Football
The two horse race for the Premier League title continues this weekend with leaders Manchester City facing the trickier tie. Roberto Mancini’s men travel to Swansea City on Sunday and will have to play well to beat a talented Swans side. You can back the home team at 11/2.
Manchester United were excellent on Sunday as they all but ended Spurs’ title hopes and they welcome in-form West Bromwich Albion to Old Trafford on Saturday. Roy Hodgson’s side are 10/1 to follow up their 1-0 win over Chelsea.
Norwich look excellent value at 5/6 to see off Wigan in Sunday’s televised match while Arsenal should beat Newcastle at 1/2 on Monday night. Spurs have suffered two successive defeats and so there’s some value in backing Everton to win at Goodison Park at 15/8.
Real Madrid can continue their march towards the La Liga title by winning at Real Betis at 4/9 while Barcelona travel to Racing Santander.
Golf
After his excellent win at the Honda Classic, it’s no surprise that the new world number one, Rory McIlroy is the 6/1 favourite for the WGC Cadillac Championship this weekend.
However, the joint 6/1 favourite for the event is one Tiger Woods, who shot a 62 in his final round last week and looks to be regaining some form. Phil Mickelson looks excellent value at 12/1 while Lee Westwood has finished fourth in his last two tournaments and so represents excellent each way value at 14/1.
Dustin Johnson has finished in the top five at his last two stroke play events and so the American is also worth an each way bet at 25/1.
Cricket
There’s only one international cricket fixture to look forward to this weekend. The Asia Cup – an international one day cricket event – begins in Mirpur on Sunday when hosts Bangladesh take on Pakistan. India are the 13/8 favourites to take the cup they last won in 1991 while reigning champions Sri Lanka are available at 7/4.
Tennis
After Roger Federer’s excellent win in Dubai last week, there’s a strong field in Indian Wells over the next ten days for the BNP Paribas Open. Federer is 5/2 second favourite last won this tournament in 2006 but was in excellent form, beating Andy Murray in the Dubai final. Novak Djokovic is the reigning champion and 7/4 favourite, with Murray good each way value at 6/1 after his win over the Serb in Dubai.
Victoria Azarenka is the player to beat in the women’s event, coming into the tournament with a perfect 17-0 record in 2012. The Belarusian has won all three tournaments she has played this year and is the favourite for this event.
A strong field also includes Maria Sharapova who won the title in 2006 and Caroline Wozniacki, the reigning champion. Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is returning from injury and illness although her best result in Indian Wells is reaching the third round in 2009.
Rugby League
Warrington remain the only unbeaten team in the Superleague after their 23-10 win at Bradford last weekend although the Wolves face a tricky away tie at reigning champions Leeds on Friday evening.
Second place Wigan have an easy looking game against struggling Widnes who are bottom of the table and pointless. Third place Huddersfield had an excellent 17-16 win over St Helens last time out and can win at Wakefield while surprise package Salford have a tricky tie against the Catalans Dragons.
Rugby Union
It’s the penultimate round of Six Nations matches this weekend with Wales looking to set up a title decider with France on 17th March.
The Triple Crown winners welcome Italy to the Millennium Stadium this weekend in a match that they should win comfortably. Italy have never won in Cardiff, although Wales will be without inspirational captain Sam Warburton for the contest. Justin Tipuric starts at seven and prop Gethin Jenkins captains Wales.
Wales can be backed at 10/11 to overcome their 20 point handicap. Had you backed the home side at those odds in the past, you’d have made a profit on all but one Six Nations meetings between the two sides in Cardiff.
France are Wales’ main rivals for the Six Nations title and Les Bleus welcome England to the Stade de France on Sunday.
‘Le Crunch’ matches between the two nations tend to be close affairs, and the visitors have a good recent record in Paris. England have won two of the last three meetings on French soil, and when they do lose they often keep the match close; a 12-10 defeat on their last visit being a good example. You can back England at 10/11 with a seven point start which looks the safest call.
Ireland face Scotland without captain Paul O’Connell and scrum half Conor Murray but should have enough to defeat a limited Scotland side that have lost five Tests in a row; their worst run since 2004.
Back Ireland to overcome the 10 point handicap at 10/11 and win comfortably.
Horse Racing
Saturday’s big race comes from Sandown Park with the Paddy Power Imperial Cup. First run in 1907, the sponsors of the race have traditionally offered a financial bonus prize to the winner if the horse goes on to win any race at the following week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Ted Spread is the 4/1 ante-post favourite from the well-backed Master of Arts and Sire de Grugy.
Elsewhere there is racing on Saturday from Ayr, Wolverhampton and Chepstow.
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