Football
It promises to be a great final day of the Premier League season this weekend with the title, European places and relegation still to be decided.
A win for Manchester City at 1/7 will see them win their first league title since 1968. Roberto Mancini’s side have coped terrifically with the end of season pressure and a home win may also relegate QPR depending on results elsewhere. If you fancy Mark Hughes’ side to pull off a shock result, you can back them at 14/1. There may well be a few optimistic United fans doing just that.
If City do slip up, Manchester United can snatch a 20th league title if they win at Sunderland. Martin O’Neill’s side have stuttered of late and United are 4/9 to win and potentially lose the league on goal difference.
Arsenal remain in pole position to finish third and they’ll do so if they can win at West Brom. Any slip up could let in Spurs if they beat Fulham at White Hart Lane while Newcastle can also sneak a top four finish if they win at Everton at 2/1.
Only a win at Stoke City will be good enough for Bolton to remain in the Premier League – and that’s if QPR can manage to secure a draw at Manchester City. Bolton are 7/4 to win at the Britannia Stadium.
Golf
The cream of world golf is in Florida this weekend for The Player’s Championship. Often called the ‘fifth major’, Rory McIlroy is the 9/1 favourite after his play-off defeat at Quail Hollow last weekend.
Phil Mickelson was the last American to win the tournament and the 2007 champion can be backed at 16/1. Luke Donald has two top four finishes at Sawgrass and is available at 14/1 while I also like the chances of the in-form Lee Westwood at 14/1.
Picking a winner of the Madeira Islands Open is a tough call with the field available at 25/1 or better. Bradley Dredge won by eight shots at Santo da Serra Golf back in 2003 and the Welshman is 25/1 here.
Cricket
The Clydesdale Bank 40 continues this weekend with some intriguing fixtures. Netherlands top their group after two wins out of two and they welcome Middlesex to the Sportpark Duivesteijn on Monday. Sunday’s matches include Warwickshire v Derbyshire, Gloucestershire v Leicestershire and Durham v Somerset.
The IPL also continues this weekend with matches at Chennai Super Kings, the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Rajasthan Royals and Kings Xi Punjab.
Tennis
Both the ATP and WTA tours are in Spain this week for the Madrid Open – to be played on unusual blue clay. Novak Djokovic says that he played the best clay court match of his life in last year’s final to end Rafael Nadal’s 37 match unbeaten run on clay and the two are the favourites again this week. Roger Federer plays his first clay court tournament of the season.
The world’s top eight women are also in Madrid with Victoria Azarenka the favourite for the title. Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Agnieska Radwanska also feature, as does Serena Williams who continues her return from injury.
Rugby League
The Carnegie Challenge Cup reaches the quarter final stage this weekend.
There’s a potential giant killing on Friday evening as little Leigh take on Superleague champions Leeds Rhinos. Saturday sees two big rivals go head to head as Wigan welcome St Helens and I fancy the home side to win this one.
There’s also a great looking tie on Sunday as fourth place Catalans Dragons host third place Warrington and this could be a tough match for the Cheshire side. The final tie sees Huddersfield take on London Broncos and the Yorkshire side should book their place in the semi-finals.
Rugby Union
It is play-off time in both the Magners League and the Aviva Premiership this weekend after the final semi-final berths were decided last week.
Even though they topped the regular season table, Harlequins face an awkward tie on Saturday as they host Northampton Saints. Quins are the favourites to progress to the final but Jim Mallinder’s side are in good form right now and can be backed at 10/11 with a three point start.
The other semi-final sees Leicester the favourites to overcome Saracens.
Ospreys finished four points ahead of Munster in the regular season and the Irish side are the underdogs here. I fancy Munster to win this one at 10/11 with a four point start. Heineken Cup favourites Leinster host Glasgow in the other semi-final and the Irish side can be backed at 10/11 to win by more than thirteen points.
Horse Racing
Haydock Park hosts a mixture of flat and jumps racing this Saturday including the Swinton Hurdle. Ascot hosts the seven furlong spring the Victoria Cup where Emilio Largo, Firebeam and Primaeval are the 9/1 ante-post favourites.
Elsewhere, there is racing on Saturday from Nottingham, Warwick, Hexham, Lingfield Park and Thirsk.
