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Football Betting
Just eight weeks after the World Cup was decided, qualification for the next international tournament begins this weekend as all the home nations start their Euro 2012 campaign.
England’s World Cup woes will be quickly forgotten if the new-look side can get a comfortable win against Bulgaria at Wembley. With no John Terry and Frank Lampard it promises to be an experimental England side, and the talented Bulgarians - even without the in-form Dimitar Berbatov - should not be underestimated. Anything other than a win will make Fabio Capello’s life very, very difficult indeed.
Wales get their Euro qualification campaign under way with an awkward away tie in Montenegro, whilst Scotland will have to improve on their last showing if they are going to get anything in Lithuania. Northern Ireland face World Cup qualifiers Slovenia whilst the Republic of Ireland have a long away trip to Armenia.
The World Cup finalists both have gentle opening fixtures against Europe’s minnows. Reigning European Champions Spain travel to Liechtenstein whilst the Netherlands face San Marino.
It is also a chance for some humbled European nations to restore some pride to their international teams. France can do so under new coach Laurent Blanc by beating Belarus whilst Italy should win in Estonia in Group C.
Golf Betting
The European Tour lands in Switzerland this week and with the Ryder Cup qualification done and dusted, the focus of the tour moves to the competition for the Race to Dubai winner.
The Omega European Masters is being hosted by the beautiful Crans-Sur-Sierre golf club and last weeks winner and Ryder Cup wildcard Eduardo Molinari is the worthy 14/1 favourite. Miguel Angel Jimenez has been playing well in recent weeks and is the 16/1 second favourite. Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is a 20/1 shot.
There is a strong field at TPC Boston this week for the Deutsche Bank Championship. Quite how Tiger Woods continues to tee off as favourite for PGA tournaments is beyond me, and last year’s winner Steve Stricker looks a much better bet at 11/1. Paul Casey can put his Ryder Cup disappointment behind him with a win at 28/1 whilst Ernie Els is a 40/1 shot.
Cricket Betting
Cricket may have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week, but the summer’s action continues apace this weekend. England face India in a one day match at Durham on Friday before facing a weakened and distracted Pakistan side in a Twenty20 international in Cardiff on Sunday.
The Clydesdale Bank 40 also continues this weekend. Group A leaders Somerset face Glamorgan at Taunton, Group B leaders Yorkshire play Essex at Headingley and Group C front-runners Warwickshire face Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.
Rugby Union Betting
Domestic rugby returns this weekend with the big kick-off in both the Aviva Premiership and Magners League.
Reigning English champions Leicester Tigers are the 7/4 favourites to retain their Grand Final title and open their campaign with a tricky away tie at Northampton on Sunday. Beaten Grand Finalists Saracens play London Irish whilst Wasps face Harlequins.
The Magners League also returns this weekend, with the competition expanded to 12 teams to include new Italian entrants Aironi and Benetton Treviso. Reigning champions the Ospreys get the season up and running with a match against Ulster on Friday evening whilst Leinster travel to Glasgow. Munster are a good value 4/1 to win the Grand Final this season and start with an easy looking home tie against new boys Aironi.
The Tri-Nations also continues this weekend, and South Africa finally got their first win of this season’s tournament beating Australia 44-31 in a great match last weekend. The two sides meet again in Bloemfontein on Saturday, and I expect the Springboks to record back to back victories.
Rugby League Betting
After Warrington’s comprehensive Challenge Cup victory on Saturday, it is the final round of matches in this season’s Superleague this weekend.
Crusaders and Castleford have been locked in a battle for the final play-off berth for some weeks now. With a home tie against Hull KR, Crusaders look the slight favourites to reach the end of season tournament, as Castleford face a tricky away fixture at second place St Helens.
Shield winners Wigan prepare for the play-offs with a home tie against Bradford whilst at the other end of the table, a loss for the Catalans Dragons against Huddersfield will mean they finish rock bottom.
Rugby League Betting
Tennis Betting
The final Grand Slam event of the year, the US Open, continues this weekend at Flushing Meadow. It’s as open a contest as it has been for years in both the mens and womens events with Roger Federer the 15/8 favourite to life the mens title, with Britain’s Andy Murray the 3/1 second favourite.
I like the look of Rafael Nadal to complete his mission to win all four majors and the Spaniard is available at 7/2.
Kim Clijsters came from nowhere to win last year’s US Open and is 10/3 favourite this time. There are at least a dozen players in with a realistic chance of progressing to the final and so picking a winner here is a tricky task. Elena Dementieva’s form has not been terrific of late but the 20/1 on the Russian is a big price.
Horse Racing Betting
The big race of the weekend is at Haydock on Saturday. The course hosts its one Group One race of the season, the Sprint Cup (3.40pm) with Starspangledbanner the 9/4 ante-post favourite. Regal Parade has drifted out to 7/2, whilst Paco Boy is currently a 4/1 shot.
Kempton hosts the Group 3 six furling Sirenia Stakes (2.15pm) for two year olds, whilst the September Stakes (2.45pm) is also a Group 3 event, this time for three year olds and upwards over a mile and a quarter.
There are also two high quality Group One races at Leopardstown. Possible runners in the Irish Champion Stakes (3.50pm) include Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco, with Fame and Glory and Twice Over also likely to feature strongly in the betting. The Matron Stakes (2.40pm) is the other feature race with Music Show likely to go-off near the head of the betting.
Elsewhere there is racing from Stratford on Avon, Thirsk and Wolverhampton.
