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Football
After a break for FA Cup and European fixtures, the domestic programme resumes this weekend as Everton take on Manchester United. United have a good recent record against the Toffees and can be backed at 5/6.
Another side on a great run in 2010 are Stoke City who remain unbeaten this year. I predicted they would avoid defeat at Manchester City last weekend in the FA Cup and they look great value at 23/10 to beat a doomed Portsmouth side at Fratton Park.
Aston Villa remain in the Champions League qualification hunt and should be too good for Burnley on Sunday. Spurs can beat Wigan at evens and Manchester City can take a giant step towards realising their own European ambitions by beating Liverpool at 6/4.
In the Championship, the televised match sees Bristol City face West Bromwich Albion. City are starting to look down rather than up and the Baggies can continue their push for the title at evens.
In Scotland, Rangers can maintain their ten point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a win at St Johnstone at 4/11.
Barcelona suffered their first La Liga defeat of the season at Atletico Madrid last weekend but can bounce back with a home win over Racing. Real Madrid host Villarreal and Mallorca play Sevilla.
Golf
There’s an all-star cast at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on Dove Mountain in Arizona’s Sonaran Desert this week for the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play.
With a high quality field and the unpredictability of match-play golf, it is difficult to pick a winner in this one. Current Race to Dubai champion Lee Westwood leads a strong European challenge and looks to have a reasonably comfortable draw until a likely match against one of the strong South Africans, Ernie Els or Retief Goosen later in the week.
Steve Stricker is the narrow 14/1 favourite from the European trio of Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy.
Cricket
England return to action this weekend with two matches in preparation for May’s Twenty20 World Cup. Paul Collingwood’s side play Pakistan in Dubai on Friday and Saturday with Pakistan the 8/11 favourites.
These are the last two competitive matches England will play in this format before they open their World Cup campaign against the West Indies on 3rd May and so they are vital practice.
Australia will look to complete a one-day series whitewash over the West Indies with a win in the fifth one-day match in Hobart on Sunday.
Rugby Union
After a two week break for the opening Six Nations matches, domestic competition resumes this weekend.
The Guinness Premiership seems to be developing into a three horse race. Leaders Leicester can reinforce their position at the top of the table with a home win over Gloucester on Saturday whilst second place Saracens have a tricky looking away fixture at Wasps. Northampton continue to impress and travel to Harlequins on Saturday.
In the Magners League, leaders Glasgow can stay at the top of the table with a home win over Cardiff Blues whilst second place Ospreys host Connacht. It has been a disappointing league season for the three Irish clubs and Munster can kick-start their campaign with a win over third place Edinburgh. Leinster play the Scarlets and Ulster host the Newport-Gwent Dragons.
It’s also the second round of matches in the Super 14 with leaders the Bulls taking on the Brumbies.
Rugby League
The alarm bells are starting to sound at Leeds after the 28-18 reverse at Wakefield consigned the Rhinos to their second consecutive Superleague defeat. The reigning champions should be able to kick-start their campaign on Friday night with a win over Salford.
There’s an attractive looking game at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday as two teams with 100% records come face to face. Old rivals Warrington Wolves and the Wigan Warriors meet, and it is difficult to pick a winner in this one.
Elsewhere, Catalans Dragons host St Helens and Hull KR play Huddersfield.
Tennis
Andy Roddick once again leads the field in a mid-range US tournament this week. After losing in the final to Fernando Verdasco in San Jose last weekend, he will once again line-up alongside the talented Spaniard at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis.
Robin Soderling was victorious in the ABN Amro event in Rotterdam last week and leads a good quality field including Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Open 13 in Marseille.
At the Dubai Tennis Championships, a strong female field is led by Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Venus Williams.
Horse Racing
The big race of the weekend is the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock. This is a competitive, three and a half mile handicap and always popular with punters. David Pipe’s The Package is likely to vie for favouritism with Le Beau Bai and Silver By Nature.
A good support card at Haydock also includes the Joseph Heler Cheese Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
The Betfair Ascot Chase is a top class Grade One and has been won in the past by none other than Kauto Star. Planet of Sound and Alberta’s Run look to be the preferred choices in this one.
