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Football
There’s a busy weekend of football action to entertain the nation over Easter beginning on Friday with some mouthwatering Championship matches. There’s an East Midlands derby as struggling Nottingham Forest host Leicester whilst Leeds play in-form Reading. Cardiff are good value at 5/4 to beat QPR on Saturday.
Manchester United have the chance to take a giant step towards a record 19th league title if they can overcome Everton in Saturday’s early kick-off whilst Arsenal are 5/6 to beat Bolton on Sunday. There’s a relegation six-pointer at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland host Wigan whilst Blackpool desperately need a win against Newcastle at 7/4.
There’s also a potential title decider in Scotland on Sunday as Rangers host Celtic in the SPL.
Tennis
Rafael Nadal remains the dominant force in clay court tennis and won his seventh straight Monte Carlo title last week. The world number one has won 25 of his 26 games at the Barcelona Open and is looking for his sixth title having missed the event in 2010. Robin Soderling is Nadal’s closest challenger having been beaten in last year’s final whilst David Ferrer is a clay court expert and should go well this week.
The WTA Tour is in Stuttgart for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix with world number one Caroline Wozniacki looking to follow up her recent win at the Family Circle Cup. Victoria Azarenka has won her last two tournaments and is in great form whilst Vera Zvonareva and Francesca Schiavone are also in attendance.
Golf
The European Tour heads about as far out of Europe as it can go this week as the Volvo China Open is being played at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu for the first time. Y E Yang is the 12/1 favourite to defend his title with Padraig Harrington available at 14/1. Gregory Bourdy was second in Malaysia last week and is available at 28/1.
There’s a strong field at the Harbour Town golf links this weekend for The Heritage. Luke Donald is the clear 9/1 favourite having finished in the top three last year and the year before. Defending champion Jim Furyk is available at 16/1 whilst Jason Day is available at 28/1 after his great showing at the Masters.
Cricket
The Clydesdale 40 tournament returns this weekend. Reigning champions Warwickshire face a difficult opening tie away at Hampshire whilst last season’s beaten semi finalists Somerset face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
In international cricket, West Indies play Pakistan in St Lucia in the first match of their one day international series.
Rugby Union
Leicester continue to lead the way in the Aviva Premiership after their scintillating 41-41 draw with Gloucester last time out. The Tigers can consolidate their position at the top of the table with a win at Newcastle this weekend whilst the battle for second place continues as Saracens face Gloucester.
Fourth plays fifth as Northampton host London Irish whilst bottom club Leeds could move off the foot of the table with a win over Harlequins.
Munster are 14 points clear at the top of the Magners League after their win over Scarlets and travel to fourth place Ospreys this weekend. Second place Leinster travel to Aironi whilst Ulster host Connacht and Edinburgh play the Newport-Gwent Dragons.
Rugby League
Huddersfield are the new Superleague leaders after their excellent win at Leeds last weekend and the Giants can consolidate their position with a win over Crusaders on Friday. St Helens moved up to second place after a thumping win over Wakefield and they face old rivals Wigan in the match of the weekend.
Warrington ran in 64 points last weekend and travel to improving Salford whilst the Catalans Dragons can make it four wins out of four with a win over Harlequins.
Surprise package Castleford could only draw last time out but should return to winning ways with a home victory over Wakefield.
Racing
There’s a bumper day of racing this Saturday with the standout meeting at Sandown marking the official end of the 2010/11 National Hunt Season.
The highlight is the three-mile-five-furlong Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.10pm), with Baby Run and Balthazar King likely to be disputing favouritism at the start. The supporting card features the Grade 2 Celebration Chase over two miles, the Group 2 Mile and the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes over a mile and a quarter.
Elsewhere there is racing from Carlisle, Nottingham, Haydock Park, Newton Abbot, Kelso and Musselburgh.
