It's that time of year again. Darlene Love is blasting out Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) on the stereo, the speciality Christmas ales adorn bars up and down the land, children are playing and having fun.

The arrers are in full swing at Alexandra Palace, the bookies are already paying out on the Christmas number one, Michael Buble is swooning his way into (Christmas) stockings and there's no football or racing this weekend because of the C word.

Well, there's the SPL.

It all means we've nothing to preview here in the Bettingzone, so what better time to look at some festive and long-term wagers to get your Christmas cash on.

Ben Linfoot (along with his little helper Dave John) has scoured the Oddschecker markets looking for the best bets out there this festive season - here's what he'll be ploughing into once he's exchanged the ill-fitting jumpers for cold, hard cash.

Festive flutter #1: Long Run to win the King George & Cheltenham Gold Cup at 6/1 (Stan James)

I've convinced myself Long Run will win the King George for the second time this year. What's he got to beat? Kauto Star? Okay, he's a Kempton legend going for an unprecedented fifth win in the race but surely his incredible Betfair Chase win was HIS day this season. Fully tuned up for that he was, but Long Run wasn't and he was only beaten eight lengths despite plenty of jumping errors. He's going to come on loads for that race, Kauto won't be able to match his Haydock efforts and the form will be reversed. Easy! Master Minded won't stay, Captain Chris can't jump, Somersby can't keep up with class horses, Diamond Harry flatters to deceive. So, when Long Run confirms himself as the best staying chaser in the land at Kempton Park on Boxing Day his Gold Cup odds will tumble. And we'll all be smugly sat on a 6/4 chance at 6/1. Hopefully.

Festive flutter #2: Downton Abbey to be top Christmas programme at 11/2 (Sporting Bet)

The Beeb monopolise the top of this market with Doctor Who and Eastenders but they've clearly not heard that old is the new new and ITV's first-class period drama Downton Abbey looks a tasty price at over 5/1 to top the Xmas ratings. I kicked and screamed when first forced to watch this but the on-off love story between Lady Mary and cousin Matthew throughout World War One had me gripped and there were plenty of loose ends not tied up by the end of series two. This makes the Christmas special all the more eagerly anticipated - will Bates go down for murdering his wife? Please say no, ITV, Bates is one of the good guys. The viewing figures grew week-by-week throughout the last series and with people forced to watch the box on Christmas Day a new Downton record is set to be broken. Me, and millions and millions of others cannot be wrong. Doctor Who?

Festive flutter #3: Shakalakaboomboom to win the Grand National at 25/1 (general)

After Quantitativeeasing won the big December race at Cheltenham I've a new policy whereby I shall back all horses that I can't spell and struggle to say as they always seem to run well. Seriously, though, this Shakalakaboomboom is more than just a horse with a daft name and I reckon he has serious claims of giving Nicky Henderson a first Grand National win at Aintree in April. This horse always promised to get better over a trip and he's blossoming now, improving again from his Punchestown success with a fluent win at Cheltenham last time. There were some good yardsticks in behind him that day including Hennessy third Fair Along so the form looks solid and he won pretty easily. He's already had a spin over the Aintree fences in the Topham and he thrives on good, spring ground. Rated 148 following his latest success he's already good enough to get in the National and Henderson has hinted that he'll protect that rating. Boom Boom shake the room, I say Boom Boom shake the room. £10 each-way at 25/1 please sir.

Festive flutter #4: Alvaro Quiros to make the European Ryder Cup team at 4/6 (Victor Chandler)

Like Santa, I can't do this festive malarkey all on my own. Enter Dave John, my own little helper, who has been scouring the golf special markets for six hours. He said to me, "Do you like nailed on certainties even though they're odds-on?" Yes Dave we do! Here he goes...

"The Spaniard has always hit the ball further than I go for my holidays but his whole game now looks on a sharp upward curve and is set to make a huge impact on the global game in 2012. Fresh off a victory at the Dubai World Championship (his eagle at the par-five last was just showing off), one of his main goals is making the European Ryder Cup team at Medinah Country Club in Illinois. He currently sits fourth in the European Points List and could well rack up multiple wins to confirm his place among Jose Maria Olazabal's dozen to make the trip across the Atlantic. If by some freak act of God he fails to qualify, then his compatriot will give him a captain's pick anyway as Quiros is such a spiffing, all-round good egg. His price is the equivalent of finding a flipping great wad of tenners in the street."

Thanks Dave. I was going to mock him here but on reflection this is probably the only festive flutter that will actually be rewarded with real money.

Festive flutter #5: Tottenham to win the FA Cup at 10/1 (Coral)

We finish with a football wager and it's those little scamps at White Hart Lane that look cracking value at double-figure prices for the FA Cup. 'Arry has done a fantastic job at Spurs this season with four targets from a six-point plan already achieved as I will point out here: (1) Keep Luka Modric (tick), (2) sign Scott Parker (tick), (3) sign Emmanuel Adebayor (tick), (4) get knocked out of Europa League and Carling Cup early doors (tick), (5) qualify for Champions League (to do) and (6) win a trophy (to do). Number five looks nailed on and though the Premier League title is likely to be out of reach 'Arry can achieve objective six with an FA Cup win. This Spurs squad is all class but they need to mark their time together with some silverware and with the Manchester clubs drawn against each other this represents their best chance. We all know 'Arry has previous in this competition and they should sail through to round four at the expense of Cheltenham Town. Why are Chelsea 6/1 for the FA Cup and Spurs 10/1? Spurs are better at football. Happy Christmas.