Strictly Come Dancing Betting: Time to get rid of some of the old Wood

Strictly Come Dancing / Alan Dudman / 25 September 2009 /

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

Jo Wood is only really known for being married to Rolling Stone Ron Wood and could well follow Martina Hingis out of the door as the second contestant to be eliminated.

Twinkle-toed, sequin-wearing Alan Dudman gives us his verdict on this year's early favourite and his thoughts on week two's elimination market where it doesn't lok good for a rocker wife and a former jockey.

Was Joe Calzaghe the worst ante-post favourite ever? You bet your bottom dollar he was. Trading as 'pre-race' favourite at [5.00], the 'Welsh dragon' has now soared out to [50.00]. I could add another zero or two on that to make it more realistic. Last week we wanted to know if he could dance, and boy oh boy did we find out! He had as much rhythm as Steve Martin in 'The Jerk', and as much charisma as Hugh Grant in Love Actually/About A Boy/Bridget Jones etc etc.

Calzaghe has absolutely no chance of winning and really ought to have got the boot, but once again the power of the phone vote kept him in. Poor old Hingis never stood a chance........

What else did we learn from the opening salvo? Ali Bastian is very good. Two scores of 30 for the rumba and waltz make her a leading contender. Chris Hollins is a lively outsider, although he is slightly annoying in a chipmunk kind of way. Hollins is a trier, and God loves a trier. So do the public, and he is interesting as a good back-to-lay in the 'Top Male Market' at around the [6.50] mark.

Elsewhere 'flycatcher' Ricky Groves showed dramatic improvement. Whilst Rav Wilding should stick to presenting (I am reliably informed this is his profession).

I've been beavering away all week looking at the group dance from Saturday, as we got a glimpse of our next batch of eight contestants who'll be dancing over two days come Friday. Again - the format tinkered - and for the next two shows we'll be having a tango and waltz. And from the group effort clearly some are above average, and clearly some ain't.

I had my first sight of Laila Rouass last weekend, which was subsequently spoiled by Natalie Cassidy's thighs looming into picture, and what a big picture it had become.

The group dance also gave us our first look at SCD [3.65] favourite Ricky Whittle, and we were not disappointed. This week I have spoken to all the women I know, and they both said this guy is the hottest thing since sliced bread. I have to say the actor looks a complete natural. He has the physique, the looks and the moves. I know I tipped him up ante-post, but he is looking like the biggest certainty since I went out on a date with 'loose Sharon' in 1997. The pre-race [8.00] was massive, he still is backable as he is only going to get shorter.

Right, on to Friday and Saturday's programmes. Two shows, 16 dances, one elimination, and that crappy house band in the background. Two names: Richard Dunwoody and Jo Wood. All you need to know for your punting this weekend. Karpov v Kasparov it ain't.

The name Dunwoody still evokes bad memories. My first ever sizeable bet was on Moonax's hurdling debut at Huntingdon courtesy of my student loan. Five minutes later, the project was over (as were many moments at Uni after five minutes) and I was cursing Dunwoody. Now it's time to get some of that cash back this weekend!

Put simply, Dunwoody was a brilliant jockey, but looks absolutely useless as a dancer. He is heading the 'Week Two Elimination' market at [2.30]. Hot on his heels is crinkly Jo Wood at [3.55], ex of crinkly rocker Ron Wood. Her effort in the group dance was pitiful. Make no bones about it, these two are the worst we have this series.

On personality, Dunwoody is struggling. On personality, Wood is struggling. Both efforts at the waltz could be interesting, as they seem to lack any kind of timing at all. Zero poise, zero control and zero romance.

I am going to try and pre-empt the public vote and say that they (especially the women) may view Wood as I view her. NOT LIKEABLE. She's famous for marrying a bloke. I have no idea why she is on the show. I get a feeling the voters will have more sympathy for the ex-jockey, as I do. He looks like a nice guy. Can't say I feel like that about Jo.

Recommendations:

Back Jo Wood in Week Two Elimination market @ [3.55]
Back Jo Wood in Bottom Two @ [1.80]
Back Chris Hollins (with view to laying off) in Top Male Market @ [6.40]

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>