Issue April 14-17, 2005

The Heritage

Th Apr 14 – 4:00 pm EST (USA)/20:00 GMT

Fr Apr 15 – 4:00 pm EST (USA)/20:00 GMT

Sa Apr 16 – 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/19:00 GMT

Su Apr 17 – 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/19:00 GMT

This week’s event is unlikely to be as exciting as the Masters, but we can still spice things up with a wager or two. Our favorites this week are Stewart Cink and Davis Love at 12/1 and 14/1 respectively. On their day, they are both world class players but neither appeal this week. Love has looked to be struggling so far this year while Cink is plenty short enough at 12/1. Instead, I would rather be on Rod Pampling at 40/1, who is coming off a more than respectable fifth at Augusta without ever feeling the pressure of being in serious contention. He is clearly comfortable here with ties for 16th in 2003, and 10th last time out. It’s a while since Billy Mayfair was in the winners circle (1998 Buick Open), but there have been signs this year that his game is back to the form that he showed when winning the Tour Championship in 1995. A 6th at Tucson has been followed by a couple of top-20’s in better contested events, and he looks sure to go well this week in one of his favourite tournaments (5th in 02, 2nd in 01). Finally, a good long-shot this week is Lucas Glover at a massive 100/1. The South Carolina native arrives here playing some of the best golf of his life judging by his recent 9th and 10th places at Doral and the Bell South respectively. Even more encouraging is his 16th place here last year on his first visit.

Nigel’s Three Off The Tee ... Rod Pampling @ 40/1, Billy Mayfair @ 50/1, Lucas Glover @ 100/1. Each-way 1/4 odds, 1.2.3.4.5. Betting In-Play available throughout.

Samsung / Radio Shack 500

Su Apr 17 – 12:30 pm EST (FOX)/16:00 GMT

Texas is also the sister track of very similar tracks in Charlotte and Atlanta, so we have the luxury this week of seeing how the drivers ran in Atlanta last month. And the team that will have the highest expectations will be Roush, who dominated the final practice session and the actual race, with Carl Edwards bumping his way to victory on the last lap. His team-mates, Mark Martin and Greg Biffle, filled two of the other top-4 places, while two other Roush drivers, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch, struggled. Of those two, as a past winner here, Kenseth is the most likely to show improvement this week. The Hendrick team come here on a roll after Jeff Gordon’s second win of the season at Martinsville last weekend. However, this is one of the few tracks that Gordon has yet to win at, and the biggest danger to Roush could come from his team-mate Jimmie Johnson. Only a last second bump by Edwards, denied him victory in Atlanta last month.

Nigel’s Checkered Flag: Jimmie Johnson @ 9/2, Matt Kenseth @ 14/1 (each-way 1/5 1.2.3)

MEM Grizzlies @ SA Spurs

Sa Apr 16 – 8:30 pm EST/Apr 17 – 00:30 GMT

The Spurs are a league best 37-3 at home this season, winning nine straight, and on Saturday they will host the Memphis Grizzlies in their final regular-season game at the SBC Center. On Wednesday night, the Spurs saw their three-game winning streak halted, and fell 1 1/2 games behind Phoenix for first place in the Western Conference play-off race, after a 91-93 road loss to Utah Jazz. However, the game saw a welcome return to action for All-Star forward Tim Duncan, who has been on the injury list for 12 games with a sprained ankle. Duncan had 17 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes, while Tony Parker also netted 17 points in the losing effort. The Spurs are 8-4 since Duncan (who was hurt on March 20th during a 110-101 loss to Detroit), suffered the injury. After Saturday night’s tip off, our In-Play markets will include: Point Spread; Game Total; Who’ll win the Quarter and Race to 20 Points.

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Get in the game and be lucky!


Nigel

Please be aware that prices are subject to change. All times are subject to change. Check local listings for TV coverage on these event.

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