Golfwise Extra: Friday's Dubai World Championship news and advice

 By Jeremy Chapman 1:53PM 26 NOV 2010 ENGLAND may be 3-1 to win the first Test in Oz but over in Dubai they're hot favourites to win the final event of the 2010 European Tour with Hong Kong hero Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, world No. 1 Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup reject Paul Casey occupying the first four places on the World Championship leaderboard.

Admittedly, Casey is only sharing fourth place with Martin Kaymer, the German destined to win the Race To Dubai and with it the No. 1 ranking in Europe on Sunday, and Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee, but it still represents a stranglehold on this mega-bucks competition at the Earth course at Jumeirah, a 7,675-yard patch of real estate which the big boys are tearing up.

In round two it was Wentworth bomber Fisher with the low round of the week, an eight-under-par 64, who stole the show but Poulter and defending champion Westwood, playing together in an explosive pairing which produced seven birdies in the first four holes, were not far behind and it is Westwood who has regained his place as tournament favourite at a general 3-1 after his 67.

He's one behind Poulter and Fisher but his victory on the same course by six big shots 12 months ago plus, of course, his elevation to the top spot on the world rankings have convinced layers to make him a narrow market leader ahead of 7-2 Poulter, with Fisher and Kaymer bracketed at 13-2 in third place and Casey, who moved up with a 67, at 8-1 and very much a threat on a course he had not seen until this week and didn't think he was going to like.

First-day leader Robert Karlsson shot ten more than his opening salvo of 65 and is now five behind but just as one RPSPORT recommendation fades, another one, Fisher, and the chief one at that, has flashed into a share of the lead, so there is no need to put up alternatives at this stage.

Even so, if the winner comes from outside the top five in the betting, it will come as a major surprise as they not only represent the cream of European golf, they also represent the cream of world golf these days as it is a long time since Tiger or Lefty made much of an impression. Once in this position, they are unlikely to throw it away. Poulter, for instance, has not had a bogey in 36 holes and last week's victory has only served to bolster a confidence that has never really needed bolstering.

True, Westwood made a horlicks of the par-five 14th, taking four more to get down and duffing a pitch after two massive blows to within 35 yards of the flag, and also missed a tiny putt on the front nine that stopped his gallop, but it has to be remembered that he has played very little competitive golf in the past three months because of his calf problem.

With Kaymer extending his Race To Dubai lead over McDowell to eight shots - G-Mac falling back to a 73 after a strong start - they might just as well hand the trophy to the German right now. Those who got on at 15-2 at the start of the year, form an orderly queue at the payout window. Kaymer could easily win the Race, plus the Championship, plus the world No. 1 ranking from a perfect position two off the pace.

Best prices: 3 Westwood, 7-2 Poulter, 13-2 Kaymer, Fisher, 8 Casey, 20 F Molinari, 25 Jaidee, 40 Jimenez, Quiros, 50 Karlsson, Noh, 66 bar

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Cold snap forces Newbury to change Friday's race times

Newbury will protect course with the use of frost covers

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  Newbury change Friday's race times to protect turf
 By Paul Eacott 1:16PM 23 NOV 2010 OFF TIMES at Newbury have been shifted forwards on Friday to allow the racecourse staff extra time to cover the track before Saturday's Hennessy card. The first race will now be at 12.30pm (moved from 1pm) with the last at 3.15pm (originally 3.50pm).

RELATED LINKS Newbury Friday card Uttoxeter Thursdaycard Wetherby Wednesdaycard  With a cold snap predicted by the Met Office towards the end of this week, the BHA has agreed to the earlier finish to allow extra time to lay the frost covers before temperatures begin to fall.

 

Stephen Higgins, joint managing director of Newbury racecourse, said on Tuesday: "With falling temperatures predicted this week, frost covers are being laid on the whole racecourse from today.

"Thecovers will be lifted and repositioned after each days racing. This move has been made in order to enable our grounds team to cover the whole racecourse on Friday afternoon ahead of Saturday aiming to retain as much heat as possible in the ground before temperatures begin to fall." 

Stan James offer 4-9 about the Hennessy Gold Cup being run at Newbury on Saturday, with an abandonment priced at 13-8.

Ground staff at Uttoxeter are also taking precautions against the forecast falling temperatures before their fixture on Thursday.

Charlie Moore, clerk of the course, said: "It could get down to between -2c and -4c, so the whole course will be fleeced to protect it against the frost. The hurdle course is being done on Tuesday and the chase course will be covered on Wednesday morning."

Wetherby are anticipating no problems for Wednesday afternoon's meeting. Clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson said: "We are alright. It has been 6C or 7C here today and although it will possibly get down to around -1C in the early hours it is expected to be 4C in the daytime so as long as that isright I don't foresee any problems."

 

 

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