United and Chelsea favourites to progress from group stage

Last year's Champions League finalists Manchester United and Chelsea are expected to add to their opening day group wins tomorrow, when they take on Germany's Wolfsburg and Cypriots Apoel Nicosia, respectively.

While the two English Premier League giants have had contrasting fortunes in the past week, with United securing victory at Stoke and Chelsea suffering a shock loss to lowly Wigan, both sides are favourites to come away with the three points. Manchester United at home , are paying $1.37 for the win to Wolfsburg's $10.50, while in the group D match-up, Chelsea away to Apoel Nicosia are $1.36 favourites to the Cypriot side's $13.50.

In the matchday two's other matches:

Home win/Draw/Away win
CSK Moscow vs. Beskitas $1.75/$3.85/$5.90
AC Milan vs. FC Zurich $1.24/$6.80/$17.00
Bayern Munich vs. Juventus $2.18/$3.45/$3.80
Bordeaux vs. Maccabi Haifa $1.29/$5.90/$15.50
Porto vs. Athletico Madrid $1.99/$3.70/$4.40
Real Madrid vs. Marseille $1.25/$7.00/$15.50

Betting jargon explained #11

Back straight - Another term from the world of horse racing, the back straight is the stretch of race track furtherest away from the spectators and the winning post.

How the West was won

A predicted crowd of 80,000 will pack into ANZ Stadium tomorrow night as the Bulldogs lock horns with fellow west Sydney side the Parramatta Eels in the first preliminary final of the 2009 NRL season. The winner will face either Brisbane or Melbourne in the Grand Final at this same venue 9 days later.

On the back of tremendous form which has seen them win 9 out of their last 10 games, including victories over minor-premiers St.George Illawarra and the Gold Coast Titans in the past fortnight, Betfair Australia has installed the Eels as slim favourites paying $1.96 to the $2.02 Bulldogs.

While both sides are expected to be back to full-strength; with the return of five-eighth Daniel Mortimer (hip) and centre Krisnan Inu (hamstring) for the Eels and Brett Kimmorley (cheekbone) for the Bulldogs; all eyes will be on the game's new star Jarryd Hayne.

In the other preliminary final Melbourne a strong $1.39 favourites to the $3.55 Broncos.

Betting jargon explained #10

Back marker - In a standing start harness race, which is handicapped, the horse that is given the biggest handicap is known as the back marker.

TAB punter lays down $150,000 on Wellington win

In New Zealand, a TAB punter has placed a $150,000 bet on Wellington to beat Southland in tomorrow night's round 9 match of the Air New Zealand Cup.

Presumably, this decision was based on the return to the Wellington side of All Blacks Cory Jane, Hosea Gear and Rodney So'oialo

At $1.36 the bet has a possible return of $204,000 and a profit of $54,000.

Wellington currently lie in 7th place in the Air New Zealand Cup standings while Southland are well placed in 2nd.

Betting jargon explained #9

Apprentice Jockey - As the name suggests, a young jockey who is apprenticed to a trainer.

Betting jargon explained #8

Apprentice Allowance - With respect to horseracing, all throroughbred horses are required to carry an allotted weight when they race. In most cases this weight can be reduced if an apprentice jockey is used. The amount of the weight reduction is called the apprentice allowance. This allowance starts at 4kg and decreases as the apprentice jockey rides more winners.