Sweet and heady

Sorry about this, but on the eve of the big man's return to pro golf, I'm backing Ryan Palmer again. Three doubles and too many bogeys meant that he didn't finish in the top 10 in the Crosby marathon but one round of 8 under was enough to show he's still in the game.

You're welcome to the 8/1 on offer about Mickleson on his return but we'll be taking the 140/1 about the Hawaii winner. And on the subject of Hawaii, we'll be saying "no thanks" to the 25/1 about Allenby. Claw or not, he can't win.

Big bet of the weekend is at Australian racing's spiritual home and the logic for our tip is this. She's never lost when we've backed her. Plus the form was franked solid when Set for Fame whooshed home last weekend. 7/1 seems a big, big price and whilst there are some talented sprinters in the field, this girl is something very special.

So a few bob on Ryan Palmer and a few more, in fact all you can afford on our official second favourite horse, Irish Lights. Go, you good thing...

Back with a bang?

So that's Hawaii out of the way, now on to the season proper. Only a week to wait and meantime, it's the annual Bing Crosby Celebrity marathon. No doubt we'll be treated to clips of Bill Murray, Kevin Costner and random football jocks goofing around various private courses set in improbable surroundings? Can hardly wait.

It's not normally a betting proposition as the celebs do tend to get in the way plus, as usual, it's a less than stellar field. So much so that even the TAB have opened at $17 the field. With Charles Howell III rated only $24. He can't win, surely.

I'm really surprised that last weeks winner Ryan Palmer is $51. He was solid down the stretch this week including a near chip in for eagle at eighteen that put poor old Allenby's fragile putting stroke in the spotlight. The rest is history. Back to back wins are rare but it's a poor field and he's in form.

Happy New Year and giddy up...