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Annie Duke is $500,000 richer after winning the 2010 NBC Heads-Up Championship and becoming the first female winner of the tournament in it's six year history. The invite-only tournament had an extremely strong 64-man field that boasted no fewer that 13 former World Series of Poker Main Event winners including Greg Raymer, Johnny Chan, Chris Moneymaker and Peter Eastgate.

Duke, sister of Howard Lederer, has only ever made it through the first round once in five previous attempts and even joked in an article she wrote before the championshipsthat it was about time she had a good run in this particular event. Things started well for her as she defeated her good friend Andy Bloch in the opening round, setting up a match against the 2007 NBC Heads-Up Champion, Paul Wasicka.

She rode her luck on more than one occasion during this match up, first cracking Wasicka's Jacks with Eight-five of diamonds before hitting a straight on the river with Ace-ten to beat Wasicka's pocket aces! Lady Luck was certainly on Duke's side.

After Wasicka came the scalp of 2007 WSOP Main Event winner Jerry Yang before 2008 November Nine member, Dennis Phillips came undone at the feet of the mother of four setting up a best of three finale against eight-time WSOP bracelet winner, Erik Seidel.

Seidel entered the final match as a big favourite but he lost the opening bout when he was all-in with eight-six of spades on a K-J-7 board with two spades on it. Duke held Ace-King for top pair top kicker, which held to give her the lead.

The match was levelled in the next game when Duke committed all her chips with King-five against the eight-seven of Seidel. A flop of 9-6-4 gave Seidel an open-ended straight draw, which hit when a five arrived on the turn. Duke could still have won if a heart fell on the river but it was a black nine meaning whoever won the last game would claim the title.

Duke claimed victory, and the $500,000 first prize when her pair of nines stayed ahead of Seidel's Ace-two, leaving her opponent to pick up the $250,000 consolation prize. The win cements Duke's second position in the women's all-time money rankings, putting some ground between her and third placed Annette Obrestad. Duke now has over $4,200,000 in live tournament winnings.

Horse Racing Fixtures on Wednesday 10th March 2010.

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CATTERICK
GOING: GOOD (Good to firm in places) (GoingStick: Chs 8.4, Hdl 8.7) Precautionary INSPECTION 8am Tuesday
WEATHER (Sunny intervals)

FONTWELL
GOING: GOOD (GoingStick: 8.1) (Rail moved adding 30yds per circuit to chase course and 50yds per circuit to hurdle course)
WEATHER (Sunny intervals)

LINGFIELD
GOING: STANDARD
WEATHER (Sunny intervals)
STALLS 5f & 1m - Outside; Remainder - Inside

NAAS
GOING: YIELDING (Yielding to soft in places)

WOLVERHAMPTON
GOING: STANDARD
WEATHER (Grey Cloud)
STALLS 7f - Outside; Remainder - Inside

March Horse Racing Fixtures

2010 Horse Racing Fixtures

The Guinness Premiership 2009-2010 continues this weekend with another set of competitive fixtures, two of which will be broadcast live on television.

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This weekend’s Guinness Premiership fixtures are as follows:

Saturday, 06 March 2010
Harlequins v Worcester, 15:00
Leicester v London Irish, 17:35 (Live on Sky Sports 1)

Sunday, 07 March 2010
Leeds Carnegie v Saracens, 15:00
Newcastle v Bath, 15:00
Sale v Northampton, 14:30 (Live on Sky Sports 2)
Wasps v Gloucester, 15:00

With nine of the 112 entries at the initial stage for the John Smith's Grand National, there's no mistaking the fact that David Pipe is setting his stall out for another serious assault on the Aintree spectacular, writes Elliot Slater.

Pipe's greatest moment as a trainer came in the 2008 renewal when the nationwide gamble on his Comply Or Die was landed in no uncertain fashion under a great ride from Timmy Murphy, the pair finishing four lengths clear of King John's Castle. The David Johnson-owned gelding ran another superb race 12 months ago off a far higher mark to chase home shock winner Mon Mome, establishing himself as one of the best Aintree horses for some considerable time.

Comply Or Die is set to give the Grand National another crack off a pound lower mark than last year and has once again been specifically trained for the marathon contest. Pipe has a number of other likely contenders though, with The Package being talked of as a potential winner following his fine effort to score at Cheltenham last time. He looks on the upgrade and a number of Grand National betting sites believe he is capable of making his presence felt.

Madison Du Berlais, winner of the Hennessey Gold Cup in 2008 is a high-class chaser and has accordingly been allotted joint top-weight. He failed to spark in the first-time blinkers in the Racing Post Chase, but the flat galloping Aintree circuit might suit him ideally and he adds further weight to Pipe's challenge, along with Seven Is My Number and Our Vic, both of whom on their day are worthy of consideration. Pablo Du Charmil and Piraya may also get into the race, but Faasel and Over The Creek are unlikely to make the cut.

In short, the 12/1 being offered for David Pipe to win the race again could offer potentially seven horses running for you, including Comply Or Die, the horse that has won and been second in the last two renewals. It might well be an Aintree Free Bet worthy of consideration.

From the moment Elizabeth Taylor 'rode' The Pie to victory in the 1944 Hollywood movie 'National Velvet', many young girls and grown women dreamed of emulating that performance in real life. The victory of trainer Venetia Williams' Mon Mome in the 2009 John Smith's Grand National was another step up the racing ladder for the fairer sex, writes Elliot Slater.

Women had been only peripheral players' on the National Hunt scene, both as trainers and jockeys, until in 1977 Charlotte Brew grabbed worldwide headlines when she  became the first woman to ride in the great race, taking the ride on 2001/ shot Barony Fort. Brew rode very well indeed and completed most of the course before her mount eventually refused when tailed-off at the fourth last.

The next step forward for racing women came when Geraldine Rees, daughter of successful trainer Capt Jim Wilson, partnered the appropriately named Cheers in the 1982 race and became the first woman to complete the course in finishing eighth behind Grittar.

1983 saw the big breakthrough as trainer Jenny Pitman saddled Corbiere to a famous victory under Ben de Haan. Pitman soon became a national celebrity and proved her training skills time and again, including when sending out Esha Ness to pass the post first in the 1993 renewal, only for the race to be declared void due to a mix-up at the start. The 'Cuddly One' didn't have to wait too long though to gain compensation as she trained 40/1 shot Royal Athlete to win the 1995 renewal.

Venetia Williams' success with 100/1 shock Grand National Betting Odds winner Mon Mome in 2009 made her only the second woman to train a Grand National winner and she will try again this year with the defending title holder, who may also be accompanied by stable companions Flintoff and Officier De Reserve.

Emma Lavelle could also saddle a serious contender, according to some Grand National 2010 betting tips, in Kilcrea Castle, a horse who has been the subject of steady market support. At this stage it is by no means certain there will be a lady jockey this year, but there is a chance that the very talented Nina Carberry might come in for a ride from one of the big Irish yards.