Dr Fox's decision to run does not seem to have excited political punters.

I can't recall this situation in any year. Romantics like the mystique of the FA Cup because it gives the giant killers a chance.

With the Aussies needing only to avoid defeat in the final two matches to retain the Ashes, punters reckon that they will play safe -- and that, combined with the likelihood of the weather taking a hand early on in the game, swings the balance of probabilities towards the draw as the most likely outcome.

With the Aussies needing only to avoid defeat in the final two matches to retain the Ashes, punters reckon that they will play safe and that, combined with the likelihood of the weather taking a hand early on in the game, swings the balance of probabilities towards the draw as the most likely outcome.

This time last year, you could get 6-1 for Tiger to win the Open, but he is coming into this year's event bang in form and our customers are backing him as though defeat were out of the question, ... If he wins, the industry will take a multimillion-pound hit.

That result will cost us a six figure payout but we have done well out of the elimination of Italy, so there is a silver lining to the cloud,