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Football Betting
The first major trophy of the season will be decided this Sunday as Aston Villa play Manchester United in the Carling Cup Final. United are the 5/6 favourites to retain the trophy but Villa look terrific value at 7/2 to win their first silverware under Martin O’Neill.
In the Premier League, the battle for a Champions League spot continues as Manchester City travel to Chelsea and Spurs host Everton. Stoke City continue to impress and can put another dent in Arsenal’s title ambitions with a win at the Brittania at 4/1.
There’s also a massive game in Scotland as Rangers take on Celtic at Ibrox. Only a win for Tony Mowbray’s side will be good enough as they try to whittle down Rangers’ seven point advantage.
In La Liga, Tenerife play Real Madrid whilst Barcelona host Malaga.
Golf Betting
After the superb show by the European golfers at the World Matchplay Championships last weekend, the likes of Ian Poulter and Paul Casey get a well-earned break this week as there is no European Tour action.
The big tournament this week is the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona. Kenny Perry is the reigning champion at the $6million tournament, whilst JB Holmes is one to look out for having won the tournament twice in recent years.
After a 1-1 draw with Pakistan in two Twenty20 internationals last weekend, England begin their three match one-day series against Bangladesh this Sunday in Mirpur. With Alistair Cook captaining the side in Andrew Strauss’ absence England are 1/5 to win the series and 11/10 to win 3-0.
Preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup continue around the globe, and Australia can continue their terrific run of recent form with a victory over New Zealand in Christchurch on Sunday.
Elsewhere, India continue their one-day series against South Africa in Ahmedabad.
The RBS Six Nations returns this weekend with three intriguing matches.
I’m still not quite sure how Wales managed to escape with a victory last time out against Scotland, but the lift that late rally will have given Warran Gatland’s side cannot be underestimated. They welcome the current European form team France to the Millennium Stadium on Friday evening.
France have so far justified their pre-tournament favouritism but I still think they are prone to having an off-day and being beaten. I stick with the prediction I made before the tournament began that I don’t think there would be a Grand Slam winner this time. Wales will have to up their game but with a seven point start and a passionate home crowd they could be good value at 10/11.
Italy play Scotland on Saturday and after a hugely improved performance against England, Italy will be eyeing a victory in this one. However, even though the Scots have lost their two matches there was much to take from the defeats and I think they can win this one.
England will be looking to maintain their 100% record and face a tough match against Ireland at Twickenham. Ireland were my pre-tournament choice but were badly beaten in France last time out. That doesn’t make them a bad side overnight, though, just as a scrappy win in Italy doesn’t make England world beaters.
The bookies cannot separate these two and so on that basis I’ll have to side with Ireland (scratch) at 10/11.
After their terrific 22-20 win at Warrington at the weekend, Wigan sit on top of the early Superleague table. The Warriors have a great chance to cement their position at the top of the table on Friday as they face the bottom club, Catalans Dragons.
Wakefield are the other club with a 100% record, although they face a tricky away tie at an improving St Helens.
Hull will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing 18-16 defeat to the Crusaders with a win over Harlequins whilst Salford will try and register their first points of the season against Bradford. Huddersfield play Warrington in a good looking match on Sunday.
After Venus Williams’ retained her crown at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships at the weekend, it is the men’s turn this week.
A high quality field was hit by the late withdrawal of Australian Open champion Roger Federer with a lung infection, leaving Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as top seeds. Federer was scheduled to be in Murray’s half of the draw and so only Marin Cilic and Mikhail Youzhny look like being able to prevent Murray reaching the final.
In the bottom half of the draw I like the look of the in-form Nikolay Davydenko to line-up a semi with probably Novak Djokovic or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Venus Williams should be able to follow up her Dubai title with a victory in the Abierto Mexicano tournament in Acapulco.
Horse Racing Betting
As Cheltenham hopefuls fine tune their preparations for the Festival, the big race this weekend is the Kempton Racing Post Chase. It’s a Grade Three handicap race and Nacarat is the early ante-post favourite. It looks likely to be a competitive race and I like the chances of Fistral Beach and Madison du Berlais (should the latter’s entry be confirmed later in the week).
Three of the last thirteen winners of the racingpost.com Adonis Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle have gone onto Cheltenham glory and Mille Chief should well go off as favourite in this one.
If you want to see a potential Grand National runner then you should look no further than the totesport.com Eider at Newcastle. Run over four miles and one furlong this is a long, gruelling race which often features National hopefuls.
There’s also racing at Lingfield with the Lingfield Park Cleeves Stakes and Lingfield Park Winter Derby Trial Stakes.
