Formbook: horse racing and sports blog

Having received a pasting at Brisbane, England head south to Adelaide, where a flat wicket promises less bounce than the Gabba. Unfortunately for the England bowlers, the Adelaide Oval is a great batting track, helped in no part by a dry winter.

That will have Ponting licking his lips following his destructive exploits in the first Test; and the signs are worrying - he hit 154 back in the second Ashes Test at Adelaide in 2002. He could turn the screw once more on an England side who’ve collapsed four times in two years while trying to avoid defeat. Can they remain patient at the crease and grind out a batting performance? Flintoff, Pietersen and Collingwood tend to swing with the bat needlessly and will have to show some caution. Warne admitted that his Hampshire colleague got the better of him at Brisbane, but he could have the last laugh - he’s the highest wicket-taker at Adelaide.

The Barmy Army certainly won’t want history repeating itself. They were thumped in the second Test in Adelaide back in 2002 by an innings; even though they were 246 for 2 at one stage having won the toss. The Aussies might be missing McGrath, but have the bowling attack to make inroads into England’s top order - but do the tourists? It’s difficult to see Harmison and co. take 20 wickets to level the series, but he could have an impact. His extra net sessions could bring back some of the form of 2002 where he took the wickets of Martyn (who averages 96.50 at Adelaide!) and Gilchrist. Monty is tipped to return, but questions remain over how he’ll handle the occasion. Will he manage to upstage Warne on a pitch that should offer turn as it deteriorates?

We should be in for a result either way with only one draw from the last 15 matches on this ground. There’s been a lot of fighting talk from Freddie, but the baggy greens are favourites unsurprisingly - they’ve won nine of the last 11 Test’s played at the Adelaide Oval!

For full details of the offers, and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click here.

Man City v Newcastle (Saturday: 12.45 Sky Sports 1)

This fixture spelt the end of Graeme Souness’ reign when City triumphed 3-0 last season, and with only one Premiership win in ten, it’s difficult to see Newcastle exacting revenge. They’ve struggled to score goals or show any invention up front, which partly explains a solitary one point from 15. Duff is the only spark they can turn to, but will he handle the extra pressure now that Ameobi has joined Owen on the long-term injury list? With Dyer and Martins also on the sidelines, the Magpies will turn to ex-City reject Sibierski to repeat his goalscoring exploits of Tuesday. He’ll have a tough task on his shoulders - Stuart Pearce’s men haven’t conceded a goal at the City of Manchester Stadium all season. Despite losing to Charlton last week, it’s at home where they’ve picked up 11 of their 12 points and are unbeaten. Sporting Index expect them to keep that run going and shade this by 0.3 to 0.5 goals. Man of the moment Graham Poll has averaged nearly five yellow cards this season, but Sporting predict he’ll spare himself the column inches and book four players only.

Blackburn v Man Utd (Saturday: 17.15 PremPlus)

Rovers go into this game on the back of three straight defeats and welcome a red-hot United side gunning for a sixth consecutive Premiership win. Rovers’ woes are in front of goal, scoring just once in the last three league games, whereas United have found the back of the net 12 times in their last four games. They were ruthless away to Bolton, but lowly Southend showed that defeating them isn’t an impossible task. Blackburn will also take confidence from an unbeaten sequence against the Red Devils stretching over five games - including a double last year. Despite that recent good form, Sporting Index reckon Rooney and co. will emerge winners by a one goal margin. Ewood Park witnessed a 4-3 thriller last season, which makes it all the more interesting that Sporting are predicting only three total goals this time around. With Rio seeing red, and five other bookings in the same game, it could be a fiery affair. Mike Riley’s in charge and Sporting Index predict there’ll be six yellow cards.

Arsenal v Liverpool (Sunday: 16.00 Sky Sports 1)

The Gunners lost their seven match unbeaten run at Upton Park, and Arsene Wenger lost his head, although Wednesday nights Carling Cup win at Everton may have calmed him down somewhat. Arsenal’s home form has been indifferent, winning only two out of five at the Emirates. Liverpool on the other hand have the joint worst away record in the league, with just one point and one goal to show from their previous five away games. A scrappy 1-0 victory over Birmingham failed to paper over the goalscoring cracks, and the omens don’t look good with only one win in eight at Arsenal. However Benitez has his team on a run of five wins in all competitions, which has seen three consecutive clean sheets. However, will they be able to shut out Thierry Henry? He’s been their nemesis with six goals in his last eight games. Sissoko would’ve tracked his runs from midfield, but his shoulder injury sees him ruled out. The edge is therefore with the Gunners according to Sporting Index - they predict they’ll record a tight win by 0.3 to 0.5 goals.

It the past two seasons, the meeting has been dominated by Martin Pipe, who with the support of his main patron David Johnson, and jockey Timmy Murphy, has trained no less than 12 winners from the 36 races that have been run. Martin has now handed over the reigns to his son David who will be trying to carry on his father’s good work.

The meeting commences on Friday, with the highlight being the “Sporting Index Cross Country Chase”. Winding its way through the middle of the main course, it offers a unique challenge of jumping and tactics, a combination mastered in recent years by Spot Thedifference and regular partner John Thomas McNamara. They have a remarkable record over the course, having won four out of six in the past two years, with a close second at the Cheltenham Festival in 2006. At thirteen, he has not got many visits to Cheltenham left, but under the conditions of Friday’s race will take all the beating again.

The feature race of the meeting is Saturday’s “Paddy Power Gold Cup,” a race won by Martin Pipe trained horses for the past two seasons, in Celestial Gold and Our Vic. Those two horses both went on to better things, and who’s to say that this year’s contender Vodka Bleu isn’t capable of more than he’s shown us already? David Pipe will obviously be keen to complete the hat-trick for his dad.

Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle is always a fascinating handicap, and has been a stepping stone to the Cheltenham Festival for a number of horses. In 2001, Westender was successful under Tony McCoy, before being touched off in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but 2002 winner Rooster Booster went one better, scooting home by 11 lengths in the Champion Hurdle the following March.

His owner, Terry Warner has another live Champion Hurdle hope this year in top juvenile hurdler Detroit City. A recent winner of the valuable Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket in October, connections are unsure whether this imposing grey horse should be stepped up in trip, or campaigned over the minimum distance with the Champion Hurdle as his target. We will know a lot more after this race, especially with previous festival winners Noland and Arcalis in the line up. It should be a weekend to savour.