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Betting Review
Welcome to our weekly column where we try and seek good value in some longer odds bets.
Now, had I picked Slovenia and New Zealand instead of Bosnia and New Zealand to qualify for the World Cup Finals I’d be sitting here having made a tasty profit. Still, it’s nice to see some underdogs at the Finals, even if they did win at the expense of a very, very dubious goal.
2pts double Stoke City (to beat Portsmouth) and Sporting Gijon (to beat Xerez) at combined 9/2
A good value double this week as two comfortable mid-table sides take on struggling teams towards the bottom of their respective leagues.
Stoke City have a terrific home record in front of passionate supporters and whilst they may not play the prettiest football, they are good at grinding out wins against their near rivals. Portsmouth look a shambles of an outfit at the moment and so at evens I have to side with Tony Pulis’ side with home advantage.
Sporting Gijon are nestled seventh in La Liga and have made steady progress over the last three seasons. They are a formidable side and face newly promoted Xerez at La Chapin who have struggled to adapt to life in the top flight. Gijon are a really solid team and so I expect them to see of a poor Xerez side.
The double pays around 9/2 which looks like terrific value to me.
Football Betting
1pt each way James Wade to win the grand Slam of Darts at 8/1 (e/w 1/3 places 1,2)
Bearing in mind that Phil Taylor is 1/3 on for the title with the entire field available at 2/1, you could be forgiven for thinking that backing anyone except the Power for a major title would be the equivalent of investing your money in Northern Rock shares.
However, as his 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Dutchman Vincent van der Voort in his final group match proved, Taylor can be beaten. With each-way betting also available it is also a case of finding the player most likely to face Taylor in Sunday’s final.
James Wade has been improving over recent months and proved he is in great form by scoring the highest average of the tournament so far (108.9) when rallying from 3-0 down to defeat Robert Thornton on Tuesday.
With his draw seemingly quite straightforward (the most difficult opponent he is likely to face is Gary Anderson or Terry Jenkins) I fancy Wade to reach the final for at least an each-way payout.
Darts Betting
0.5 pts each way Robert Allenby to win the Dubai World Championship at 45/1 (e/w ¼ place 1,2,3,4,5)
Whilst the focus might be on the four men who can still win this season’s Race to Dubai and be crowned Europe’s top golfer, there are plenty in a talented Dubai field that can upset the McIlroys and Westwoods of this world to take this title.
One such man is Australian Robert Allenby who followed his third place in the World Match Play with sixth in the Castello Masters and a tied 23rd in the HSBC World Championships a week ago. He has had a very consistent season winning almost two million dollars and can influence the destination of the Race to Dubai title with a good performance at the Earth course.
Golf Betting
0.5 pts patent (total 3.5pts) - Notre Pere in Betfair Chase (2/1), Treacle in Troytown Chase (6/1) and Offshore Account in Becher Chase (8/1) at combined odds of approx 189/1
It’s a patent this week on three of the weekend’s big races. Whilst Kauto Star might be the favourite in the Betfair Chase, Notre Pere came through a satisfactory schooling session this week, leading trainer Jim Dreaper to confirm the Welsh National and Punchestown Gold Cup winner in Saturday’s race.
Treacle, the Munster National winner can win the €52,080 Troytown chase and follow up his Limerick win over Dashing George and Paddy Pub and I like the look of Offshore Account at around 8/1 in the Becher Chase at Aintree.
Horse Racing Betting
Performance to date: +5.25 points
