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Football
The Premier League takes a break this weekend as eight nations fight for four berths at next season’s Euro 2012 Championships.
Ireland are 13/10 to win in Estonia on Friday evening, although the value there lies with a talented home side at 11/5.
Turkey can beat Croatia at 13/10 while Bosnia can nick a first leg win against Portugal at 21/10. Czech Republic host Montenegro in the final play-off tie.
England welcome the world and European champions Spain to Wembley on Saturday for a friendly and, having named a strong squad, there will be plenty of money on the visitors at 5/6.
Wales can continue their recent run of good results with a win over Norway.
The FA Cup reaches the first round stage this weekend with plenty of non-league sides looking to advance. Nantwich Town are 11/1 to win at the MK Dons while Maidenhead United are 10/3 to see off Aldershot.
AFC Wimbledon can cause a shock by beating Scunthorpe at 9/5 while Oxford United are good value at 9/2 to beat Sheffield United.
Tennis
It’s the last regular season event of the ATP tour this week ahead of the Tour Finals later this month. There’s a very strong field in France for the BNP Paribas Masters and with three spots still up for grabs at the lucrative end of season event it promises to be a great week of tennis.
Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and last week’s Swiss Indoors champion Roger Federer head the betting but much of the focus will be on the seven players with a chance to make the Tour finals in London.
Tomas Berdych, Mardy Fish and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will take the three places if they all qualify for the quarter finals while complicated permutations could also see Janko Tipsarevic, Nicolas Almagro, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon also qualify.
Golf
The European Tour is in Singapore this week for a co-sanctioned event between the European Tour and Asian Tour. The Singapore Open takes place over two courses – the Serapong and Tanjong – at the Sentosa Golf Club and after his excellent third place showing in Shanghai last week, Graeme McDowell is the 16/1 favourite.
Phil Mickelson is good value at 18/1 as is Simon Dyson at 28/1 while Ernie Els has twice been a runner-up at Sentosa and is available at 33/1.
Tiger Woods continues to try and get his career back on track down under this weekend and is 10/1 second favourite for the Australian Open. In-form Adam Scott is the man to beat at 8/1 while Dustin Johnson is available at 16/1.
Cricket
After Pakistan sealed their Test series win over Sri Lanka last weekend, the two teams meet on Friday in Dubai in the first of their one day international series.
The weekend also sees the conclusion of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town.
Rugby League
England’s four tries were still not enough to beat the mighty Australians last weekend but the home side can end their Four Nations campaign with a win over the reigning World Champions this weekend. They play New Zealand and I like England’s chances at 5/6 with a four point start.
The other match sees Australia take on Wales. Wales failed to score a point as they lost to New Zealand last weekend and this could be a heavy defeat. Back Australia to win by over 50 points sat 10/11.
Rugby Union
The 17th Heineken Cup kicks off this weekend with some intriguing fixtures to look forward to.
Reigning champions Leinster start their defence in Montpellier while last season’s beaten finalists Northampton face a tricky start as they travel to Munster – a team that have only lost two home matches in European competition.
I fancy Leicester Tigers to overcome the 14 point handicap to win at Aironi at 10/11 while 9/2 tournament favourites Toulouse should have no problem winning their home tie against Gloucester.
Arguably the match of the weekend is on Saturday as two of the most consistent teams over recent years meet. The Ospreys have reached the quarter final stage in three consecutive seasons and play host to Biarritz, the 2010 runners-up. Biarritz can be backed at 10/11 with a six point start.
Heineken Cup Matches and Previews
Horse Racing
It’s Paddy Power Gold Cup day at Cheltenham on Saturday – the day when the jumps racing season gets into top gear. Mon Parrain has been backed in to the 4/1 favourite with Wishfull Thinking and Noble Prince the next two in the betting.
The Greatwood Hurdle sees the up and coming stars of the hurdling world take centre stage on Sunday and there’s been plenty of money for Moon Dice in the run-up to the race.
Elsewhere there is racing on Saturday from Wetherby, Lingfield Park, Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton.
