for this series. Sydney will be another flogging – just like Melbourne. I’d like to sign off by wishing all Betting Agency punters a very happy and safe New Year and above all – Let’s Get Punting

See you in January for the Aussie Open tennis. What do you think of that Andy Murray? Is it just me or is he punching so far above his weight in the lady department it’s just not funny?

Betting Tips, News & Views

A great Year for us, 2013. We launched one of the most successful tipping and betting service companies ever.

Don’t believe us – it’s all their for everyone to see, every day.

We rounded of the year with our Darts team tipping up Michael Van Gerwen 3 months ago at 6/1 – when everyone said he was gone at the game. Then when the tournament started our guys said – have a saver each way at 66/1 on Peter Wright. Now how about that for tipping. They then said why not back Peter Wright in the final +3.5 sets and guess what – that copped as well. Every day of the tournament we tipped up winners. In fact we had people calling our office to ask when our Darts tips were going up.

How about our Racing – in 5 months we have made over 250 units profit. That means on our daily recorded bets, telling you where to get the prices and advising the unit stakes, if you had simply followed us blind for £20 units you would be up over £5,000 since August. They are all their to see, go to our tipping pages and every day, every month is catalogued.

Incredible profits every day in Cricket – we were the ones who said back the Aussies to win the Ashes @ 5/2 before our bunch of losers left the shores of Blighty. Not enough for you, what about the daily profits in the Champions League 20/20 tournament. Phenomenal results that no other web site got close to.

Ohhh- and then there’s the football, every day in every division on televised games and more we find you value winning bets. We do the same with Rugby, NFL and Tennis. Winning tips from a team who simply know about professional sport. So spread the word and keep making money with The Betting Agency.

In fact no other tipping service provides profits every month. More winners, more often at the best available prices. That’s what we do.

Day after Day we tip up more winners than any other site and we find you better prices and better betting deals on every sport you want to punt on. If you cant find it ask us?

All our sporting tips are updated on a daily basis so that you can get on in plenty of time at the right price.

Ohh no I’m going to say it, “Things were different in my day”

I never thought I would be saying it – but they just were. I can remember at the age of about 12-13 going to the Adelaide Oval in the late 70’s, the start of the era of the Super quicks. The West Indies brought Andy Roberts and Michael Holding – Roberts at 95mph and Holding registering 100mph. Australia had Jeff Thomson,100+mph and Dennis Lillee 95mph.

After Australia amassed 418 in just 88 overs taking on the quicks, without helmuts and on a quick Adelaide Oval wicket, Sir Viv Richards and Roy Fredericks came out to bat and I swear the entire crowd chanted Lillee and Thomsons names as they ran in to bowl and were baying for West Indian blood. It was the most intimidating atmosphere I have ever witnessed on a sporting field and you coud feel the fear. The West Indian batters took on the Aussie quicks but could only muster just short of 300 in their first dig and eventually went on to lose the game on Day 5.

Now why is that in any way relevant to the test we have just seen at Adelaide? Well because only one man in that game was over 95mph and nasty and that was Mitchell Johnson. He was bowling to a group of batters all wearing helmets, chest protectors, arm guards, inner thigh pads and everyone of them in someway was ruffled or intimidated and to be fair I don’t even think he bowled that well.

The difference now is that from 1975-1995 every team had at least one 95mph+ bowler and the West Indies had at least 6 and dealing with super quicks on bouncy, quick wickets, was just part and parcel of test match cricket. In the absence of the protection now available, men had to overcome fear and then find a technique to score runs. Over rates weren’t a concern because there was something happening every ball – it was survival and it was as the name of the game suggests a “real test” and examination of every facet of you as a person and sportsman.

Not many people will know this but the BBC’s Jonathan Agnew toured Australia with England U19’s in 1978 and as an 18 yr old he was already bowling at 90+mph, a speed he rarely ever achieved again after sustaining a back injury, what a pity. I played against him in that series and he was then as quick as anyone we had ever seen from England. The point of the story is that everyone bowled quick. It was exciting, every small boy had a run up far longer than he needed and fast bowlers were both the heroes and the villains.

This is where I deviate from the former players, many of whom maintain that helmets have made the game less attractive and less scary. No they haven’t, its just their aren’t as many quick bowlers around now and that makes it less exciting. I don’t know why we have less fast bowlers. There just aren’t as many and that is why Mitch, is having it off currently. Our guys will learn again how to play fast bowling and right now there will be bowling machines wound up to 100mph for even the tailenders (let me tell you 100mph is not pleasant even when you know where its going) out in Perth and they will be working really, really hard to overcome this problem.

The main thing they need to realise is that when someone is bowling at 95mph+ in Australia there are so few balls that will actually hit the stumps. So for that reason there are so few balls you need to play and nothing wears out a fast bowler more than running in flat out and then seeing the ball harmlessly come to rest in the wicket keepers gloves 6o metres away. When I played Lancashire League cricket I came up against a nasty fast bowler called Ezra Moseley (Broke Graham Gooch’s hand) who really hated me and the mistake he made was he tried to hurt and intimidate me and not to bowl to get me out. Had he decided to bowl his 90+mph in swingers on the sub standard pitches on which we played there would have been little I could do but for him my wicket wasn’t enough – he wanted blood and he suffered because of it.

Sunil Gavaskar, who at 5ft 4inches, faced the very fastest and best the West Indies had to offer said that his pads were the most pointless bit of kit he possessed because nothing was ever going to hit him there, he needed them attached to his ribs. The Indian team once went to the West Indies and on a very poor Jamaican wicket declared 6 wickets down with 2 batters in hospital, 200 behind because Bishan Bedi the Indian captain deduced that both he and Chandrshekar were so poor at batting that not only would they be out quickly but they risked getting injured and India would be without their best two bowlers. It was the right call. In the second innings the Indians had four sent to hospital.

Quick bowling is part of the test and the true test of a batter is when he is examined at 95mph+. Now with all the technology available today can England prepare themselves in just 10 days to show a dam site more ability and resolve than they have shown so far – and I don’t mean the bowlers when they bat – I mean our batters. Problem is we only have 2 test batters when the going gets tough, Cooke and he is woefully out of nick and Bell. The other 4 are either lacking in technique or flat track bullies who cant occupy the crease when it gets tough. Kevin Pieterson’s amazing test record is testimony to how little quick bowling there has been for the last 6 years. So if that’s all we’ve got, we are in trouble and 8/11 about Australia to win in Perth is simply buying money.

What does Butlers 5 yr ban mean for UK Horseracing?

It means there is an incredible network of drugs, steroids and substances that a significant amount of trainers across the UK are trying to use on a daily basis to get an unfair advantage and cheat the punter out of their money, that’s what it means.

In the Racing Post today they reports that in this Butler case the Racing authorities believe as many as 100 horses and 9 different Newmarket trainers were guilty of using these substances but that they didn’t get caught!

Poor old Gerard Butler – the only one who gets caught cheating and then suffers a 5 year ban for it. Almost makes you feel sorry for him doesn’t it? NO – I don’t. It doesn’t say in the Racing Post, next to the bit wear they say about tongue ties and cheek pieces – uses drugs, so how the hell are we meant to know which ones are good cheats and which ones aren’t? Ohhh – I see, we are not meant to know, well that explains it then.

I was told a story just 12 months ago by a retired Northern trainer who has taken on a very big job looking after a lot of horses for an owner, that after visiting the stables around the UK he declared he didn’t know why he ever bothered training such was the unfair advantage that the Newmarket trainers had with the chemicals and substances that they were injecting in to their horses when they wanted them to win. I thought he was exaggerating, I hoped he was. I work closely with another Northern based trainer who would no more think about using a performance enhancing drug or steroid on a horse than they would leaving it without food for 3 days and this trainer wonders why their horses struggle to be competitive against horses they thought capable of beating. Perhaps now they understand it isn’t a level playing field.

I realise in the case of Mr Butler he wasn’t using a vet to inject his horses, he was doing it himself but who are these vets who happily administer the jungle juice, why are no charges brought against them and why aren’t the BHA capable of eliminating this scandal. They have done it in Hong Kong and Australia. I cant say America as I have no idea what horses can take there, seemingly a cocktail of drugs that would make a Rolling Stones party look like an AA gathering.

UK Horse welfare and Horse racing’s image is vital in the world in which we now live with the scrutiny of every Animal group looking at us and our sport. How much ammunition do we need to give them with the ongoing stories of countless horses being injected and remaining unchecked.

We are sick of the scandals, sick of the abuse of trust and sick of the inefficiency of the BHA to stamp this out. As usual it is the punter who pays as trainers simply continue unchecked and those who play by the rules go broke in the process.

Who says cheats don’t prosper?

Polska predicted an England capitulation ; he says Adelaide is Custer’s last stand

His name is Eddo Brandes and England needs him now. Never heard of him? That’s OK. Most people haven’t. But England needs him now.

People don’t remember him for his 10 Tests, his lofty batting average (10) or his even loftier bowling average (36). Instead they remember him for his confrontation with that great Australian laugh-a-minute wit “Oooh -Arrrh” Glen McGrath, which went something like:

OAGM: “How come you’re so fat?”

EB: “Because every time I make love to your wife she gives me a biscuit”.

That’s the ticket lads, that’s the attitude. That’s what we need in Adelaide

So Jimmy’s going to deck George and Clarkey offers Jimmy a broken arm in return. England loses by 381. The media hoes into the tourists who respond with a media blackout. You need to get on the front foot boys not the back foot. You need to toughen up. Need to give it back with interest. Need to get some ‘Eddo’ in you.

Steve Waugh called it ‘mental disintegration’. The rest of us call it sledging. It’s going to play a big part in the rest of this series. In the world of professional sport where the talent is spread so evenly, it’s sometimes just a couple of percent between the ears that makes the difference. That’s why they need Eddo. This crop of Australians didn’t invent sledging, I’m giving that honour to the great Ian Chappell and his team of the 70’s, even if he didn’t he was the best. He knew the power of the mind.

Lets face it in terms of lines in the sand of our Australian beaches, the Adelaide Test is ‘do or die’ for England. Lose this and its curtains. The Third Test is in Perth. The Aussies will play 8 quicks and they’ll all bowl at 180mph from the same end with the Fremantle Doctor coming on strong behind them. No, Perth could be ugly – Adelaide is England’s chance. A draw would do nicely – steady the ship and settle the nerves.

Adelaide is the right place at the right time for England. You see it’s a funny place. I was born there. So were Stephen Wundke, our editor and my legendary old skipper Harry Harrison. We seem to have churches and serial killers in equal number. We also had a cricket team which has been shite for the best part of 30 years. We were so ordinary we’d get bowled out before lunch and again just after tea – all on day 1. So the brains trust got together and ripped up the Adelaide Oval pitch and replaced it with a slab of concrete. South Australia hasn’t lost at home since. Problem is that no one else has lost there either. Hasn’t been a result there since 1982. All England have to do is win the toss. The Adelaide pitch and 45c heat will take care of the rest. Get to lunch on day 1 at about 300/1 and declare at tea on the last day at 800/6. Bowl the delirious Aussies out for 90 and have them 80/5 in the second dig at the close. Take the moral victory and head to Perth. And take Eddo with you.

Damien Opolski – for The Betting Agency, in Australia

The Aussie Fight Back – Day 2 at The Gabba

What a day – the tension around the ground was incredible. The Aussie batters fought as hard as they could to keep building the score and Cooke and his team knew they had to give it one big push to remove them from the crease. A battle of wills that was tangible. In the end Haddins run out was cruel and of course Broads sixth wicket inevitable and deserved. 292 all out was probably about 80 short of parity if you take it that the slow outfield on Day one probably cost 20 runs. At that stage, with lunch ensuing, England were the far happier team. No doubt about it.

The loss of both Cook and Trott wasn’t great before lunch but it happens when teams are bowling and fielding well. Mitchell Johnson was very fast and very aggressive, exactly what his captain wanted and with the wicket of Trott, boy was he fired up, regularly at about 95 MPH, short and bouncy. England knew they were in a battle from ball one of their innings. Carberry performed with some degree of authority and the Aussie bowlers gave him everything. When he went for a well made 40 it was the start of the end as it followed Pietersons rather soft dismissal, caught at mid wicket after an intense period of pressure. Carberry however was simply bludgeoned out by Johnson who decided he wasn’t having him at the crease anymore and he came around the wicket and physically attacked him. England were now 87/4 and you could smell the fear from the batters and the power of the crowd and their baying for English blood was palpable.

From here on in until the loss of the last wicket it was sheer aggression and reminded me of the West Indies in the 80’s as they intimidated their opponents. That’s not to say either Bell or Prior were intimidated by Nathan Lyon- that was just pathetic. Both turned the ball of their hip in to the hands of short leg and you could understand Stuart Broad, who was fending off short ball after short ball and battling for his country, thinking why the “f–k” am I having to do this when I got everyone out and these two numpties just give it away to a non turning straight break bowler. If he didn’t think it – I did!!

The tail enders collapsing was understandable, The bowling was hostile, the pitch bouncy and everything went Austraila’s way. It was a series of sessions just like those at Trent Bridge and it may well have been the turning point in this series, although we thought that in England.

Its one of the best days Test Cricket I have ever seen. Never have I felt such aggression and hostility. It was a show of strength and character by the Aussies and they are going to be dam hard to stop now – not just in this match but in this series.

Warner was brilliant at the end of the day and with the ball not turning he will be a real handful tomorrow as our bowlers have not even had a full day off and are undoubtedly going to tire. He met the English attack with aggression and won that mini battle finishing up 45 not out and still with his opening partner Rogers as the Aussies finished the day undefeated on 65 and a massive 224 ahead with all 10 men in the hutch.

Now is the time for the Dunkirk speeches and more than a little rain dancing if you are British. It needs a collective will of a nation to stop this Aussie tirade. Are we up to it?

You wont get that 2/1 about the Aussies winning the Ashes the layers are now Aussies 4/5 England 5/2

There is a bit of rain forecast for Sunday, 90% chance. If England are to stop the Aussies then they will have to bat for 2 days at sometime. Can they do that? I think not now.

Our draw bet doesn’t look great but yesterdays 4/1 about Mitchell Johnson being top wicket taker copped, he’s just 2/1 to do the same in the second innings as well.

Cant wait now for Day 3 – only test cricket can do this and its just so good to be here at the Gabba. Hope your enjoying it as much as us.

The Battle Down Under – Ashes to Ashes, Day 1, Brisbane

The contest is well and truly back in this great rivalry, something only Test cricket can do. After the first day has come to an end I felt delighted to have been in attendance at a game were both teams had moments of dominance and players stood up and were counted. It wasn’t quite Trent Bridge 2013, with its dramatic flows but it had its moments of pure drama. Looking across the Gabba today it was a real mix of fans from all over Australia and from England and they all witnessed some excellent action which suggest this series is already challenging as a competition and much better than the one sided display back in the U.K earlier in the year.

What has changed? well it seems that England still have a very solid, disciplined bowling unit and that was clear today with the detail in the fields that were set by coach Andy Flower making sure Captain Cook has the best preparation and analysis possible to over come their opponents yet again. This alongside a fantastic effort from Nottinghamshire speedster Stuart Broad meant that the first two sessions belonged to the Three Lions – not much change there. Perhaps the decision by the local Brisbane Courier newspaper not to print Broads name in the paper and to refer to him only as “The English Medium Pacer” may well have dramatically backfired. What will they print tomorrow? I cant wait to see. Perhaps an acronym TEMP takes 5 for, as its headline. Or will they swallow a large chunk of humble pie – Aussies? I think not. Some wag put on wikipedia today under the name Stuart Broad – Editor – Brisbane Courier.

However back to cricket, the wicket did not quite play quite as it looked, we were all expecting pace and bounce from the surface and at the toss I agreed with the professionals judgement, but after 2 overs it was clear that the pitch was true but was not on the quick side, it had more tennis ball bounce than cricket ball bounce and I am certain it will quicken up. Wickets that fell for me seem to be based around Australia having a batting order that lacks patience and discipline. Losing Rodgers early is always a blow for the Ozzies, he is the anchor, the innings builder, he opened the end up for England to keep bowling at indisciplined shot players and for them to win the middle session so comprehensively. I am sure Clarke will not want to see replays of his dismissal – it was poor.

Shane Watson is clearly very talented but for me flatters to deceive, he is not World Class in the test arena and I would argue with anyone of you who disagrees. In test cricket a batsman is judged by the hundreds he makes more than his average. Watson is a luxury as a batter, and a luxury this Australian team can ill afford when only captain Michael Clarke is a proven test batter to shout about. For Australia to be improving Watson either has to change roles or get the technical flaws out of his game (preferably when the IPL is on ).

On a positive for the men in green and gold was All Rounders Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson who showed real heart, the later showed his doubters that he can play a role for the team at 8 while Haddin not out over night, makes you think that he could really challenge Matt Prior for title of the best keeper bat in the series if he keeps this going. Either way it was a vital knock and he and Johnson put on over 100 and eclipsed the previous 6th wicket stand which had featured the great Slasher McKay. They got the Aussies back in the game when they otherwise could have been steamrollered and the series all over in day one.

In summary an unbelievable day to be at. My first ashes match in Australia and you can feel the tension when you are at the ground. Over 6 hours of play and you get the feeling that every ball bowled is critical. You simply cant take your eyes off it for a minute. It flew by.

Betting wise, today threw up more questions than answers for me and I feel the draw is definitely in play as we forecast on Tuesday. Its 5/2 with Sportingbet now and I think you should have some more of it if you haven’t got a position. Speaking to an Ex- Queensland player, Jeff Foley he is convinced that this wicket is going to get flatter and flatter as the sun bakes it. One thing that was evident in England was that with the ball the Aussies really competed and they bowled very accurately. With the exception of Mitchell Johnson, who is both a match winner and loser, they all bowl a great line and length. If the Aussies don’t take wickets they can slow the rate and make it difficult for England to score quickly enough to create a result. There is also a question of bad weather on Sunday which may eat some time up. If the Aussies can get to 320 and hold out until lunch tomorrow they may be safe in the first test after an ordinary start. They are battling though.

I see Kevin Pietersen coming to the party tomorrow in a way only he knows how, look at him to make three figures and to be England’s top batsman.Get on him @ 4/1 with Sportingbet – now

I also think that because he made some runs and will feel good about life, Mitchell Johnson should be backed to be top Aussie wicket takes – he swings it back in to the right handers at 90+mph and with a bit of bounce keeping batters back on the crease if he gets it right he will take wickets. Back him at 5/2 with Sportingbet

Can’t wait for day two ! What did you guys think? post your thoughts on our website, Facebook or Twitter.

England take on an unbeaten All Blacks in a thriller

At Twickenham tomorrow we could see history made. This is the last game that the All Blacks will play in 2013 and should they beat England they will be the first team to go 13 from 13 in a year. An amazing record for an amazing team. Whilst things on the field have gone swimmingly for Coach Steve Hansen today’s Telegraph revelations of the coaching rooms staffs claims have really fired up the local media and no doubt provided England with some extra incentive and created some red faces in the All Blacks camp. Damage done to New Zealand – nil in my book. Just minor distractions from the main agenda.

The winning record this year is even more incredible when you think that every team who plays against the All Blacks brings their best game and for 40-50 and sometimes 60 minutes they threaten to do what no other team has done before them this year and that is win – but they don’t because class wins out. The All blacks are an amazing blend of experience, talent and youth. As their record shows, no weaknesses anywhere in the park. Stars? Well all over the field. Richie McCaw, amazing, Kieran Read – the best no 8 in the world, Dan Carter earns his 100th Cap at Fly Half, so they are unbeatable, right? wrong? Will they win – probably but not definitely and the reasons why are as follows. Firstly because England are a very good team, with a great attitude, a winning coach and a very deep bench. Secondly because they have real belief in their ability and they will play the people in front of them, not the aura or the team and that is something no one else has been able to do this year. The others keep playing the perception and not the player.

England know they can win because they did this time last year and when Steve Hansen publicly says it was England first and then clear daylight last year you know the scars run deep.

The problem for England is that this is New Zealand’s grand final and not just a lead up game to the six nations. England have only played twice this season and they have got better with each match and they will improve again for this outing.

Like in all big games its mistakes that lose for teams rather than individual brilliance that wins it and I expect this to be the same. Its a shame that Alex Corbiserio cant play tomorrow (knee) but Dan Coles is still a world class forward who knows how to win and I don’t expect the All Blacks to push the England forwards around. They may have the edge in the centres but I don’t think they are clear cut winners in the backs duel. So who will use the ball best from the ruck, who is quick enough and creative enough to punch holes in the defence? Is Dan Carter too slow now, he certainly has the brain to create problems. Battle of the kickers? I don’t think so. I just see a marginal advantage across the park for the All Blacks and so probably they win.

The thing is New Zealand are 1/10 to win tomorrow and I just don’t think that’s the right price. I genuinely priced them up at 1/3 so if you have a Betdaq account lay New Zealand and I guarantee at some stage they will trade at 1/2 or thereabouts, then take your profit and invest it all in backing them to win.

For those of you who only like fixed prices then cheer England on +14 at 10/11 with Bet365, 4 units win

Cheltenham – Its just 2 months until the greatest Horse racing event in the World