We’re midway through the 2019/20 Champions League group stages and some teams are already on the cusp of qualification. All four Premier League clubs have been shining in this year’s competition and neutrals will be hoping for success in the coming months.
As things stand, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all sitting pretty in the qualifying spots. Defeat on matchday four is out of the question – scroll down for our best Champions League bets of the week…
Chelsea vs Ajax
Write Frank Lampard’s side off at your peril. Chelsea have been sensational in recent weeks and plenty of punters will be backing the Blues ahead of this clash. A win here will put the Premier League side firmly in control of top spot in Group H.
Ajax are six points clear at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie table and the visitors could settle for a point at Stamford Bridge. A draw for the Dutch giants will give Ajax a solid chance of finishing in the top two ahead of the knockout stages.
Chelsea were sublime in Amsterdam two weeks ago and Lampard’s side could prevail again on Tuesday night. Take the 43/20 for a Blues win with both teams scoring.
TIP: Chelsea to win and both teams to score(43/20)
Liverpool vs Genk
Jurgen Klopp will be demanding a big effort here – a win will move Liverpool one step closer to the last-16. As defending European champions, defeat against Genk would be embarrassing and detrimental to Liverpool’s hopes of retaining the crown.
Genk have struggled to inspire confidence at domestic level and the Belgian side may find themselves under the cosh on Tuesday night. The visitors conceded four against Liverpool just two weeks ago and things could get ugly if the Reds grab an early goal.
With Man City looming, Klopp’s men will want to get this contest done and dusted with minimal fuss. 8/11 for two or more first half goals is the way to go.
TIP: Over 1.5 first half goals(8/11)
Atalanta vs Manchester City
Atalanta have been bitterly disappointing in this season’s Champions League but plenty of punters will fancy the hosts to challenge City here. Defensively, they can be found wanting from time-to-time but Atalanta can cause problems in the final third.
Expect Man City to put Atalanta to the sword on Wednesday evening. The Italian side are capable of giving anyone a game on home turf but City should prove too strong. A win for the visitors might be enough to secure top spot in Group C.
This is a risky pick. Atalanta have been hit and miss this season and 29/10 for Man City to win to nil is worth a speculative punt – that could turn out t be a huge price.
TIP: Man City to win to nil(29/10)
Red Star Belgrade vs Tottenham Hotspur
A win for Red Star will move them above Spurs in the group stage table with just two games to play. Belgrade isn’t the most welcoming venue to play football and Tottenham may find themselves under pressure early on – expect the hostile atmosphere to test Spurs.
You don’t need to take a Champions League quiz to remember that Tottenham reached the final of this competition last season but it has been tough sledding for Spurs in 2019/20. A win here will significantly lift the mood at the new White Hart Lane.
The 7/10 available for Tottenham to claim three points is well worth snapping up. Red Star are likely to come out of the blocs quickly but Spurs should prove too strong in the end.
TIP: Tottenham to win(7/10)
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Dave Thompson / AP Photo*
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
The Washington Nationals defied all odds to win the 2019 World Series. Washington are, naturally, in the running to win the 2020 Fall Classic, but there are plenty of other franchises ahead of the Nats when it comes to the latest MLB odds.
888sport offers an array of online betting options for baseball, and the Nationals are at 12/1 to retain their title at the start of the next decade.
Whether you’re getting into the sport and flicking through baseball for dummies, or a seasoned campaigner with a long-running MLB.TV pass, everyone wants to know who will be in contention for the 2020 World Series.
Here are a few of the main contenders…
The Big Three:
Houston Astros
One game away from making it two titles in three years, the Houston Astros have been the American League’s main force in recent seasons.
A good bet to pass the 100-win mark once again, the Astros don’t represent great value to win the World Series with ace Gerrit Cole set to leave Minute Maid Park.
The line-up remains fearsome, and Zack Greinke and Justin Verlander are a monstrous one-two punch, but the loss of Cole is significant.
New York Yankees
Despite injuries, the Yankees cruised to supremacy in the American League East in 2019. There’s little to suggest they won’t do so again in 2020.
Brian Cashman will be one of the general managers chasing Cole and Stephen Strasburg, as New York look to build a pitching staff as domineering as their offence.
Their spending approach has altered in recent years, but another postseason disappointment suggests Cashman will be aggressive this winter. It could be a good time to back the Yankees – their price will drop if Cashman lands Cole or Strasburg.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The third team at 11/2, the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to bounce back from a Division Series defeat to the Nationals. Los Angeles have owned the National League in the second half of the 2010s, but they still haven’t won a World Series since 1988.
They will comfortably be the best team in the National League West and have several prospects ready to make a serious impact at the Major League level.
Constructing a lockdown bullpen will be the Dodgers’ priority this offseason – they could make a move for former Giants closer Will Smith.
Dangerous Pair At 12s:
Atlanta Braves
Atlanta were toppled by the Cardinals in the Division Series after another stellar regular season.
Prospects, such as Cristian Pache, should bolster an already deep roster at the start of the 2020 campaign, but the probable departure of Josh Donaldson leaves a major hole to fill in the line-up.
There’s been a reluctance to hand out long deals in recent winters, and understandably so. This is a big offseason for the Braves, though, and it will be interesting to see how Alex Anthopoulos approaches it.
Uncertainty looms over the Washington Nationals. Mike Rizzo faces a challenging offseason with superstar third baseman Anthony Rendon and World Series MVP Strasburg heading for free agency.
Their success was all the more impressive because of their bullpen struggles – the relief group needs addressing. Evaluating Washington’s chances depends a lot on where you think Rendon and Strasburg will end up.
With the Phillies and Mets waiting to pounce, the reigning champions could easily end up finishing fourth if things don’t go their way.
Big Market Threats:
Boston Red Sox
After glory in 2018, the 2019 season was a write-off for the Red Sox. So many players enjoyed career years in ’18, and a combination of pitching injuries and regression saw them tumble into the midriff of the American League East.
An unwillingness to spend makes it hard to see Boston threatening the Yankees in 2020. Their farm is one of the worst in baseball, too.
They’ve got the talent and experience to be a contender if everyone plays to their best, but it seems unlikely.
Chicago Cubs
Much like the Red Sox, the Cubs have enjoyed a parade recently and aren’t keen on spending much more than their current payroll.
They’ve got a much better shot at winning their division than the Red Sox do, however, and look a good bet at 20/1 to go all the way.
Invention Succeeds:
Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays
Two of the smallest markets in Major League Baseball, the Athletics and Rays have been punching well above their weight over the last two seasons and met in the wildcard in 2019.
Neither are going to be signing Cole or Rendon this winter, but they may well end up making the smartest moves of the offseason.
Tampa Bay are 20/1 to win the World Series in 2020, Oakland are priced at 25/1. Considering their performances in 2019, those prices represent great value in this market.
End Of Rebuilds:
San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox
Both teams were in the running for Manny Machado last summer. Machado ended up in California alongside rookie sensation Fernando Tatis Jr. The excitement was centred on San Diego last season, but there were signs of positivity at Guaranteed Rate Field, too.
The Padres are 40/1, which is roughly where we’d expect them to be at this point. Don’t rule them out of another big free agent move this winter, though, which could change that price quickly.
The White Sox at 66/1 is tempting – they’ve got a clearer path to the postseason than San Diego.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Sue Ogrocki / AP Photo*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
Picking an all-time Champions League XI is a challenging task. Evaluating players solely on European displays isn’t easy, and the balance between individual accolades and team success is a difficult one.
The answers to many a Champions League quiz question feature in our XI, other all-time great Champions League players miss out.
Stalwarts of teams that frequently topped the Champions League winner odds, such as the late noughties, early 2010s Barcelona, populate this team accompanied by others who featured for multiple Champions League contenders.
Gianluigi Buffon
With 130 Champions League appearances to his name, but sadly no winners’ medal, Gianluigi Buffon pips Iker Casillas to top spot between the sticks.
Five times named in the UEFA Team of the Year and with four top 10 Ballon d’Or finishes, Buffon has a glittering individual CV despite a lack of team glory on Europe’s biggest stage.
Buffon has aged as well as any goalkeeper in the modern era, remaining one of the best shotstoppers in world football deep into his thirties.
Philipp Lahm
Once a winner and twice a runner-up in the Champions League, Philipp Lahm regularly featured in the latter stages of the competition.
Lahm was one of the most consistent players in European football, and adapted his game throughout his career, including a move into midfield under Pep Guardiola.
Since the first UEFA Team of the Year in 2000/01, only six players have been named in the XI more often than the Bayern icon.
Alessandro Nesta
Paired with Paolo Maldini (more about him in a bit), Alessandro Nesta led Milan to a clean sheet against Juventus in the 2003 Champions League final.
At his peak, Nesta was the best central defender in the world – he was named in the UEFA Team of the Year in three straight seasons from 2002 to 2004 and achieved his fourth and final selection in 2007.
With two winners’ medals in his immense trophy cabinet, Nesta was a lock for this side.
Sergio Ramos
Only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been named in the UEFA Team of the Year more than Sergio Ramos. Controversial yet always entertaining, there’s no questioning Ramos’ pedigree and his ability to deliver in the biggest matches.
Ramos was as key as anyone in Real Madrid’s four Champions League triumphs in recent seasons. Emotional, sure, but he’s a player you want on your side when that famous anthem plays.
With an ice-cool defence around him, Ramos would be perfect for this side.
Paolo Maldini
What a footballer. Paolo Maldini have a good enough CV to make it into an all-time European Cup side.
His career in the Champions League was up to standard to slot in here, too. His display at centre-back in that 2003 final against Juventus was absolutely majestic.
Maldini’s best known as a left-back, and while much of his Champions League displays came in the middle, he had to find a way into this team alongside Ramos and Nesta.
Clarence Seedorf
Four Champions League titles across three different clubs, and three very different teams, says it all about Clarence Seedorf.
The youth of Ajax, the pressure of Real Madrid, and the star-crowded side of Milan presented their own challenges. A consummate professional, and a wonderful technician, Seedorf could fit into any side and play a number of roles in midfield.
In this side, he’ll be going box-to-box and hoping to contribute a few goals.
Xavi
It was a matter of time until the modern Barcelona featured in this side.
Xavi is one of three in the XI, his place in this side – like with Barca – would be to dictate the tempo and slot in his opponents between the opposition lines.
He wasn’t the most physically gifted, neither strong nor quick. However, he was a wonderful footballer technically and read the game as well as anyone in the Champions League era.
Andres Iniesta
Xavi’s midfield partner for club and country, Andres Iniesta was named in the UEFA Team of the Year on six occasions and lifted the trophy four times.
Iniesta was the more advanced of the two, a playmaker in the final third and a sublime dribbler.
Steven Gerrard was Iniesta’s main rival for the third central midfield spot in this side, but Iniesta’s haul of winners’ medals gave him the edge.
Zinedine Zidane
He might have only won the Champions League once, but Zinedine Zidane is the owner of the greatest goal in Champions League final history. His strike against Bayer Leverkusen will never be beaten.
Zidane was the best player in the world for several seasons, and his Champions League CV could have been a lot more impressive if Real Madrid had been more pragmatic with their team construction.
The link-up between Zidane, Iniesta and Lionel Messi would make for a pretty gorgeous attack.
Lionel Messi
The first name on this team sheet, you’ve got to be pretty good to be handed a free role in an all-time XI.
Even Lionel Messi’s greatest detractors will place him among the top five footballers ever, and many claim he’s the best to have played the beautiful game. One thing is for sure: Messi makes it more beautiful than most.
Barcelona aren’t the force they once were, but while Messi’s there, they’ll remain a football betting favourite in the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The competition’s leading goalscorer, with five winners’ medals and second on the all-time appearances list. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored six Champions League hat-tricks since he turned 30. His records are extraordinary, his consistency almost unmatched.
Ronaldo played much of his career out on the wing, but he’s been a striker for the last few seasons and spent a lot of time centrally when he was younger anyway.
Ronaldo will be the number nine for this side, leading the line with plenty of supply for Zidane, Messi and Iniesta.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Jan Pitman / AP Photo*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
After a career spanning two decades Gary O’Neil is not ready to hang up his boots just yet, even at the ripe age of 36. “I still want to play,” he tells us. “I haven’t given up on that dream.”
It’s a dream that began as a 16-year-old at Portsmouth and took in a further eight clubs, experiencing a rollercoaster of promotions and relegations along the way.
Combative on the pitch but likeable and modest to a fault off it O’Neil was a firm fan-favourite wherever he went, an archetypal model pro who always gave everything to the cause. He did so on 490 occasions.
Here the box-to-box midfielder with the happy habit of popping up with a goal or two looks back on his life in the game and the clubs that formed him, starting with a city well and truly on the up but peering down.
Callow Canaries
After proving once again to be a lucky Play-Off Final omen, winning his third consecutive route to the top flight via Wembley, it was Norwich who gave O’Neil a last Premier League fling in 2015.
It is with a heavy reluctance then that he airs serious concerns about the adventurous football on display at Carrow Road at present, an attacking philosophy espoused by Daniel Farke that seems to be getting ruthlessly picked apart each and every week.
Ten matches in Norwich have shipped an average of 2.4 goals. Surely this can’t continue?
“If you are honestly not at the same level as the majority of other teams – which on paper applies to Norwich in the Premier League - then can you be open and expansive? Last year they could do that because they had some of the best players.
"But there comes a point where you have to think twice and accept that an opponent is better and if Norwich play open and expansive more times than not they will come out on the worst end of it.”
“Do they need to throw it all in the bin and be tight and direct and defensive? No, but it’s the manager’s responsibility to the club and to the fans to make sure they’re competitive while still sticking to their beliefs.
"Whether that is finding some tweaks or a halfway house, or changing it in certain games. At the moment it looks to me like they’re sticking to what they want to do rather than adjusting to the situation in front of them."
"It’s somewhere between commendable and naïve and I just fear if it carries on it will get closer to naive.”
If the team’s free-flowing approach to last term is increasingly coming unstuck in the big league the same can be said of its chief architect Emi Buendia.
Those who expected the twinkle-toed Argentine to light up the division with the same clever creativity that bamboozled the Championship have so far been left disappointed and O’Neil has a theory to explain the player’s underwhelming displays.
“I just wonder if Buendia has got the physicality – not size and strength but that extra bit of pace to get away from defenders. Because that’s what it takes now to cause a team problems in the Premier League.”
Hammers No Longer Nailing It
The Beckenham-born midfielder’s two years in East London saw promotion – again through the Play-Offs – before the Hammers re-established their Premier League credentials with a solid mid-table finish.
This year however, with a wealth of brilliant talent at Manuel Pellegrini’s disposal and with Manchester United and Tottenham struggling they were widely tipped as outside contenders to go one better and break into the coveted top six.
It was all going so well too, until a recent run of poor results has sent the Irons sliding down to tenth. For O’Neil this prompts a mild case of deju vu.
“When they have Anderson and Yarmalenko, Lanzini and Haller all on it they look really good going forward. They look so fluid, as if they’ve going to cause teams problems.
"But when they have a spell like this it feels like they’re going back to where they used to be, the team that finishes just behind where you want them to finish.”
“I really hope they do well because they’re a big club and they’re supported through thick and thin.
"The support we got in the Championship was huge and the fans dragged us over the line when we didn’t get to that automatic promotion spot. It was the fans who dragged us through the Play-Offs.”
If Buendia’s drop-off in form mirrors that of his team’s travails the same can be said in the case of Declan Rice’s decidedly ordinary performances of late.
Having been hyped as the ‘next big thing’ and capped by his country Rice has noticeably struggled to match his tremendous performances from last season but if this worries many a Hammer for O’Neil there is a silver lining.
“I just hope he stays at West Ham and it’s probably a blessing for them that he’s hitting a dip in form because when he was on cloud nine people were talking about Man United or as a replacement for Fernandinho at Man City.
On a positive note it means West Ham get to keep him for longer alongside Mark Noble who is an absolute legend. West Ham aren’t going to get relegated and they’re only going to push forward. He is in the England squad. So what a fantastic place to be.”
Patience Needed At Boro
In 2007 a £5m switch to Teeside led to O’Neil becoming one of the first names on the team-sheet for present England boss Gareth Southgate.
But it’s a team-mate of his that is of particular interest with Jonathan Woodgate now residing in the Riverside du-out as Middlesbrough slip perilously down the Championship table.
“I think they need to give him more time. They’ve obviously decided that he is the man for them and even though he’s very young managerial-wise he did have the experience of working under Tony Pulis last year.
"I just think that clubs need to be very careful with always changing. There has obviously been a huge cut in the budget so Jonathan Woodgate is not working with the same budget others had in previous years and with that has come a drop-off in performances and points return.
"I hope that Middlesbrough give Woodgate longer.”
Inexperienced Woodgate may be but according to O’Neil the signs were always there that management beckoned.
“He was a leader in the dressing room and hugely respected. He was a fantastic player who’d had a fantastic career so you were drawn to him and respected that he’d played for Real Madrid.
"You could tell he was going to go on and manage: he was always studying things and talk intelligently about the games coming up. He always had a tactical view on them.”
Pompey And Their Premier Pomp
It was on the south coast where O’Neil first made his reputation as an all-action star, equally adept on the right as he was prowling the centre-circle.
So impressive were his breakthrough years there that he soon found himself captaining the England under 21s but staying with Pompey his seven seasons brought all manner of highs and low, most memorable of which was a combination of the two.
A disastrous campaign in 2005/06 saw Portsmouth written off in early March as relegation certainties.
That was until a miraculous recovery, largely due to a sprinkling of Harry Redknapp magic brought a series of unlikely wins meaning a result at Wigan on the penultimate game of the season would leave them safe.
Two-one up with most of the second half successfully navigated O’Neil takes up the story from here…
“It was an intense final ten minutes but we managed to hold on then we had that spell with Harry and the staff in front of the Pompey away end waiting for the final whistle to go at St Andrews.
"We had a big celebration in the changing room then headed back to Portsmouth and everybody came back to my house.
"It was amazing and when you get to the stage I’m at now, wondering what comes next, those days are just priceless. You’d give anything to have more of those days.”
As unforgettable as that day was for the Fratton Park faithful they were rather hoping for an altogether more straightforward kind of celebration this time out: that of climbing out of League One.
After reaching the Play-Offs last May optimism was high for another run at promotion but instead fluctuating results have left them languishing in the lower half. Is a return to the Championship now out of the question?
“I’m sure Kenny will turn it around because he’s a good manager and he has a good squad.
"I don’t think the position they’re in now in the league is where they will finish but obviously time is of the essence and when the gap between them and the play-offs is getting as big as it is now they need to start clawing back the point difference.”
Bolton On The Brink
It says a lot about Gary O’Neil’s professionalism that at the age of 35 and in his final fling as a top level footballer he won his club’s Player of the Year last season. It says an awful lot more that this was achieved amidst a backdrop of a club in financial meltdown.
As Bolton Wanderers seemed destined to go to the wall their midfielder’s recollections of what it was like at the centre of it all is striking and shocking.
“It was just relentless. You got sick of it in the end. You’d arrive at training and get told there was going to be a meeting and this was three times a week, trying to discover what was going on and whether we would get paid.”
“It was just so hard and when relegation hit some of the lads thought what is the point now? We’re not getting paid. We’re getting hammered every week. It became so difficult for the gaffer.
"Obviously some of the players still wanted to show what they could do but others were just so sick of it. The fans did well to stick with us and they went through it too.
"They weren’t sure if their club was going to make it and you look at Bury up the road and you’re grateful that it turned out like it did.”
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Sang Tan / AP Photo*
The £100,000 Charlie Hall Steeplechase at Wetherby is widely acknowledged as one of the most important and influential early season trials for top-quality chasers as they set out on the season long road to the Cheltenham Festival with the very live possibility of running in the Gold Cup itself.
Charlie Hall Chase 2019: Contenders
The 12 entries this year include the 2018 scorer Definitly Red (Brian Ellison), who would become the first dual winner since Ollie Magern (2005 & 2007).
Malton handler Ellison is enjoying a purple patch of form at the moment with his latest big race success coming just last Sunday when Forest Bihan took the Old Roan Chase at Aintree.
Ellison’s stable star got the better of the Paul Nicholls-trained Black Corton in this race last year and the stage is all set for another showdown between the pair of them at the Yorkshire track.
Last year’s Welsh Grand National victor Elegant Escape (Colin Tizzard) has been vying for favouritism all week and understandably so.
Elegant Escape is aiming to give trainer Colin Tizzard a second Charlie Hall Chase, following Cue Card’s success in 2015.
Having filled the runner-up spot in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury earlier in the campaign, Elegant Escape followed up his Welsh National triumph by finishing second to Frodon in the Cotswold Chase and ran a reasonable sixth behind Al Boum Photo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Tizzard is of the view that if he can improve six or eight pounds he could be their Gold Cup contender this season so all eyes will be on his performance on Saturday.
Black Corton (Paul Nicholls) finished second to Definitly Red in last season’s Charlie Hall after surviving a horrendous third fence blunder, and will be bidding to go one better this time.
However, Nicholls is due to make a late call upon his participation and he may head to Ascot instead for the Sodexo Gold Cup.
Should the eight-year-old take up his West Yorkshire date he should not be inconvenienced by carrying joint-top weight after proving in can do so in the Galway Plate at the end of July.
He will once again be partnered by Bryony Frost and the pair get along like a house on fire.
Aso (Venetia Williams) has yet to win beyond two miles and five furlongs but has looked like a stayer all along. The nine-year-old posted a career-best when he went down on his sword behind Frodon in a ding-dong climax to the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham.
The popular mare La Bague Au Roi (Warren Greatrex) is sure to have her supporters after a stunning 2018/19 season and she can most certainly mix it with the boys in this.
Victorious in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton last Boxing Day when beating the useful Topofthegame, she was just denied completing a season five-timer by Kalashnikov at the Grand National meeting.
Wetherby is a fair test for young horses and if she gets into a good early rhythm she may prove difficult to peg back.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ballyoptic will certainly have fitness on his side after he stoically carried top-weight to victory at Chepstow on October 12. Twiston-Davies is the most successful trainer in the history of the Charlie Hall Chase, winning it five times.
Stamina will not be an issue for the nine-year-old as his second place in the 2018 Scottish Grand National so proved.
Should the Jessica Harrington-trained Jett be successful, he would become the first Irish-trained winner since Sackville in 2001.
The eight-year-old relished the step up in trip on his latest start when upsetting the odds (and a posse of Gigginstown runners) by beating Alpha Des Obeaux by a short-head in the Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown.
North Yorkshire-trainer Philip Kirby will be represented in the race by Top Ville Ben who is a young horse going places.
The seven-year-old enjoyed plenty of success last season, winning three times in novice company with two of those wins coming over three miles at Wetherby.
His best performance of the season came in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in April when he finished a fine third to Lostintranslation, after making most of the running.
Double Shuffle (Tom George) will be hoping for a change of fortune in the Charlie Hall after missing the race in 2017 due to traffic problems, then suffering an uncharacteristic first fence fall last year.
Chase wins have been hard to come by for the nine-year-old, scoring just twice from 22 attempts, but he is clearly talented on his day as his runner-up spot to Might Bite in the 2017 King George VI Chase showed us.
The Kim Bailey-trained Vinndication has three entries this weekend so it remains to be seen just where he turns up.
After winning his first two starts over fences Vinndication came up just short in two Grade One races, most recently finishing fifth in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The six-year-old has however had a wind operation since the end of last season and Bailey is confident he will get a three mile trip this year.
Molly The Dolly (Dan Skelton) along with La Bague Au Roi and Atlanta Ablaze all receive a mare’s allowance and Skelton believes his eight-year-old is at her best when fresh.
She was an impressive winner in handicap company at the Scottish Grand National meeting and her upward curve could well continue at Wetherby.
Atlanta Ablaze (Henry Daly) will have to brush up her jumping considerably if she is to figure in this but she can be quite useful on her day.
She was in the process of running a big race in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase at The Festival when falling two out so she cannot be completely written off here.
Charlie Hall Chase 2019: Conclusion
This is one of the most open Charlie Hall Chase’s in recent years and a case can be made for all twelve runners.
The most recent authoritative form line for me however is the proximity of Top Ville Ben to Lostintranslation and Topofthegame at Aintree and I shall be siding with the Harbour Rose Partnership-owned runner.
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Boxing has been one of the United Kingdom’s most popular sports for well over a century so picking just 10 fighting superstars is very difficult indeed.
There are a few high-profile figures to miss out on this list, including the likes of Chris Eubank, Amir Khan and Anthony Joshua.
The answer is subjective of course but there is no standout fighter who ranks as Britain’s top boxing superstar.
Without further ado, it is time to take a look at some of the boxers who always seem to come up in the ‘greatest’ conversation.
Joe Calzaghe
Known as the ‘Pride of Wales’, Calzaghe was a joy to watch in his heyday.
The Welshman defended his WBO super-middleweight world championship title for over 10 years, making 21 successful defences during the period before moving up a weight class.
Calzaghe’s southpaw stance gave him a unique edge in what was a competitive division and is deserving of a spot on this list.
With 46 wins from 46 professional bouts, Calzaghe will go down in history as one of Britain’s best undefeated fighters.
Having won his first 23 professional fights, Buchanan won the British Lightweight title but he was destined for bigger things – a first world title shot was on the cards.
Buchanan travelled to Puerto Rico but that didn’t stop him – the Scot was awarded the win after 15 gruelling rounds.
The ‘Fighting Carpenter’ finished his career with 61 wins and just eight defeats and he was accepted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2000.
A supreme athlete during his peak years, Lewis matured into a dominant figure in the sport and he was an inspiration for many of the youngsters breaking through today.
A three-time world champion, Lewis also won the British, European and Commonwealth titles in what was a glittering career.
Lewis ended his career with a 41-2-1 record but he avenged the two defeats and the draw, ensuring that he won against all of his professional opponents.
Ricky Hatton
Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton wasn’t the most skilful fighter around but he had plenty of power and a big heart.
Hatton’s determination to succeed drove him all the way to the top of the welterweight division, winning 45 of his 48 professional bouts.
With two of those losses coming against Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr, Hatton can hold his head high.
Hatton gave many British boxing fans an incredible journey and he is now one of the nation’s biggest trainers – a true icon for the sport.
Barry McGuigan
McGuigan took out British citizenship to represent Northern Ireland at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. Starting out as an amateur, even McGuigan himself wouldn’t have dreamed of embarking on such an impressive professional career.
Known as the ‘Clones Cyclone’, McGuigan pulled off one of the biggest shocks of his era when defeating Eusebio Pedroza for the Lineal and WBA Featherweight titles in 1985.
He decided to retire at just 28 years old with a 32-3 record and is now a very successful boxing promoter.
Tyson Fury
Fury’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko is enough to put him on this list.
Nobody expected the Manchester fighter to emerge victorious in Dusseldorf back in 2015 – well, nobody except Fury himself. It wasn’t the most exciting performance but it was a real masterclass.
Since then, Fury has had to deal with his demons before making a miraculous comeback to the ring.
Boxing fans can make their own mind up on the ‘draw’ with Deontay Wilder but Fury will attempt to settle the score when the two men collide in 2020.
John Conteh
An entertaining figure in and out of the ring, Conteh was one of boxing’s first controversial figures.
At 19 years old, Conteh won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and made the decision to turn professional shortly after – it was the start of a bright future.
Conteh won the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship in 1974 and held the crown for four years before he was stripped of the title.
He hung up his gloves with a 34-4-1 record and many believe that he could’ve enjoyed more success with a stable lifestyle.
Lloyd Honeyghan
Known as the ‘Ragamuffin Man’, Honeyghan holds claim to what is arguably the biggest upset in British boxing history. A huge underdog, Honeyghan travelled to Atlantic City to face American Donald Curry, with Curry arrogantly dismissing Honeyghan ahead of the bout.
Honeyghan defended his belt successfully on a number of occasions before his first defeat.
However, he became only the second British boxer to regain a world title after winning the rematch – you’d be hard pressed to find a fighter with better metnal strength and resilience.
Jimmy Wilde
Weighing in at just 96 lbs, Wilde will go down in history for being one of the lightest men in the history of professional boxing.
He was the first Welsh professional champion while also winning the inaugural World Flyweight Championship title.
In 12 glorious years, Wilde fought an incredible 136 times – winning 132 of those bouts.
He knocked out 99 of his opponents and two of his three defeats came in his final couple of fights. Wilde isn’t a household name in modern boxing but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t make this list.
Carl Froch
It was a tossup between Froch and Chris Eubank but ‘The Cobra’ gets in.
BoxRec rank Froch as Britain’s second greatest super-middleweight fighter of all-time behind Calzaghe and it would be fair to state that Froch was one of the hardest men in boxing in his heyday.
Froch came unstuck against the great Andre Ward while also losing to Mikkel Kessler.
He did manage to avenge that loss to the latter though and many believe Froch, a three-time world champion in his own right, will live long in the memory for boxing fans.
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
Selecting a combined XI is never easy. There are always too many players to consider, all-time greats that end up being left out as you try to balance a realistic version of a team with getting all the best players into the side.
Ahead of England’s tour of New Zealand, we’ve decided to compile a combined Test XI for the two nations.
To make the task a little easier, this combined Test XI is made up for the best England and New Zealand cricketers from this century, meaning there’s no impossible comparison between Len Hutton and Alastair Cook required.
Speaking of the Essex left-hander, he gets the team underway…
Sir Alastair Cook
England’s record run scorer was a lock for this team. Cook averaged over 45 opening the batting, excelling around the world. His 2010/11 Ashes tour was one of the great series by a batsman, rivalling the exploits of Donald Bradman.
Cook isn’t the most elegant or entertaining in this line-up, but he’d get them off to a solid start more often than not.
Marcus Trescothick
Alastair Cook’s career could have been very different if Marcus Trescothick wasn’t forced into premature international retirement. Trescothick himself would have been considered one of England’s greatest openers.
The recently retired Somerset icon is one of the most likeable people in cricket. His average of 43.79 in Tests reflects the class act he was at the top of the order, too.
A destructive force at his best, a Cook and Tresco opening partnership would have been the best in the world.
Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is a class act on and off the field. Williamson’s compact technique and ice-cool manner at the crease makes him one of the best batsmen in the world – he averages over 52 in the longest format of the game.
An ability to adapt to the game situation and score at different tempos has seen Williamson develop into an all-format force.
He’s got the technique to cope with the moving ball, and can play spin well, making him the ideal number three ahead of a fiery middle order.
Check out the latest cricket betting to find odds on Williamson to be the top run scorer in the upcoming series.
Joe Root
Joe Root wins the number four spot in this side ahead of Ross Taylor and Ian Bell. There were some positives for England at the back end of the Ashes, and the return to form of their skipper was one of them.
As elegant as any batsman for either side since the turn of the century, Root accumulates runs smoothly when on top of his game.
It’s almost become a cliché for commentators to be surprised when he’s scored 30 off 50 balls.
Kevin Pietersen
Although he batted at four for much of his Test career, Kevin Pietersen slots in at five here, which happens to be the position he batted in that sensational 158 at the Oval in 2005.
There was no question about Pietersen’s place in this side. He turned Test matches in a way that few batsmen are capable of, his shot-making often leaving bowlers clueless.
In this team, though, Pietersen is just the start of a trio of destructive middle order batsmen.
Ben Stokes
England’s hero in the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final, Ben Stokes is a complete cricketer. His batting is a long way ahead of Andrew Flintoff’s, which earned him the number six spot in this line-up.
Stokes’ ability to reverse swing the ball would be handy in this team, but he won’t need to bowl too many overs with the three frontline bowlers taking plenty of wickets.
The prospect of Stokes batting with Kevin Pietersen will see bowlers fainting at their mark.
Brendon McCullum
For all the admiration of Brendon McCullum as a white-ball player, his Test record wasn’t half bad either.
The wicketkeeper-batsman average 38.64 in the longest format, often turning innings on their head with aggressive counter-attacks.
McCullum is the only player in this team with a triple-hundred to his name.
Daniel Vettori
The lone spinner spot was a close-run thing between Daniel Vettori and Graeme Swann, but the longevity of Vettori – who played 113 Tests – just pips the outspoken English off-spinner.
His control and variation of flight made him a tricky bowler to face despite not being a massive turner of the ball.
Vettori was a more than handy batsman too – he could be a nuisance hanging around with Pietersen, Stokes or McCullum in this team.
Stuart Broad
He might have to settle for first-change in this team, but Stuart Broad was a sure thing alongside James Anderson and Trent Boult.
Broad’s match-winning spells have provided some thrilling Test cricket throughout his career.
Sometimes underappreciated, and often criticised, Broad’s record speaks for itself. He’s one of England’s greatest bowlers.
James Anderson
The Burnley Lara might just be the greatest new ball bowler ever.
Anderson has faced criticism for his performances outside of England, but his numbers overseas have improved as he’s aged and developed a box of tricks to keep control and pick up wickets.
Anderson has more wickets than any fast bowler in history and will have his sights set on third place in the all-time list once he returns from injury.
Trent Boult
Giving a left-arm angle to complement Broad, Anderson and Stokes, Trent Boult is currently the sixth-best bowler in the world in the ICC rankings and could climb further once this series is finished.
Boult’s natural inswing to right-handers has troubled many an opening batsman, his wrist position gives him great control and movement even in unfavourable conditions.
Boult’s new-ball partnership with Tim Southee is heading into Broad and Anderson territory.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
Lewis Hamilton heads to Austin for the United States Grand Prix needing just four points to secure his sixth Drivers’ Championship.
Hamilton notched a shock victory at the Mexico Grand Prix last weekend, eking more out of the hard compound tyre than most expected.
The dominant Brit needed a 14-point advantage over teammate Valtteri Bottas to sew up the title in Mexico City for a third straight season, but Bottas’ third-placed finish delayed Hamilton’s celebrations for seven days.
With less tyre degradation than expected, the Mexican Grand Prix was a race that promised much, but ultimately didn’t quite live up to the thriller it appeared to be developing into.
Mercedes arrived in Mexico lacking confidence – they will be feeling much more positive about this weekend. Let’s take a look back at a brief history of the American Grand Prix…
United States Grand Prix: Brief History
The first United States Grand Prix was hosted at Sebring in 1959 and won by New Zealander Bruce McLaren for Cooper-Climax. The 1960 edition of the race was held at Riverside, a circuit in California that opened in 1957.
Stirling Moss won his first and only United States Grand Prix at Riverside in 1960 – the following year, the event moved to Watkins Glen where it remained until 1980.
It’s worth noting that there have been several other races in the USA alongside the United States Grand Prix, including the United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach in the 1970s.
When Formula One left Watkins Glen after Alan Jones’ win in 1980, the United States Grand Prix was absent from the calendar until 1989.
Three races were held in Phoenix, the first won by Alain Prost and the next two by Ayrton Senna. The heat in Phoenix made for some testing conditions. Rumours of a race on the streets of Manhattan or the Las Vegas strip popped up in the early 1990s, but neither came to fruition.
Following Senna’s win in 1991, there wasn’t another Grand Prix in the US until 2000. Indianapolis hosted an annual race between 2000 and 2007 with Michael Schumacher and Ferrari dominating – Schumacher won five of the races, Ferrari won six in total.
Bernie Ecclestone vowed never to return to Indianapolis in 2009 and plans for a United States Grand Prix were nowhere to be seen.
Talk of a Grand Prix in New York resurfaced, of course, but never really went anywhere. In May 2010, a 10-year contract was agreed for Austin to host the United States Grand Prix.
United States Grand Prix: Circuit of the Americas
Circuit of the Americas was the first race track in the United States to be built primarily for Formula One.
Hermann Tilke, who designed several Formula One circuits and helped with the redesign of the Hockenheimring, assisted Tavo Hellmund and Kevin Schwantz with the plans.
At just under three and a half miles long, Circuit of the Americas is one of the longer laps on the calendar. Lewis Hamilton holds the track record at 1:37:392.
Corners are open, allowing drivers to take different racing lines. Overtaking is possible around the lap – the long straight between turn 11 and turn 12 gives drivers a great DRS opportunity.
It’s a track that Mercedes have enjoyed over the last few years. With 20 corners per lap, the high-downforce Silver Arrows have had an advantage over the Ferraris, but that could be different this time round.
Ferrari’s raw power will be noticeable on the two straights and we’ve seen them improve through the corners in recent races.
United States Grand Prix: Recent Winners
2018 – Kimi Raikkonen
2017 – Lewis Hamilton
2016 – Lewis Hamilton
2015 – Lewis Hamilton
2014 – Lewis Hamilton
United States Grand Prix: Most Wins
6 – Lewis Hamilton
5 – Michael Schumacher
3 – Graham Hill, Jim Clark
2 – James Hunt, Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Carlos Reutemann
United States Grand Prix: F1 Betting Tips
If we were ranking Hamilton’s best Grand Prix wins, his display in Mexico would be near the top.
The complaints over the radio are often a warning for his rivals, and it proved that way again last weekend. Hamilton managed his tyres beautifully as the Mercedes again outdid the Ferraris despite having a slower car for much of the weekend.
Strategic misjudgements have cost Ferrari throughout the second half of the season. Tension between Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel has waned slightly since the awkward situation in Sochi, but decision making hasn’t been great.
Both drivers have made errors and failed to convert Saturday pace into race victories. Leclerc is marginally favoured of the two at 5/2 to win this Sunday in 888sport’s F1 betting.
It’s been a difficult few weeks for Max Verstappen. Some of it has been misfortune, some has been of his own doing. The Dutchman has been outscored by Alex Albon since the youngster was promoted from Toro Rosso.
Verstappen held off Hamilton brilliantly to finish second at COTA last season – he’s 4/1 to win the race this year.
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
26th October 2019 – a date that will go down in history. For only the eighth time since 1905 and the first at a Rugby World Cup, England defeated New Zealand. In fact, that is doing England a huge disservice – England thrashed New Zealand.
From the moment England took to the pitch, you knew they meant business and the All Blacks will have known instantly that this was not going to be yet another World Cup walkover.
England landed their first psychological blow before kick-off, opting to stand in a ‘V’ shape to face the Haka. Nigel Owens and his team of officials tried to get a handful of England players to move behind the halfway line but to no avail.
At that moment in time, England were focused purely on sending a statement. Eddie Jones had sent England out with a challenge to New Zealand’s challenge. England were ready for war and nothing would be left on the field – win or lose.
As the likes of Joe Marler, Billy Vunipola and Mark Wilson stood noticeably over the halfway line, England had the option of taking Owens’ words on board and retreating a few paces or standing their ground. All six players refused to budge.
Two minutes later, England had opened the scoring. With confidence soaring after the Haka victory, England stormed out of the blocks to take an early lead. That try sent Jones’ side on their way and they never really looked like losing from that point.
New Zealand, known for their unique ability to keep the ball alive, rarely had England on the back foot and the All Blacks were drawn into kicking more often than not. Unfortunately for them, their kicking game just wasn’t up to scratch compared to England’s.
Time and time again, England’s defensive stars turned the ball over. Maro Itoje, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill were simply sublime – Itoje was a constant thorn in New Zealand’s side while Curry and Underhill wreaked havoc at the breakdown.
Owen Farrell’s smirk whilst facing the Haka spoke volumes about England’s intentions. All of the pre-tournament hype surrounded New Zealand and South Africa but England were just biding their time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
This was that moment. Farrell, playing at inside centre to allow George Ford to start at fly-half, played on after taking a huge hit in the first half. The England captain was down but not out and he battled on despite relinquishing place kicking duties to Ford.
And it would be Ford who stepped up to nail three penalties in the second half to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Ford, often criticised for poor defence, was excellent in the tackle and his kicking was inch-perfect. Credit to Jones for putting him back in the side.
It was England’s best performance in the last 10 years and it was arguably on par with their greatest ever performances. Ruthless at the breakdown, efficient in possession and hungry in the tackle, it was an effort that the All Blacks themselves would’ve been proud of.
All eyes will be on England in their bid for World Cup glory this weekend – can they get the job done against South Africa? The Springboks represent a completely different challenge but England will be primed and ready for battle. One thing is sure, the Rugby World Cup predictions give them a good chance.
Eddie Jones hasn’t put a foot wrong this tournament and England almost deserve to claim only their second World Cup crown. That performance against New Zealand will have raised eyebrows in the South Africa camp and a fantastic game of rugby awaits.
Whether England win or lose in the final, this game will live long in the memory for England fans. The All Blacks, so often deemed superior and invincble, were made to look average at best.
Eddie’s England deserve credit for the dismantling the greatest team on the planet but they have one more job to do.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark Baker / AP Photo*
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
The venue is Yokohama, the prize is the Webb Ellis Cup and the teams are England and South Africa. After 47 games, 261 tries, 28 yellow cards and eight red cards, it all boils down to this.
This is the 2019 Rugby World Cup final and only one nation can prevail – will it be England, conquerors of Australia and New Zealand, or can South Africa, victorious against Japan and Wales, spring a shock?
At the time of writing, England are priced at 2/5 to secure only their second Rugby World Cup crown. Eddie Jones’ side were sensational against New Zealand in the semi-finals, with some claiming that it was England’s best performance in the last 10 years.
Jones has named an unchanged team for the final and you can hardly blame him. If England play to that standard this weekend, the writing will be on the wall for South Africa. As good as the Springboks are, England were on another level last week.
George Ford showed exactly why Jones put so much faith in him with a superb performance and the Leicester Tigers star retains his place in the line-up. The kicking game is going to be crucial once again and Ford’s creativity and vision could give England the edge.
However, the Springboks will relish being underdogs ahead of this clash and they have an excellent record in World Cup finals. With two wins from two appearances in rugby union’s showpiece fixture, South Africa will fancy their chances of making it three out of three.
Cheslin Kolbe returns to the Springboks line-up and his presence will give South Africa a real boost ahead of Saturday’s clash. Capable of changing a game in the blink of an eye, Kolbe is worth a punt to score anytime at 11/4.
Defensively, South Africa will have to be perfect. England will test the Springboks from start to finish and the likes of Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Jonny May will exploit weaknesses in defence. A solid line may force England to change their game plan…
Faf de Klerk is world class and he will be key to their chances of victory. The Springboks star is capable of unlocking this England defence and his play, particularly his box-kicking, could be the difference between success and failure for South Africa.
The World Cup final is usually a tight affair and under 37.5 points has landed in three of the last four showpiece fixtures. With that in mind, taking the under line at 9/10 could be the way to go – this one could go down to the wire.
England cannot afford to sit back and think that the job is done – that win over New Zealand was outstanding but it has been and gone. Defeating the Springboks is easier said than done and every England player will have to be on top form.
It all boils down to how good England are. If Jones’ side emulate that performance against the All Blacks, the Webb Ellis Trophy will be heading to Twickenham. But if England are off colour and South Africa turn up at their brilliant best, we will have a game on our hands.
At risk of looking like a fool, I just can’t see past England after last week. New Zealand were second best in every department and Jones will have a plan to combat South Africa. In this instance, the heart AND the head say England will win the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
TIP: England to win the World Cup (2/5 with 888sport)
TRY SCORER: Cheslin Kobe to score anytime (11/4 with 888sport)
LONGSHOT: England to win by 6-10 points (4/1 with 888sport)
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Christophe Ena / AP Photo*
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
