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‘A Lion in South Africa is something special’ – so said Ian McGeechan on the 1997 Tour.

Not according to the bookies he isn’t……

They seem to have priced up this Lions series based on the horrendous drubbing in the New Zealand, and also the eventual damp squib in Australia four years earlier.

In my opinion, these Lions will have much more in common with the 1997 group and, in fact, they are well enough placed to exceed their achievement by going 3-0 in the Test series.

Why? Well, professional rugby is stronger in Europe now than it was then and these Springboks are also arguably relatively not as good as the ’97 group. The mystique is certainly less. There is also the issue of them having to re-adapt to proper rugby instead of the absurd ruck ELVs used in this year’s Super 14s.

But the key to this bet is that price about the Lions going 3-0 is currently a ludicrous, enormous 16/1. The equivalent Springbok price is 5/4.

Crazy. Ludicrous. Mad.

For what it’s worth, the price is in the main down to Clive Woodward’s New Zealand Lions. The theory now goes that is too hard to bring a team together quickly in the professional era – that the Lions concept itself makes it hard to win.

This is also nonsense. As Wales, who won a Grand Slam under Warren Gatland in their first season with him in 2008 and Ireland, who did the same under Declan Kidney in 2009, have shown in recent years, remarkably quick improvements are absolutely possible under the right coach.

A Lions side under McGeechan? The 2-1 series in 1997 is the most relevant piece of recent form. I’m not saying they will do it but 3-0 is well within their scope. This price is double what it should be and a win in the first test would leave you holding a very strong betting slip.

This price should be snapped up.

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The Lions play their first game against a Royal XV and the current handicap (30 points) is also fairly tempting.

Sure, the Lions have only a couple of weeks together. But they are hardened internationals playing a bunch of has beens and never quite weres.

I suspect that a bigger total is eminently likely and advise taking on the handicap.

Recommended: 4 points on the Lions to win the Test series 3-0. 2 points on the Lions to beat the Royal XV (-30). 

A week tomorrow sees the The Oaks and The Coronation Cup at Epsom for the first Derby Festival since the new Grandstand was officially opened. Having attended Breakfast with the Stars this morning I will begin my Oaks preview here.

The Oaks could be a vintage renewal of the Investec sponsored Classic with a strong challenge from both sides of the Irish Sea. At the head of the betting is Sariska (4.2 from a high of 10), who won The Musidora impressively at York after losing on her re-appearance at Newbury in April. The Michael Bell trained filly was undoubtedly impressive at York and she certainly benefitted from the step up in trip but there was something at Newbury which would make me worry if I was taking shortish odds at Epsom.

Michael Bell was talking at Epsom today about her chances and everything he said oozed confidence about her chances on Friday week. She did a nine furlong piece of work yesterday and he has no stamina doubts about her with her being related to 1m6f winners. Having already won a Derby with Motivator, I am convinced that everybody connected to the Yard think they can add to his victory in The Oaks with Sariska.

Rainbow View (5.1 from a high of 9.6) was a short priced favourite throughout the winter for the 1000 Guineas on WBX.COM but there was something different about her at Newmarket from what we saw last year. It looked to me if the edge had been taken off her and it was this edge which was the difference between her and the opposition last year.  It looks like this edge had gone and with that so does her chance in The Oaks for me.

If I was a backer or supporter of Rainbow View I would be worried about her after she worked on the course this morning. She seemed to struggle to make up the ground on Expresso Star who worked with her in preparation for the Coronation Cup. John Gosden was on hand and said he was delighted with how she had worked and was looking forward to The Oaks.

When questioned about her disappointing run in the 1000 Guineas he said that he thought that she wouldnt win when walking the course in the morning. However, as she was odds on favourite and had been throughout the winter he felt obliged to let her take her chance in the race. Im not quite sure those punters who backed her in the day of race market will be happy about that decision. By the two furlong pole, he thinks she changed her legs three times and after that she was just looked after.

The likeliest winner for me is Midday (6.4 from a high of 14.5), who has it all to do on official ratings but under master filly trainer Henry Cecil she could make the step up. She won the Lingfield Oaks Trial in impressive fashion and having won at Lingfield and finishing second at Epsom has proved she can handle the undulations.

Teddy Grimthorpe, Racing Manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah was on hand to talk about her chances. Midday worked nicely and after handling Lingfield and Epsom this season they have no concerns over the track and having quickened up well at Lingfield are confident about a good run.

We are getting into the Sales season with Doncaster over the next couple of days and then Ascot in a fortnight.

Looking through some of the lots and what they have been made today my eyes have been drawn to Apartman a one time winner from three races in the UK.

On his hurdling debut he finished 2nd beaten 7l by Sir Tantallus Hawk at Newcastle. He led until three out when a mistake saw him overtaken and two further mistakes saw the winner put seven lengths between him at the line.

Then on his second start he was pitched into the Grade 1 Aintree Juvenile hurdle when he was pulled up behind Walkon at 200/1. Interestingly in the paddock before the race he was picked as a future winner by Eddie Fremantle, former WBX INSIGHT contributor and RUK expert as a horse who looked like a nice chaser. What price Eddie’s comment contributed to the final price?

Then on his final start of the season he went to Ayr where he won a Class 3  Juvenile Hurdle where he recorded his best Racing Post Rating of 132. The race was a four runner affair, where he beat Giorgio Quercus, Saticon and Marc Aurele.

Giorgio Quercus has been largely disappointing, Saticon despite starting well disappointed at Aintree and Marc Aurele obvoiusly had a problem as he was beaten over 70 lengths!

I am not saying that he wont go onto prove a shrewd purchase at 100k but what price Walkon and Zaynar now?

After the Aintree race I believe I posted on here that Walkon had struck into himself and was quite badly cut after the race. Well, as a result of the cut he will not go over fences this season and will stick to hurdles.

So please consider this before making any Ante Post bets this year!