Each Premier League weekend has inflated importance in the spring months. The Saturday 3pm kick-offs get our attention for this piece, with several fixtures that could change the shape of the relegation battle.

Cardiff, who are currently 18^th, are nearing must-win territory as they host West Ham. Fulham are beyond must-win, requiring a miracle to avoid the drop. They visit Leicester.

Newcastle, who are still a result or two from securing safety, host an Everton team feeling a renewed sense of positivity after drawing with Liverpool. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton revival has hit a blip of late, and they could fall into the bottom three if they lose to Spurs.

 

Cardiff City vs WEST HAM UNITED

Cardiff have lost their last three, conceding 10 goals in the process. The away defeat to Wolves last time out was expected.

The two losses at home prior to that are the glaring concern for Neil Warnock, though. If Cardiff are to defy the odds and stay up, they need to win at least two of their remaining home matches.

West Ham have recovered from a poor run, putting in three straight good performances. Victory against Newcastle was not the flashiest of displays, but the defence was solid and made it a relatively comfortable 2-0 win.

Back in the top half, the Hammers are looking to chase down Watford and Wolves for the seventh and eighth spots.

The form books points to a West Ham win. Cardiff will make it very difficult, but the visitors are the team to back in this one.

TIP: West Ham to win or draw @ 33/100

PREDICTED SCORE: Cardiff 1-1 West Ham (Priced at 21/4 with 888sport)

 

LEICESTER CITY vs Fulham

Both clubs started new eras at the weekend. Brendan Rodgers and Scott Parker’s managerial tenures ended in 2-1 defeats. That is where the similarities end.

Leicester are disappointed with supposed underachievement but could yet finish in the top half and have plenty to be excited about with their squad.

Fulham are as good as relegated and are set to have huge player turnover again this summer. The Cottagers have played at less than the sum of their parts all campaign.

They have lost 13 of their 15 away matches, picking up just two points. Slight improvements against Chelsea are not enough to suggest they can improve their road form at the King Power.

The hosts have struggled in front of their own fans this season but will be confident of beating this Fulham team. With Youri Tielemans pinging the ball from midfield and an electric attack, Leicester could win this comfortably.

TIP: Leicester to win @ 11/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Leicester 3-1 Fulham (Priced at 21/2 with 888sport)

 

NEWCASTLE UNITED vs Everton

Newcastle lost at West Ham last weekend, though defeats for fellow relegation candidates saw their six-point cushion remain.

With nine matches to play, the Magpies will be safe with just a couple of victories. The Geordie faithful will be in good voice on Saturday afternoon on the back of four straight home league wins and the arrival of the exciting Miguel Almiron.

There’s renewed positivity amongst Everton fans right now, too. A comfortable win away to Cardiff ended a three-match losing run before a hard-fought draw with Liverpool put a dent in their fiercest rivals’ Premier League title hopes.

Away performances have been patchy this term, though, making it hard to tell which Everton we will see in the northeast.

St James’ Park is a difficult away day. Newcastle will be determined to prove last weekend’s loss was no more than a blip.

TIP: Newcastle to win OR draw @ 12/25

PREDICTED SCORE: Newcastle 2-1 Everton (Priced at 9/1 with 888sport)

 

SOUTHAMPTON vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

A pair of stunning strikes gave Southampton a sniff of an upset at Old Trafford last weekend. Eventual defeat will have hurt, and it leaves them just two points above Cardiff, who occupy the final relegation spot.

A win here would be a huge boost for Saints, particularly considered their favourable remaining fixtures. Furthermore, Premier League form suggests this is an ideal time to face Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were lucky to draw with Arsenal last weekend and lost their two league matches before that.

The backs-to-the-wall win in Dortmund in midweek to book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals helped to rebuild some confidence, though fatigue may be an issue.

Southampton have struggled at home all year, winning just three times in the league. Despite consecutive away defeats, Spurs boast a strong away record. Facing Dortmund on Tuesday rather than Wednesday will make a difference for Pochettino’s side here.

TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 10/13

PREDICTED SCORE: Southampton 1-3 Tottenham (Priced at 12/1 with 888sport)

 

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

The Europa League returns this week for the last 16. There’s a blend of established names and some comparative underdogs.

Arsenal and Chelsea remain, as they balance Premier League demands with the promise of a Champions League spot from Europa League glory. The headline of the round, though, may be the tie between Eintracht Frankfurt and Inter Milan.

Struggling Villarreal have a distraction from their La Liga woes with a challenging trip to Russia to face Zenit. Ahead of Thursday’s action, here are a few thoughts and tips:

 

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT vs Inter Milan (5:55pm)

Eintracht Frankfurt won a thriller 3-2 against Hoffenheim at the weekend. The Bundesliga side cruised past Shakhtar Donetsk in the last round, winning 4-1 in the home leg.

The gifted front pair of Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller will fancy their chances against an Inter team who have failed to win their last two.

The Mauro Icardi mess looms over Inter as they head to Germany. Icardi has not played since 9^th February. A loss to Cagliari at the weekend was less than ideal preparation for this tie, adding to a really poor run of away form.

The hosts are great value to win this at 27/20. Frankfurt have been a dominant force in the Europa League this season and this is the perfect time to face Inter.

TIP: Eintracht Frankfurt to win @ 27/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 Inter (Priced at 10/1 with 888sport)

 

Rennes vs ARSENAL (5:55pm)

Inconsistency has been an issue for Rennes all season. Hopes of entering the European race domestically have faded, though a 1-1 home draw with Marseille in their last league outing was far from disastrous.

Their clash with Nimes was postponed at the weekend to give more time to prepare for a huge clash with Arsenal.

Arsenal have staged a revival of sorts after a difficult spell earlier in the year. A good north London derby performance at the weekend was soured by a late penalty miss from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, however.

The Gabonese forward has a chance to make up for his error when he starts on Thursday evening. Unai Emery is expected to name a very strong side. Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan should start. The Gunners will have too much for their hosts.

TIP: Arsenal to win @ Evens

PREDICTED SCORE: Rennes 1-2 Arsenal (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG vs Villarreal (5:55pm)

Zenit ended four straight defeats (stretching to before the winter break) when they beat Fenerbahce in the second leg of the last round.

They put an end to a poor domestic run with a 1-0 win away to Ural at the weekend. It was not their best performance, but it should have helped rebuild some confidence as they return to Europa League action.

Villarreal are in dire form in La Liga, having won four matches all season, leaving them in the relegation zone. A red card in each leg helped them past Sporting in the last round, but few will be expecting them to get a positive result in Russia on Thursday.

We know how formidable Zenit are at home. They have won all six of their Europa League home matches this season. It’s very likely they make it seven this week.

TIP: Zenit to win @ 10/11

PREDICTED SCORE: Zenit 2-0 Villarreal (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

CHELSEA vs Dynamo Kyiv (8:00pm)

Chelsea have improved of late, winning two London derbies last week. The Blues are one of the best options in 888sport’s football betting odds this week on the -1 handicap.

Maurizio Sarri will rotate, but is expected to name a very strong side, just as he did for the first leg against Malmo in the last round. Eden Hazard will likely be left on the bench alongside Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Dynamo Kyiv are yet to lose in 2019 (they’ve only played four matches) and have been very hard to beat in the Europa League. Their away record is impressive - the Ukrainian side will look to nick a goal through a set piece or counter-attack.

Chelsea should have too much. The west London club are 1/5 to go through over the two legs. Sarri will be eyeing a comfortable victory to avoid too much stress in the return leg.

TIP: Chelsea to win (-1) @ 4/5

PREDICTED SCORE: Chelsea 3-0 Dynamo Kyiv (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)

 

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

Who’s excited for a Premier League double header on Saturday then? The weekend kicks off with the M23 derby between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. It might not be the most glamorous early game on paper but a feisty atmosphere awaits at the Amex Stadium.

Manchester City can go four points clear at the top of the table with a victory over Watford on Saturday evening. The Hornets conceded five to Liverpool less than two weeks ago and Pep Guardiola’s side will be quietly confident of extending their advantage in the title race.

Let’s get down to the tipping then. We’ve found a tasty 7/2 double ahead of Saturday’s two televised matches and Premier League fans will be keeping a close eye on proceedings at both ends of the table. Without further ado, scroll down to check out my best bets…

 

CRYSTAL PALACE vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (12:30pm)

Crystal Palace have lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions – and that was against an in-form Manchester United. Roy Hodgson has the Eagles on the cusp of safety and a win here might be enough to keep Palace in the Premier League for another season.

The 4/5 for a home success offers value. Palace edged a five-goal thriller against Brighton back in April and it could be another nail biter for the hosts. Hodgson’s side are a tough nut to crack at Selhurst Park, with just one home defeat against a bottom-half side in 2018/19.

A win for Brighton will see them draw level on 33 points with Palace in the battle to avoid relegation. On paper, the Seagulls are stronger than most of their rivals but Chris Hughton’s side will be wary of getting sucked into the bottom three.

Punters fancying an away win may be tempted by the EVENS for Brighton to avoid defeat on Saturday afternoon. A 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town last weekend has lifted the mood somewhat and back-to-back wins would go a long way to cementing their top flight status.

The selection has landed in each of the last three meetings between these two sides – that makes the 59/50 in 888sport's Premier League Odds odds very appealing indeed. Neutrals could be in for a Selhurst Park treat on Saturday lunchtime.

TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 59/50

PREDICTED SCORE: Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)

 

MANCHESTER CITY vs Watford (5:30pm)

Manchester City were seven points behind Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at one stage but the Blues are back on top after an incredible run. Victory at Bournemouth was enough to take City to the summit and the defending champions are well placed to retain the crown.

The injury to Kevin de Bruyne won’t help their chances but City have had to play most of the 2018/19 campaign without the talismanic Belgian. Expect David Silva to pull the strings and he is well priced at 11/5 to record an assist on Saturday evening.

Watford got back to winning ways at the first time of asking after that 5-0 drubbing against Liverpool. The Hornets were below their best against Leicester City but Javi Gracia’s men snatched an injury-time winner, much to the delight of the Vicarage Road faithful.

Their record in this fixture is poor though; City have won the last nine meetings between the two sides. A repeat of the 3-1 result from January 2018 could be on the cards – there is some value in backing both teams to score at 19/20.

I’m expecting City to get the job done but they might not have everything their own way. Watford are inconsistent but that makes predicting results difficult. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Gracia’s men nick a goal – that brings the 33/20 for the selection into play.

TIP: Manchester City to win & both teams to score @ 33/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Man City 3-1 Watford (Priced at 10/1 with 888sport)

 

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

1863 - 1872:

• There was no specification in place regarding the shape or size of the ball.
• Pigs bladders were used; as a result, their dimensions were incredibly inconsistent. These could often determined by the shape and size of the animal itself.
• Many of these footballs were closer in shape to rugby balls.
• This resulted in unpredictable outcomes.
• Introduction of rubber inner-tubes in 1972 enabled footballs to become increasingly spherical. This led to greater consistency and fairer games.

1930 World Cup:

• In the first ever World Cup final, Uruguay and Argentina could not agree on which ball should be used for the match. As a result, an impasse was reached and they agreed to use both. 
• The Argentinian ball was used in the 1st half - Argentina led 2-1 at the break.
• The Uruguayan ball was used in the 2nd half - Uruguay won the game 4-2.
• Uruguay's choice of ball was larger and heavier and was known as the T-Model.
• It was a very entertaining 90 minutes, but many football historians believe that the outcome was determined by the choice of ball. 
• Every ball was sewn by hand and, therefore, was unique.

 

1960s Onwards - Synthetic Footballs:

• The Buckminster's black and white design is one of the most famous footballs worldwide
• It consisted of 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons.
• Synthetic material absorbed far less moisture than previous incarnations.
• It was used as the first official World Cup ball in 1970.
• Some players claimed that it was harder to control than the older leather footballs, and it wasn't universally welcomed at first.
• It was credited with helping to create one of the most exciting tournaments in the history of the game and producing some of the greatest World Cup goals of all time. 

 

1994 World Cup:

• Adidas introduced the Questra following a low-scoring tournament. 
• FIFA were hoping it would lead to more excitement after Italia '90, which averaged just 2.21 goals per match. 
• The ball was easier to control, faster, and far more responsive than previous models.
• There were 26 more goals than at the previous World Cup, making it the highest-scoring tournament since 1982.
• It was later used in La Liga during the mid-to-late 1990s. 

 

2006 World Cup:

• The Teamgeist ball was introduced for the tournament in Germany. 
• It was the first ball to be personalised with the date, time, and venue of the game in question.
• It has an unpredictable flight when airbourne, and many goalkeepers were reportedly unhappy with the new design.
• It resulted in speculative strikes as it had the tendency to swerve and dip in mid-air. Germany benefitted on a couple of occasions from this. 
• Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn said it was "built in favour of strikers".
• There were 147 goals throughout the tournament

 

2010 World Cup:

• The Jubulani remains one of the most controversial designs in the history of the World Cup.
• It has a decreased number of panels, making it more spherical than previous models.
• It was built to improve aerodynamics, but goalkeepers objected due to its unpredictability.
• It caused a low-scoring group stage; there were fewer goals than in the three previous tournaments. 
• Despite some early criticism, it was used in the Bundesliga during the 2010-2011 campaign. 

Who are you backing to win the Champions League this season? Paris Saint-Germain, one of the leading contenders for European glory in 2018/19, have a two-goal cushion to defend against Manchester United in Paris on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils will be without the suspended Paul Pogba for that game but United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains positive. If the Norwegian can mastermind a come-from-behind win here, the club may decide to give him a 25-year contract.

Meanwhile, Porto take on AS Roma in Wednesday’s second Champions League clash. Much of the focus has been on United’s trip to Paris but this may turn out to be the better contest – Roma will take a slender 2-1 lead to Portugal ahead of the second leg.

Enough chitchat, let’s look at Wednesday’s Champions League odds. Tuesday’s European double worked out at 9/2 – Wednesday’s double is a tad shorter at 5/2 but it looks tasty. Scroll down for my best bets ahead of March 6^th.

 

FC PORTO vs AS Roma

Recent form suggests that Porto may struggle on Wednesday night. The hosts have won just three of their previous seven matches in all competitions and Roma will be wary of Porto’s recent struggles.

Saturday’s defeat to Benfica has handed the initiative to their rivals in the Primeira Liga title race. However, they have won five of their last six Champions League home games – scoring 16 goals in those victories.

Roma had won four on the spin prior to Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Lazio. The Serie A outfit were involved at the quarter-final stage last season and punters will fancy Roma at 11/20 to move on to the next round.

The visitors will know that an away goal might be enough to secure safe passage to the last eight. Roma’s defence will be quietly confident of keeping Porto at bay on Wednesday night – the first goal in this contest will be crucial.

Yes, Porto have struggled in recent fixtures but EVS for the hosts to win is a huge price. The Portuguese outfit have given themselves a chance of progression with that away goal and Roma will be wary of an early onslaught.

I’m expecting a low-scoring affair. 23/20 for under 2.5 goals could turn out to be one of the bets of the tournament.

TIP: Porto to win @ EVS

PREDICTED SCORE: Porto 1-0 Roma (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN vs MANCHESTER UNITED

It has been a case of ‘no Neymar, no problem’ for PSG in recent weeks. The Ligue 1 giants have won their last eight games in all competitions and another victory could be on the cards at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

United are up against it here – even the most pro-Solskjaer fan can admit that. For the Red Devils to advance to the next round, they will need a minor miracle. Channeling the spirit of 1998/99 could prove useful ahead of the trip to Paris.

Despite their injury woes, United are still a very good team. Confidence is sky high and the visitors will fancy their chances of nicking a goal.

Should the Red Devils score first, they will stand an outside chance of upsetting the odds. Both teams to score looks like the way to go here.

3/4 for a goal at both ends offers punters value – especially considering United’s recent prowess in the final third. The Red Devils may fall short in their pursuit of qualification but they will give it a good go.

The 33/20 for over 3.5 goals is well worth considering here. Even with the likes of Neymar and Pogba ruled out, there is still enough offensive talent for this one to be a thriller.

TIP: Both teams to score @ 3/4

PREDICTED SCORE: PSG 2-1 Man United (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)

 

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

The Champions League returns to our television screens on Tuesday night and a few of the last-16 ties are evenly poised ahead of the second leg. Wednesday's double header is just as intriguing.

Surely not even Tottenham Hotspur, up 3-0 after the first leg, can mess up against Borussia Dortmund? Spurs fans will be wary of yet another collapse…

In Tuesday’s other fixture, Real Madrid will take on Ajax. The La Liga giants have struggled to inspire confidence in recent weeks – losing their last three matches at Santiago Bernabeu. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see wholesale changes come the end of the campaign.

Without further ado, let’s get down to business. According to the latest 888sport Champions League betting, Tuesday’s tasty double is priced at around 9/2. Scroll down for my thoughts on what could be a huge night of European football.

 

BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs Tottenham Hotspur

Borussia Dortmund’s poor run is similar to that of Liverpool’s. Sitting at the top of the table a month or so ago, Dortmund are now level on points with Bayern Munich.

In terms of quality, the hosts have the tools to put Tottenham to the sword but 15/2 for Dortmund to advance to the next round is far too short.

Spurs, now 16/1 in the Champions League winner odds, are in the driving seat ahead of the second leg but the visitors have gone through a rough patch since that 3-0 win at Wembley.

An early goal for Dortmund could see the floodgates open and Mauricio Pochettino will be urging his side to focus on their own game rather than trying to sit back and defend.

I fancy Dortmund to win on the night but 49/50 is a little short. With that in mind, opting for the Bundesliga outfit to win with both teams scoring (12/5) could be the way to go.

One Spurs goal should kill the tie off but a fast start for the hosts will give them hope. This one is far from over and fans will be expecting an entertaining contest on Tuesday night.

TIP: Borussia Dortmund to win and both teams to score @ 12/5

PREDICTED SCORE: Dortmund 2-1 Tottenham (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)

 

REAL MADRID vs Ajax

Real Madrid have lost five of their last 10 home games in all competitions. Los Blancos were once regarded as the pinnacle of world football but Santiago Solari’s men are faltering and punters may find it difficult to back the 13-time European champions.

The hosts have failed to cope in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence and Solari is under pressure in the Bernabeu hotseat. Exiting Europe’s elite club competition at this stage could signal the end of his tenure.

Ajax are still very much in the Eredivisie title race. PSV Eindhoven are five points clear at the summit but Ajax have a game in hand and it would be foolish to back against Erik Ten Hag’s side.

The Dutch outfit have scored 13 goals in their last three games and that, along with Real’s defensive frailties, brings the 7/25 for over 0.5 away goals into play. Some might even fancy 31/20 for over 1.5 Ajax goals.

However, I’ve got to side with Real. Solari will be demanding an instant response after back-to-back El Clasico defeats and 13/20 could turn out to be a big price.

The La Liga giants cannot afford to fall short here. Solari’s job is on the line and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the defending Champions League winners scrape a result.

TIP: Real Madrid to win @ 13/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Real Madrid 2-1 Ajax (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)

 

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

Last Wednesday saw the final entries revealed for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle and the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase, which concluded the final piece of the Cheltenham betting jigsaw.

Cross Country Chase

Tiger Roll (11/10, Gordon Elliott) captured the £65,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2018, joining a select group of horses to win three different races at The Festival, and last year’s Grand National winner heads 28 entries for the three and three-quarter mile contest on Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13.

Elliott, seeking a hat-trick in the race having saddled Cause Of Causes to glory in 2017, has also entered Don Poli (14/1), winner of the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at The Festival in 2015, and last season’s Grand National third Bless The Wings (25/1).

A strong Irish-trained contingent also includes the Enda Bolger-trained duo of Auvergnat (11/2), winner of the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December, and Josies Orders (7/1), who has scored four times over Cheltenham’s Cross Country course, including when being awarded the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at The Festival in 2016. Bolger has saddled the winner of the Cross Country Chase a record five times.

Both French-trained entries have run well on their previous visits to Cheltenham. Urgent De Gregaine (10/1, Emmanuel Clayeux) was runner-up to Tiger Roll at The Festival last year, while Amazing Comedy (25/1, David Cottin) finished a close fourth in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at The International in December.

The home challenge could rely on Tea For Two (14/1, Jane Williams), a dual G1 winner over fences, Ultragold (10/1, Colin Tizzard), who has won the last two renewals of the Topham Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree, and Fact Of The Matter (12/1, Jamie Snowden), successful in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at The International.

Trends & Statistics

• Garde Champetre (2008 & 2009) and Balthazar King (2012 & 2014) are the two multiple winners.
• Enda Bolger has five wins to his name (all owned by J P McManus).
• Amateur Nina Carberry, now retired, had four wins. Richard Johnson and Davy Russell are the only two current jockeys jockey to have won the contest more than once.
• Irish trainers boast a formidable record, having taken 12 of the 14 renewals. Philip Hobbs, trainer of the 2012 and 2014 scorer Balthazar King, is the only British trainer to have been successful.

• Heads Onthe Ground is the shortest-priced winner, having obliged at 5/2 in 2007. A New Story provided a shock in 2010, scoring at odds of 33/1.

 

Champion Bumper

Irish-trained horses have accounted for 19 of the 26 winners of the £75,000 G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper and another powerful team from across the Irish Sea looks assured, with Irish handlers responsible for 12 of the 28 contenders for this year’s race, which also takes place on Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13.

Blue Sari (5/1, Willie Mullins) stormed to an impressive victory on his only start at Gowran Park on January 24 and the J P McManus-owned son of Saddex could aim to become the fourth four-year-old to triumph following Rhythm Section (1993), Dato Star (1995) and Cue Card (2010). Mullins is bidding for a remarkable 10th success in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Envoi Allen (4/1, Gordon Elliott), owned by Cheveley Park Stud, maintained his unbeaten record under rules when beating Meticulous (12/1, Joseph O’Brien) in a G2 bumper at Leopardstown on February 2, a race in which stable companion Abacadabras (14/1) ran out when travelling strongly.

Leading British hopes include Get In The Queue (10/1, Harry Fry), a 16-length winner at Exeter on February 22, and Master Debonair (14/1, Colin Tizzard), who scored at Cheltenham earlier in the season in the Listed High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire And Racing Remember Bumper at The November Meeting.

 

Mares Novices' Hurdle

Willie Mullins has won all three runnings of the £90,000 G2 Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Ireland’s champion Jump trainer is responsible for 13 of the 40 entries for the extended two-mile contest on St Patrick’s Thursday, March 14, including G1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle second Sancta Simona (10/1).

Unbeaten G3 winner Honeysuckle (3/1) and Punchestown Listed scorer Sinoria (8/1) could both line up for Henry de Bromhead, while Posh Trish (8/1, Paul Nicholls), twice successful at Listed level this season, and Epatante (2/1, Nicky Henderson), an impressive winner at Exeter on February 22, feature among the British-trained contenders.

 

Foxhunter Chase

Pacha Du Polder (16/1) has won the last two renewals of the £45,000 St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase and the Paul Nicholls-trained 12-year-old could bid for an unprecedented third victory in the race on Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 15.

The 35 entries also feature lightly-raced seven-year-old Stand Up And Fight (7/2, Enda Bolger), prolific point-to-point winner Hazel Hill (5/1, Philip Rowley), Road To Rome (6/1, Joseph O’Shea), who has won all four of his hunter chase starts so far this season, and high-class chaser Ucello Conti (5/1, Gordon Elliott).

Trends & Statistics

• Freddie won at odds of 1/3 in 1964, while Double Silk was sent off at odds of 2/5 for his second success in 1994. Woodside Terrace (1965), Amicelli (2008) and Zemsky (2011) are the longest-priced winners since 1946, having all scored at 33/1.
• There have been 11 Irish-trained winners since 1946 - Eliogarty (1983), Attitude Adjuster (1986), Lovely Citizen (1991), Elegant Lord (1996), Whyso Mayo (2006), Zemsky (2011), Salsify (2012 & 2013), Tammys Hill (2014) and On The Fringe (2015 & 2016).
• Since 1946 nine horses have won the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase twice, although no horse has won the race three times. The Callant won in 1956 and 1957, Whinstone Hill in 1958 and 1960, Colledge Master in 1961 and 1962, Double Silk in 1993 and 1994, Fantus in 1995 and 1997, Earthmover in 1998 and 2004, Salsify in 2012 and 2013, On The Fringe in 2015 and 2016, and Pacha Du Polder in 2017 and 2018.

 

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

We’ve got THREE Premier League fixtures slated in for Sunday afternoon and punters will be looking forward to the latest round of games. Liverpool may have dropped down to second in the table ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.

Brendan Rodgers will take charge of Leicester City for the first time in Sunday’s early game. The Foxes will head to Vicarage Road hoping to benefit from the so-called ‘new manager bounce’ but Watford will be quietly confident of picking up a positive result.

Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri was sacked by Fulham this week and the Cottagers will have to cope against Chelsea on Sunday. Maurizio Sarri’s men were exceptional in the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in midweek and the Blues will fancy their chances here.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at Sunday’s Premier League triple header. Scroll down for the latest online betting odds on all three matches…

 

WATFORD vs LEICESTER CITY (12:00pm)

Watford are tied with Wolverhampton Wanderers for that coveted ‘best of the rest’ seventh position. A win here will see the hosts move eight points clear of Leicester with less than 10 games remaining.

The Foxes could spring a shock though – the first goal may be decisive. It will take some time for Rodgers to get Leicester back to their best but the former Celtic manager has Premier League experience and he could succeed at the King Power Stadium.

Both teams to score looks like the way to go here at 8/11. Leicester snatched a huge win over Brighton in midweek and the Foxes will be looking to build on that success. However, Watford are usually solid at Vicarage Road and the Hornets could prove too strong.

TIP: Both teams to score @ 8/11

PREDICTED SCORE: Watford 2-1 Leicester (Priced at 8/1 with 888sport)

 

Fulham vs CHELSEA (2:05pm)

Fulham’s current position is precarious at best. The Cottagers look destined to drop back down to the Championship this season – Ranieri’s departure will only hinder their chances of survival. It would be foolish to back the hosts on current form.

Chelsea may have turned a corner under Sarri – the Blues took Manchester City to penalties in the Carabao Cup final prior to Wednesday’s win over Spurs. Fans will be full of confidence ahead of the short journey to Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.

Take the 21/10 for Chelsea to win and both teams to score. The Blues are very much in the hunt to finish in the Premier League top four and Sarri will be demanding three points in this west London derby. Watch this space, things could get ugly (again) for Fulham.

TIP: Chelsea to win and both teams to score @ 21/10

PREDICTED SCORE: Fulham 1-3 Chelsea (Priced at 10/1 with 888sport)

 

Everton vs LIVERPOOL (4:15pm)

Everton have been one of the most inconsistent teams in England’s top flight this campaign. Capable of giving anybody a decent contest on their day, the Toffees will be determined to put a dent in Liverpool’s title challenge. A positive result for the hosts would do just that.

Klopp knows that anything less than a win here could be crucial in the Premier League title race. Liverpool will expect to be in second spot come kick-off on Sunday and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Reds produce a clinical display against their close rivals.

8/13 for Liverpool to claim three points is a reasonable price. The Reds have enjoyed lots of success in this fixture in recent times and another victory beckons here. Everton will huff and puff but the Goodison Park faithful may go home disappointed on Sunday night.

TIP: Liverpool to win @ 8/13

PREDICTED SCORE: Everton 0-2 Liverpool (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)

 

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

Hull City vs BIRMINGHAM CITY: Best Bets

Hull – 7/5

Draw – 43/20

BCFC – 2/1

Birmingham travel to Hull on Saturday afternoon knowing that victory might be enough to climb into the top six.

The Blues have lost just one of their last six Championship games and 2/1 could turn out to be a huge price – Garry Monk’s side are in fantastic form.

Blues fans enjoyed a huge win at Bristol City on Tuesday; the travelling fans were rewarded for their commitment with a superb performance.

The visitors are well placed to secure a positive result at the KCOM Stadium; 11/20 for Birmingham to win OR draw is well worth a punt.

Monk will have his side fired up and ready to go this weekend – three points could be huge for building momentum.

The Blues are unbeaten in their last three league games away from St Andrew’s and Birmingham fans ill be quietly confident ahead of Saturday’s trip.

Hull are unbeaten in eight home league games, winning six of those fixtures. The Tigers have been fantastic in 2019 and Birmingham will need to be on top form to stand any chance of victory.

Both teams to score is reasonably priced at 3/4 and this could be high-scoring.

Che Adams has scored 10 goals in as many league games – he has been Birmingham’s star man in 2018/19.

888sport have an enhanced special on Adams to score in an away win this weekend, offering a tasty 5/1 on the wincast.

The draw is well and truly inplay this weekend; Hull will be difficult to beat on home soil but the Blues are in great form.

It should be a thrilling contest at the KCOM Stadium – Monk’s men will fancy their chances and Birmingham fans will be heading to Hull in vast numbers. Take the 21/20 for over 2.5 goals; that could be the bet of the day.

Prediction: Hull 1-1 Birmingham (5/1)

Bet of the day: Over 2.5 goals (21/20)

Outside punt: Che Adams to score the first goal (5/1)

Enhanced wincast: Che Adams to score and Birmingham to win (5/1)

 

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

This was a rare week, as we had a full Premier League schedule in midweek followed by all 20 teams being in action of the weekend.

After the excitement of Premier League matches under the lights, the standard weekend format returns.

A north London derby should make for an intriguing lunchtime kick-off, while Newcastle fans are given another awkward trip as they travel to London for the evening match against West Ham.

These two matches are under the spotlight in this piece, making up a tempting 8/1 Saturday TV double.

 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs ARSENAL (12:30pm)

Just a few days ago, Arsenal were on the brink of crisis and Spurs were in the title race. The teams’ paths have switched since then.

Arsenal are in the top four, made it past BATE Borisov in the Europa League and are only four points behind their north London rivals, who are out of the title contention and looking over their shoulders at the top four contest.

Tottenham were poor against Burnley and Chelsea. Harry Kane’s return to the side has not had the expected impact.

Kane’s 10/11 price to score anytime at Wembley on Saturday is what we expect from one of the world’s best, but it’s a difficult price to back considering his ineffectiveness against Chelsea.

Arsenal, in stark contrast, have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette fit and blew Bournemouth away in midweek. Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan played and performed, giving Unai Emery a welcome selection dilemma.

It is unlikely Ozil and Mkhitaryan start, and possible that neither do, however, as Emery will favour industry in the midfield and look to pair his star strikers.

Emery’s side look a good bet at 10/13 to avoid defeat considering recent form. Their away record this season makes it more questionable, though – the Gunners have only picked up 18 points from their 13 away league matches.

Jan Vertonghen is likely to return for Spurs, which gives Mauricio Pochettino a crucial boost. Reverting to the back three is likely after playing 4-2-3-1 against Chelsea.

The midfield matchup will be decisive, particularly Lucas Torreira’s efforts to limit Christian Eriksen’s effectiveness. Eriksen has not been at his best of late – Spurs need a good performance from him in this huge Premier League fixture.

Goals always feel like a good way to go in a north London derby. Both teams are good going forward but can be shaky at the back. It should be an entertaining 90 minutes. This one could go either way.

TIP: Over 3.5 goals @ 33/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (Priced at 19/2 with 888sport)

 

WEST HAM UNITED vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (5:30pm)

West Ham have made mid-table home under Manuel Pellegrini, avoiding the drama that is so often associated with the club.

A 3-1 thumping of Fulham last weekend was a fair demonstration of their quality, and they made things difficult for Manchester City in midweek, despite falling to a 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

Newcastle are on a superb run, winning four of their last six in the league. Rafa Benitez’s side still have work to do, but the six-point cushion to the relegation zone is looking pretty good with 10 matches to go.

The Magpies are only five points behind West Ham and could yet finish in the top half, which they are 9/1 to do.

A win here would as good as seal another Premier League campaign for Newcastle. Benitez has worked his magic again. Their away form, though, makes it hard to back them even at 11/4.

Two points from their last five on the road does not give bettors much confidence, though they were unfortunate not to beat Wolves at Molineux in their last away outing.

West Ham have been solid at home, including a draw with Liverpool and win over Arsenal recently. The 2/7 to avoid defeat is on the short side. The 49/20 on a draw is one of the best sports betting options this weekend.

January signing Miguel Almiron has hit the ground running for Newcastle. The former Atlanta United star was brilliant against Burnley on Tuesday, creating chances and providing support to Salomon Rondon.

Almiron is 4/1 to score anytime at the London Stadium on Saturday evening. There will be plenty of talent on display. A moment of individual brilliance could win it for either side, but Benitez will set up to be solid, making the draw a good bet.

TIP: Match to end as a draw @ 49/20

PREDICTED SCORE: West Ham 1-1 Newcastle (Priced at 21/4 with 888sport)

 

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