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.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
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.
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