Goodbye Hardcourts, Hello Clay

The hardcourt season is over and attention now turns to clay. The clay season is always a highlight of the year and as usual will culminate with the French Open. Despite there being great claycourt tournaments in Rome, Hamburg, Monte Carlo and Madrid everyone is already thinking about the French Open 2009.

Rafael Nadal is obviously the huge favorite and the one all tennis betting is looking at to win again. The difference this year is that Roger Federer may not be his main adversary. Andy Murray is in simply scintillating form. He has beaten Nadal recently but does he have the game to topple him on clay? How will Federer feel is it is Murray and not him who is the one to do it? Federer didn’t have a good hardcourt season and so ironically will be looking towards the clay for respite. He doesn’t have the game he did in years gone by and opponents don’t seem to be as intimidated as they once were.

On the ladies' side, will it again be a case of the Wiliams sisters against the rest? Ana Ivanovic looks absolutely no chance to defend her title. You wouldn’t play a tennis bet on her with somebody else’s money! Victoria Azarenko did well in winning in the Sony Ericsson Open. Can this translate into Grand Slam success? Dinara Safina made her name at last year's French Open - can she repeat those heroics? Will be fascinating to watch.

Draw for 2009 Golden Slipper Done

Buildup for the 2009 Golden Slipper horse racing festival was increased a few notches after the draw was conducted for the big race. Delago Bolt received a boost in Golden Slipper betting after it received an inside barrier. Delago Bolt will be ridden by Chris Munce who won the Golden Slipper previously in 1998 and 2004.

Historically the inside barriers have had the most success at the Golden Slipper and this may again hold true, especially if the wet weather which is forecast for the weekend comes.

Real Saga and More Joyous were two of the favorites in Golden Slipper betting, but this may not be the case by race time after they both drew outside barriers. Real Saga is to make Golden Slipper history if it gets up. No horse has even won the Golden Slipper from Barrier 13. After it was drawn to start in Barrier 12, More Joyous’ odds began to drift immediately following the draw and as punters desert it, it looks as they will do so even more in the next few days.

Reward for Effort drew barrier three and was the best backed horse following the draw. Someone placed a $150,000 on the horse with saw it firm in Golden Slipper betting from 11 to 10.