Many have been keen to talk down Monaghan's form and achievements this year: Down would have been disappointed, Derry didn't show up, Tyrone will soon be sipping chardonnay and waiting for the announcement of fresh meat in the quarter-final draw.

Derry's win over Armagh last week gave more validity to Monaghan's ambitions, but their 10-3 quote this afternoon can be more attributed to Tyrone's reputation and a dazzling performance against Donegal. But that was their only decent performance this year and they have known wild inconsistency in the Ulster championship recently. Their inspiration against Donegal, Brian Dooher, is now hampered by injury and they are still unable to count Brian McGuigan, Stephen O'Neill and Enda McGinley in their starting 15. Monaghan have been a mirror image of consistency, their only blip a bizarre capitulation to a strong Meath side in the league semi-final.

They look to be one of the fittest teams in the championship and if Eoin Lennon (left) can get a foothold at midfield and Thomas Freeman gets a chance to shine, this will be close. A quote of 8-1 for a draw in the Ulster championship should never be ignored and this one has all the hallmarks of a heartbreaker for Seamus McEneaney's side.

BACK NICLAS FASTH TO WIN THE BRITISH OPEN (each way) 40-1
JIM FURYK TO WIN THE BRITISH OPEN (each way) 20-1
Odds quoted are from Paddy Power

Our long-range tip for the Open was American Jim Furyk. Carnoustie's narrow fairways are unforgiving, so with Furyk in the top three for driving accuracy on the PGA Tour and after coming close to the US Open title at Oakmont, he's good each way value. He was fourth last year and was a top-10 finisher when this major last visited Carnoustie in 1999. Since then, a case has been made by Sweden's Niclas Fasth. It's a name and nationality that conjures up images of some tall, blonde male model type, like Hansel out of Zoolander. Niclas doesn't exactly fit the stereotype, but, like Hansel, he is so hot right now. He lost by a shot at the K Club last week, won the BMW International and was in contention at the US Open before finishing fourth. He's de"nitely the form horse, making 40-1 an obvious choice for an ante-post each way, particularly with Paddy Power paying out on the top six.