Sport is made for betting

I used to really enjoy F1, but the more it becomes about technology and tactics rather than the skill and guts of the driver, the less I care about it. Motor sports that are far more level - NASCAR, MotoGP etc are more exciting to me as a fan and also as a trader, because the lead changes frequently, and you never know who has won until the very end. Trading the lower classes of MotoGP is brilliant - highly competitive, markets with big margins meaning if you keep offering a price and not take too many risks, you can end up with a very nice book as above. And you don't even need to worry about the final result!

Listed UK company, BetBrokers, the firm you were supposed to use if you struggled to get bets on yourself, went into administration last Friday. The peculiar business model always had its doubters (big bookies close down winners, so most end up on Betfair anyway. Do you think bookies really want to take bigbets from unnamed accounts?) and in the end, those doubts won through. But perhaps it was just shabbily run. It wouldn't be the first occasion that a good idea was ruined by people not knowing how to run a business properly.

Just when you thought if was safe to get some sleep again, along comes the US Open tennis. It's not so bad a timezone if you're in the UK, but from Australia, it's a shocker. Anyhow, here are my previews of the tournament - Men's draw Women's draw

couple of bets today Hockey - back Germany to beat China at 5/4. The Chinese will be missing their captain via a suspension for indiscipline, and the Germans should be evens or shorter. Aths - 400m hurdles - Tosta at 11/2.

Big bet of the day is in the discus - Alekna seems to have the wood over Kanter, they both throw about the same distances, but Alekna seems to win when they meet. Take 6/4 for 3pts. Longshot of the day, Jaroslav Baba at 16/1 in the men's high jump, each-way.

lay Saladino in the long jump at 1.85 or shorter. He has a chronic knee injury which hampers him constantly. He could just blow them away if it's not playing up, but on the hard track, I think it probably will. Did anyone back Mbango Etone? :)

Cate Campbell at 5 or better in the women's 50 free (1pt) Athletics Mbango Etone at 15 in the women's triple jump (1/2pt) Full tips at www.puntingace.com/olympics Hockey Spain 3.25 to beat Germany (men)

The swimming is nearly over, but the athletics is about to kick off and the hockey is still going. Still plenty of opportunities available. Best value bet of the night, Britta Steffen in the women's 100m freestyle. Should not be fourth fav in this market, she has several of the fastest times ever. Read the full previews at PuntingAce.com (my previews). Friday's action won't be posted until early morning Aus time.

I'm laying Schipper this evening in the womens 200 fly, it has been two years since she set a PB (the world record), and the Chinese woman Zige Liu has been steadily coming through. The Chinese have to win a gold in the pool I think, and this could be the one... Back here at 3.5