2000 Guineas: Saturday

The QIPCO 2000 Guineas, is one of Newmarket’s Group 1 races, open to three-year-old colts and fillies and boasts an impressive roll of honour including the unforgettable Frankel. The race takes place at 3.35pm on Saturday 5th May.

Although they only have to carry 8st 11lbs compared to the 9st a colt is allotted, fillies very rarely contest the QIPCO 2000 Guineas nowadays.

They almost invariably stick to their own equivalent event, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas which is run the day after on a Sunday.  The last filly to triumph was Garden Path in 1944.

Trends & Statistics: 2000 Guineas

• Price – 5 of the last 10 winners were favourites, 6/10 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.
• Last Run – 7 of the last 10 winners won on their last run, 8/10 winners had their last run over 189 days ago.
• Previous Course Form – 5/10 winners had at least 1 previous run at Newmarket, 4/10 winners had at least 1 previous win at Newmarket.
• Rating – 8/10 winners had a rating of 110 or higher.
• Frankie Dettori rode the winner in 1996, 1999 & 2016.
• Aidan O’Brien has won the race in 1998, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017 & 2018.

2000 Guineas: Leading Contenders

Aidan O’Brien is looking for his tenth win in this race and has two well fancied contenders in the shape of Magna Grecia and Ten Sovereigns.

The aforementioned won the Vertum Futurity Group One at Doncaster last October and looks like an improving horse, while Ten Sovereigns is actually rated 7lbs higher than Magna Grecia and has won three from three of his starts.

Ten Sovereigns took the Group One Middle Park Stakes here last September and should he take to a mile, he sets a very high standard.

Advertise will also be a popular choice on Saturday as Frankie Dettori searches for his fourth victory in this Classic.

Martyn Meade’s runner won the Group One Phoenix Stakes last season in Ireland and was a decent second to Too Darn Hot in the Dewhurst here last October.

Madhmoon lost his unbeaten record in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown, but he can be forgiven that run on ground not to his liking and he will be much sharper here.

The Willie Haggas-trained Skardu took the Craven Stakes here last time. Haggas has yet to win this race but this Sharmadal colt has already advertised the fact that he can win at a mile.

Fielden Stakes scorer Kick On also looks a live contender. Any horse that is owned by Qatar Racing Limited, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Oisin Murphy, is invariably no slouch and the Charm Spirit colt can progress further.

888sport suggests: Kick On (e/w).

1000 Guineas: Sunday

Staged on the Sunday of the Guineas weekend, the fillies’ 1000 Guineas is a very prestigious race. Just like the 2000 Guineas which is held the day before, it is also one of only five British classic races and the first fillies’ classic race of the season.

The QIPCO 1000 Guineas is run over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. A tough test for the fillies, the last 2 furlongs of the Rowley Mile always sorts out the champions from the also-rans.

The rarely attempted fillies’ Triple Crown (Guineas, Oaks, St Leger) is even harder to win. Only 9 fillies have ever done so – 8 of that 9 were before 1955. The last filly to win it was Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Trends & Statistics: 1000 Guineas

• Price – 2 of the last 10 winners were favourites, 6/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.
• Last Run – 7 of the last 12 winners won on their last start, 4/10 winners had a run in the last 30 days.
• Previous Course Form – 7/10 winners had at least one previous run at Newmarket, 5/10 had at least one previous win at the course.
• Rating – 7/10 winners had a rating of 106 or higher.
• Owner Hamdam Al Maktoum has won the race 5 times (1990, 1991, 1995, 2000 & 2009).
• Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner four times: Virginia Waters (1995), Homecoming Queen (2012), Minding (2016) & Winter (2017).

1000 Guineas: Leading Contenders

Aidan O’Brien has taken the 1,000 Guineas three times in the past 10 years and naturally he’s represented once more on the Rowley Mile, this time with four entries. His best two on paper look to be Just Wonderful and Fairyland.

Just Wonderful ran out the clear winner of the Rockfel Stakes at headquarters last September before being shipped over to the United States to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf where she finished fourth.

The return to Newmarket and a much more suitable surface should play to her strengths.

Fairyland was a winner of four of her five starts last season, including the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes. She certainly has the best juvenile form on offer here and if she can stay out the trip she should be in the mix.

The impressive Nell Gwyn winner Qabala has been the subject of a gamble in the ante-post markets since winning that contest and is highly likely to go off the favourite in the horse racing betting.

Roger Varian’s Scat Daddy filly won that race nicely and will certainly be in the shake up if she can reproduce that level of form.

Another filly out of Scat Daddy that will have plenty of supporters here will be the John Oxx-trained Skitter Scatter.

She began her career beating Sergei Prokofiev over the minimum trip, with the highlight of her excellent two-year-old season being her Group One victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Joseph O’Brien’s Iridessa will also be a popular pick. She began last year with a maiden win at Killarney and ended it with a comprehensive win in the Fillies' Mile.

In the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown earlier this month she recorded a third-place finish which she can build upon on Sunday.

888sport suggests: Skitter Scatter (e/w).

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Former Burnley, Stoke and Republic of Ireland striker Jonathan Walters believes superstar-in-the-making Declan Rice is not only destined for the very top but should be attracting the attention of Pep Guardiola and others this transfer window.

“I’ve played with him and trained with him through the Ireland squad. I said very early on that he was a big talent.

“In my opinion, he can go right to the top and without a shadow of a doubt he’s a target for the big teams, whether that be Manchester United or anyone else.

If I was Manchester City I would be looking at him because of the position that he plays where he can sit in front of that back four and do an unbelievable job. He’s available for the ball and right foot, left foot he deals with it.

"His passing is simple but he’s got a range. He covers a lot of ground and breaks up attacks. He can take players on. He is an ultimate player in that role and I’d be surprised if plenty of clubs aren’t in for him this summer.”

After a long and distinguished career Walters was forced to retire from top level football earlier this year following a persistent Achilles problem, though he remains involved with the Clarets who he has served well since 2017.

And it’s at Turf Moor where the 35 year old sees another potential big move taking place imminently, namely for his team-mate James Tarkowski.

"I rate him very highly and think he is better than most of the other England centre-backs. He’s a big talent with his size, speed and composure.”

Loyalty to, and speaking highly of team-mates is a common theme throughout our conversation and it’s easy to see why Walters has been a popular figure at every club he has represented, from lower league Wrexham right up to a Stoke side that punched above its weight in the Premier League for several seasons.

The same respect is given to his international colleagues too and after seeing a disgusting example of hate-mail reposted online by James McClean, the forward responds with clear exasperation.

“It’s a very touchy issue but you can’t look at racism one way: if it is racism, it’s against every race and religion, not just picking individual ones.

"Whatever you think of James – and I know him personally and he’s got a heart of gold – it is not right to wave abuse at him for his beliefs or how he is portrayed. He has suffered for many years and he is not the only Irish player to do so.”

“I saw James’ card he received on Twitter and I texted him asking ‘who is helping you here, mate?’ He said no-one; from Stoke to the FA they say things but nothing is done about it.

"If it was a more high profile case as we have seen in the media recently more would be done about it and that is disappointing. He might be a white Irish guy but it’s still racism no matter how you look at it and he should have the full support and backing that others have had.”

“Whether it gets brushed under the carpet I don’t know but my opinion is that whether it’s James McClean, Raheem Sterling or Mo Salah; or whether it’s in the Premier League or League Two everyone is the same and should have the same support.”

It is an unflinching reaction you would expect from a player who was known for his committed displays, though there was a good deal of under-appreciated skill to go with it.

After giving his all to many different causes in many different divisions down the years, Walters’ thoughts on the recent criticism of Manchester United’s lack of fitness is worth listening to also. Paul Pogba and co should probably look away now though.

“I saw the average running stats for Manchester United over seven games and Juan Mata was up there with 11.5k then it went down and down to those with 7 or 8k. For me as a player that is unacceptable.

"If we’re playing against a team and they’re not as fit, we’ll run all over them. If I was a manger that is a given – you have to out-work teams.”

Speaking of Manchester City, their titanic title fight with Liverpool is fascinating Walters just like the rest of the nation and with the likable Merseysider having played against both recently, talk soon turns to his personal tussles with their respective leaders.

In one corner towers the newly crowned Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk. In the other, City legend Vincent Kompany. So, who is better?

“You have got to go with Vincent Kompany over van Dijk for winning the Premier League as captain. To be up there with the best you have to be winning things.

"Virgil van Dijk has had a great 18 months and as good as he’s been you have to be doing it for at least four, five years before you can be considered right up there. Look at Ramos, Busquets, Pique.

“There is a good probability that Virgil van Dijk is going to be captain next year and he just needs to keep it up, keep doing it.

"Like Vincent Kompany who has been doing it for so many years. He’s older now and injuries have taken their toll but they’re right at the top of the league and he’s still played a major part this season.”

Relaying what it’s like to play against the veteran Belgian stopper meanwhile brings appreciation of the defender’s craft along with an acknowledgement of the dark arts that come with it.

“There are plenty of times when I’ll drop deep and look to pass the ball off and you know for a fact that he’s coming right through the back of you. And he’ll get away with it because he’s a nice and very articulate guy.

"He gets away with a lot but I like that because I try and do the same. He’s a gent and he’s been there. They are different players but by virtue of winning the league and being so consistent over the years it’s Kompany for me.”

Jonathan Walters: Quickfire Questions

Who Will Win The Premier League?

I think both teams will win their remaining two games so it will be City by a point.

Who Will Win The Champions League?

Barcelona

Who Will Win The Golden Boot?

Close your eyes and pick one. I’ll go for Salah because he’s leading at the moment.

Will Tottenham sink or swim? The first leg of the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals will take place on Tuesday evening and Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be quietly confident of taking a lead into the second leg in Amsterdam.

Spurs will have to cope in the absence of two of their most important players though. Harry Kane is out through injury while Heung-Min Son is suspended for the first leg. However, the 13/10 for Tottenham to win in 90 minutes still represents decent value.

Ajax are no slouches though and the Dutch outfit have been one of Europe’s standout teams this season. With knockout stage victories over Real Madrid and Juventus already acquired in 2019, the visitors will fancy their chances of a positive result.

Erik ten Hag will have his side fired up and ready to go. Ajax only know how to play one way and I’m expecting the Dutch giants to attack Spurs from start to finish. The 16/25 on offer for Ajax to avoid defeat is well worth considering given Tottenham’s woes.

Spurs will be looking for a repeat of the 1-0 quarter-final victory over Manchester City but keeping a clean sheet against Ajax will not be very difficult indeed. Without further ado, let’s take a look at 888sport’s Champions League betting odds ahead of Tuesday’s contest.

Tottenham have won just five of their last 13 matches in all competitions and Pochettino’s men will need to raise their game for Tuesday night. 23/20 for over 1.5 Spurs goals is a solid price if you trust the hosts to get the job done.

With Kane and Son forced to watch from the side-lines, the onus may be on Lucas Moura to lead the line. Priced at 43/20 to get his name on the scoresheet, the Brazilian has 10 goals to his name this season and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Lucas get in on the act.

Ajax have scored over 150 goals in all competitions this season and the visitors will be tough to stop if they take the lead. Spurs will be wary of conceding an away goal on Tuesday night but nerves could easily creep in if the Dutch side start well.

The 27/10 for Ajax to take a lead into half-time is a price worth taking. All of the pressure is on Tottenham and that should play into Ajax’s hands. We could see the visitors send out a statement of intent with a fast start under the Tottenham Stadium floodlights.

Both teams to score looks likely on Tuesday evening and the 13/20 is worth sticking in an accumulator. European matches are often cagey but this may be an exception to the rule: Tottenham and Ajax could put on a show for neutrals.

EVS for five or more Ajax corners represents excellent value for punters – the visitors should create plenty of chances in the final third. Pochettino’s men may find themselves under the cosh on a regular basis if the Dutch side find their best form.

Looking at the tie as a whole, Ajax are my pick to advance to this year’s Champions League final. 4/5 is an excellent price for the Dutch giants to go on and compete in the European showpiece and we could see another masterclass on Tuesday night.

TIP: Ajax to win OR draw @ 16/25

LONGSHOT: Ajax to lead at half-time (Priced at 27/10 with 888sport)

PREDICTED SCORE: Tottenham 1-1 Ajax (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Manchester United had failed to win their first four matches wearing their grey away kit in 1995-96. With United 3-0 down to Southampton in April 1996, Sir Alex Ferguson forced his players to change into a blue strip.

Whether born out of superstition or to improve players’ vision, the change slightly worked as United only lost 3-1. They won the Premier League title in 1996 and never wore the grey kit again.

Cameroon are one of football’s great fashion pioneers. Having previously caught the eye with a sleeveless kit, in 2004 Puma delivered a surprising onesie design in the classic Cameroon green and red.

FIFA didn’t love the kit as strongly as fashionistas, with a $154,000 fine and World Cup qualifying points deduction for Cameroon only overturned after appeals from Puma.

Nike turned Barcelona’s famous red-and-blue vertical stripes on their side in 2015, making the stripes horizontal for the first time. Kit sales at Barca had declined because fans saw no reason to buy another version of the same thing.

Barca played their usual fashionable football on their way to a league title, with the club one of Europe's strongest sides whatever their attire.

Brazil’s yellow shirts are now iconic because of the country’s success, but they were created as a result of failure. A defeat to Uruguay at the 1950 World Cup shocked the nation, which expected Brazil to claim the trophy.

Brazil ditched their white shirts for the yellow, adopting the design of the artist Aldyr Garcia Schlee. Schlee was actually a Uruguay fan, but things haven’t gone too badly for Brazil since.

The Colorado Caribous only lasted one season in the NASL, but they’ll always be remembered for wearing a shirt with tassels across the midriff.

The players also entered the field wearing cowboy hats, although they removed them for the match. The Caribous wanted to use a western theme to create a strong brand. 22 defeats in 30 league matches had the opposite effect.

The 2019 Punchestown Festival will take place from Tuesday 30th to Saturday 4^th May and is considered to be the most prestigious jump festival in Ireland. This year’s event boasts a record breaking prize fund of €3,222,500.

Racings Hometown Heroes will take on their UK counter parts at the home of Irish racing across a programme of 39 contests. Punchestown is the 'Grand Finale' of the Irish Jump season and the champions of the season will be crowned on the final day, Saturday 4^th May.

Punchestown Festival 2019: Schedule

Tuesday 30th April - Champion Chase Day

3.40: Kildare Hunt Club Fr. Sean Breen Memorial Cross Country Steeplechase of €15,000 over 3 miles 1 furlong
4.20: The Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 100 yards - ENTRIES
4.55: The Killashee Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €60,000 2 miles 100 yards 
5.30: The Grade 1 BoyleSports Champion Steeplechase of €300,000 2 miles - ENTRIES
6.05: The Goffs Land Rover Bumper of €100,000 2 miles 100 yards- ENTRIES
6.40: The Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase of €100,000 3 miles 120 yards- ENTRIES
7.15: The Sanctuary Synthetics Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 100 yards

Wednesday 1st May - Punchestown Gold Cup Day

3.40: The Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle of €30,000 2 miles 5 furlongs 

4.20: The Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final of €75,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
4.55: The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle of €25,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 
5.30: The Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle of €100,000 3 miles- ENTRIES
6.05: The Grade 1 Coral Punchestown Gold Cup of €300,000 3 miles 120 yards- ENTRIES
6.40: The Grade 1 Racing Post Champion I.N.H Flat Race of €100,000 2 miles 70 yards
7.10: The Guinness Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 
7.45: The Weatherbys GSB Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) of €50,000 2 miles 70 yards

Thursday 2nd May - Champion Stayers' Hurdle Day

3.40: The JLT Handicap Hurdle of €30,000 2 miles 40 yards
4.15: The Pigsback.com Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €65,000 2 miles 
4.50: The Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country race of €30,000 4 miles 2 furlong 
5.30: The Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle of €300,000 3 miles - ENTRIES
6.05: The Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €60,000 3 miles
6.40: The Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Steeplechase of €115,000 2 miles - ENTRIES
7.15: The Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) of €35,000 2 miles 40 yards 
7.45: The Kildare Post (C&G) Flat Race of €17,500 2 miles 40 yards

Friday 3rd May - Champion Hurdle Day

3.40: The KFM Hunters Steeplechase for the Bishopscourt Cup of €15,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 
4.20: The EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) of €100,000 2 miles 5 furlongs 
4.55: The Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €75,000 2 miles 5 furlongs 
5.30: The Grade 1 BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle of €300,000 2 miles  - ENTRIES
6.05: The Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs  - ENTRIES
6.35: The Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase €30,000 3 miles 120 yards
7.10: The SalesSense International Novice Hurdle of €25,000 2 miles 
7.45: The GVA Donal O'Buachalla Property Advisors INH Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 2 furlongs 

Saturday 4th May - AES Festival Family Day

2.35: The Dooley Insurances WFA Cross Country Steeplechase(Banks) of €15,000 3 miles 
3.10: The Boylesports Handicap Steeplechase of €50,000 3 miles 7 furlongs 
3.50: The Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs - ENTRIES
4.25: The Grade 1 AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles - ENTRIES
5.00: The Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €60,000 3 miles 120 yards
5.35: The Ballymore Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs
6.10: The K Club Hotel and Resort (Pro -Am) Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 
6.40: The Carry An Organ Donor Card Punchestown Charity Sweepstakes 1 mile 7 furlongs

Big Race Pointers (Tues):

Min and last year's winner Un De Sceaux are two of three runners for Willie Mullins in the BoyleSports Champion Chase.

Winner of this race last year, Un De Sceaux has run just twice since – serving it up to Altior in the Tingle Creek at Sandown before finishing fifth in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Un De Sceaux's stable companion Min could only manage fourth 12 months ago, but is the odds-on favourite for this year's renewal following his emphatic win in the JLT Chase at Aintree at the beginning of April.

Big Race Pointers (Weds):

Undoubtedly the biggest highlight at this week’s Punchestown Festival is going to be the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup, where Kemboy and Al Boum Photo are all set to clash.

It’s a contest that showcases the current young stars of National Hunt racing. Kemboy has won all his five completed chases since he fell at the first fence in last year’s Irish Grand National, the Savills Chase at Leopardstown and the Bowl at Aintree among them. Al Boum Photo has won his only two races to date this season with the pinnacle being his victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Big Race Pointers (Fri):

Dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air could make his first appearance on Irish soil in the BETDAQ Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old returned to Cheltenham last month bidding to become the sixth horse in history to win a third Champion Hurdle but he came to grief at the third flight and then had to make do with the runner-up spot behind Jessica Harrington's Supasundae when bidding for a second victory in the Aintree Hurdle earlier in the month.

888sport Early Fancies:

Thurs 6.40pm – Moon Over Germany (14/1) e/w.

Fri 6.05pm - – Battleoverdoyen (11/2) e/w.

You can find all our Punchestown horse racing odds here by clicking the highlighted link.

Have you heard of friends making money from accumulator bets? Accumulator betting is fast becoming one of the most adrenaline-fuelled forms of tennis betting, both online and offline.

'Accas' give you the chance to generate huge returns from just a small stake. The biggest pay-outs require the most selections. It rewards those brave enough to take the risk and find the right selections.

Accumulator Betting: Tips

In its simplest form, an accumulator is a bet that combines at least two selections into a single wager. An accumulator bet only generates a return when all selections win.

When you place an accumulator, your winnings from the first selection carry over to the second selection and so forth. This ensures your winnings are much greater than if you had placed a number of single bets on individual sporting events.

The beauty of accumulators is that they can be used for all the leading sports. However, some sports lend themselves better to accumulators than others, which we’ll discuss in greater detail shortly.

There are a number of names used for accumulator bets based on the number of selections in a wager:

• Double – an accumulator bet consisting of two selections
• Treble – an accumulator bet consisting of three selections
• Four-fold – an accumulator bet consisting of four selections
• Five-fold – an accumulator bet consisting of five selections; and so on.

In fact, there is no limit to the number of selections you can make in an accumulator bet. This flexibility has enabled some punters to turn small bets worth £1 or £2 into hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds.

Accumulator Betting: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• It’s a chance to generate massive returns on the smallest investment. To make the kind of returns from a multi-leg accumulator with a single selection bet, your stake will have to be astronomically bigger than the size of your accumulator bet.
• You can’t beat the adrenaline-fuelled nature of an accumulator. Sitting there knowing that you only need one more selection to go your way to win a huge pay-out is a huge thrill. Those adrenaline rushes rarely come with basic single selection bets.
• It’s a chance to find good value in alternative betting markets. Whether it’s the number of yellow cards awarded, the number of corner kicks taken or the likelihood of a horse placing in a race, if you can find and combine a string of value bets into one accumulator, you will be on the right path towards long-term profit.
• You can now “cash out” of accumulator bets midway through if some of your selections have already won and some are yet to play. This allows you to take a percentage of the overall payout if you lose confidence in your other selections.

Cons:

• The biggest disadvantage of an accumulator bet is the high level of risk attributed to all such wagers. All it takes is one selection to fail and you lose the entire bet.
• Given the risks involved with accumulator betting, be prepared to lose plenty of accumulator wagers before hitting a winner.
• As we’ve already outlined, some sports are better than others when it comes to acca bets. The most beneficial sports for accumulators are those with a high frequency of events, often within the same day, as well as those sports that have enough volatility to spot value odds.

Accumulator Betting: Best Sports

Football Accumulators:

If you are looking for a sport that offers daily accumulator betting opportunities, football is a great starting point for any punter.

At 888sport, we offer football markets on a vast range of matches played around the world. Whatever the time zone, there is always some football action to include in an accumulator, day or night.

Another reason why football is great for accumulator betting is that it allows football fanatics and enthusiasts to spot value in prices.

Perhaps a team is out of form or has a few key injuries, making them easier to bet against than usual. Knowledge is power and this can really help you find those big acca pay-outs.

Horse Racing Accumulators:

Horse racing also has a packed schedule of race meetings throughout the calendar year.

In the winter, it’s the jump (National Hunt) season – including the Grand National – and in the summer, it’s the flat race season. The volume of runners and riders in each race provides plenty of horses to incorporate into your accumulator.

Another benefit of horse racing accumulators is that most betting sites tend to price horses at higher odds than in football match odds markets, so you don’t need as many selections to generate exciting pay-outs from a horse racing acca.

Tennis Accumulators:

Tennis is another acca-friendly sport to bet on. This is also due to the high volume of tennis tournaments available to bet on each week around the world. These tournaments range from Grand Slams and ATP/WTA events through to Challenger and Futures events.

Tennis fanatics that are aware of in-form players or up-and-coming stars – or players that perform well against certain players or types of players – can often find value in match odds or set betting markets to include in a multi-leg tennis accumulator.

How To Place An Accumulator Bet With 888sport

Whether you are logged in to the 888sport website or the 888sport mobile app, placing an accumulator bet with 888sport has never been easier:

• Use the menu to find the sport and the sporting events you wish to bet on
• Click the odds you wish to include as a selection to add the event to your betting slip (you will see multiple selections placed in a single betslip under the “Multiples” tab)
• Repeat this process until all selections are added
• Once all selections are included in your betslip, enter your stake in the box provided and hit the ‘Place Bet’ button.

Using The 888sport Bet Calculator

If you are trying to calculate your first ever accumulator bet, we’ve made things nice and simple for you by launching our very own bet calculator.

All that’s required is for you to input the odds of every back bet you wish to make, and the calculator will do all the rest and let you know the projected returns from your chosen sports betting stake.

Remember: an accumulator bet requires all of your chosen selections to win in order for you to win the overall bet.

Discover Clever Sport Betting Strategies

Looking for new betting types and strategies to add to your sports betting arsenal? Read our ultimate guide to all the different types of sports bets available, each explained in great detail with working examples. If you are particularly interested in betting on horse racing, don’t forget to look at our in-depth guide to horse racing betting in the UK and overseas!

888Sport - serving up all of your tennis betting needs

So many of the world’s biggest and most successful players and managers have a thirst for challenges and have taken seemingly huge leaps into the footballing wilderness to try to prove themselves at a lower level.

For some lesser-known football clubs, the arrival of high-profile managers and players can be a huge distraction.

The media circus that inevitably surrounds the club can either make or break them. The following big names from football have proven that managing and playing in the lower leagues isn’t always the cakewalk it may appear.

High-Profile Managerial Appointments:

Sven Goran-Eriksson (Notts County)

A consortium from the Middle East rode into Nottingham city centre in 2009, promising to bring untold riches to Notts County.

The Meadow Lane faithful could not believe their luck when it was announced that former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson would take charge of the League Two club as a result of the fresh investment.

Eriksson was promised the players and training facilities to take County to the promised land of the Premier League, but the club’s offshore-registered parent company, Munto Finance, proved to be a bunch of shysters.

The Swede was left in limbo and the Football League’s oldest established club on the brink of financial meltdown.

Kevin Keegan (Fulham)

After feeling like he had taken Newcastle United as far as he could as manager, Kevin Keegan then found himself on the banks of West London at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.

Keegan was initially appointed chief operating officer of the then-Division Two club, working alongside head coach Ray Wilkins. Wilkins was eventually sacked, and Keegan took the reins.

His appointment came just months after the arrival of Harrods boss, Mohamed Al-Fayed, as new Fulham owner.

Al-Fayed gave Keegan a multi-million-pound budget to work with, with the manager succeeding in delivering promotion to Division One before becoming the sports betting favourite to take the England hot-seat from Glenn Hoddle in February 1999.

Nuno Espirito Santo (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Portuguese boss Nuno Espirito Santo had already developed an impressive reputation for himself on the continent following a successful managerial spell at Valencia in La Liga, culminating in a fourth-placed finish in 2015.

A somewhat less inspiring spell for Portuguese giants FC Porto – which was trophy-less – meant that Santo had to take a gamble to rebuild his reputation. He ventured to England and the Black Country to take the reins at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Molineux side were chasing promotion from the Championship and were somewhat outsiders for the title among football betting operators; despite the increasing influence of “super agent” Jorge Mendes on the club’s acquisitions.

Santo had an immediate impact, taking Wanderers to the title with four league games to spare.

Brian Clough (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Following a hugely successful six-year spell in charge of Derby County, taking the Rams from the foot of the Second Division to the First Division title in 1972. In 1973, Clough and side-kick Peter Taylor took County to the semi-finals of the European Cup.

However, a boardroom fall-out between the management duo and chairman Sam Longson meant that the pair would eventually resign in October 1973. Clough and Taylor were eventually tempted to Third Division big-spenders, Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, Clough's time in charge of the Seagulls was ill-fated, with a loss to non-league Walton & Hersham in the FA Cup characterising a failed mission on the south coast.

Diego Simeone (Estudiantes De La Plata)

Argentine midfielder Diego Simeone was famed as a tenacious, ball-winning midfielder, with a habit for scoring important goals, too. He was part of the drama that saw David Beckham sent off in Argentina's World Cup second round match with England at France '98.

After a glittering playing career, Simeone slotted neatly into the world of management, too. After a brief spell at Racing Club, he took charge of Estudiantes in 2006, a team that hadn't won a Clausura in 23 years.

By December 2006, Simeone had masterminded the team's first league title in a generation, cementing his status as Argentina's brightest managerial prospect.

High-Profile Player Signings:

Paul Gascoigne (Boston United)

Towards the latter stages of his career, Paul Gascoigne had a somewhat nomadic period. After leaving First Division side Burnley, Gazza eventually rocked up with China League One outfit Gansu Tianma, agreeing a player-coach role.

He scored on his debut, but mental health reasons restricted him to just three more appearances in the Far East.

Gazza returned to Blighty, but few betting experts would have predicted he would agree to play for lowly League Two side Boston United, also in a player-coach capacity.

During a shortlived three-month spell, Gazza turned out five times for the Pilgrims before leaving Lincolnshire. It won’t go down as one of the most iconic failed transfers, but he flattered to deceive.

Lothar Matthaus (MetroStars)

Lothar Matthaus was Germany's most capped player of all time, amassing an incredible 150 appearances in 20 years.

As a dynamic box-to-box midfielder, he had the lot - a great engine, incredible vision and a dependable positional sense. In the latter stages of his career, he dropped back to play as a sweeper.

He would play this role at his final club, joining the New York MetroStars from Bayern Munich. He played a full season, helping to enhance the exposure of the MLS in mainland Europe.

George Best (Fulham)

George Best is held in high esteem by the footballing world; many of whom believe him to be one of the most gifted footballers ever to have graced the sport.

The Belfast-born winger was a maverick both on and off the pitch, so it was perhaps unsurprising that Best would agree to play for Second Division side Fulham in the 1976-77 campaign.

It was a surprise move given that Best had flattered to deceive during a spell in the League of Ireland.

However, Best, along with Rodney Marsh and England’s World Cup-winning captain, Bobby Moore, helped the Cottagers to avoid relegation to Division Three by a single point.

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

At the tender age of 22, Argentine frontman Sergio Aguero appeared to have the world at his feet.

A five-year spell with La Liga side Atletico Madrid yielded 74 competitive goals, marking him out as one of the most feared marksmen in world football. It was therefore surprising to see Aguero join Manchester City in July 2011 for a fee in the region of £35 million.

Three years prior to Aguero’s arrival, the Abu Dhabi United Group acquired Manchester City and invested £100 million in new faces in 2009. Aguero was one of the final pieces of the jigsaw for a City side that was chasing its first ever Premier League title.

Ironically, the championship was secured in Aguero’s first season, with the Argentine defying the Premier League odds to score a late winner on the final day of the season against QPR.

Pele (New York Cosmos)

Pele is one of the most prolific strikers in the history of football. Playing 638 times for Brazilian club side Santos, he averaged nearly a goal a game for club and country.

A two-year spell with the New York Cosmos in 1975-77 was more of a gimmick given that Pele was already semi-retired. However, his presence did raise the profile of football in the United States, leading to the birth of the MLS as we now know it.

One of the things that continues to drive the popularity of football betting is the sheer number of matches that take place worldwide, and that’s each and every week throughout the season.

Punters can tuck into a huge menu of games most weekends in the winter across Europe’s key leagues, before moving onto pastures new in the summer with the European Championships and World Cup, as well as summer competitions such as the MLS.

From pre-match wagers to the thousands of live betting markets available at 888sport, there really is something for everyone. Here’s your guide to the top European leagues, and some football betting pointers to follow.

Premier League Betting: Tips & Hints

What happens when billionaires decide to invest some of their fortune into a football club?

Despite the idea of money buying success not being a particularly comfortable one for many, it generally rings true in football. Wealth has been a major fact in creating league champions, as has been the case for Manchester City and Chelsea in recent times.

The duo have won eight of the last 14 editions of the English Premier League between them, and both Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Roman Abramovich have to take a large proportion of responsibility for that, having opened their cheque books quite liberally.

The stranglehold that those two clubs have had on English football is loosening slightly in the presence of Liverpool, who are emerging as the leading pretender to the throne in 2018/19.

Jurgen Klopp has purchased a number of quality players in recent seasons, including the irrepressible Mo Salah, and the current Reds squad are closing in on creating history for the club.

The beauty of the English Premier League is that there are at least six teams capable of producing the most entertaining football.

Tottenham have flirted with challenging for the league title before, and perhaps a move to their new ground can be the spark that sees them challenge for honours.

Arsenal and Manchester United have both dominated the English Premier League at various times. Can either of those teams reach great heights once more in the coming seasons?

EPL bettors, of course, will never forget the moment that Leicester City won the title back in 2015/16. They did so at odds of 5000/1; you won’t find many times in sports betting history where that has happened!

The English Premier League is a fascinating competition to bet on, with hundreds of outright winner and match-based betting markets available.

La Liga Betting: Tips & Hints

If you think there’s a monopoly on success in the English Premier League, just wait until you see Spain’s La Liga.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have shared the title for 14 of the past 15 years; the only aberration coming in 2013/14 when Real’s Madrid neighbours, Atletico, gatecrashed the party.

Barca have been blessed with the presence of Lionel Messi for years now. The Argentine is one of the most iconic figures in world football history, and it helps that he’s an amazingly skilled player, too.

Real lost their own icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the summer of 2018, and they seemed to lose their mojo, too, with a disappointing domestic campaign backed by an early exit from the Champions League.

Can the Galacticos knock Barcelona off their perch in the coming seasons? Only time will tell.

The Spanish La Liga doesn’t quite have the strength in depth of, say, the EPL. Atletico Madrid are always a tough team to beat, but they generally save their best work for the continental competitions.

Clubs like Sevilla and Valencia, meanwhile, have to be filed under the heading of ‘fallen giants’ these days.

From a betting perspective, it is hard to look past Barcelona and Real Madrid in the outright market, but there’s plenty of games to bet on every week where value can be found with the best betting sites.

Bundesliga Betting: Tips & Hints

There are few forces in European football quite like Bayern Munich, who have won six straight German Bundesliga titles. Between them and perennial rivals Borussia Dortmund, they have captured each of the last ten editions of this competition.

Those two clubs show no signs of slowing down, either, so it’s no wonder that they are so strongly favoured in the outright betting market.

Behind them, this is a division that always throws up an intriguing race for the rest of the Champions League places.

Clubs like Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig have all qualified for the continent’s biggest tournament, and bettors always have lots going on as far as German football is concerned.

There’s usually a lot of Bundesliga fixtures played on a Sunday, which appeals to those who normally have a wager on the Premier League because they can bet on their favourite German teams while watching the action unfold.

The Bundesliga is also a notoriously high-scoring league, which lends itself to the excitement of live betting opportunities.

Serie A Betting: Tips & Hints

Juventus see Bayern Munich’s achievement of six straight league titles and they raise it by one; the club known as the ‘Old Lady’ have produced a magnificent eight straight Serie A title wins.

They have added to their squad with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, the world icon who can almost win football matches single-handedly, and so perhaps Juve’s dominance isn’t set to come to an end any time soon.

As ever, Italian football has a strong supporting cast of teams jostling for second place behind the traditional champions. Napoli have emerged as one of the strongest teams in recent years, with the likes of Inter and AC Milan doing their best to get back into the title picture.

Once upon a time, there was a stigma about Serie A that the games were slow-paced, devoid of action and usually low scoring, but that trend seems to have been kicked to the kerb in recent years.

For most of the 2018/19 season, all 20 teams had an average goal per game count of two or more, and you can imagine how that fed into the betting.

Punters had many opportunities to bet on the Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals markets, as well as many other football betting markets where goals are the main currency.

Ligue 1 Betting: Tips & Hints

In France’s Ligue 1, Paris St Germain have taken the template of the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid – persuading a cash-rich investor to come on board – and run with it.

They’ve been able to flash the cash at young stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and they have dominated football in the country in recent times.

Monaco’s golden generation of 2016/17 has been broken up, and they are now a shadow of the side that thrilled everyone with their title win.

Others, such as Lyon, Marseille and Lille, are trying to bridge the gap to PSG, but you suspect the giants will continue to rule the roost in France for many years to come.

Remember, you can bet on all of the best football action from across Europe, and beyond, with 888sport.