What’s on in sport: Odds preview for January

December marked the end of a fantastic year of Irish sport. From Rachael Blackmore winning the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard to Kerry winning their 38th All-Ireland Championship to Katie Taylor defeating Amanda Serrano to retain her crown in the biggest women’s fight in history. We also saw Ireland overcome the odds to turn over the All Blacks in their own backyard.

2023 is due to hold plenty more great sporting moments including plenty of horse racing on the card in the lead up to Cheltenham and Aintree, while Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are likely to feature in this year’s Ryder Cup with Europe currently outsiders at odds of 15/8. Dublin (2/1) will be hoping to close the gap with Kerry (6/4 favourites) after missing out on the title over the past two years in football.

As a starting point, here’s what is to come in January…

JANUARY

Racing returns

After a fantastic Christmas and New Year period of racing in Ireland, in which we saw the likes of Willie Mullins-trained Facile Vega and State Man bolt up at Leopardstown, the Dublin festival, Cheltenham and Aintree are now only a matter of weeks away.

January holds a number of graded races where we could see some of the big festival favourites turn out in their prep runs for the big meetings in February, March and April.

At Naas on Sunday, it’s the Lawlors - which is due to be an intriguing contest between some of the best up and coming novice hurdlers in the sport. The unbeaten Grangeclare West, trained by Willie Mullins, leads the betting at 5/4 following his 13 length victory over Firm Footings at Navan in November. Another to watch back up in trip is fellow Willie Mullins-trained Champ Kiely in the colours of Kilcruit and Appreciate It. This seven-year-old gelding could return to winning form after a poor run at Fairyhouse in December.

January 8th - Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) - Naas

Grangeclare West - 5/4

Gaelic Warrior - 2/1

Irish Point - 5/1

Inothewayyuthinkin-  11/2

Champ Kiely - 7/1

Dawn Rising - 7/1

Spanish Harlem - 10/1

Three Card Brag - 14/1

Affordable Fury - 16/1

Monbeg Park - 16/1

Imagine - 25/1

Kalanisi Star - 40/1

Odds via FairBettingSites

Other Notable Upcoming Races in January

January 15 - Kildare Novice Steeplechase (Grade 3) + SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) at Punchestown

January 22 - Coolmore NH Sires Novice Steeplechase (Grade 2) + Horse & Jockey Hotel Steeplechase (Grade 2) at Thurles 

January 23 - Solerina (Mares) Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) at Fairyhouse

Irish trio compete in Heineken Cup

Having won their opening two matches of the tournament, Leinster (13/8) find themselves as clear favourites to lift the Heineken Cup after losing out in last year’s final. 

The four-time winners travel to Kingsholm Stadium on Saturday 14th to take on Gloucester before hosting Racing 92 at the Aviva Stadium on the 21st. 

Munster (20/1) are firm outsiders to win what would be their third Heineken Cup and first since 2008 with Graham Rowntree’s side playing Northampton and Toulouse in the tournament this month.

Dark horses Ulster (100/1) have started the competition as underdogs after losing their first two games. The runners-up from 2012 and one-time champions face current holders La Rochelle before taking on Sale later in January. 

Heineken Cup Winners Odds

Leinster - 13/8

La Rochelle - 5/1

Toulouse - 11/2

Saracens - 7/1

Leicester - 12/1

Racing 92 - 14/1

Exeter - 16/1

Sharks - 16/1

Munster - 20/1

Montpellier - 25/1

Stormers - 28/1

Harlequins - 28/1

Clermont - 33/1

Sale - 40/1

Bulls - 50/1

Ulster - 100/1

Bordeaux - 100/1

Lyon - 100/1

Edinburgh - 150/1

Gloucester - 150/1

Northampton - 150/1

Ospreys - 250/1

Castres - 500/1

London Irish - 500/1

Odds via FairBettingSites

GAA is back

The semi-finals of the All-Ireland Club Football Championship begin this weekend with both ties being played at Croke Park for a spot in the final on Saturday 28th. 

Last year’s runners-up Kilmacud Crokes face Kerins O’Rahillys in the early kick-off before Glen, who became Ulster champions for the first time in December, take on Moycullen of Galway. 

The following day Kerry, who are 6/4 favourites to win what would be their 39th All-Ireland Football title, get their season underway in their Allianz Division 1 clash with Donegal. Dublin are Kerry’s closest contenders to win the Championship in 2023 at 2/1 while Galway, at 9/1, lead the rest of the chasing pack.

Club Semi-Finals

Kilmacrud Crokes - 1/10

Draw - 14/1

Kerins O Rahilys - 15/2

Glen 8/13

Draw 6/1

Moycullen 2/1

Outright Club Winner

Kilmacud Crokes - 1/2

Glen - 9/4

Moycullen - 5/1

Kerins O'Rahillys - 20/1

All-Ireland Championship

Kerry 6/4

Dublin 2/1

Galway 9/1

Mayo 12/1

Tyrone 16/1

Armagh 18/1

Derry 20/1

Donegal 25/1

Monaghan 50/1

Cork, Kildare, Roscommon, Meath 100/1

Westmeath 250/1

Limerick, Louth, Cavan, Clare 500/1

Offaly, Sligo, Antrim, Fermanagh, Tipperary, Laois, Down 1000/1

Longford, Leitrim 2000/1

Waterford, New York, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, London 5000/1

Odds via FairBettingSites