CHALLENGE DE CATALUNYA

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Three books are up so far and some massive variation in prices. For example, in-form ex-Euro Tour stalwart Bradley Dredge can be backed at 80-1 whilst just 33-1 at Paddy Power. However he doesn't feature in the picks for this week, many of them based on potential. It seems a fair week for doing that with the course having never been used before on the Challenge Tour, but having held a couple of rounds of the Q-school, latterly last November.

Jordi Garcia Pinto  1 point e/w @ 33-1 (Paddy Power) - very obvious given his consistent form on the Tour having improved his end of year ranking from 53rd through 24th and now sitting on top after just two events. 29th when defending in Kenya, the runner-up position last time at the NH in a slightly better field reads really well here. He is feeling very good about his game and the work he is doing with a new coach and this is the event he is looking forward to mostly this season. Not quite Sergio at Castello I'll admit but proven in early-season events, I had him much shorter than the current price.

Lasse Jensen - 0.50 points e/w @ 66-1 (Skybet)  11 wins on the lesser Nordic/Ecco and other third-tier events and a number one ranking at the end of 2009 are all signs of a decent golfer. Opened with finiahes of 15/8 on his home Tour and followed up with an excellent runner-up at Kenya before returning to his home region with a 5th at La Manga. 20th at the NH last time was encouraging and he says that he played great golf over the weekend on tough greens, has practised well and is expecting good things this season. A proven winner, he could be one of half-a-dozen that are the next Thorbjorn Oleson.

Jesper Kennegard - 0.50 points e/w @ 125-1 (Paddy Power) Now here is a player I expect to win at least once and soon. A decent US College player, he ranked 4th in his University's all time scoring average in between Phil Misckelson ands Paul Casey no less and took that form to the Asian Tour with limited success. Since then, he has dominated the Nordic League and won the rankings table with ease last season with 3 wins and many placed efforts. Expected to improve on an average opener in Kenya, his price doesn't reflect the expectation that he could follow in the steps of the afore-mentioned Oleson, Kristoff Broberg, Morten Madsen and Johan Carlsson among others.

Callum Shinkwin - 0.25 points e/w @ 175-1 (Bet365)  I was given the heads-up about the Moor Park golfer a couple of years ago and he is still expected to prove his admirers correct with their lofty opinion so take these prices before he shows his real form. An excellent golfer at junior level, Shinkwin won last seasons English Amateur title, leading all the way in the final from a certain Mathew Fitzpatrick, surely England's next big hope and already with some success at The Masters and Hilton Head. One of three outstanding amateurs to turn professional, Shinkwin has the attitude of a winner, saying that the Challenge Tour is on the same level of difficulty as the harder amateur events and he is very confident of success. His Walker Cup team-mates from last season include Kevin Phelan, Garrick Porteous and Max Orrin (who plays this week) and they all have the game to be top of this level. It helps that the selection has form here having been 3rd in one of the second qualifying stages in November and simply his price does not reflect the talent.

Ken Benz - 0.10 points e/w @ 300-1 (Skybet) It was tough to choose between Benz, Law and Orrin, all playing very well on the ProGolf Tour along with the likes of Kramer, Lampert and Espana, all of whom don't play here this week. However, price dictated and after a rough first few events this year, the Swiss golfer racked up form figures of 1/8/4/10, the victory at the Red Sea Egyptian by ten shots. Mid-table on his only outing at this level at Kenya, he is another that could pop up at any time. I don't think he has the potential of a few of these mentioned this week but he's worth a pop as a proven in-form winner .

Oliver Farr - 0.15 points e/w @ 200-1 (Skybet) A hugely improved golfer from the EuroPro Tour last year. It took him a while to win but when he did, he took off with two wins amongst many placed efforts and nabbing the end-of-year title. A national team star, it shouldn't be long before the 25-year-old improves from an opening mid-table 56th at Kenya and adjusts to life at this level