Champ Smith tipped to win

FULL-ON: Rowland Smith in shearing action. PHOTO/FILE

Reigning Golden Shears champion Rowland Smith has been declared the early favourite to win again this year, at least as far as the TAB is concerned.

The TAB posted odds this week for the contest which starts in Masterton's War Memorial Stadium on February 27, with the finale - the Open Shearing Final - held on Saturday, March 1.

Two-metre tall Smith, 27, from Hastings, won his first open Golden Shears title last year and is quoted at $2.20, a clear favourite ahead of fellow Hawke's Bay, and former Masterton, shearer John Kirkpatrick on $3.50.

Crowd favourite and 16 times Golden Shears winner David Fagan is at $5. The veteran Fagan, while recognised as the king of the shearing board, failed to qualify for the open final last year but at $5 the TAB is clearly not dismissing his chances of bouncing back at false odds.

The TAB has opened by quoting odds only on the top 11 title prospects and will be offering odds on the complete field from Tuesday.

The odds for the top 11 are: Rowland Smith, Hastings, $2.20; John Kirkpatrick, Napier, $3.50; David Fagan, Te Kuiti, $5; Dion King, Flaxmere, $10; Cam Ferguson, Waipawa, $15; David Buick, Pongaroa, $17; Nathan Stratford, Invercargill, $25; Gavin Mutch, Whangamomona, $25; Darin Forde, Winton, $40; Mark Grainger, Te Kuiti, $40; Murray Henderson, Feilding, $40.

Other betting options that will also open on Tuesday include:

Golden Shears
* Top 3
* To Make the Final (Top 6)
* 4 x Head to Heads

National Circuit
* National Circuit Winner
* National Circuit Top 3

Woolhandling
* Woolhandling Winner

Woolpressing
* Woolpressing Winner
* Trans-Tasman Shearing Test
* Tui Invitational Winner

For the first time ever there will be a TAB terminal in the War Memorial Stadium.

For those watching on www.goldenshears.co.nz, commentator Grant Nisbett will be providing introductions, interviews and analysis from the Trackside studio in the lead-up to, and during, the Saturday night finals.