A great week of cup football ahead with the FA Cup and Champions’ League final to look forward to.
We start with Saturday’s FA Cup final and we have an out-of-form Portsmouth side taking on Championship side Cardiff at Wembley.
Bookmakers make Harry Redknapp their 4/6 favourites and make Cardiff the 7/2 underdogs, while it’s 12/5 the draw.
Portsmouth finished their Premiership season badly, losing their last FOUR games and scoring only ONE goal – I wouldn’t be lumping on the 4/6 on that form.
Pompey lack goals and remember they have Jermaine Defoe cup-tied; that leaves Kanu, Milan Baros and big money flop David Nugent fighting for the striking positions.
To be honest with you, Quasimodo scores more than Baros and Nugent, so if you are looking for goals then Kanu has to be the threat. Pompey are, however, very strong in defence with Sol Campbell leading a high-class rear-guard which could well be the telling factor on Saturday.
Cardiff may be a Championship side, but they did take Midddlesboro apart in the quarter-finals and don’t lack experience. They have veteran striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink leading the line and could yet have Robbie Fowler on the bench. Portsmouth will need to watch out for midfielders Paul Parry and Joe Ledley who like to get forward and they do score a lot of goals. I think the Welsh club will have a lot of supporters at that 7/2 price.
Punters Guide Cup Final Selections
First Goalscorer: Kanu (5/1). Correct Score: Portsmouth to win 2-1 (8/1).
Anytime Goalscorer: Joe Ledley (4/1).
First Player Booked: Darren Purse (8/1).
Friday, 16 May 2008
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Punters just miss out on massive bets
Our old mate and draw specialist Raffo was yet again left gutted this week when he went even closer to securing that dreamy bet.
Remember, McEnaneys regular Raffowas the punter who nearly hit eight draws two weeks back only for injury-time goals to thwart him.
This time he took just the seven draws and threw in Waterford at 1/2 in a £3 Friday night accumulator.
Waterford did the business and so too did six of his seven draws.
It was the Bray-Drogheda game that eneded up beating him out of nearly 16 grand – another sickener for poor Raffo who should try his hand at the pools.
Another punter crying into his beer was a Lisburn bloke who was waiting on Juventus on Sunday after grabbing SEVEN winners on Saturday in his Euro bet.
He backed Bayern Munich (1/1), Hertha Berlin (6/4), Werder Bremen (1/2), Wolfsburg (7/5), Lille (11/10), Lorient (8/5) and Monaco (11/8) who all won to give the £5 bet a massive double on Sunday. Reggina (10/11) did their bit for the bet, winning 2-0, but Juventus didn’t, drawing 1-1 at lowly Catania to beat Michael out of close to £3,800 with bonuses. Heartbreak for both punters.
Remember, McEnaneys regular Raffowas the punter who nearly hit eight draws two weeks back only for injury-time goals to thwart him.
This time he took just the seven draws and threw in Waterford at 1/2 in a £3 Friday night accumulator.
Waterford did the business and so too did six of his seven draws.
It was the Bray-Drogheda game that eneded up beating him out of nearly 16 grand – another sickener for poor Raffo who should try his hand at the pools.
Another punter crying into his beer was a Lisburn bloke who was waiting on Juventus on Sunday after grabbing SEVEN winners on Saturday in his Euro bet.
He backed Bayern Munich (1/1), Hertha Berlin (6/4), Werder Bremen (1/2), Wolfsburg (7/5), Lille (11/10), Lorient (8/5) and Monaco (11/8) who all won to give the £5 bet a massive double on Sunday. Reggina (10/11) did their bit for the bet, winning 2-0, but Juventus didn’t, drawing 1-1 at lowly Catania to beat Michael out of close to £3,800 with bonuses. Heartbreak for both punters.
Local punters clean up with some tasty bets
My fax machine was absolutely red-hot this week with some great bets from local bookmakers who took a bit of a caning at the weekend.
We start with the biggest windfall from the smallest stake. Our favourite kind of bet.
An Andersonstown punter cleaned up at Ladbrokes with a weekend golf bet.
He placed 2 x £2 wins and a £2 double on the Players’ Championship and the Italian Open.
Our wily punter took Hennie Otto at 66/1 and he obliged by a stroke in the Italian Open. Already £132 in the bank and £132 going on Sergio Garcia (40/1) on Sunday night in the Players’ Championship and what a sweat the Andersonstown punter had.
Garcia forced a play-off when he sank a birdie at the last and our punter was now on the sweat of his life. The little Spaniard went on to grab victory and our punter was in punting heaven. He had just won £5,710 for a £6 stake – an amazing bet.
A Springfield Road punter hit the same firm with a £15 treble at the Irish Lotto – his magic numbers came in when 6, 10 and 14 came out to give the punter £9,015.
Another big-money gambler scooped close to 11 grand last Wednesday night with selections at Punchestown. He placed £200 on two horses and £400 on another and rolled them up with a £15 trixie – a layout of £860.
His first horse CEASEN DESERT (12/1) more than paid for the bet when winning the 7.30 and 35 minutes later MODEL ATHLETE (4/1) gave him another windfall and doubles up on his trixie.
His remaining selection NEW PHASE (3/1) hacked up in the last to give our big-time punter a windfall of £10,781 – wow!
We end with what’s another bad luck story in a way, because our punter, although he picked up few quid, could have won a small fortune. The North Belfast man placed a 5p Lucky 57 – a bet that cost him a mere £2.85.
He took all the six races at Chester last Thursday and came so close to going through the card.
He had the first the first FOUR winners with Mull Of Dubai (13/2), Championship Point (12/1), Doctor Fremantle (11/8) and Huzzah (15/2) all winning to give the punter an almighty sweat.
The fifth leg of the bet was to be the downfall when Musical Bridge (9/2) was badly hampered and finished a well beaten fourth.
His last horse, Not My Choice, absolutely sluiced home at (6/1). He picked up £1,676.63 off his docket, but he would have outdone the rest of the winners this week if Musical Bridge had won, but still, a great piece of punting.
We start with the biggest windfall from the smallest stake. Our favourite kind of bet.
An Andersonstown punter cleaned up at Ladbrokes with a weekend golf bet.
He placed 2 x £2 wins and a £2 double on the Players’ Championship and the Italian Open.
Our wily punter took Hennie Otto at 66/1 and he obliged by a stroke in the Italian Open. Already £132 in the bank and £132 going on Sergio Garcia (40/1) on Sunday night in the Players’ Championship and what a sweat the Andersonstown punter had.
Garcia forced a play-off when he sank a birdie at the last and our punter was now on the sweat of his life. The little Spaniard went on to grab victory and our punter was in punting heaven. He had just won £5,710 for a £6 stake – an amazing bet.
A Springfield Road punter hit the same firm with a £15 treble at the Irish Lotto – his magic numbers came in when 6, 10 and 14 came out to give the punter £9,015.
Another big-money gambler scooped close to 11 grand last Wednesday night with selections at Punchestown. He placed £200 on two horses and £400 on another and rolled them up with a £15 trixie – a layout of £860.
His first horse CEASEN DESERT (12/1) more than paid for the bet when winning the 7.30 and 35 minutes later MODEL ATHLETE (4/1) gave him another windfall and doubles up on his trixie.
His remaining selection NEW PHASE (3/1) hacked up in the last to give our big-time punter a windfall of £10,781 – wow!
We end with what’s another bad luck story in a way, because our punter, although he picked up few quid, could have won a small fortune. The North Belfast man placed a 5p Lucky 57 – a bet that cost him a mere £2.85.
He took all the six races at Chester last Thursday and came so close to going through the card.
He had the first the first FOUR winners with Mull Of Dubai (13/2), Championship Point (12/1), Doctor Fremantle (11/8) and Huzzah (15/2) all winning to give the punter an almighty sweat.
The fifth leg of the bet was to be the downfall when Musical Bridge (9/2) was badly hampered and finished a well beaten fourth.
His last horse, Not My Choice, absolutely sluiced home at (6/1). He picked up £1,676.63 off his docket, but he would have outdone the rest of the winners this week if Musical Bridge had won, but still, a great piece of punting.
Punter warns of those ‘draw no bet’ specials
A concerned punter was on the telephone warning punters about backing these ‘draw no bet’ specials.
He had a few quid on the Liverpool v Chelsea game and was expecting his £30 stake back after the game finished 1-1, but rules on these bets state that extra-time is to be counted.
With cup finals and play-offs coming up he has warned punters that they are on a loser if the match is settled in extra-time and wants bookmakers to make these rules clearer – ie to display sheets and put info on screens.
He had a few quid on the Liverpool v Chelsea game and was expecting his £30 stake back after the game finished 1-1, but rules on these bets state that extra-time is to be counted.
With cup finals and play-offs coming up he has warned punters that they are on a loser if the match is settled in extra-time and wants bookmakers to make these rules clearer – ie to display sheets and put info on screens.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Punter hits bookmakers with £60 SCORECAST
A DVLNI punter had cause to celebrate after last nights Champions League game.
Our wily punter took Drogba to open the scoring and the match to end 1-1.
The odds of 30/1 were to good to turn dow the punter told the PG and I had just won £60 in a five pound virtual horse double - I let it ride and ended up winning over £1800 .
Rumour has it he's away to steepldowns for the weekend!
6 out of 6 for New Approach?
The Punters Guide at last returned to the winner’s enclosure at the weekend after we tipped up 25/1 shot Monkerhostin to win the win the Bet 365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
We have had a lean spell in the last few months and let’s hope this is the start of a good run.
It must be summer already, we have the Guineas this weekend. Indeed, we start with the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday (3.25) and we have a hot favourite in the shape of Jim Bolger’s unbeaten New Approach (below, 2/1). He ran out a brave winner of the Dewhurst over the Newmarket course in October and had Ravens Pass behind that day. If the colt has trained on to a three-year-old, then it’s simple, he will make it six from six on Saturday. Not all of them progress, though.
Of the dangers, we are putting up Moynahan from the Paul Cole yard who looks to me overpriced at 50/1 – that’s just under 16/1 the place. He has had two runs: a fourth on his debut at Goodwood and then he looked classy when winning at Doncaster. The best-backed horse this week has been the Aidan O’Brien-trained Henrythenavigator who is now a 12/1 shot from 20s. But this one has ground to make up on New Approach since their two-year-old days.
They Bet: New Approach 2/1, Ravens Pass 9/2, Ibn Khaldun 6/1, Jupiter Pluvius 12/1, Henrythenavigator 14/1, Stimulation 16/1, Fireside 20/1, Perfect Stride 22/1, Rio De La Plata 25/1 and it’s 33/1 bar these.
On to the mares with the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday (3.20) and this is a closer betting field with unbeaten fillies Infallible and Natagora battling it for favouritism with the latter being backed in to fours from 20s, same price she was prior to winning the Dubai Duty Free at Newbury.
Jockeys sometimes – sorry, most of the time – put me off a horse and let’s just say I’m not a big fan of Richard Hills (he’ll probably get a Guineas double now!)
We like the look of the John Gosden-trained INFALLIBLE, who looked a cut above when hacking up here in the Nell Gwyn Stakes to make it two course wins out of two – she looks a solid bet on Sunday. The big danger could be the French trained Natagora (9/2) who comes to Newmarket with a tall reputation
They Bet: Infallible 4/1, Muthabara 4/1, Natagora 9/2, Spacious 6/1, Kitty Matcham 14/1, Savethisdanceforme 14/1, Laureldean Gale 20/1, Psalm 20/1, Halfway To Heaven 33/1, Lush Lashes 33/1, Nahoodh 33/1, Saoirse Abu 33/1, Max One Two Three 40/1, Francesca DGiorgio 50/1, Nijoom Dubai 50/1, Royal Confidence 50/1, Lady Deauville 66/1, Spinning Lucy 100/1.
Next week sees the big May Chester meeting and you’re advised to keep a look out for the progressive Highland Legacy in the Cup on Wednesday – he currently trades at around 7/1 and looks like very good value.
A wee bit of thought on those weekend selections could pay off
We have reached the pivotal point of the season when you simply need to get those league tables out and do a bit of studying.
Last week we yet again were out of luck with Man City surrendering a two-goal lead to beat our quad, but for the 19th time this season we delivered two out of three draws – a 10/1 winner – and if you have backed our XXX selections all season, well then you have a hefty profit.
On to this weekennd and our quad consists of teams who must win for different reasons - it’s as simple as that. We start off with the conclusion of what has been a memorable season in the Championship and hopefully can come up with a winning quad.
SOUTHAMPTON (5/4) let us down a few weeks back but we have taken them get to the three points they need to try and escape relegation – they take on a Sheffield Utd side who need four other games to go their way to sneak into the play-offs.
WATFORD (11/10) have lost their way big time in recent weeks but are still hanging in there for a play-off place; we expect them to get the three points they need at Blackpool.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (8/11) gave themselves a lifeline with a win at Leicester last week and should make it to safety with a win over ‘safe’ Norwich.
Making the quad up are WOLVES (1/2) who could yet sneak into the play-offs and to do that, a win over Plymouth is needed.
On to the Premiership race and the big question remains, are champions Man Utd cracking?
They booked their Champions League final place on Tuesday night, but again failed to convince – a wonder-goal was required to see them through and you don’t get those every game.
The Reds are 1/8 to beat bogey team West Ham (14/1) at Old Trafford and Chelsea are 4/9 to win at in-form Newcastle (4/1) .
On to our FIVEHIT and we kick-off with BOLTON (4/6) who need a win at home to the now safe Sunderland and should get it. In-form ASTON VILLA (4/7) should collect all points at home to Wigan while SPL leaders Celtic (4/9) could go EIGHT points clear with a win over Motherwell at Fir Park.
CHESTER (6/5) know a win at home to Macclesfield will save them from demotion to the Blue Square Conference.
Making the fivehit up are STOKE (4/5) who know a win against a doomed-looking Leicester could see them strut their stuff in the Premiership next season.
PG XXX: Fulham v Birmingham (23/10), Reading v Spurs (11/5) Middlesboro v Portsmouth (23/10)
(remember those doubles and treble)
OUTSIDE Double: Hibs (10/3), Bradford (9/4)
Last week we yet again were out of luck with Man City surrendering a two-goal lead to beat our quad, but for the 19th time this season we delivered two out of three draws – a 10/1 winner – and if you have backed our XXX selections all season, well then you have a hefty profit.
On to this weekennd and our quad consists of teams who must win for different reasons - it’s as simple as that. We start off with the conclusion of what has been a memorable season in the Championship and hopefully can come up with a winning quad.
SOUTHAMPTON (5/4) let us down a few weeks back but we have taken them get to the three points they need to try and escape relegation – they take on a Sheffield Utd side who need four other games to go their way to sneak into the play-offs.
WATFORD (11/10) have lost their way big time in recent weeks but are still hanging in there for a play-off place; we expect them to get the three points they need at Blackpool.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (8/11) gave themselves a lifeline with a win at Leicester last week and should make it to safety with a win over ‘safe’ Norwich.
Making the quad up are WOLVES (1/2) who could yet sneak into the play-offs and to do that, a win over Plymouth is needed.
On to the Premiership race and the big question remains, are champions Man Utd cracking?
They booked their Champions League final place on Tuesday night, but again failed to convince – a wonder-goal was required to see them through and you don’t get those every game.
The Reds are 1/8 to beat bogey team West Ham (14/1) at Old Trafford and Chelsea are 4/9 to win at in-form Newcastle (4/1) .
On to our FIVEHIT and we kick-off with BOLTON (4/6) who need a win at home to the now safe Sunderland and should get it. In-form ASTON VILLA (4/7) should collect all points at home to Wigan while SPL leaders Celtic (4/9) could go EIGHT points clear with a win over Motherwell at Fir Park.
CHESTER (6/5) know a win at home to Macclesfield will save them from demotion to the Blue Square Conference.
Making the fivehit up are STOKE (4/5) who know a win against a doomed-looking Leicester could see them strut their stuff in the Premiership next season.
PG XXX: Fulham v Birmingham (23/10), Reading v Spurs (11/5) Middlesboro v Portsmouth (23/10)
(remember those doubles and treble)
OUTSIDE Double: Hibs (10/3), Bradford (9/4)
IFA to look into weekend betting scam
The IFA are investigating reports of a possible betting scam at an Irish League game on Saturday – at last, I hear you cry.
The match under investigation is Glenavon v Armagh, a game which was won by the Mourneview men 5-0. Local layers suspended the betting in this game as they apparently got wind of substantial bets going on Glenavon.
Not only were local punters piling on, it is also reported that a high number of new internet and telebetting accounts were opened to place bets only on the Glenavon-Armagh game.
Hooky betting patterns in the Irish League have long been a topic of conversation. It’s why some companies just steer clear of the whole league.
The match under investigation is Glenavon v Armagh, a game which was won by the Mourneview men 5-0. Local layers suspended the betting in this game as they apparently got wind of substantial bets going on Glenavon.
Not only were local punters piling on, it is also reported that a high number of new internet and telebetting accounts were opened to place bets only on the Glenavon-Armagh game.
Hooky betting patterns in the Irish League have long been a topic of conversation. It’s why some companies just steer clear of the whole league.
Absolute sickener
A McEnaneys punter who wishes only to be known as Raffo was left in pieces on Saturday after just missing out on... wait for it... 73 grand!
The madcap punter took EIGHT draws in a £5 accumulator – and how close did poor Raffo come?
We take up the bet with five minutes to go and, amazingly, our punter had SEVEN out his eight drawing. That all changed when Cardiff equalised in the 89th minute – our punter was on the verge of the bet of the decade.
The time was pushing towards 4.55 and five of the draws were through as full times on the videprinter, then came the news that there was a goal at the Stadium of Light.
Shock horror for our punter as Sunderland had just scored a 93rd minute winner against Middlesboro, and before he could curse them another goal went in at Eastlands with Fulham grabbing a 94th minute winner at City to leave our poor punter crying into his beer. We’ll send poor Raffo a few Sean Graham betting vouchers to ease the pain – and the nerves.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Sizing to bounce back
We have the ACC Champion Hurdle today at Punchestown at (4.20) and another competitive heat looks to be on the cards.
The early week betting has seen Champion Hurdle flop Sizing Europe put in as the the 7/4 jolly.
He was travelling sweetly turning for home at Cheltenham, but something went wrong with the horse and he was all but pulled up, but we expect him to bounce back on Friday.
They Bet: Sizing Europe 7/4, Sublimity 3/1, Harchibald 6/1, Punjabi 6/1, De Valera 10/1, Straw Bear 10/1 and 14/1 bar.
Big race on Saturday is the Whitbread Gold Cup and we like the look of the veteran Monkerhostin who looks a solid each-way choice at 25/1 in this end-of-season marathon. Iris De Balme hacked up in the Scottish National last week and is hoping to emulate Hot Weld last year by winning both races and is currently quoted at 9/1.
They Bet: Royal County Star 6/1, Ungaro 15/2, Iris De Balme 9/1, Bewleys Berry 12/1, Hoo La Baloo 12/1, Lothian Falcon 12/1, Caribou 14/1, Patsy Hall 14/1, Racing Demon 14/1, Newbay Prop 16/1.
The early week betting has seen Champion Hurdle flop Sizing Europe put in as the the 7/4 jolly.
He was travelling sweetly turning for home at Cheltenham, but something went wrong with the horse and he was all but pulled up, but we expect him to bounce back on Friday.
They Bet: Sizing Europe 7/4, Sublimity 3/1, Harchibald 6/1, Punjabi 6/1, De Valera 10/1, Straw Bear 10/1 and 14/1 bar.
Big race on Saturday is the Whitbread Gold Cup and we like the look of the veteran Monkerhostin who looks a solid each-way choice at 25/1 in this end-of-season marathon. Iris De Balme hacked up in the Scottish National last week and is hoping to emulate Hot Weld last year by winning both races and is currently quoted at 9/1.
They Bet: Royal County Star 6/1, Ungaro 15/2, Iris De Balme 9/1, Bewleys Berry 12/1, Hoo La Baloo 12/1, Lothian Falcon 12/1, Caribou 14/1, Patsy Hall 14/1, Racing Demon 14/1, Newbay Prop 16/1.
Get on Celtic to go 5 points clear and take Man Utd to grab precious point at the Bridge
What a fantastic weekend of football ahead with titles in England and Scotland hinging on what happens on Saturday and Sunday.
We start in the Premiership with second-placed Chelsea taking on champions and leaders Man Utd at Stamford Bridge (Saturday 12.45).
In recent weeks both teams have gone off the boil, which is why that late Carlos Tevez goal at Blackburn on Saturday past could well turn out to be the most important goal of the season.
The Blues are unbeaten at the Bridge going on four years and it will take a big Utd performance to win there on Saturday.
All the Reds really need on Saturday is a draw and that will put them in pole position going into the final two games.
Neutrals will want a Chelsea win on Saturday to set up an end-of-season thriller, but I expect Man Utd to get the draw (11/5) that they will be more than happy with, but we have opted for the in-form Michael Essien (below)at 16/1 to open the scoring for Chelsea.
On to the SPL and, believe it or not, Celtic can move FIVE points clear if they can beat Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday.
Rangers look like a boxer on the ropes at the moment and their quadruple bid could be about to unravel.
They are in UEFA Cup action tonight against Fiorentina in the semi-finals and that could sap even more energy out of this already knackered ’Gers team.
Celtic beat them 2-1 last week at Parkhead thanks to that late, late goal from Vennegor of Hesselink and I think they will beat them again come Sunday. Celts midfielder Barry Robson has caught the eye of Celtic supporters and looks a good bet to open the scoring at 14/1.
Can they win the SPL? A tough one to call. They will go five points clear if they win on Saturday and the pressure will be on Rangers to win their three games in hand. So still a lot to play for in the SPL if the Celts win on Sunday.
On to our weekend quad and we were let down by Southampton last week who were the worst price we had, at 10/11.
On to our four this weekend and we start off with our weekend nap where we have opted for LEEDS (1/1) to win at Yeovil on Friday night. A win will secure at least a play-off place for the Elland Road outfit.
On to Saturday and MAN CIY (4/5) should send down relegation-haunted Fulham.
SUNDERLAND (6/5) still need a win to secure Premiership safety and they are the third team down in our weekend quad.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1/1) are still in the hunt for automatic promotion and we are banking on them taking all points away at Hartlepool.
Is this the week? Let’s hope so!
PG XXX: West Ham v Newcastle (9/4), Birmingham v Liverpool (5/2), Aberdeen v Hibs (11/5)
(remember those doubles and treble)
Live TV Double: Celtic (1/1),
Chelsea draw (11/5)
Must win Quad: Hereford (1/1), Rochdale (1/1), Barnsley (1/1), Leicester (1/1)
EURO Quad: Udinese (1/1), Ath Madrid (13/8) Beyer Leverkusen (4/5) Espanyol (5/4)
Friday, 18 April 2008
Selby (11/2) looks the bet in World Snooker Championships
The World Snooker championships get under way at Sheffield on Saturday with defending champion John Higgins cueing off against Matthew Stevens.
The betting is led by Ronnie O’Sullivan who gets a 3/1 quote and many pundits feel that he has the easiest of draws. But which Ronnie O’Sullivan will turn up at the Crucible?
Mark Selby (11/2) who finished ruuner-up last year is a man on a mission and is the in-form player going into the championships, havingrecently won the Masters.
The same final as last year is priced at 33/1 and is worth a pound or two.
Of the home challenge Joe Swail gets a 200/1 quote while Ken Doherty gets a 25/1 pricing, but Selby looks the bet.
The betting is led by Ronnie O’Sullivan who gets a 3/1 quote and many pundits feel that he has the easiest of draws. But which Ronnie O’Sullivan will turn up at the Crucible?
Mark Selby (11/2) who finished ruuner-up last year is a man on a mission and is the in-form player going into the championships, havingrecently won the Masters.
The same final as last year is priced at 33/1 and is worth a pound or two.
Of the home challenge Joe Swail gets a 200/1 quote while Ken Doherty gets a 25/1 pricing, but Selby looks the bet.
It’s time to get those league tables out and study
Another 10/1 winner for the PG as yet again we hit the bar with our XXX – that late goal by Stoke at Coventry thwarted us for the 18th time this season. Good grief!
We are into the final weeks of the season so our advice is to get those tables out and spend a bit of time studying who’s playing for what. It’ll pay off, honestly.
The PG weekend quad selections are all in the Championship which is turning out to be one hell of a run-in with three points covering the top five and any one from nine could be relegated with Scunthorpe and Colchester already down.
We start with the relegation battle and 55 points is the target for safety for those teams and we have gone for COVENTRY (13/10) who are on 49 points with three games to play.
They have been sucked back into the relegation battle and can get themselves out of it by winning at already-relegated Colchester
Ian Holloway’s LEICESTER (15/8) are on 48 points and travel to safe-looking Barnsley in a match the Foxes need to win.
The match of the weekend sees two of the automatic promotion rivals going head to head, with Bristol City travelling to Stoke in what could determine where one of these clubs will be playing their football next year. We have opted for a win for Tony Pullis’ Stoke side who look too strong for City and the even money on offer looks a good bet. SOUTHAMPTON (1/1) have hit form at the right time and look a solid choice against ‘safe’ Burnley at St Mary’s. The quad pays a healthy £132 for a £5 stake
PG XXX: Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday (9/4), Watford v Crystal Palace (11/5), Carlisle v Southend (11/5)
( remember those doubles and treble)
OUTSIDE QUAD: Brechin (11/8), Cardiff (21/20), Wolves (1/1), Northampton (11/10)
We are into the final weeks of the season so our advice is to get those tables out and spend a bit of time studying who’s playing for what. It’ll pay off, honestly.
The PG weekend quad selections are all in the Championship which is turning out to be one hell of a run-in with three points covering the top five and any one from nine could be relegated with Scunthorpe and Colchester already down.
We start with the relegation battle and 55 points is the target for safety for those teams and we have gone for COVENTRY (13/10) who are on 49 points with three games to play.
They have been sucked back into the relegation battle and can get themselves out of it by winning at already-relegated Colchester
Ian Holloway’s LEICESTER (15/8) are on 48 points and travel to safe-looking Barnsley in a match the Foxes need to win.
The match of the weekend sees two of the automatic promotion rivals going head to head, with Bristol City travelling to Stoke in what could determine where one of these clubs will be playing their football next year. We have opted for a win for Tony Pullis’ Stoke side who look too strong for City and the even money on offer looks a good bet. SOUTHAMPTON (1/1) have hit form at the right time and look a solid choice against ‘safe’ Burnley at St Mary’s. The quad pays a healthy £132 for a £5 stake
PG XXX: Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday (9/4), Watford v Crystal Palace (11/5), Carlisle v Southend (11/5)
( remember those doubles and treble)
OUTSIDE QUAD: Brechin (11/8), Cardiff (21/20), Wolves (1/1), Northampton (11/10)
Old Benny the one to beat in Scottish Grand National
A great week of racing ahead and it all gets under way today with the Craven Stakes at Newmarket (3.45) and as usual it looks a tricky heat – they all are at the start of the flat season.
The big race of the weekend is the Scottish Grand National at Ayr (3.40 Saturday) and the Welsh Grand National winner Miko De Beauchene heads the betting on 6/1.
Cheltenham winner Old Benny has been backed all week and is now as short as 13/2 in places with Richard Johnston on board and he looks the one to beat in the four-mile marathon. He won over that trip at the festival and looks on the up.
BUTLERS CABIN (12/1) was going well before falling at the Chair in the English National and if he turns up on Saturday then he looks a good each-way punt.
On to next week and we have the Punchestown Festival (our very own Cheltenham) and Champion Hurdle flop Sizing Europe is due to turn up in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle. If he does we expect him to return to winning ways.
MOSSBANK ran a gallant race at the Cheltenham Festival when second to Old Vic, but the form has been franked with that horse beating Kauto Star at Aintree .
You’d be well advised to take the Michael Hourigan horse to upset Gold Cup third Neptune Collonges in the Guinness Gold Cup.
The big race of the weekend is the Scottish Grand National at Ayr (3.40 Saturday) and the Welsh Grand National winner Miko De Beauchene heads the betting on 6/1.
Cheltenham winner Old Benny has been backed all week and is now as short as 13/2 in places with Richard Johnston on board and he looks the one to beat in the four-mile marathon. He won over that trip at the festival and looks on the up.
BUTLERS CABIN (12/1) was going well before falling at the Chair in the English National and if he turns up on Saturday then he looks a good each-way punt.
On to next week and we have the Punchestown Festival (our very own Cheltenham) and Champion Hurdle flop Sizing Europe is due to turn up in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle. If he does we expect him to return to winning ways.
MOSSBANK ran a gallant race at the Cheltenham Festival when second to Old Vic, but the form has been franked with that horse beating Kauto Star at Aintree .
You’d be well advised to take the Michael Hourigan horse to upset Gold Cup third Neptune Collonges in the Guinness Gold Cup.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Punter just misses out on small fortune
An Belfast punter so nearly took Sean Graham bookmakers for 30 big ones last Tuesday.
The big question is, did the punter pick these three horses, or did he get some cracking tips? Make your own mind up...
He did two different bets on the day with the same three horses on them.
First bet was 2 x £50 each-way wins and a £100 straight win, and the second was 3 x £10 each-way doubles and 1 x £10 each-way treble – an outlay of £380.
The first horse was Tyup Pompey in the 2.50 at Ludlow and it was well-backed before the off and won comfortably at 20/1 – our punter had just pocketed a grand.
His next horse didn’t run until the evening meeting at Kempton and Hey Presto (6.20) obliged by a head, again at 20/1; not only had our punter won another £5,660, but he was now on the sweat of his life.
He had just picked two 20/1 winners, had banked almost seven grand and had a small fortune riding on his remaining selection.
His next pick, NICE WEE GIRL, was well backed and went off the 7/2 jolly. Our punter’s luck ran out as his selection could only manage second – absolutely gutting for the punter who stood to win over 20 grand on the £10 each-way treble alone.
Counting his doubles up and the £100 win he had on Nice Wee Girl, he stood to win close to 30 grand.
To rub salt into the wounds, Nice Wee Girl turned up at Wolverhampton on Friday night and won after again being well-backed. I wonder if our punter was on?
Let’s hope so.
Punter just misses out on massive windfall
An Belfast punter so nearly took Sean Graham bookmakers for 30 big ones last Tuesday.
The big question is, did the punter pick these three horses, or did he get some cracking tips? Make your own mind up...
He did two different bets on the day with the same three horses on them.
First bet was 2 x £50 each-way wins and a £100 straight win, and the second was 3 x £10 each-way doubles and 1 x £10 each-way treble – an outlay of £380.
The first horse was Tyup Pompey in the 2.50 at Ludlow and it was well-backed before the off and won comfortably at 20/1 – our punter had just pocketed a grand.
His next horse didn’t run until the evening meeting at Kempton and Hey Presto (6.20) obliged by a head, again at 20/1; not only had our punter won another £5,660, but he was now on the sweat of his life.
He had just picked two 20/1 winners, had banked almost seven grand and had a small fortune riding on his remaining selection.
His next pick, NICE WEE GIRL, was well backed and went off the 7/2 jolly. Our punter’s luck ran out as his selection could only manage second – absolutely gutting for the punter who stood to win over 20 grand on the £10 each-way treble alone.
Counting his doubles up and the £100 win he had on Nice Wee Girl, he stood to win close to 30 grand.
To rub salt into the wounds, Nice Wee Girl turned up at Wolverhampton on Friday night and won after again being well-backed. I wonder if our punter was on?
Let’s hope so.
The big question is, did the punter pick these three horses, or did he get some cracking tips? Make your own mind up...
He did two different bets on the day with the same three horses on them.
First bet was 2 x £50 each-way wins and a £100 straight win, and the second was 3 x £10 each-way doubles and 1 x £10 each-way treble – an outlay of £380.
The first horse was Tyup Pompey in the 2.50 at Ludlow and it was well-backed before the off and won comfortably at 20/1 – our punter had just pocketed a grand.
His next horse didn’t run until the evening meeting at Kempton and Hey Presto (6.20) obliged by a head, again at 20/1; not only had our punter won another £5,660, but he was now on the sweat of his life.
He had just picked two 20/1 winners, had banked almost seven grand and had a small fortune riding on his remaining selection.
His next pick, NICE WEE GIRL, was well backed and went off the 7/2 jolly. Our punter’s luck ran out as his selection could only manage second – absolutely gutting for the punter who stood to win over 20 grand on the £10 each-way treble alone.
Counting his doubles up and the £100 win he had on Nice Wee Girl, he stood to win close to 30 grand.
To rub salt into the wounds, Nice Wee Girl turned up at Wolverhampton on Friday night and won after again being well-backed. I wonder if our punter was on?
Let’s hope so.
Get on Campell and Hanson at 40/1
Our golfing expert Kevin Officer likes the look of Chad Campbell (pic above) in the Verizon Heritage tournament and he looks overpriced at 40/1 but expect last weeks Masters third Stewart Cink to be thereabouts at 14s.
Peter Hanson looks another golfer over priced in the Volvo China Open again he is 40/1.
Kevin's advice is two single wins and and each-way doubel
Friday, 11 April 2008
Local Teacher misses out on big windfall
A local teacher who needs to remain anonymous for fear of being tapped by the school kids narrowly missed out in paying off his mortgage on a Saturday night bet at Kempton Park.
His day started off with £1ew on Comply or Die at 7/1 in the Grand National. Deciding that it wouldn’t cover his Saturday night out – three pints and a fish supper – he decided to re-invest it.
Picking 4 horses at the all-weather Kempton Park meeting on Saturday night, he covered them with a 50p Lucky 15 and £1 ew quad.
Standing in the bookies he watched the first horse rump home – Lough Beg at 13/2 – by more than 4 lengths in 7.50 race.
He could taste the fish supper when the second horse Jomus won the 8.20 at 9/1.
A quick calculation on the chalk board tolk him he had well over £100 running on the final two horses on his bet.
When thethird horse Commander Cave was drove home by Richard Hughes in the 8.50 at 15/2 his calculations told him that he could being dining out in Paris if the last one obliged.
At 9.20 in the last race – our teacher had well over £1000 running onto Aggbag which opened up at 14/1.
A guaranteed return of £440 already in the bag but the final horse in his bet would net him £18,000 at 14’s.
The price shortened to 12s a quick calculation on the blackboard told him the final bet could now net £16000 plus but he didn’t mind it’s usually a good omen to see the price shorten.
The race was off and he settled back to listen to the commentary.
Into the final straight and his horse was moving up on the leaders with only yards to go he was within 2 lengths of the leader.
The yells could be hearfrom Casement Park to St Pauls as he willed his horse home.
Unfortunately Aggbag finished 4th less than 1 ½ lengths behind the winner. A quick calculation tells me those 1 ½ lengths cost our unlucky punter over £15000 – that’s over £10,000 per length and his mortgage payment will have to wait another day. Needless to say hower – the cod supper – well that’s a different kettle of fish.
Punter narrowly misses out on Grand National tri-cast
An Ormeau Road butcher just missed out on the tri-cast in the Grand National on Saturday.
It’s hard enough to pick the winner of the race, never mind the first three home.
Butcher John had placed 6 x £1 reverse tri-casts (total outlay £6).
It was heartbreak for the punter who was on one hell of a sweat as the first four horses came to the final fence.
His three horses were winner Comply or Die (right), Kings John Castle and Slim Pickings who jumped the last as the front three. The bet bit the dust as Slim Pickings started to back track and Chelsea Harbour ran on under pressure to get third place.
The tri-cast paid £2,268.11, so John was beaten out of around two grand as Slim Pickings was a 10/1 shot. To rub salt into the wounds, John also had £30 on Slim Pickings in the race – a really gutting day for the South Belfast butcher.
It’s hard enough to pick the winner of the race, never mind the first three home.
Butcher John had placed 6 x £1 reverse tri-casts (total outlay £6).
It was heartbreak for the punter who was on one hell of a sweat as the first four horses came to the final fence.
His three horses were winner Comply or Die (right), Kings John Castle and Slim Pickings who jumped the last as the front three. The bet bit the dust as Slim Pickings started to back track and Chelsea Harbour ran on under pressure to get third place.
The tri-cast paid £2,268.11, so John was beaten out of around two grand as Slim Pickings was a 10/1 shot. To rub salt into the wounds, John also had £30 on Slim Pickings in the race – a really gutting day for the South Belfast butcher.
Title race ready to be blown wide open
The title race could be blown wide open this weekend when Arsenal lock horns with Manchester United on Sunday.
The champions have drifted to 1/4 (from 1/7) with layers to win the Premier League after they were held 2-2 at Middlesbrough on Sunday, which enabled dogged Chelsea to close the gap to three points.
Chelsea have been backed in to 11/4 and look to have the easier run-in – remember they play the Reds on Saturday, April 26 – a day that could detemine where the Premiership title ends up this season. Remember, the Blues are unbeaten at home in four years
Draw specialists Arsenal get a 20/1 quote and remain six points behind Utd after their 1-1 draw with Liverpool. If they could snatch a win on Sunday it would be three points which would keep the Gunners in with a wee bit of a sniff, but can they lift themselves after Tuesday night’s Champions’ League sickener?
Last weekend Sheffield Wednesday let us down in the PG Quad, but we still hope to be visiting the winner’s enclosure before the season ends.
First team down and our weekend nap is in-form SUNDERLAND 5/4 who know a win over Man City on Saturday will guarantee Premiership safety for next season.
READING 5/6 could send Fulham down to the Championship and also guarantee them Premiership football next term.
Another team struggling are BIRMINGHAM 9/5 and they face Champions’ League-chasing Everton – we expect Alex McLeish’s team to cause a bit of an upset here.
Making the weekend PG Quad up are FA Cup Finalists CARDIFF 4/5 who should take all points at home to Blackpool. Let’s hope we finally get that wee bit of luck we need to send us to the settler’s window.
PG XXX: Bristol City v Wolves (9/4), Coventry v Stoke (11/5), Portsmouth v Newcastle (11/5)
( remember those doubles and treble)
FIVEHIT: Cardiff (4/5), Hull (4/5), Crystal Palace (4/7), Queen’s Park (5/6), Dunfermline (4/5)
EURO QUAD: VfB Stuggart (19/10), Seville (6/4),
Valencia (11/10), Ath. Madrid (13/10)
The champions have drifted to 1/4 (from 1/7) with layers to win the Premier League after they were held 2-2 at Middlesbrough on Sunday, which enabled dogged Chelsea to close the gap to three points.
Chelsea have been backed in to 11/4 and look to have the easier run-in – remember they play the Reds on Saturday, April 26 – a day that could detemine where the Premiership title ends up this season. Remember, the Blues are unbeaten at home in four years
Draw specialists Arsenal get a 20/1 quote and remain six points behind Utd after their 1-1 draw with Liverpool. If they could snatch a win on Sunday it would be three points which would keep the Gunners in with a wee bit of a sniff, but can they lift themselves after Tuesday night’s Champions’ League sickener?
Last weekend Sheffield Wednesday let us down in the PG Quad, but we still hope to be visiting the winner’s enclosure before the season ends.
First team down and our weekend nap is in-form SUNDERLAND 5/4 who know a win over Man City on Saturday will guarantee Premiership safety for next season.
READING 5/6 could send Fulham down to the Championship and also guarantee them Premiership football next term.
Another team struggling are BIRMINGHAM 9/5 and they face Champions’ League-chasing Everton – we expect Alex McLeish’s team to cause a bit of an upset here.
Making the weekend PG Quad up are FA Cup Finalists CARDIFF 4/5 who should take all points at home to Blackpool. Let’s hope we finally get that wee bit of luck we need to send us to the settler’s window.
PG XXX: Bristol City v Wolves (9/4), Coventry v Stoke (11/5), Portsmouth v Newcastle (11/5)
( remember those doubles and treble)
FIVEHIT: Cardiff (4/5), Hull (4/5), Crystal Palace (4/7), Queen’s Park (5/6), Dunfermline (4/5)
EURO QUAD: VfB Stuggart (19/10), Seville (6/4),
Valencia (11/10), Ath. Madrid (13/10)
Cink the each-way bet at 80/1
Today (Thursday) sees the start of the 72nd US Masters, writes Kevin Officer.
It is the only major tournament that is always held at the same course, the Augusta National Golf Club, and the history of the course makes the traditional Green Jacket the winner receives the prize a majority of players would choose if asked to select their ultimate glory.
The question on everyone's lips is, can anyone stop the Tiger?
Woods is the shortest priced favourite ever at 11/10 to claim his 14th major – a terrible price considering how hard the Augusta course plays. Yet again the course has been lengthened and plays around 7,500 yards which plays right into the hands of golf’s big hitters.
With victory in the Masters, the first major championship of the season, superstar Tiger could set himself up for a run at golf's holy grail – victories in all four major championships in one year. Tiger is also set to become sport’s first billionaire sportsman by 2010.
Even the great Jack Nicklaus (18 major wins) in his prime was only being priced at 5/1 to win any of the majors so the bookies are running scared of Woods – and no wonder. His stats for his last eight tournaments worldwide in 2008 read seven wins out of eight.
Last year’s winner, Zach Johnson, is priced at 66/1 to repeat last year’s win but is not playing the greatest at the moment.
Of the Europeans playing at Augusta, two players in particular are going well at present.
Irishman and current British Open Champion Padraig Harrington (33/1) and young English hope Justin Rose (40/1), who has climbed to sixth in the world ranking, look the best bet out of the Europeans but an each way bet is advised.
A top five pays 1/4 the odds. Justin Rose believes he has the game to grab the Green Jacket for Europe, nine years after Spain's José Maria Olazábal completed his second victory and 12 years after fellow Englishman Nick Faldo completed a hat-trick of Masters wins. Harrington and Rose are showing signs of form at the right time. So who do we tip to do well at Augusta?
We have gone for Stewart Cink, who is overpriced at 80/1
Apart from Woods (obviously) we have gone for a player who in the last year has started to play well again. American Cink is is a great each way bet which pays 20/1 for a top five finish.
Cink is playing great this year and is certain to make the US Ryder Cup team.
Another player to keep an eye out for is KJ Choi from South Korea. Choi is making huge strides on the U.S tour and again is overpriced at 50/1.
Others to watch out for are the Australian duo of Geoff Ogilvy (33/1) and Adam Scott (40/1).
No Australian has ever won at the Masters, so could this be the year?
This year, those each way bets look the way to go.
It is the only major tournament that is always held at the same course, the Augusta National Golf Club, and the history of the course makes the traditional Green Jacket the winner receives the prize a majority of players would choose if asked to select their ultimate glory.
The question on everyone's lips is, can anyone stop the Tiger?
Woods is the shortest priced favourite ever at 11/10 to claim his 14th major – a terrible price considering how hard the Augusta course plays. Yet again the course has been lengthened and plays around 7,500 yards which plays right into the hands of golf’s big hitters.
With victory in the Masters, the first major championship of the season, superstar Tiger could set himself up for a run at golf's holy grail – victories in all four major championships in one year. Tiger is also set to become sport’s first billionaire sportsman by 2010.
Even the great Jack Nicklaus (18 major wins) in his prime was only being priced at 5/1 to win any of the majors so the bookies are running scared of Woods – and no wonder. His stats for his last eight tournaments worldwide in 2008 read seven wins out of eight.
Last year’s winner, Zach Johnson, is priced at 66/1 to repeat last year’s win but is not playing the greatest at the moment.
Of the Europeans playing at Augusta, two players in particular are going well at present.
Irishman and current British Open Champion Padraig Harrington (33/1) and young English hope Justin Rose (40/1), who has climbed to sixth in the world ranking, look the best bet out of the Europeans but an each way bet is advised.
A top five pays 1/4 the odds. Justin Rose believes he has the game to grab the Green Jacket for Europe, nine years after Spain's José Maria Olazábal completed his second victory and 12 years after fellow Englishman Nick Faldo completed a hat-trick of Masters wins. Harrington and Rose are showing signs of form at the right time. So who do we tip to do well at Augusta?
We have gone for Stewart Cink, who is overpriced at 80/1
Apart from Woods (obviously) we have gone for a player who in the last year has started to play well again. American Cink is is a great each way bet which pays 20/1 for a top five finish.
Cink is playing great this year and is certain to make the US Ryder Cup team.
Another player to keep an eye out for is KJ Choi from South Korea. Choi is making huge strides on the U.S tour and again is overpriced at 50/1.
Others to watch out for are the Australian duo of Geoff Ogilvy (33/1) and Adam Scott (40/1).
No Australian has ever won at the Masters, so could this be the year?
This year, those each way bets look the way to go.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Grand National meeting begins
A great 3-day meeting to look forward to for punters as the Aintree Grand National meeting jumps off today.
GREAT racing today.
World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever is (11/8) to win the opener but fellow festival winner Ballyfitz (20/1) looks a strong each-way choice. Can Kauto bounce back? He is a (8/11) on shot with old foe Exotic Dancer the danger at (11/2).
Binocular (9/4) and Celestial Halo (13/8) lock horns in the novice hurdle and it looks a close one to call - don't rule out Harper Valley (7/1) who beat Frankochek at Cheltenham earlier in the season.
Christy Beamish (7/1) looks the punt in the Foxhunters Chase which is run over the National fences with the Irish trained Where Now (8/1) the danger.
Leslingtaylor (7/1) won here on his chase debut and is the one to beat in the RED RUM HCAP CHASE - Dev (16/1) will have it's supporters.
My Nap of the day is Franchoek (2/1) in the MERSEY NOV HDLE with the danger being Whiteoak. Junior (10/1) run a great race at Cheltenham and looks the bet in the finale today.
The rest is up to YOU!
Get on Cardiff (5/4) to see off giantkillers Barnsley in FA Cup
NOT AGAIN! Our XXX yet again went close last weekend – two out of three draws for the 18th time this season.
It was still a 10/1 winner for the smart punters who had doubles and trebles. We enter the final full month of the season and we hope another winning quad is round the corner.
We have the FA Cup semi-finals to look forward to and we have three Championship teams in the semi-finals.
We expect Premiership side PORTSMOUTH (1/1) to beat West Brom in Saturday’s game. In-form CARDIFF (6/4) look a solid choice against giantkillers Barnsley who have knocked out Chelsea and Liverpool en route to the semis but have been out of form since that Chelsea victory.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (6/4) are fighting relegation and travel to fellow strugglers Scunthorpe – we think the Owls will get the three points.
Making the weekend quad up are LEEDS (5/4) who got a vital win at Doncaster on Tuesday night and can take all points at Leyton Orient.
PG XXX: Blackburn v Spurs (12/5), Wigan v Birmingham (9/4), Norwich v Burnley (12/5)
PG FIVEHIT: Nottingham Forest (8/13), Carlisle (1/2), Newcastle (8/11), Northampton (4/5), QPR (10/11)
LONGSHOT TREBLE: St Johnstone (3/1), Dundee Utd (11/2), Man City (4/1)
Don’t forget doubles and trebles.
UEFA Cup
Sporting to grab draw
We have the UEFA Cup quarter-finals tonight (Thursday) and what a season Rangers are having. They have ridden their luck at times but Walter Smith’s team are still on for the quadruple.
However, they looked jaded against Celtic and we expect Sporting Lisbon to take a draw back to Portugal for the second leg. The draw is priced at 9/4. Add Fiorentina (1/1), Bayern Munich (1/2) and Bayer Leverkusen (4/6) for our UEFA Cup quad.
It was still a 10/1 winner for the smart punters who had doubles and trebles. We enter the final full month of the season and we hope another winning quad is round the corner.
We have the FA Cup semi-finals to look forward to and we have three Championship teams in the semi-finals.
We expect Premiership side PORTSMOUTH (1/1) to beat West Brom in Saturday’s game. In-form CARDIFF (6/4) look a solid choice against giantkillers Barnsley who have knocked out Chelsea and Liverpool en route to the semis but have been out of form since that Chelsea victory.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (6/4) are fighting relegation and travel to fellow strugglers Scunthorpe – we think the Owls will get the three points.
Making the weekend quad up are LEEDS (5/4) who got a vital win at Doncaster on Tuesday night and can take all points at Leyton Orient.
PG XXX: Blackburn v Spurs (12/5), Wigan v Birmingham (9/4), Norwich v Burnley (12/5)
PG FIVEHIT: Nottingham Forest (8/13), Carlisle (1/2), Newcastle (8/11), Northampton (4/5), QPR (10/11)
LONGSHOT TREBLE: St Johnstone (3/1), Dundee Utd (11/2), Man City (4/1)
Don’t forget doubles and trebles.
UEFA Cup
Sporting to grab draw
We have the UEFA Cup quarter-finals tonight (Thursday) and what a season Rangers are having. They have ridden their luck at times but Walter Smith’s team are still on for the quadruple.
However, they looked jaded against Celtic and we expect Sporting Lisbon to take a draw back to Portugal for the second leg. The draw is priced at 9/4. Add Fiorentina (1/1), Bayern Munich (1/2) and Bayer Leverkusen (4/6) for our UEFA Cup quad.
Punter out of luck
A North Belfast punter was out of luck not once but twice last week with Lucky 15 bets (below).
We begin with last Wednesday night’s bet and our punter placed a £2 Lucky 15 bet – an outlay of £30.
His first horse that night, TABOOR, scooted home at 10/1 to more than cover the outlay of the bet.
His next selection, SLIDAN 16/1, was beaten into fifth in the next but the bet received a boost when JUSTCALLMEHANDSOME won the 7.50 at sevens.
The last selection, CASABLANCA MINX, won the 8.50 at 10/1 to secure a £1,834 payday – not a bad Thursday night’s work. But if his second leg had won you are talking £39,000, but it was well beaten.
The same punter went into the same Sean Grahams pitch the following night and did the same bet.
The bet got off to an absolute flyer when Hammer Of The Gods eased home at 14/1 in the 6.50 at Wolverhampton – what a start!
It got a whole lot better when Lucayan Dancer won the next at 10/1. Our punter had already banked over £300 and the sweat was on.
It got a whole lot better when the gritty Monkey Glas got back up after being headed to win at 4/1.
The sweat was well and truly on and our punter was waiting on Most Definitely. After a ding-dong battle with Kings Fable it was up to the judges to split them. Usually when you are in a photo-finish and your horse is called out first it’s a good sign. 99 per cent of the time your horse has won, so the signs where good for our punter. But he was left devastated as Kings Fable got the verdict. Our punter had just seen £20,000 dwindle to just over two grand – absolutely gutting for the guy. But four grand is four grand.
An Andersonstown punter hit Sean Grahams for £2,031.62 with a £20 draw quad. He took Leeds 11/5, Sheffield Wednesday 11/5, Ipswich 11/5 and Crystal Palace 9/4. Great piece of punting by both lads.
Golf punter cleans up with two 100/1 shots
We all dream of that ultimate bet that could buy you a car or pay off your mortgage.
A lucky Sky Bet golf customer was celebrating on Sunday night after winning £54,385 from just a £5 each-way double. He scooped the tremendous return by combining promising French player Thomas Levet and Andres Romero, both 100/1, to win the Andalucian Open and the Zurich Classic respectively, in an each-way double.
Levet scraped home in a play-off to delight of the punter.
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
McCartans to sell up to Ladbrokes?
Strong rumours in Andersonstown today that local layers McCartans are to sell up to Ladbrokes.
Staff have been summoned to a specialmeeting in the Balmoral Hotel tonight to see what future plans are.
Could this be a April Fool for staff?
English firm Ladbrokes bought over Eastwoods last month and the PG have introduced betting on who goes next!
6/4 McGranghans 7/4 McLeans 7/2 Sean Grahams.
Staff have been summoned to a specialmeeting in the Balmoral Hotel tonight to see what future plans are.
Could this be a April Fool for staff?
English firm Ladbrokes bought over Eastwoods last month and the PG have introduced betting on who goes next!
6/4 McGranghans 7/4 McLeans 7/2 Sean Grahams.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Get on Celtic (2/1) to reignite title race
Celtic fans have endured a nightmare month which has seen them go out of the Champions’ League and Scottish Cup.
They have slipped further behind Old Firm rivals Rangers in the SPL and it’s this simple – if they lose on Saturday at Ibrox, they will not win the title.
Truth be told, this Celtic team don’t look up to it. They have hit too many flat spots in the season and that has cost them dearly.
The Strachan signings this season have just not been good enough and he could find himself out of a job if the weekend result goes against them.
Rangers have already secured the CIS Cup and are still in the UEFA and Scottish Cup and are long odds-on to win the SPL.
A great season for blue side of Ibrox but any Rangers fan would tell you – it’s the league they want.
The Scottish national side was decimated earlier in the week when FOUR out five Rangers player picked pulled out – this is how big this game is on Saturday .
The last meeting between the two was way back in October at Ibrox and the ’Gers ran out easy 3-0 winners.
Gordon Strachan knows his team need a win on Saturday, not only to save the season but also to save his job.
We are sticking our necks out and taking a Celtic win at 2/1 and the SPL’s leading scorer Scott McDonald looks a solid punt at 6/1 to open the scoring.
Next down in the weekend quad are BIRMINGHAM (11/8) who need points on the board and quick and should get them at home to out-of-sorts Man City.
CHARLTON (11/10) need points on the board and quick and can take three at home to Wolves.
Making the weekend quad up are are SHEFFIELD UTD (7/4) who are in great form and they still could make the play-offs if they beat Preston at Deepdale
The quad pays around £205 for a fiver
Punters Guide XXX: Yeovil v Bristol Rovers (2/1), Reading v Blackburn (21/10), Hull v Watford (11/5)
Punters Guide FIVE-HIT: Portsmouth (4/5), Leeds (5/6), Queen of the South (8/11), MK Dons (8/11), Livingston (4/6)
The rest as usual is up to you!
Will it be a DC-Reds Final?
Local football fans will be hoping that Donegal Celtic and Cliftonville can win their respective semi-finals on Saturday.
What a final that would be!
The Reds face Linfield and are the 9/4 outsiders to beat the Blues while Donegal Celtic are 5/2 to beat Coleraine in the other semi-final.
That’s nearly 12-1 for the dream final (known by some as the mug’s double).
We are suggesting a nice first goalscorer double for the weekend.
We start with one of the best strikers in the Irish League, Chris Scannell (left), at 8/1, along with the most underestimated striker in the league, Paul McVeigh, who is also available at 8/1.
A massive 81/1 double. Worth a quid at least, we think.
Happy Boy looks decent value
We have the world’s richest race this weekend when the Dubai World Cup takes place in Ned Al Sheba on Saturday.
A punter went into BetFred in Manchester on Monday and placed £105,000 on hot favourite Curlin at 1/2. Curlin sluiced home in the Breeders Cup Classic earlier in the year and is widely regarded as the best flat horse on the planet at the moment.
As punters well know, you don’t get rich by backing odds-on shots, unless you are JP McManus – we have come up with a first and gone for a Brazilian trained horse; that’s right, Brazilian.
The aptly named Happy Boy won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round One at an absolute canter and looks a great each-way shout at 12/1 – that’s 3/1 the place, which is better than lumping on the jolly.
Red-hot Utd priced at 2/7 to regain title
After last weekend’s results in the Premiership Man Utd now trade as the 2/7 favourites after they opened a FIVE point gap at the top over rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.
Most Man Utd fans I know thought Chelsea were the big dangers prior to the weekend, and that really looks the case now. Chelsea get a 7/2 quote from most layers and, remember, Man U visit them at the end of April in what is shaping up as the most pivotal match of the season.
The wheels have well and truly fallen off at Arsenal, who were odds-on for the title at the start of the month and they are now as big as 9/1.
They have picked up just four out of a possible 15 points which is .
If you are completely mad, Liverpool get a 500/1 quote to win the league. They (again) failed to turn up at Old Trafford on Sunday and if they go out of the Champions’ League then expect manager Rafa Benitez to say adios in April.
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Easter Sunday showdown for Premiership big four
Armchair punters are in for a live TV feast of football on Easter Sunday as the top four in the Premiership face each other in what could be the most pivotal weekend of the season.
First up is the visit of Liverpool to leaders and champions Man Utd who seem to hold the hoodoo over the Anfield club in recent times.
Bookmakers class Rafael Benitez’s team as the 10/3 underdogs and Man Utd as the 10/11 favourites.
Liverpool go to Old Trafford in a wee bit of form and know that a win on Sunday could cement fourth place in the Premiership. In Fernando Torres they have the most in-form striker in the Premiership and he has to be backed to grab first goal at 6/1.
The champions have hit the front on the bridle and it’s now in their hands. Alex Ferguson will look for the big three of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and that man Christiano Ronaldo (below) to shine on Sunday and they know a win on Sunday will move them one step closer to holding on to their title.
I’m not sure I would advise punters to lump on Man Utd at odds-on against their bitter rivals, so we are going for the safe option and taking the draw at 12/5.
You just get time to draw breath and then it’s on to Stamford Bridge for the eagerly anticipated London derby with Arsenal and Chelsea locking horns.
Bookmakers class the misfiring Gunners as the 9/4 underdogs and Avram Grant’s team are the 6/5 favourites.
Is it just me or do the Gunners look a wee bit jaded? They have drawn their last four matches and handed the advantage firmly back to Old Trafford. Sandwiched in between those draws was that great victory in the San Siro and it’s that kind of performance they will need on Sunday if they are to get back in the title hunt.
Chelsea went out of the FA Cup without a whimper at Barnsley but have been quietly slipping back into the title race and are in the slipstream of the front two.
Again, the teams are very evenly matched and I’m going to opt for a draw in this one at 11/5.
The Sunday draw double works out a 11/1 – worth a fiver of anybody’s money.
Punters Guide Quad: Reading 11/10, Preston 5/4, Cardiff 6/4, Leicester 11/8
Punters Guide XXX: Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace 11/5, Brentford v Wrexham 9/4, Gillingham v Bournemouth 11/5.
Punters Guide FIVE-HIT: Aberdeen 4/5, Hearts 4/5, St Johnstone 5/4, Hereford 8/13, Chesterfield 4/5.
The rest is up to you.
First up is the visit of Liverpool to leaders and champions Man Utd who seem to hold the hoodoo over the Anfield club in recent times.
Bookmakers class Rafael Benitez’s team as the 10/3 underdogs and Man Utd as the 10/11 favourites.
Liverpool go to Old Trafford in a wee bit of form and know that a win on Sunday could cement fourth place in the Premiership. In Fernando Torres they have the most in-form striker in the Premiership and he has to be backed to grab first goal at 6/1.
The champions have hit the front on the bridle and it’s now in their hands. Alex Ferguson will look for the big three of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and that man Christiano Ronaldo (below) to shine on Sunday and they know a win on Sunday will move them one step closer to holding on to their title.
I’m not sure I would advise punters to lump on Man Utd at odds-on against their bitter rivals, so we are going for the safe option and taking the draw at 12/5.
You just get time to draw breath and then it’s on to Stamford Bridge for the eagerly anticipated London derby with Arsenal and Chelsea locking horns.
Bookmakers class the misfiring Gunners as the 9/4 underdogs and Avram Grant’s team are the 6/5 favourites.
Is it just me or do the Gunners look a wee bit jaded? They have drawn their last four matches and handed the advantage firmly back to Old Trafford. Sandwiched in between those draws was that great victory in the San Siro and it’s that kind of performance they will need on Sunday if they are to get back in the title hunt.
Chelsea went out of the FA Cup without a whimper at Barnsley but have been quietly slipping back into the title race and are in the slipstream of the front two.
Again, the teams are very evenly matched and I’m going to opt for a draw in this one at 11/5.
The Sunday draw double works out a 11/1 – worth a fiver of anybody’s money.
Punters Guide Quad: Reading 11/10, Preston 5/4, Cardiff 6/4, Leicester 11/8
Punters Guide XXX: Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace 11/5, Brentford v Wrexham 9/4, Gillingham v Bournemouth 11/5.
Punters Guide FIVE-HIT: Aberdeen 4/5, Hearts 4/5, St Johnstone 5/4, Hereford 8/13, Chesterfield 4/5.
The rest is up to you.
Spring is in the air as the flat returns with the Lincoln
IT can’t be Easter already! Where does the time go? You work that hard the time just flies by.
Cheltenham 2008 has been and gone and by the smiles on local bookmakers’ faces it was not a good Festival for punters, except for the local girls in the chippy who caned McGranaghans for 12 big ones. or the North Belfast punter who took Sean Grahams for 16 big ones with a £6 bet last Thursday.
On Saturday we have the first part of what the older generation of punters call the ‘Spring Double” – the William Hill Lincoln, which returns to Doncaster this year and the other part of the double is the English Grand National.
Before you have a punt in this race check out the all-important draw.
his street and he is one to beat.
We have put up the John Gosden-trained Escape Route who gets a 14/1 pricing. He’s fit from a spell in Dubai where he ran some creditable races.
We have the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Sunday and hopefully we can follow up on last year when we gave out the winner, Butlers Cabin.
As we go to print Albertas Run is still an attended runner along with fellow Festival winner Old Benny.
Old Benny has more appeal and gets an 8/1 pricing. The trip will be right up his street and we think he can defy an eight-pound penalty after last week’s cosy win.
Cheltenham 2008 has been and gone and by the smiles on local bookmakers’ faces it was not a good Festival for punters, except for the local girls in the chippy who caned McGranaghans for 12 big ones. or the North Belfast punter who took Sean Grahams for 16 big ones with a £6 bet last Thursday.
On Saturday we have the first part of what the older generation of punters call the ‘Spring Double” – the William Hill Lincoln, which returns to Doncaster this year and the other part of the double is the English Grand National.
Before you have a punt in this race check out the all-important draw.
his street and he is one to beat.
We have put up the John Gosden-trained Escape Route who gets a 14/1 pricing. He’s fit from a spell in Dubai where he ran some creditable races.
We have the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Sunday and hopefully we can follow up on last year when we gave out the winner, Butlers Cabin.
As we go to print Albertas Run is still an attended runner along with fellow Festival winner Old Benny.
Old Benny has more appeal and gets an 8/1 pricing. The trip will be right up his street and we think he can defy an eight-pound penalty after last week’s cosy win.
Watch those Irish placepots, punter urges
Dear PG,
Can I just draw attention to something for the punters who place bets on placepots, especially placepots at Irish meetings.
Up until last September bookmakers did not lay bets on placepots at Irish meetings. Now most of them do.
Punters who place bets at Irish meetings are unaware that if you bet in bookmakers that have Tote Direct machines and your horse finishes fourth in any race with 16 winners or more, modern hurdles or bumper races or flat races, your bet is up!
It’s as simple as this: If I do a placepot with Tote Direct I will be paid the same dividend with the fourth horse included as the bookmakers who are not Tote Direct. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a plug for Sean Grahams Bookmakers, for I believe they should put the fourth horse on their results screens and let the punters be aware that their bet is up.
The situation is that dozens of punters who have successful bets do not know. I will give you an example. A few weeks ago there were six races at Gowran Park: Four maiden hurdles with over 16 runners, one bumper race over 16 runners and one 16-runner handicap.
This meant there was a fourth horse in every race. I got the placepot up that day. In two of my races I had the fourth-placed horse. I picked up £900.
If I had not done my bet with Tote Direct I would not have received anything, so punters out there, just check those dockets before throwing them away.
B. Kennedy
Can I just draw attention to something for the punters who place bets on placepots, especially placepots at Irish meetings.
Up until last September bookmakers did not lay bets on placepots at Irish meetings. Now most of them do.
Punters who place bets at Irish meetings are unaware that if you bet in bookmakers that have Tote Direct machines and your horse finishes fourth in any race with 16 winners or more, modern hurdles or bumper races or flat races, your bet is up!
It’s as simple as this: If I do a placepot with Tote Direct I will be paid the same dividend with the fourth horse included as the bookmakers who are not Tote Direct. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a plug for Sean Grahams Bookmakers, for I believe they should put the fourth horse on their results screens and let the punters be aware that their bet is up.
The situation is that dozens of punters who have successful bets do not know. I will give you an example. A few weeks ago there were six races at Gowran Park: Four maiden hurdles with over 16 runners, one bumper race over 16 runners and one 16-runner handicap.
This meant there was a fourth horse in every race. I got the placepot up that day. In two of my races I had the fourth-placed horse. I picked up £900.
If I had not done my bet with Tote Direct I would not have received anything, so punters out there, just check those dockets before throwing them away.
B. Kennedy
Friday, 14 March 2008
Kauto ready to show Den who’s the Man
We have reached the final day of the 2008 Festival and I'm actually in front after securing the placepot yesterday - that on top of Albertas Run and Master Minded winning.
If Group Captain wins today then it will drinks all round in the Whitefort - waiting on him for a nice wee bet!
Talking about nice wee bets Sean Grahams where taken for over £16,000 by a Falls Road punter - he was waiting on Mister McGoldrick who won at 66-1. What a bet and it only costs £6. He also had a £1 on all selections
BET small WIN BIG - we love them bets
On to today and our selections:
12.30 Sweet Kiln
1.05 Group Captain (pleassssse)
1.35 Kicks For Free
2.15 Beau Michael
2.50 Carruthers
4.05 Agus A Vic
4.40 Maralan
GET OUT FESTIVAL STAKES:
Mohayer (5.20)
I have fond memories of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and indeed found my biggest ever winner in the Blue Riband event when Norton’s Coin won the race in 1990 at 100/1.
What a mouthwatering race we punters have to look forward to this Friday. I have been regularly asked in recent weeks: who do you fancy, Denman or Kauto Star?
I have sat on the fence literally until starting to type this week’s column and after giving it much thought it’s hard to desert the reigning champ, Kauto Star. Bookmakers price the Star as their even money favourite and it’s 6/4 the unbeaten Denman.
Make no mistake folks, eight wins from eight chases – Denman is a superstar in the making and will give his stable companion a race on Friday, that’s for sure.
After listening to the view of trainers, jockeys and fellow tipsters and watching all their races this year, I have come up with the way I think the race will be run.
Denman will take it up and lead for about three miles and one furlong and then Kauto Star will hit the front on the bridle going to the last and outpace his stable companion.
I wish it was that predictable!
It’s a three mile two furlong race and as we all know anything can happen in race – there will be fallers and we just hope that the big two in the market survive any mishaps that may happen.
So is it a two-horse race? On paper and stats yes, but where is the value each-way bet in the race? We have opted for Letheby and Christopher Chase winner Knowhere (40/1) who hacked up in the Gold Cup trial over the course in January. He loves the course and should run well at big price.
Hopefully a few winners. If not, then at least let’s pray you get a run for your money!
The good news folks is that this is not the end of the BLOG - it's been that popular, we are keeping it going all-year. It's had more hits than Frank Brunos chin. So you are stuck with us for another while.
Happy Punting
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Big Day at Cheltenham ahead
One things for sure you will need a lot of money for the TEN BIG RACES today at the Festival..
A winner or two in the first THREE race would be ideal.
We start with the big one today the World Hurdle. and the $64,000 question is, can Inglis Drever make it a treble in the race?
Bookmakers make him as short as 6/4 for the race and if rumours are right this could be the last run of his career.
He has run six times at Cheltenham and has never been out of the first two; many punters have him down as their festival banker.
He beat second favourite Blazing Bailey (6/1) by five lengths in the Cleeve Hurdle last time out and there is no reason why he shouldn’t be the same come this afternoon. Kasbah Bliss (7/1) is next in the betting but he too has to make up about 20 lengths on the jolly after he finished well beaten in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
We have put two dangers up and our first one is the Eoin Griffin-trained Kazal (left) (20/1) who was tried over fences earlier in the winter but after a couple of hefty falls his trainer put him back over hurdles and in his last run he hacked up in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle. He looks a decent sort over hurdles and is our each-way bet of the race.
Wichita Lineman (10/1) has been in awful form and so too have been much of the Jonjo O’Neill yard. To be honest, that has put me off a wee bit, but with Champion Jockey Tony McCoy back in the frame it’s very much a case of ignore him at your peril.
Tthe Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase is a hrad race to work out and we like the look of Barbers Shop (10/1) who hacked up at Kempton last time out.
The Ryanair Chase looks a cracking affair this year and it’s hard to split Old Vic, The Listener and Mossbank in the betting, all quoted in and around 4/1.
We think that Mossbank(4/1) will take all the beating after his gallant second behind Denman in the Lexus Chase at Christmas. The Listener (4/1) was only a head behind but I just think that the two mile five furlongs will suit and the Michael Hourigan-trained horse will take all the beating.
They Bet: Mossbank 4/1, Our Vic 4/1, The Listener 9/2, Tamarinbleu 6/1, L Antartique 8/1, Turko 8/1, Racing Demon 16/1, Billyvoddan 25/1, Forget The Past 33/1, Newmill 33/1, Justified 40/1, Howle Hill 50/1, Knight Legend 50/1, Patman Du Charmil 66/1.
Don’t Push It (7/2) will take all the beating in the Racing Post Plate . He hasn’t been seen out since October when he won a hurdle race at Chepstow, which is a worry, so that has put us off him a wee bit. Bible Lord (10/1) could answer punters’ prayers with a big run. His trainer Andy Turnell is enjoying a purple patch at the minute and this horse hacked up at Exeter in early February and will be primed for this race.
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is another race of the amateurs and we like the look of the Alan King-trained Nykel (20/1) in this one with the promising Charlie Huxley in the plate.
The Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle concludes the third day and we have put two up for this one.
Robert Tyner is a shrewd trainer and his Footy Facts is as consistent as they come and gets a 14/1 quote for the three-miler.
Cryptic looks the staying type, is one for the future and could run a big race. Consequently he gets a (16/1) quote.
In the first race today I think Sizing Australia has a big each-way punt at 28/1. We are sticking by Albertas Run in the ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CHASE in the second race today and w ethink Master Minded and Fair Along are still good to go in the Champion Chase.
In the Bumper tonight we have Zaarito (4/1) - one of the my colleagues in Navan told me that Corskeagh Royale is a good thing at (9/1) after he had a chat with Noel Meade give him a wee bit of info!!
Monday, 10 March 2008
Group Captain to spoil Paddy party
DAY TWO
The opening race of Day 2 is the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle (2pm) and, like so many other races at the Festival, it looks wide open.
The betting is led by the unbeaten Aigle D’Or from the Nicky Henderson yard at around 9/2 – he’s won his first two races pulling a cart and will doubtless be thereabouts, but I like the look of two other horses in the race.
Forpaddydeplasterer is trained by Thomas Cooper who could have a big Cheltenham – remember he has River Lane running in the Fred Winter Hurdle on the opening day.
This horse has had four starts and won three. His last start saw him win the Deloitte Hurdle at the expense of Cork All-Star. He is owned by a group of flamboyant Sunderland supporters, the Goat Racing Syndicate, who will light the place up if he wins.
I think if anybody is going to spoil the party then it could be the Alan King-trained Group Captain (11/2) who has won all three races over hurdles – the trainer thinks this is his banker bet of the Festival.
The former smart flat horse didn’t set the racing world alight in his first two jaunts over hurdles but in his last win at Exeter he looked a real star in the making, winning a listed hurdle event.
The Royal & Sun Alliance Chase is always tricky to work out and we have narrowed it down to just two.
We think Albertas Run (6/1) will take all the beating, his only defeat was at Aintree behind Tidal Bay. He has won well at Cheltenham and at Ascot and looks a worthy wager on Wednesday. The danger in the race could come from the Irish-trained French import Pomme Tiepy (12/1). She has done nothing wrong, winning four from four over here.
Leg Spinner (5/1) leads the markets for the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, but we like the look of Ringaroses who gets a 7/1 pricing. Our outside bet is the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Peacock at 25/1.
On to the big amateur race, the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, and Beat the Boys looks like the four miles will be right up his street; the 20/1 on offer looks too good to turn down.
The finale on Day 2 is the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and as usual the Irish have a strong hand this year.
I think Colm Murphy holds the aces with the unbeaten Zaarito the 7/2 jolly.
He is unbeaten in three races and he is one of my naps of the Festival.
Master Minded the one to beat in Chase
....but watch out for Fair Along from the back-to-form Hobbs yard
On to Wednesday and the big race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase – another puzzling race to work out.
Master Minded is the favourite at the moment at around 11/4, but that could change come 3.15 next Wednesday.
Stablemate Twist Magic (3/1) and last year’s winner Voy Por Ustedes (7/2) are fighting it out for favouritism and it’s a hard call to make to see who goes off the jolly.
Master Minded easily disposed of Voy Por Ustedes in the Game Spirit Chase and his odds plummeted for the Champion Chase from 20/1 in to 3/1. But he is prone to the odd error and fell on his debut at Exeter. Word is he is flying at home. Ruby Walsh has picked him ahead of Twist Magic so that could be a tip within itself.
It looks a thrilling race but if the front three in the betting cut off each other’s noses then two outsiders might just run into a place.
The Irish-trained Nickname was pulled out of last year’s race on the day because the conditions didn’t suit him. Any sign of rain next week then back this mudlark who is 25/1 at the minute. If the heavens open, just watch that price tumble.
He jumps for fun and if he takes his place in the field expect a big run.
The Peter Hobbs yard have had a quiet season by their usual high standards but in recent days things have been picking up with a few winners on the board.
They have Fair Along entered and if they revert back to front-running tactics, this one might have a few of the big ones in trouble.
He was last seen finishing fourth to Kauto Star at Ascot after trying to force the pace there – the drop back to just two miles will be right up his street.
He is as big as 16/1 and that could be the value bet of what looks a muddling race.
They Bet: Master Minded 11/4, Twist Magic 3/1, Voy Por Ustedes 7/2, Tamarinbleu 15/2, Fair Along 16/1, My Way de Solzen 20/1, Mansony 25/1, Newmill 25/1, Nickname 25/1, Don’t Push It 33/1, Andreas 50/1, Another Promise 50/1, Justified 66/1, Schindlers Hunt 66/1.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Harchibald the danger to Sizing Europe
DAY ONE
Cheltenham 2008 fever is upon us and the countdown to Tuesday is well and truly on.
It looks a fascinating Festival this year with some new pretenders on the scene and everyone is looking forward to the Kauto Star v Denman bettle in the Gold Cup on Friday – more on that firecracker next week.
We start with the big race of the opening day – the Champion Hurdle (3.15).
The Henry De Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe leads the markets at around 9/4 – I think you might get bigger on the day. He has done nothing wrong this season, winning with ease the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham and then his big test came at Leopardstown when he took on seasoned campaigners Hardy Eustace and Al Eile and destroyed them in the AIG Hurdle. On that run alone he has to be the one they have to beat on Tuesday.
Of the dangers, nearly horse Harchibald (above right) comes into the reckoning and with the Noel Meade stable back in the groove, could this be the year for Harchibald? Discount him at your peril – he gets a 7/1 pricing.
Last year’s surprise winner, Sublimity (5/1), was fourth in his seasonal bow in the Boylesports International Hurdle and goes to the Festival fresh, just as he he did last year, and trainer John Carr is confident of following up.
Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Katchit gets a 9/1 pricing. Although he is a horse who loves it round Cheltenham, history is against him as there has not been a Triumph winner going on to win the Champion in 23 years. But he will thereabouts come Tuesday.
David Pipe runs Osana who bested Katchit when winning over course and distance in January; but he was well beaten by Sizing Europe in the Greatwood Hurdle and is a general 6/1 shot.
Of the outsiders, we like Farmer Brown who is a consistent sort and can be found as big as 50/1 in places. He might just run into a place
They Bet: Sizing Europe 9/4, Sublimity 5/1, Osana 6/1, Harchibald 7/1, Katchit 9/1, Catch Me 20/1, Silent Oscar 25/1, Afsoun 33/1, Amaretto Rose 33/1, Blythe Knight 33/1, Ebaziyan 33/1, Hardy Eustace 33/1, Straw Bear 33/1, De Valira 40/1, Aitmatov 50/1, Bobs Pride 50/1, Farmer Brown 50/1, Jazz Messenger 50/1, Punjabi 50/1, Accordion Etoile 100/1, Kalderon 100/1, Lounaos 100/1, Salford City 100/1, Kawagino 150/1, Pigeon Island 200/1.
Rest of Day One
The Festival kicks off on Tuesday with the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle (2pm) – as ever, to start with a winner would be great. The betting is led by the Irish-trained duo Captain Cee Bee and Muirhead at 8/1 – it’s that wide-open.
We like Khyber Kim in this race. He made an eye-catching debut over hurdles at Newbury after Christmas beating a good ’un in the shape of Theatre Girl by three lengths but disappointed next time out at Doncaster. Reports from the Nicky Henderson yard in recent days have been encouraging and the 10/1 on offer looks a good opening punt.
Last year’s Bumper winner, Cork All-Star (11/1, above), has been let down by his jumping in recent races but he loves the track and will play a part in the finish.
Next race is the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (2.35). The betting is led by Noland who has won his last six races and he is as low as 3/1 in places. The Paul Nicholls-trained horse didn’t impress me much with his win over My Petra.
I put Tidal Bay (9/1) up for this race earlier in the season and I’m sticking by that, even though Leslingtaylor (14/1) beat him at Doncaster – he is another horse that will relish Cheltenham.
The Edward O’Grady-trained Clopf could run a big race. He won on his chase debut and had the Flyingbolt Chase in the bag but fell at the last. The 11/1 looks tempting. The William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (4pm) is a race that punters always struggle with.
We like the look of two in the race. The Nicky Henderson-trained Kenzo lll (14/1), who jumped brillantly to win at Wincanton, will have the very much underestimated Charlie Studd aboard. Meanwhile, the Nigel Twistion-Davies-trained Fundamentalist is having a great season and looks to be overpriced at 20/1.
The BGC Cross Country Handicap Chase (4.40) is usually won by us Irish and last year’s winner, Headsontheground (11/2), will take some beating again this year.
Each-way choice is Yanns, who has been running well and is as big as 50/1.
The last race on Day 1 is the Fred Winter Hurdle (5.20). Anyone who witnessed River Lane winning at Leopardstown on Sunday would agree that if he turns up on Tuesday evening, he will take some stopping. He is 9/2 from 16s and that tells the story of how easy he won on Sunday. Each-way choice in this race is Hibiki (20/1) who is ultra-tough and also very hard to pass when in front.
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
And the FIRST £25 winner is........
...............Dolly Dev
Answer: Sublimity
He has £25 on Katchit !
We have another £25 to giveaway today on a bet of your choice for next Wednesday!
Answer this question - who is the favourite for the Gold Cup?
answers to puntersguide@irelandclick.com before 7pm today.
another £25 quid to giveaway tomorrow.
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
WIN A £25 BET FOR THE CHAMPION HURDLE
Fancy a free £25 flutter on the Champion Hurdle?
Here's your big chance..
Answer this question: Who won last years race?
answers to puntersguide@irelandclick.com before 9.00pm tonight.
A Chance to win a £25 bet on a race of your choice tommorow
Poor, poor selections yesterday!
plenty of football and racing today we have 6 days to get the money up for Cheltenham
Tuesday Selections
NAP Amber Brook (3.00 Exeter)
DOUBLE: President Royal (4.00 Exeter)
TREBLE: I'm A Legend (5.00 Exeter)
Fingers Crossed
Monday, 3 March 2008
Sean Graham Cheltenham Preview Night
Any punters who turn up to the Sean Graham Cheltenham Preview Night will also get a FREE £5 BET for their troubles.
On the panel tonight are Alan King, Nina Carberry, David Duggan and Davy Russell. Brian and Ronan Graham will be pricing up all the feature races and also giving their input to the races.
Festival countdown begins
The countdown begins for Cheltenham 2008 with just over a week to go and the nerves are already starting to tingle..
We will be giving away a Sean Graham £25 bet away everyday THIS WEEK starting Tuesday for the festival. So stay blogged for the week and you could win one of those bets for next week
Today we are giving away a £25 bet away on the midweek football to try and give someone the opportunity of getting a few pound up before the festival. answer this question - Who won the Triump Hurdle last year? answers to puntersguide@irelandclick.com before 4pm today.
Cheltenham Preview Night
The Sean Graham Cheltenham preview is tonight in the Europa Hotel (8pm) it's all good stuff you can pay at door.
(and we still have two tickets for YID ARMY in our office)
Market Moves
River Liane was the horse to catch the eye the most at the weekend and has been cut to 8/1 for 20s for the Fred Winter Hurdle.
He skated home at Leopardstown yesterday under Davy Russell and must have a big shout next Tuesday.
Harchibald was impressive at Dundalk on Friday and goes to Cheltenham in good heart and remains a solid 7/1 shot.
Mondays Selections
NAP: Truckers Delight (4.00 Stratford)
Double:Thoughtsofstardom (3.10 Lingfield)
Treble: Rare Coincidence (2.20 Wolverhampton)
Live Monday Night
Notts Forest 1/1 look a great bet at home to Carlisle tonight in the Live Game and we like a 3-1 scoreline priced a 11/1 and Junior Agogo for the first goal at 5/1
Friday, 29 February 2008
Harchibald back tonight at Dundalk
Harchibald (main pic) prepares for the Champion Hurdle with a spin round the all-weather at Dundalk.
The race is run over a mile and a half and old foe Al Eile is also in the line-up - with Declan McDonogh aboard we expect Harchibald to win the race.
To be honest I still think Harchibald will run a big race come March 11th in the Champion Hurdle and only a mug would rule him out.
Friday Selections
Another winning Nap, but still not good enough.
Good meeting at Newbury today and we have come up with 3 selections at the track.
Nap: Maraafeq: won well at Market Rasen on debut by 8 lenghts danger Alaghiraar
Double: Burren Legend: won with a bit in hand on Wednesday and is turned out quickly
Treble: Ask Again : won ptp race beating Red Brook Lad who won hacked up at Ludlow yesterday
Weekend Soccer Selections
We start with our banker and we have gone for EVERTON (10/11) in Sunday’s live game against Portsmouth.
The Toffees are up to fourth spot in the Premiership and look a solid outfit – hopefully they will take all points come Sunday. WALSALL (11/10) are another team in good form and we are taking them to get all points against lowly Luton.
MILLWALL (5/4) have got their act together at home and can claim three more vital points at home to Bristol Rovers. We have to wait to Monday if we are to be on a sweat for the PG Quad and we have gone for NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4/5) to beat Carlisle in the live game.
£81 back for a fiver
PG XXX: Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday 21/10, Burnley v Watford, 21/10, Newcastle v Blackburn
(remember those doubles & treble).
Longshot Treble : Huddersfield 2/1, Queen of the South 8/5, Wrexham 11/10.
PG FIVEHIT: 1/1 Ross County, 1/2 MK Dons, 1/2 Peterboro, 4/5 Dunfermline, 7/10 Brechin.
MYTHICALS: Rotherham to beat Arsenal, Liverpool to beat Chelsea, Peterboro to beat MK Dons, Bradford to beat Bristol City (42/1 McGranaghans).
Weekend Bismarc: Man City (4/7) v Wigan I'll lay all bets on City
Friday Selections
Another winning Nap, but still not good enough.
Good meeting at Newbury today and we have come up with 3 selections at the track.
Nap: Maraafeq: won well at Market Rasen on debut by 8 lenghts danger Alaghiraar
Double: Burren Legend: won with a bit in hand on Wednesday and is turned out quickly
Treble: Ask Again : won ptp race beating Red Brook Lad who won hacked up at Ludlow yesterday
Harchibald prepares for the Champion Hurdle with a spin round the all-weather at Dundalk. The race is run over a mile and a half and old foe Al Eile is also in the line-up - with Declan McDonnogh we expect Harchibald to win the race.
the rest is up to you
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Ulsterbus punter grabs big Saturday treble
None of our local punters could match the 50p eight timer that netted an English punter a cool million last Friday, but we do have some lovely bets to mention this week.
We start with Ulsterbus driver Gerard Hackett who touched with the bet of the week. Keen punter Gerard placed a £5 each-way treble on Saturday. It was originally a quad but we will come to that later.
Gerard is a stickler for early prices, which we at the PG call a gamble within a gamble. He took all early screen prices on – and the decision paid off in spades.
His first selection, Comply Or Die, won the Eider Chase at Newcastle at 11/1 to give the bet a dream start.
Gerard had to wait an hour for his next selection to run. Rayshan was well backed in to 13/2 from 12s and won with a bit in hand.
What a sweat! Gerard already had £780 riding on his last selection and that selection was also the subject of a gamble – our sweating punter had sixes and the horse was now as low as 7/2.
The second favourite – King of Dixie, a 9/2 shot – was withdrawn at the start but our punter wasn’t bothered as he was on the sweat of a lifetime. His well-backed horse, Atlantic Story, was given a terrific ride by Jamie Spencer to win with a bit in hand.
Our punter was in punting heaven – he thought he had won £5,619.38 after a quick count by his mates. But that Rule 4 was at the back of his mind and when he went to collect his windfall he was told the bad news – he had £4,664.25 off the docket; he had just lost a fifth of the bet. It took a wee bit of the gloss off it but, still, Gerard was delighted with the bet.
Now back to the start and Gerard had originally wanted to do a quad but saw the price of his fourth selection and promptly left it out.
Riverside Theatre (5/4) was the horse and it won at the last at Kempton at 5/4 – if only...
Joe Maguire was checking the scores coming in on Saturday on Sky Sports and was left devastated after Crystal Palace beat him out of £1,500. But despair turned to joy when he checked the Irish League scores. He lifted close to £600 off his bet thanks to that late, late Donegal Celtic goal at home to Linfield that even had the Reds fans cheering.
Another Andersonstown punter hit Sean Grahams for over two and a half grand.
The punter placed 3 x £2 doubles and a £4 treble.
The bet was up in the space of 20 minutes – Gungadu got the ball rolling, winning the Racing Post Chase at 4/1. The ride of the weekend from Sean Quinlan got Stop The Show up to win at 8/1.
The sweat was on and Comply or Die, who did our bus driver a favour, didn’t let him down, winning at 11/1.
The bet paid £2,586 – a great 20 minutes work by anybody’s reckoning.
Just room for one more and this one’s a kind of good and bad luck story.
A North Belfast punter placed a 50p Lucky 31 with Grahams – a bet that costs £15.50.
His first horse, Where’s Johnny, got the ball rolling, winning at 7/2, and 40 minutes later Josear won at 8/1. When Mondial Jack at 7/1 won the 4pm at Hereford our punter had a big sweat on his hands.
It got better when Our Jim won at 5/1 (7/2 SP) to give him an almighty sweat on his last selection.
That selection, Spud 11/4, could only manage fifth place to beat our punter out of an absolute fortune.
He still picked up £1,991.80 for his troubles – that’ll ease the pain.
We at last hit a winning nap yesterday when Lupanar won at 10/11 - we followed up withe a double when Topflight Wildbird won at 9/2 a 10/1 double was almost a 88/1 treble, whe Geography 15/2 loomed up at the last only to make a bad error that cost him the race. It would have been a free Cheltenham!!
Thursday selections
NAP: Hibiki 2.10 Ludlow (will not be a big price but boost course and distance win) Isaaf 33/1 live outsider
Double: Lindsay 3.50 (good second to to Mokum last time and he has since franked the form)
Treble: Donatessa 5.30 Taunton ( good conditional jock on board and a wee bit of money for it as well)
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Dancer drifts in Gold Cup betting
Alarming news for ante-post punters that Exotic Dancer was on the big drift yesterday and apparently it was out to 39/1 with Betfair - Ladbrokes removed it from their list and went 5/4 both Kauto Star (main pic) and Denman - and a massive 33/1 the rest.
Other markert moves to hand is Silverburn has been cut into 7/1 from 10s for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase. The betting is still headed by Albertas Run and Air Force One still head the betting
6-1 Albertas Run, Air Force One, 7-1 Tidal Bay, 8-1 Silverburn (from10s), Pomme Tiepy,10-1 Starzaan, 12-1 Joe Lively, 14-1 Oscar Park, 16-1 Battlecry, Ornais,
THIS WEEKS PAPER: Punters Guide this week : Punter hits dreamy treble but loses 1/5 bet after big rule 4
I told punters about the special bets bookmakers put up - don't touch them (all the Eastwoods selections in their win quad bit the dust ( you would have thought, I picked them)
we'll be posting more today local layers specials today.
Today's selections - they need to get better... or we will be skint come March 11th
Our Nap: LUPANAR 2.10 Folkestone
Double: TOPFLIGHT WILDBIRD 2.40 Folkestone
Treble: GEOGRAPHY 3.40 Folkestone
the rest as usual, is up to you!
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Cheltenham MOVERS
Binnocular was well touted for the Triumph prior to his Kempton run on Saturday and although he made hard work of it he has been trimmed to 7/1 from 8s.
Beau Michael went into my notebook at Christmas for the race and he won his third consective race at Fairyhouse and is now 16/1 from 25s.
Piegon Island earned a 20/1 quote for the Supreme Novices' and Ballymore Properties Hurdle following his oh so easy win at Kempton on Saturday.
Way De Solzen is out to 16/1 from 9s for the World Hurdle with after coming second at Fontwell on Sunday while winner Lough Derg has been clipped to 14/1 from 20s.
Galient won as expected on his hurdling bow and gets a 33/1 quote for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle.
The mystery punter who took William Hill for a million has still not called in to collect his winnings.. he's probably still wondering how he's going to spend it. Will he change his bets from 50p to a £1 after his million pound windafall? somehow I don't think so
Friday, 22 February 2008
Sean Graham Cheltenham Preview Night
The Sean Graham Chletenham Preview night will take place Monday 3rd March 2008 at the Europa Hotel
Tickets on sale at all Sean Graham bookmakers at £10 - Ticket HOTLINE 90963963
Spurs to grab cup glory
A Great weekend of live soccer ahead and we have the first trophy of the season up for grabs.
Chelsea and Spurs go head-to-head at Wembley on Sunday (3pm) for the Carling Cup as Juande Ramos looks to prise the cup away from Stamford Bridge.
Most layers put Chelsea in as the 11/10 favourites with Spurs priced around 5/2 and it’s 11/5 the draw.
The form team at the minute are Spurs who look a sharper, fitter team under Ramos, who has guided them to a cup final despite only having been there two minutes.
Strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane are probably the best pairing around and will cause the Chelsea backline all sorts of problems come Sunday – the pair have an impressive 36 goals between them already this season.
Chelsea are, as we know, a strong, solid outfit who don’t give much away and if they stop Spurs playing then it’s simple – the cup will be heading back to the Bridge. They have all their big guns back and will be very hard to beat.
In saying that, I just have a feeling for SPURS at 5/2 in this one and it’s hard to ignore Dimitar Berbatov (pictured above) for first goal at 5/1. We have opted for a MAN CITY (6/5) win at home to Everton in the big Monday evening match on Sky.
DONCASTER (7/4) are in great form and hopefully can get the ball rolling with a win at Carlisle on Saturday.
HUDDERSFIELD (7/4) don’t have Chelsea to play this week, it’s Gillingham, and we expect them to take all points.
The quad pays a whopping £291 for a fiver
XXX: Blackpool v Charlton, Colchester v Bristol City, QPR v Sheff Utd all at priced at 11/5
(remember those doubles and trebles on this one, folks.)
Friday Horse Selections
A winning NAP (7/4 Hold 'em) at last but YID ARMY is the man - he can't stop picking winners.. offering him a job soon.
On to today and we have opted fpr CALL OSCAR (4.05 Sandown) as our NAP HAND today - good second to Oh Crick and hopefully he can get the better of Scots Dragoon.
We have a liking for PETIT MARGOT in the 4.20 at Warwick which is run over 3 mile 5 furlongs and making the Friday treble up is TRIBAL VENTURE in the last at Warwick.
£20 BET winner
Del Boy
POST YOUR QUAD
Thursday, 21 February 2008
LOCAL PUNTERS CLEAN UP
LOCAL bookmakers Eastwoods (now Ladbrokes) were hit with some cracking bets at the weekend by local punters,
On Monday morning we had our first punter through the door telling us of his weekend bet.
The lower Falls punter was still shaken up by the soccer bet he did at the weekend. The punter in question couldn’t believe he had touched for close to £4,000 (see right).
He placed a £10 bet on seven teams in Chapel Lane on Saturday afternoon. The first six results came in with Donegal Celtic (8/5), Distillery (1/1), West Brom (7/5), Northampton (9/10), Notts County (2/1) and Hereford (4/5) all touching.
Just the one result to come and he was waiting on Rochdale (13/8) to come in. It was 1-1 and the time was 4.53pm – our punter was hoping for a miracle.
The miracle duly arrived when Rochdale scored in the fourth minute of injury time to hand our punter the bet of a lifetime.
He picked up £3,901.70 all told, thanks to that late, late goal. What a great bet.
North Belfast punter Paul Porter was also in the money at the weekend. He placed £5 on the two from each section and when Linfield (4/7), Torquay (4/7), Ipswich (8/11), Rushden (8/11), Cardiff (5/4), Westerlo (Belgium, 5/4) and Wycombe (11/8) all won on Saturday our punter was waiting on three teams on Sunday for his boat to come in.
Rangers (4/7) won with ease at Kilmarnock and Turkish side Trabzonspor (8/5) squeezed home 2-1.
He was waiting on Belgian side Anderlecht (3/10) for the bet and had to wait to 7pm that night. They won 2-1, the other side missing a penalty.
Our punter picked up close to £2,400 for his multi-European bet – another great piece of punting.
...and so too were Sean Graham
THE winning didn’t stop there with Sean Graham also taking a bit of a battering.
A Falls Road punter placed a 50p Lucky 15 – and what a bet it turned out to be!
Alberta’s Run (9/2, tipped on our blog) ran out an impressive winner to get the bet off to a flyer when winning the 1.15 at Ascot. Backbord (11/2) won the 1.50 at the same track after collaring Peacock on the line.
Two from two and a half an hour later the bet was on one hell of a sweat when Smoothly Does It did just that in the 2.20 at Uttoxeter, winning at rewarding odds of 12/1. Our punter hardly got a sweat with his last horse Wanango (9/4) who won on the bridle in the 3.50 at Uttoxter. He picked up £1,739.38 – not a bad return for a £7.50 outlay.
It’s hard enough getting the odd double up at the geegees but a Whiterock punter hit Grahams for SEVEN on Saturday. The punter placed a £4 seven-timer and watched as they all came in – Silver Guest 5/4, Song Of Songs 5/6, Katchit 4/5, Wanango 9/4, Whiteoak 5/2, Elusive Dream 4/7, and Segal 1/2 made it the lucky seven on the day.
He picked up a cool £796.33 for his £4 bet – an excellent piece of picking.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Man Utd look bet of the night
Fair play to Liverpool last night.. a good solid 2-0 win, they at last got lucky with Milan losing their centre-halfs, one through injury and the other down stupidity.
Chelsea let a lot of punters down including Charlie The Gooner who took them in his free £46 treble on this Blog.
On to the action tonight and we are taking Arsenal 11/10 to beat ageing AC Milan. The Gunners will hope to bounce back from their weekend drubbing at Utd and wil give a wee bit more fight than they did on Saturday.
Fenerbahce (13/8) have surprised a lot of people this year and we are taking them to beat Seville- watchout for their striker Alex who is in great form.
Celtic have been in great form of late and we are taking them to grab a draw tonight at home to Barca at 11/5. Man Utd are hard to ignore and if Rangers can win at Lyon then Utd must be a penalty-kick at 11/10.
First Goalscorers
Alex 13/2
Rooney 5/1
Adebayor 9/2
Punt of the DAY
MATCH SPECIALS
MAN UNITED TO WIN &
TOTAL MATCH GOALS 3 OR MORE 4/1
WEDNESDAY TIPS
4.40 CARIBANNA (NAP)
3.35 MISTER COMPLETELY (NB)
6.20 KEMPSEY (TREBLE)
The rest up is to YOU
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Pressure mounts on Liverpool and Benetiz
I tipped Inter Milan up at Christmas to win the Champions League at 8/1 and they can take one step closer to that tonight at Anfield. The Reds are still smarting from their FA Cup shocker and know a defeat tonight will see their gaffer sacked and rightly so. The only thing keeping Benetiz in his job is that he has actually won the Champions League (main pic) with Liverpool,
Inter will go to Anfield and like all Italian teams look for the draw and that looks good to us.
In fact we actually fancy draws in all off tonights games.
Liverpool v Inter Milan 11/5
Olympiacos v Chelsea 21/10
Schalke v Porto 2/1
Roma v Real Madrid 2/1
Nice YANKEE?
we'll be doing trebbles and a quad - a mans bet!
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