Get in the Game UK
Hope you managed to find a few winners at Cheltenham
Nigel Ridgway
18-Mar-2004
Hope you managed to find a few winners at Cheltenham? After the excitement of the Festival its back to more mundane stuff this weekend - still there are plenty of winners to be found -
John Smith's Midlands Grand National (Uttoxeter, Saturday 14.55 GMT)...
The shrewdest trainers will bypass Cheltenham to keep their horses fresh for this traditional post-Cheltenham stamina test. Martin Pipe runs Akarus who was second in this race last year, but he won't be allowed to go off at 33/1 this time now there are no doubts about him getting the trip. Nicky Henderson has aimed Hersov at this race since an expensive failure in the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown. That course would not have played to his strengths, however, and this relentless galloper looks the main danger to the Pipe horse. The Irish have a great record in this race, having taken four of the last seven renewals, and their best chance looks to lie with Native Sessions, stablemate of 2002 hero the Bunny Boiler.
The shrewdest trainers will bypass Cheltenham to keep their horses fresh for this traditional post-Cheltenham stamina test. Martin Pipe runs Akarus who was second in this race last year, but he won't be allowed to go off at 33/1 this time now there are no doubts about him getting the trip. Nicky Henderson has aimed Hersov at this race since an expensive failure in the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown. That course would not have played to his strengths, however, and this relentless galloper looks the main danger to the Pipe horse. The Irish have a great record in this race, having taken four of the last seven renewals, and their best chance looks to lie with Native Sessions, stablemate of 2002 hero the Bunny Boiler.
Littlewoods Bet Direct Winter Derby (Lingfield, Saturday 14.35 GMT)...
Grand Passion will be a warm favourite to take this after his narrow success in the Trial here last month, where he had Eastern Breeze back in second. He is expected to come on for that run to confirm placings with the second and in the process emulate last year's winner Parasol, who also took both races. A bigger danger could be Blue Sky Thinking, who also ran in the Trial, but got no luck in running and was making a promising forward move when badly impeded entering the final furlong.
Grand Passion will be a warm favourite to take this after his narrow success in the Trial here last month, where he had Eastern Breeze back in second. He is expected to come on for that run to confirm placings with the second and in the process emulate last year's winner Parasol, who also took both races. A bigger danger could be Blue Sky Thinking, who also ran in the Trial, but got no luck in running and was making a promising forward move when badly impeded entering the final furlong.
Channel 4 Offer...
Channel 4 cameras are in action at both Lingfield and Newcastle, which means our fantastic Channel 4 offer will be in operation. Back any winner at 4/1 or over in a live televised race and we will give you a free bet to the same stake (up to £50) on the next Channel 4 race. Back another winner at 4/1 or over and get another free bet in the next televised Channel 4 race! See our home page for full details.
Channel 4 cameras are in action at both Lingfield and Newcastle, which means our fantastic Channel 4 offer will be in operation. Back any winner at 4/1 or over in a live televised race and we will give you a free bet to the same stake (up to £50) on the next Channel 4 race. Back another winner at 4/1 or over and get another free bet in the next televised Channel 4 race! See our home page for full details.
Bay Hill Invitational Golf (starts Thursday 12.00 GMT)...
No player has ever won the same tournament five years in a row - that is the daunting statistic facing Tiger Woods this week in his bid to make golfing history at the Bay Hill Club Invitational. Not that history is likely to stop Tiger this week on a course where he is an incredible 65 under par during his four year mastery, with an accumulative victory margin of 20 shots - 11 shots last year despite a final round bout of food poisoning! Leave him out of your staking plans at your peril. For an each way alternative, it may pay to peruse the list of players with commendable Bay Hill records, where it is easy to spot a common theme - good putters! The likes of Woods, Roberts and Crenshaw have won seven Bay Hills between them, and there is no better putter on Tour than Brad Faxon - already runner-up twice here, and back to form last week (8th) after a spell recovering from a wrist injury. Good putting also coincided with Davis Love's three seconds and a third here, and he too signalled that a return to the winner's enclosure was not far away with second place in last week's Honda Classic.
No player has ever won the same tournament five years in a row - that is the daunting statistic facing Tiger Woods this week in his bid to make golfing history at the Bay Hill Club Invitational. Not that history is likely to stop Tiger this week on a course where he is an incredible 65 under par during his four year mastery, with an accumulative victory margin of 20 shots - 11 shots last year despite a final round bout of food poisoning! Leave him out of your staking plans at your peril. For an each way alternative, it may pay to peruse the list of players with commendable Bay Hill records, where it is easy to spot a common theme - good putters! The likes of Woods, Roberts and Crenshaw have won seven Bay Hills between them, and there is no better putter on Tour than Brad Faxon - already runner-up twice here, and back to form last week (8th) after a spell recovering from a wrist injury. Good putting also coincided with Davis Love's three seconds and a third here, and he too signalled that a return to the winner's enclosure was not far away with second place in last week's Honda Classic.
bet365 pre-tournament prices...Woods 11/4, Els 10/1, Singh 10/1, Love 12/1, Faxon 40/1, Each Way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5, others on site. Bet In-Running, subject to TV coverage.
Portsmouth v Southampton (Sunday, 16.05 GMT ko)...
The Saints relative success over the last couple of seasons has been built on the back of their away performances, with a habit of picking up points in tight games like this one. However, since September they have only won once away from St Mary's, and they can expect a sterner test in terms of commitment against Pompey than they did against Liverpool last Sunday. History is against Harry Redknapp's side - their last win at Frattan Park over the Saints was over forty years ago! But in Redknapp they have a manager who knows what it takes to avoid relegation, and it would not be a surprise to see his team raise their game for this `derby' to grab three valuable points. The Saints have conceded ten goals in their last five away games - Pompey to win 2-1 (9/1) or 3-1 (22/1).
The Saints relative success over the last couple of seasons has been built on the back of their away performances, with a habit of picking up points in tight games like this one. However, since September they have only won once away from St Mary's, and they can expect a sterner test in terms of commitment against Pompey than they did against Liverpool last Sunday. History is against Harry Redknapp's side - their last win at Frattan Park over the Saints was over forty years ago! But in Redknapp they have a manager who knows what it takes to avoid relegation, and it would not be a surprise to see his team raise their game for this `derby' to grab three valuable points. The Saints have conceded ten goals in their last five away games - Pompey to win 2-1 (9/1) or 3-1 (22/1).
bet365 match prices...Portsmouth 8/5, Draw 21/10, Southampton 17/10.
bet365 `To Be Relegated' prices...Wolves 1/6, Leeds 1/5, Leicester 1/2, Portsmouth 1/2, Blackburn 4/1, others on site.
Newcastle v Charlton (Saturday, 17.30 ko)...
With less than a third of the season remaining and as many as six teams still in the hunt, this fixture will have a significant bearing on the chase for that coveted fourth spot. Newcastle have frankly been disappointing this season, especially on the road where they have only registered two victories, while Alan Curbishly's side have notched up six away victories, more than any other Premiership side apart from the top three! A win on Saturday would put Charlton in the box seat for European football next season - Addicks to win by 1 goal (5/1), Draw Half Time/Charlton Full Time (10/1).
With less than a third of the season remaining and as many as six teams still in the hunt, this fixture will have a significant bearing on the chase for that coveted fourth spot. Newcastle have frankly been disappointing this season, especially on the road where they have only registered two victories, while Alan Curbishly's side have notched up six away victories, more than any other Premiership side apart from the top three! A win on Saturday would put Charlton in the box seat for European football next season - Addicks to win by 1 goal (5/1), Draw Half Time/Charlton Full Time (10/1).
bet365 match prices...Newcastle 8/11, Draw 12/5, Charlton 4/1.
bet365 betting `Without Arsenal, Man Utd & Chelsea'...Newcastle 6/4, Liverpool 13/8, Charlton 9/1, Aston Villa 10/1, others on site.
Bet both the games In-Running including: Total Goals; Match Winner; Next Goal; Next Card; Total Corners; Total Bookings; and Correct Score.
Premiership Accumulator Offer...
This weekend, and for the rest of the season, bet365 are offering the following bonuses to straight accumulators involving Premiership teams:-
This weekend, and for the rest of the season, bet365 are offering the following bonuses to straight accumulators involving Premiership teams:-
4-folds-5% bonus 5-folds-10% bonus
6-folds-20% bonus 7-folds-30% bonus
8-folds-40% bonus 9-folds-50% bonus
10-folds-a whopping 60% bonus!!!
6-folds-20% bonus 7-folds-30% bonus
8-folds-40% bonus 9-folds-50% bonus
10-folds-a whopping 60% bonus!!!
West Indies v England, 2nd Test (starts Friday, 13.30 GMT)...
England must expect some sort of back-lash at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad, but with serious questions to be answered about the West Indies batting in particular, there is no reason not to expect more of the same from Michael Vaughan's side. It has been well documented that the West Indies have not lost a home Series since 1968, but England will not get a better chance against a team with such an unexceptional batting line-up, and an attack that is so young and inexperienced. The loss of Fidel Edwards with a back problem, the fastest and most impressive bowler in the first Test, will give England backers even more hope. The main danger to England could come from the bat of Brian Lara, who looks a worthy favourite at 15/8 in our `Top Team Batsman' market, while Andy Flintoff could be value for England at 7/1. He was in the process of hitting a big score in the first Test, before holing out for 46, and is also worth a look at 9/1 in our `Man of the Match' market.
England must expect some sort of back-lash at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad, but with serious questions to be answered about the West Indies batting in particular, there is no reason not to expect more of the same from Michael Vaughan's side. It has been well documented that the West Indies have not lost a home Series since 1968, but England will not get a better chance against a team with such an unexceptional batting line-up, and an attack that is so young and inexperienced. The loss of Fidel Edwards with a back problem, the fastest and most impressive bowler in the first Test, will give England backers even more hope. The main danger to England could come from the bat of Brian Lara, who looks a worthy favourite at 15/8 in our `Top Team Batsman' market, while Andy Flintoff could be value for England at 7/1. He was in the process of hitting a big score in the first Test, before holing out for 46, and is also worth a look at 9/1 in our `Man of the Match' market.
bet365 `To Win The Match' prices...West Indies 15/8, England 7/4, The Draw 6/4.
England to `whitewash' the Series...12/1!
Once the match starts, bet365 have five In-Running markets to bet on: Match Winner; Next Man Out; Next Wicket Method; Batsman Runs; and Total Innings Runs.
Be lucky.
Nigel
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.