Stan Hey: 6-5 Against

Damned by Drogba

There are times when punters feel much as their ancient ancestors must have done, you know, the ones who took the 2-5 odds about Goliath and then watched David land a result.

Take our 12-1 bet on Wayne Rooney to win the Premier League's Golden Boot. He looked a cert last month but after his injury at Munich did not score again. Last Sunday he was overtaken by Didier Drogba.

Similar despair descended when Northampton, about to win the Guinness Premiership, lost two games by one-point margins, denying us a 10-1 pay-out. Do we stick with them in tomorrow's play-off semi-finals? Their opponents are Saracens, one of their marginal conquerors, while the other, Bath, go to Leicester for the second semi. Northampton had 16 wins from 22 games and played the most expressive rugby with Ben Foden and Chris Ashton to the fore – Saints to win the final, £10 at 3-1, totesport.

Golf fans will be thrilled to see Europe's star players in England next week for the BMW Champion-ship at Wentworth. Lee Westwood will be hoping to turn his good form in America to a win. But almost a Ryder Cup team missed the cut at Sawgrass – reigning champion Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Ross Fisher. My three bets are Westwood, Oliver Wilson and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Chelsea to win the FA Cup 4-1 is 20-1 at Skybet.

*Atletico Madrid duly beat Fulham in cruel fashion, while Wigan drew with Chelsea on Duckworth-Lewis; offside goal, harsh red card, Drogba spitting out dummy, dodgy second penalty...