Finally, a Super Sunday that could live up to its name. With Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all in action, Premier League fans will be looking forward to sitting down in front of the television for what looks to be another exciting day in England’s top flight.
Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Selhurst Park for a clash with Crystal Palace in Sunday’s early fixture. The Eagles snatched a shock win at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the campaign and the visitors will be looking to settle the score.
Meanwhile, Chelsea head to Anfield knowing that a win will take the Blues back above rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the top four race. For Liverpool, it is all about claiming another win as they look to keep piling the pressure on Manchester City.
That’s enough chitchat for now – it is time to look at Sunday’s double header. 888sport have the latest Premier League betting odds available onsite ahead of both fixtures and punters needing some betting help can check out my thoughts below…
Crystal Palace vs MANCHESTER CITY
Palace have won just two of their previous eight home games – one against Fulham and the other against Huddersfield Town.
Roy Hodgson’s side have struggled to inspire confidence on home soil in recent months but Palace (9/1) could spring a major shock if everything goes to plan on Sunday afternoon.
City have been in fantastic form, winning their last eight Premier League games in a row. On current form, they are deservedly favourites to go on and retain the title...
A 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League is the only loss on their record since the start of February and 8/25 for the visitors to win isn’t the worst price to stick in an accumulator.
Finding extra value when City are playing is difficult but 11/10 for the Blues to win to nil on Sunday afternoon is reasonable. The selection has landed in six of their last seven top flight fixtures and another comfortable score line beckons.
City should win but the Eagles are tricky customers and Guardiola will recall December's 3-2 defeat. An intriguing affair awaits at Selhurst Park.
TIP: Man City to win to nil @ 11/10
PREDICTED SCORE: Crystal Palace 0-2 Man City (Priced at 11/2 with 888sport)
LIVERPOOL vs Chelsea
Liverpool are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of the title and Jurgen Klopp will be demanding another positive performance here.
You could argue that the Reds have rode their luck at times but you need to do that in the title race and 6/4 for Liverpool to lift the trophy represents excellent value.
Chelsea have battled hard to climb into the Premier League top four and Maurizio Sarri has weathered the storm after heavy criticism a couple of months ago.
The Blues, 21/5 to win at Anfield on Sunday, have previous in this fixture – can they put a dent in Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge yet again?
In my opinion, no. Liverpool should prove too strong for Chelsea, especially at Anfield. The Reds have been outstanding on home soil in 2018/19 and it would take a brave man to back against Klopp’s side here.
5/2 for a Liverpool win with both teams scoring looks like a great price. Victory here should give the Reds a boost with easier fixtures on the horizon.
TIP: Liverpool to win and both teams to score @ 5/2
PREDICTED SCORE: Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea (Priced at 12/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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.
Birmingham will look to continue their good run of form when they visit Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.
At the time of writing, Ipswich are rooted to the bottom of the table having won just four of their 41 Championship games so far this season.
Meanwhile, Garry Monk’s side secured a 1-0 victory over high-flying Leeds United before following up that result with a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United.
Che Adams was the hero in that win against Leeds and plenty of punters will fancy the BCFC star to get his name on the scoresheet this weekend.
8/5 for a player of Adams’ calibre to score in 90 minutes represents good value for Birmingham supporters.
Ipswich have conceded 67 goals so far this campaign – only two teams have conceded more goals this campaign.
With that in mind, taking the 11/8 for over 1.5 Birmingham goals this weekend is the way to go. It could be a happy journey home for the travelling fans.
As always, 888sport have a special for BCFC supporters this weekend. Adams to score in a Birmingham win is currently priced at 13/4 and punters should snap that price up ahead of Saturday’s trip to Portman Road.
If he scores, Birmingham will be confident of winning.
Ipswich’s defence is leaky and their offensive unit have struggled for large parts of 2018/19.
Only Bolton Wanderers (29) have scored fewer goals than Ipswich this season – bringing the 8/5 for Birmingham to keep a clean sheet into play.
Monk will have his side fired up for this clash and three points is all that matters. 23/20 for the Blues to emerge victorious is an excellent price and BCFC should take those odds all day long.
Watch this space, it could be an enjoyable weekend for Birmingham fans.
Prediction: Ipswich 0-2 Birmingham (8/1)
Bet of the day: Che Adams to score and Birmingham to win (13/4)
Outside punt: Birmingham to lead at half-time (37/20)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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.
Just a week on from the conclusion of the Aintree Grand National our attentions are now focused on one of the highlights of the Scottish sporting calendar, the Scottish Grand National.
As always it has attracted some of the finest staying chasers in the UK & Ireland. A field of 28 runners line up on Saturday afternoon at 4.05pm.
Not quite as far as the Aintree version, the race is run over a distance of approximately 4 miles and 110 yards (6,538 metres) and 27 fences and is open to horses aged five years old or over.
There are plenty of pointers available over the past ten years which are all worth bearing in mind. You are looking for horses that fit the following criteria:
Won over 3 miles or further
Posted their career high RPR of 140+ in a long distance chase
Won a Class 2 or 3 chase in last 18 months
Won a chase worth £15,000 (or placed in a chase worth £45,000+)
Run in 10 to 22 chases (or placed in the 4 mile novice chase at Cheltenham Festival)
Course winner
Bypassed the Aintree Grand National
Horses that finished in first seven in this season’s Hennessy Gold Cup do well
Ran in the Grimthorpe, 4m NH Novice Chase or Somerset National last time
Trained in Great Britain (ideally by N Twiston-Davies, P Hobbs or A King)
Irish trained runners do not fare well. Last winner in 1869!
Aged 7 to 9 (won 6 of the last 10 renewals)
Carrying 10st 6lb or less
Officially rated 146 or lower (ideal range 134 to 139)
Horses carrying a penalty often do well
Run 3 to 6 times this season, 2 had not won a race during the campaign.
Finished in the first 6 last time
Posted an RPR of 140+ in one or all of last 3 chase starts
Eight winners had their preceding start in either March or April, of the exceptions one ran in the last week of February and the other in late December.
Scottish Grand National: Key Statistics
Official Rating no greater than 146 (10/10)
Won over at least 3 miles (10/10)
Ran in a Class 2 or 3 race last time out (10/10)
Aged between 8 and 11 years old (8/10)
Carried no more than 10st 9lbs (8/10)
Top 2 finish during last 2 starts (9/10)
At least 10 previous races over fences (8/10)
Last raced within the previous 43 days (8/10)
Not won a chase above Class 2 level (8/10)
Between 4 and 6 starts that season (8/10)
Scottish Grand National: 2019 Contenders
Vintage Clouds, a first-fence faller at Aintree last week, returns quickly to a racecourse to try and make amends for that unfortunate early departure.
Trained by Sue Smith, the grey was a popular choice in the betting for the Grand National, but his supporters knew their fate rather early as he met the first obstacle all wrong.
Vintage Clouds previously chased home the Nicky Henderson-trained Beware The Bear in the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, and the pair renew rivalry in this with Henderson’s charge being lumbered with the top weight.
The Alan King-trained Dingo Dollar and has been one of the leaders in the ante-post market horse racing odds for this race after finishing second in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last month and his jockey Wayne Hutchinson believes he has a great chance.
King and Hutchinson combined to land the 2013 Scottish Grand National with Godsmejudge, and Dingo Dollar has every chance of following in his footsteps.
The seven-year-old finished runner-up to Crosshue Boy at this meeting last year and has since run a creditable third to Sizing Tennessee and Elegant Escape in the former Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November.
The Lucinda Russell-trained Big River was certainly a major eyecatcher from The Festival last month and is one of the few in the line-up who has won at Ayr before.
His Prestbury Park running-on late exertions left the impression that an even stiffer test would suit. He would probably like the ground a little bit more testing at the weekend but can still put up a bold show.
Eider Chase winner Crosspark comes here in good heart and there is no reason why the Caroline Bailey-trained nine-year-old cannot run yet another competitive race under Harry Skelton.
At a bit of a longer price Chic Name is a horse that is worth a second look as he seems to come good in the spring, winning the Highland National at Perth last April.
Trained by Richard Hobson and owned by The Boom Syndicate, the seven-year-old accounted for last year’s winner Joe Farrell last time out and has every chance of following up.
Borders trainer Sandy Thomson has been targeting Geronimo at Scotland’s richest race ever since the chestnut gelding won the Watch Racing TV Now Handicap Chase on January 20th.
Owner Ken McGarrity was quite keen on running Geronimo in the National Hunt Chase at one stage but Thomson believes this is the race the eight-year-old will excel in.
Scottish Grand National 2019: Conclusion
It’s time to play up your Tiger Roll winnings from last Saturday and have yet another “National” dabble right? These Nationals certainly come along with some regularity.
Given the patient waiting game Sandy Thomson has played with Geronimo he shall be my main each-way selection along with Chic Name who looks primed to follow up on his last run.
888sport suggests: Geronimo and Chic Name (e/w).
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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.
The finish line is in sight for all 20 Premier League teams. The title race is set to go the wire, four teams remain within inches of each other as they push for a Champions League spot and Cardiff are fighting for their lives, looking to make up a five-point deficit to avoid relegation.
With the top six all televised, this week’s Saturday 3pm kick-offs preview focuses on three of those teams still at relegation threat and the jostling in mid-table.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs AFC Bournemouth
Brighton are the only Premier League team with seven matches remaining. Chris Hughton’s side are five points above the drop zone and can make themselves as good as safe with positive results this week.
The Seagulls are looking to bounce back from FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City when they host Bournemouth – they follow that with a showdown against Cardiff at the Amex in midweek.
Bournemouth’s record since their red-hot start leaves plenty to be desired. The Cherries have little to play for in the remainder of the season, and that has been the case for a few weeks.
Finishing in the top half is almost out of reach, leaving Eddie Howe’s side in cruise control until their summer break.
The 27/20 on Brighton to win is one of the best Premier League Odds options this weekend. The hosts are solid at home and will be confident of a victory against a Bournemouth side with 12 road defeats in 16 matches.
TIP: Brighton to win @ 27/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Brighton 2-0 Bournemouth (Priced at 19/2 with 888sport)
BURNLEY vs Cardiff City
Burnley are on 36 points thanks to victories in their last two outings. The Clarets battled to a 3-1 victory away to Bournemouth last Saturday, putting them eight points clear of 18th placed Cardiff and within touching distance of safety.
Neil Warnock desperately needs a win here. They were hard done by in defeat to Chelsea two matches ago and unsurprisingly lost to Manchester City last time out.
Time is running out for the Welsh club to close the gap, and their away record hardly inspires confidence ahead of the trip to the north west.
It’s hard to see past a home win at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. Burnley have recovered from a brief blip and Cardiff have only scored nine goals away from home all season.
TIP: Burnley to win @ 9/10
PREDICTED SCORE: Burnley 1-0 Cardiff (Priced at 11/2 with 888sport)
Fulham vs EVERTON
Fulham will not have played in 11 days by the time this match kicks off. Caretaker boss Scott Parker saw his side thrashed 4-1 last week to confirm their inevitable relegation.
A slight improvement in performances under Parker has not translated into positive results as the defence remains leaky and the attack is too often ineffective.
Wins to nil over Chelsea, West Ham and Arsenal represent Everton’s best run of the season. The Toffees sit only a point behind seventh and will be eyeing up the ‘best of the rest’ spot that they were favourites for back in August.
Fulham will be hoping for reasons to be positive in the final weeks of the season without the burden of fighting relegation. The west London club have lost nine in a row, though, making it impossible to look past 3/4 on an Everton win.
TIP: Everton to win @ 3/4
PREDICTED SCORE: Fulham 1-3 Everton (Priced at 23/2 with 888sport)
SOUTHAMPTON vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Southampton’s home defeat to Liverpool was a setback, though three wins in their four matches before that put them in a good position to avoid the drop.
A win here could see Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side climb as high as 14th. The improvement under Hasenhuttl has been substantial with Saints performing like a mid-table side since the managerial change.
Wolves are in pole position to finish seventh because of their game in hand on Leicester. It will be interesting to see how they react after their gutting extra time loss in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been one of the success stories this season, but they could yet slip into the bottom half if performances drop off.
Southampton are a good price at 11/25 to avoid defeat. Wolves’ league form has been patchy of late, and they have taken just two of the last 12 available points on the road.
TIP: Southampton to win OR draw @ 11/25
PREDICTED SCORE: Southampton 1-1 Wolves (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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.
Champions League football takes centre stage on Tuesday and Wednesday but it is the turn of the Europa League on Thursday night. With two Premier League clubs still involved as we enter the quarter-finals, there is still a significant British interest in the competition.
Arsenal were handed the short straw in the quarter-finals draw; Unai Emery’s side will have to get the better of Italian giants Napoli over two legs. The Gunners had been in great form before losing to Everton though and Arsenal fans will be hoping for a positive result.
Meanwhile, Chelsea face a tough trip to the Czech Republic. Slavia Prague sent shockwaves across Europe after beating Sevilla over two legs in the previous round and Maurizio Sarri’s side will be wary of another upset – Chelsea should prove too strong in this one.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at all four Europa League quarter-finals. Another huge night of European football awaits as the race for supremacy in the continent’s secondary club tournament heats up.
ARSENAL vs NAPOLI
Arsenal have been sensational on home soil for most of 2018/19 and the Gunners will head into this contest as slight favourites. 7/5 for Emery’s side to take a lead into the second leg is a solid enough price given their efforts in recent months.
Napoli have admitted defeat in the Serie A title race but Carlo Ancelotti’s men will fancy their chances of Europa League glory. The odds are stacked against the Italian outfit in Thursday’s first leg but the visitors have enough quality to score at the Emirates.
For me, both teams to score looks the best option at 11/20. It isn’t the most glamorous tip but it looks likely with so much offensive talent on display. Arsenal fans may be tempted by the 5/2 for a home win with goals at both ends…
TIP: Both teams to score @ 11/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Arsenal 2-1 Napoli (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)
BENFICA vs EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
Benfica have been consistent players on the European stage for the best part of a decade – the Portuguese outfit will be quietly confident of reaching the final four. Victory in front of an expectant home crowd is a must; 13/10 is an outstanding price.
Eintracht are in red hot form though – the Bundesliga side are unbeaten in 15 competitive fixtures. With that in mind, opting for the visitors to avoid defeat once again might be the best bet. The 16/25 for Eintracht to pick up a positive result is worth considering.
European games can be cagey and this could turn out to be a relatively uneventful affair. The onus will be on Benfica to go forward but 23/25for under 2.5 goals is a reasonable enough price ahead of what should be a close contest.
TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ 23/25
PREDICTED SCORE: Benfica 1-1 Eintracht (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)
Slavia Prague vs CHELSEA
Slavia Prague sent shockwaves across Europe after defeating Sevilla over two legs. The game on home soil was vital to the final result of the tie; the hostile crowd helping to unsettle the Spanish side from start to finish.
Chelsea are up to third in the Premier League table but the Blues will be targeting silverware in this competition. Currently 6/1 to lift the Europa League trophy next month, Sarri’s men know that a win in Prague will stand them in good stead to reach the semi-finals.
Punters should take the 13/20 available for Chelsea to win on Thursday night. The Premier League side should prove too strong for their opponents and the Blues can take a big step towards the final four with a comfortable victory away from home.
TIP: Chelsea to win @ 13/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Slavia Prague 0-2 Chelsea (Priced at 13/2 with 888sport)
VILLARREAL vs VALENCIA
At the time of writing, Villarreal are languishing down in the La Liga relegation zone and this competition might not be their top priority. In fact, avoiding the drop will be their main aim for the rest of the campaign but 8/5 for a home win here is still a good price.
Valencia are slight favourites at 11/20to go through over two legs and avoiding defeat in the first leg will help their cause. The Spanish giants have previous in European competition and it would be great for neutrals to see Valencia reach the next round.
Two teams who know each other inside out, both teams to score looks well priced at 41/50. This could turn out to be a very tactical affair but Villarreal will want to make the most of home advantage in Thursday’s first leg.
TIP: Both teams to score @ 41/50
PREDICTED SCORE: Villarreal 1-1 Valencia (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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 Champions League quarter-finals are upon us. Four Premier League clubs remain, along with one from Eredivisie, one from La Liga, one from Liga NOS and Serie A’s lone remaining representative, Juventus.
Manchester United are the Premier League club at the focus of this piece, hosting Barcelona on Wednesday night. Wednesday’s other Champions League contest sees Juventus travel north to face Ajax in Amsterdam.
AJAX vs Juventus
Ajax’s spectacular 4-1 win at the Bernabeu in the last 16 will go down in history. Real Madrid crumbled against a stunning Ajax performance, led by former Southampton man Dusan Tadic.
The win was part of very good run they are currently on, winning nine of their last 10 outings. The Eredivisie leaders chalked up their 100th league goal of the campaign on Saturday.
It feels strange to label a club that has won four European Cups as a plucky underdog story. Ajax have gone toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich, Benfica and Real Madrid this term, but they are real outsiders ahead of this tie, sitting at 13/4 to progress.
Juventus pulled off a dramatic turnaround of their own in the last round, beating Atletico Madrid 3-0 in the second leg.
Cristiano Ronaldo put his cape on and rescued his team’s European run. Max Allegri’s side are dismissing all domestic challengers with ease, leaving them 20 points clear atop Serie A.
Allegri is confident Ronaldo will be available for the first leg, having not played since the international break. If you fancy a first leg win for the Turin-based club, a Ronaldo wincast at 13/5 is very good value.
His numbers might not be quite as eye-popping as year’s past, but it’s hard to ignore his track record on the biggest stage.
This tie is a meeting of two contrasting clubs. Ajax’s squad has been built through player development and shrewd signings. Juventus splashed out on perhaps the world’s most famous athlete. Ajax are young, playing with freedom.
Juventus are wily and experienced, with a rock-solid defence and win-at-all-costs approach. It is a clash of footballing philosophies that will be in the shadow of the Old Trafford showdown.
Ajax are a force to be reckoned with and look a very good price at 5/2 to win. A clean sheet remains improbable, though, which will leave the tie wide open ahead of the second leg in northern Italy.
TIP: Ajax to win @ 5/2
PREDICTED SCORE: Ajax 2-1 Juventus (Priced at 10/1 with 888sport)
Manchester United vs BARCELONA
Manchester United pulled off an astonishing comeback in the last 16, winning against all odds in Paris to knock out PSG. Their reward for that is a quarter-final against a Barcelona side that are unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have hit poor form at the worst time. Three defeats in four has changed the feeling around the club after the early optimism under Solskjaer.
The one victory in that span, a 2-1 win against Watford, was fortuitous and could easily have been another loss. The defensive fragilities have come to the fore once again. Manchester United are out at 14/5 to win in 888sport’s sports betting.
Barcelona are plodding along at the top of La Liga. A 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid last time out has another title within touching distance.
There was a brief scare in the last 16 after drawing with Lyon in the first leg, but then Lionel Messi turned it on, notching two assists and two goals at the Camp Nou as Barcelona cruised into the last eight.
Messi once again leads Europe in goal contributions. He’s scored eight and assisted three in five Champions League starts.
The 6/1 price on the Argentinian magician to score at least twice on Wednesday night is an absolute bargain. With Luis Suarez’s assistance, Messi could tear this Manchester United defence apart.
United’s confidence has been hit hard lately. Even playing at their very best, this was going to be an almighty challenge.
Barcelona’s evens price to win at Old Trafford would have been questionable when the draw was made. Right now, though, it’s looking like a very good bet.
There are a few intriguing bets in 888sport’s player specials market. Messi to score and assist at 7/1 will tempt a few, while Nemanja Matic to be booked and lose the match at 5/1 looks a good price considering the challenge he will have defensively.
TIP: Barcelona to win @ Evens
PREDICTED SCORE: Man United 0-3 Barcelona (Priced at 15/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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.
The Champions League quarter-finals are here. With four Premier League teams left in the competition, there is a good chance that an English club could lift Europe’s elite club trophy for the first time since Chelsea triumphed in 2011/12.
If nothing else, one thing is for sure: at least one top flight club will carry English hopes in the semi-finals. Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will do battle to reach the final four, with the first leg taking place at the new Spurs stadium on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also in action. There are no easy ties at this stage but most fans would’ve taken a quarter-final double header with FC Porto. Jurgen Klopp’s men can get off to a strong start under the famous Anfield floodlights.
That’s enough chitchat for now – it is time to take a closer look at Tuesday’s games. With three Premier League clubs involved, there will be plenty of interest from English supporters and it should be an exhilarating night of Champions League action.
LIVERPOOL vs FC Porto
Liverpool put five goals past Porto on Valentine’s Day last year and another dominant effort from Klopp’s side looks likely. Anfield has hosted so many memorable Champions League encounters over the years and the stage is set perfectly for Liverpool to put on a show.
With the Reds expected to dominate, the 6/5 for eight or more home corners is worth considering. Liverpool will come flying out of the blocks in the early exchanges and we may see the hosts pile the pressure on in the first half. It could be very one-sided indeed.
Like Liverpool, Porto are involved in a neck-and-neck domestic title race. Sergio Conceicao’s men are level on points with Benfica and winning the Portuguese crown may be the priority. Porto are 70/1 rank outsiders to win the Champions League and a quarter-final exit could be on the cards.
Tiquinho has been in fantastic form this season, notching 13 goals in 22 league games. The Porto striker is a general 16/5 chance to get his name on the scoresheet on Tuesday night and punters fancying Porto to spring a shock should consider this price.
Klopp will want to get this tie won at the first time of asking and Liverpool could run riot in front of an expect Anfield crowd. 5/4 for the hosts to score three or more goals is a decent price given their offensive prowess – this could get ugly for Porto.
TIP: Over 2.5 Liverpool goals @ 5/4
PREDICTED SCORE: Liverpool 3-0 Porto (Priced at 13/2 with 888sport)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs MANCHESTER CITY
Tottenham will head into this fixture relatively fresh after a rare weekend off. The opening of the new stadium was a roaring success, with Spurs succeeding on and off the pitch. Fans will be hoping for another positive result in their new surroundings here…
Spurs play some scintillating football at times and Mauricio Pochettino’s men will fancy their chances against anyone on a going day. EVENS for Tottenham to avoid defeat on Tuesday is a decent pick; the Champions League tends to bring out the best in Spurs.
City were some way below their best against Brighton on Saturday but Guardiola’s men did just about enough to reach the FA Cup final. The Blues looked tired for large parts although you could argue that City were attempting to conserve energy.
The 4/6 for over 1.5 away goals carries plenty of appeal - you don't need a betting calculator to realise that. City have scored 13 goals in their last five matches against Tottenham and Pep's men will want to take control of this tie ahead of the second leg in Manchester.
This fixture is synonymous with goals and I fancy over 2.5 goals at 8/13. There is a viable argument that Champions League fixtures are usually cagey but these two teams will play the right way and that should make for an open and exciting contest.
TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 8/13
PREDICTED SCORE: Tottenham 1-2 Man City (Priced at 7/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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.
Over the duration of the Grand National meeting, we will bring you all the latest updates and news directly from our man on the ground - Steven Mullington.
Grand National Saturday: Tips, Odds & News
5:35pm - In the words of ABBA “ I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger. People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger.”
Well, we’ve just witnessed history being made – 45 years since Red Rum went back-to-back. What price the hat-trick now?
I really hope you’ve enjoyed the blog over the last three days- it’s been a pleasure!
4:30pm - The top-weighted Kildisart does the business under Daryl Jacobs. Trained by Ben Pauling and owner by Simon Munir and Isaac Suede, the seven-year-old built upon his JLT fourth at The Festival.
And now onto the feature of the meeting, the Grand National. I dare say you have already placed most of your bets but if you’re watching the late money there’s plenty coming in for Anibale Fly, Jury Duty, Pleasant Company and Dounikos.
Wishing all the runners and riders the best of luck and a safe journey around the course. Good luck everybody with your bets.
3:50pm - Wow, the closest finish of the three days as If The Cap Fits gets the narrow verdict from Roksana and Apple’s Jade. If every finish was like that we’d all have a major heart condition I’m sure.
We now move onto the penultimate race before the Grand National with a Steeple Chase over 3m 1f and it’s an 18 strong field.
At the head of the market is Debece who is hoping to make it a three-timer. Trevor Hemmings is yet to have a winner at this fixture which is a rarity in itself. If he doesn’t take this with Touch Kick then he can always land the National at 5.15.
3:30pm - Who's excited to see Apple's Jade then? Her infectious personality will attract punters - just like this colourful statue at Aintree!
3.10pm - There’s nothing more satisfying than calling a race spot on beforehand and that I just did. Can somebody pat me on the back?
Front-running tactics ruled the roost on Ornua as Davy Russell bossed the race from start to finish. As predicted, it was second AGAIN for Us And Them.
The stayers are out at 3.40pm and the popular mare Apple’s Jade will have her legions of fans following her in with a bet. She’s 11/8 fav with us but if you fancy something a bit longer on the each-way front then have a go on Wholestone and Clyne who tend to go well at this venue.
2:30pm – It’s a big shock in the second race as Reserve Tank comes home at 20/1 under Robbie Power. Colin Tizzard was having a quiet time of things until yesterday and now he’s just had two lovely winners in the space of 24 hours.
The 3:00pm is a wonderful little renewal of the Maghull Novices’ Chase. Can Ornua bounce back from his fall last time or can Us And Them put a string of seconds behind him and get his head in front where it matters for trainer Joseph O’Brien?
2:00pm - Next up is the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle race with considerably less runners than the first but a tricky contest nevertheless. Kateson has attracted some money whilst Brewin’upastorm is slightly on the drift.
You can’t keep those Skelton boys down at Aintree as the nicely handicapped Aux Ptits Soins scoots home in the first at the attractively priced 11/1. As I alluded to earlier there were some big priced placers in that race.
1:30pm - There’s a very open look to race one on what could be a potential banana skin for placepot backers and the like.
Sire Du Berlais has been the subject of good money but it’s Poker Play who is all the rage. Coolanly and Burrows Park both look well in the paddock so I’ll be sticking with them.
12:40pm - We've got a couple of non-runners to speak of in the last: Normal Norman & Kuiper Belt are out of the race.
12:00pm - Betting update: 888sport are now an INDUSTRY BEST price of 11/2 for Tiger Roll to retain his title. Latest Grand National 2019 odds can be found here!
11:00am - Will TIGER ROLL be paraded in front of the 1st placed post later today? The 2019 Grand National is just HOURS away!
10:00am - Good morning again from Aintree racecourse on a day which will witness the 172nd running of the world’s greatest steeplechase – The Aintree Grand National.
A world wide audience of 600 million and a bumper crowd of over 50,000 (including little old me) will be eagerly awaiting the 40 runners and riders assembling down at the start for the 5.15 pm off time. But who will be writing themselves into the history books this year then?
The Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll (11st 5lb) is set to go off as the one of the shortest-priced favourites in Grand National history.
A thrilling head winner of the 2018 renewal, Tiger Roll is bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum (1973, 1974 & 1977) to win multiple renewals of this four and a quarter-mile marathon.
Tiger Roll heads our betting at 5/1 after a career-best performance at Cheltenham last time out left him officially 8lb well-in for the Aintree showpiece. The shortest-priced favourite in the history of the Grand National was Golden Miller who was a 2/1 shot in the 1935.
Naturally odds of 5/1 or less are not everyone’s cup of tea and there are plenty of people looking to take him on with a whole host of fancied contenders attracting each-way support.
Owner Trevor Hemmings has already tasted Grand National success three times through Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015).
Hemmings, bidding to become the most successful owner of all-time this year, is triple-handed in 2019 courtesy of Vintage Clouds (Sue Smith 14/1), Lake View Lad (Nick Alexander 16/1) and Warriors Tale (Paul Nicholls 100/1).
The afore mentioned pair both performed well when finishing second and third respectively in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, which left them 5lb and 3lb well-in for this race and it is understandable why there is plenty of support for them in the betting, plus everybody loves a grey don’t they?
You’d be forgiven in forgetting there’s another six supporting races on the Aintree card today given all the razzmatazz around the National itself but for your information here is the full itinerary for today:
13:45 - Gaskells Handicap Hurdle 3m ½f
14:25 - Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f
15:00 - Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase 2m
15:40 - Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle 3m ½f
16:20 - Betway Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1f
17:15 - Randox Health Grand National Steeple Chase 4m 2½f (feature race)
18:15 - Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle 2m ½f
Conditions are described Good to Soft on the Grand National course and similar on the other track. The weather is sunny, but chilly and today is certainly the best day on the weather front.
Non Runners: 1.45pm Maximiser, 5.15pm Mall Dini (replaced by Just A Par),6.20pm All Yours.
Have a fantastic day all!
9:35am - Here are my fancies for the entire card today. Hopefully I can follow on from a fairly successful Ladies Day.
1.45 – Burrows Parks & Coolanly (e/w).
2.25 – One For Rosie & Kateson (e/w).
3.00 – Ornua (e/w).
3.40 – Wholestone & Clyne (e/w).
4.20 – Touch Kick & Federici (e/w).
5.15 – Lake View Lad, Vintage Clouds & Joe Farrell (e/w).
6.20 – Subcontinent & Pink Legend (e/w).
9:00am - The going at Aintree has eased to GOOD TO SOFT on the Grand National course, with the hurdle and conventional chase track at GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES after a dry night.
8:00am - Check out Steve's thoughts on the 2019 Grand National runners and riders below - there are plenty of viable contenders in the mix to emerge victorious at Aintree...
Grand National Friday: Tips, Odds & News
5:20pm - Return of the Mc! The favourite narrowly wins the last race of the day to many a cheer.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for LIVE coverage from Aintree on Grand National Day. Our Grand National vlog will be live onsite ahead of what promises to be an exciting day of racing.
4:55pm - Champ is cool as you like as he enters the winner's enclosure with jockey Mark Walsh!
4:50pm - It just had to be didn’t it? Champ comes home victorious under a canny ride from Mark Walsh who was coolness personified there. Favourite backers will be in clover after that result.
And now onto the lucky last at Aintree- the Weatherby’s Bank NH Flat Race. Mcfabulous is the clear favourite and punters will be “lovin’ it” if he obliges.
4:15pm - The Topham is often a front runners race and it proved to be so again today as Cadmium makes all under an astute ride from Paul Townend. Sub Lieutenant was flying at the finish to claim second whilst Doitforthevillage and Janika take the third and fourth spots.
After all that excitement we now have the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle race. Will Champ come home the champ?
3:45pm - And now it’s the BIG Friday race on Ladies Day- the Topham Chase over the famous Grand National fences. 27 runners now go to post after 3 horses were withdrawn earlier in the day.
There’s been quite a gamble on the Irish-raider Call It Magic who is now a trading at 5/1. Janika is 6/1 but can he out his seconditus behind him?
The Supreme Racing Club will be hoping to build upon their Kemboy success yesterday with the Willie Mullins-trained Cadmium (18/1).
It’s such an open race that it’s certainly worth backing a few each-way and keeping your fingers crossed!
3:35pm -Min wins the Melling Chase with minimum of fuss! How easy was that? Backed into favouritism on the off (2/1), the result was never in doubt under a Ruby Walsh master class.
Connections were clearly overjoyed in the winner's enclosure afterwards. Could we see Ruby Walsh and RATHVINDEN in there after the Grand National tomorrow?
3:00pm - Lostintranslation’s stamina comes to the fore as he runs down the gallant front-running Top Ville Ben who was just denied second place. The Colin Tizzard-trained seven-year-old was returned at odds of 3/1.
We now move onto the “Melling Steeple Chase” which again is a small but select field. Everybody loves a grey and Politologue is now a 5/2 chance. Waiting Patiently is challenging for favouritism and will prove to be a popular winner from the Ruth Jefferson yard.
2:25pm - A cat like performance from Felix Desjy under Jack Kennedy as the French-bred makes all to land the Top Novices’ Hurdle. Aramon got going late but Kennedy just had enough in hand to fend off Ruby Walsh.
Onto the Mildmay Novices’ Steeple Chase now and it’s a small but classy field that go to post. Topofthegame is a shade of odds on but the Colin Tizzard-trained Lostintranslation gamble is gathering momentum.
2:10pm - UPDATE: We’ve pushed Tiger Roll out to 9/2 from 4/1 for tomorrow’s Grand National. Tiger Roll is bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum to win multiple renewals of the race.
2:05pm - Next up it’s the Top Novices’ Hurdle race. Are your Itchy Feet making you want to have a bet yet? He’s slightly on the drift however as the money starts to come in for Aramon and Precious Cargo.
1:55pm - “One for all and all for one, Gordon’s string are always ready!” I think quite a few people were expecting that result as the nine-year-old Three Musketeers nabs them all late in the day to score at odds of 8/1.
He opened up at 16/1 earlier so there was quite a surge on the horse that has recently moved yards from Dan Skelton to Gordon Elliott.
12:45pm - GOING UPDATE: Grand National Course: Soft, Good to Soft in places (from Soft). Mildmay & Hurdle Courses: Soft, Good to Soft in places (from Soft).
12:00pm - Bryony Frost has just walked into the Press Room looking resplendent on Ladies Day for her spell the panel on ITV Racing today.
I bet she’s quite pleased to glam up and not get splattered in mud for a change. She’ll bring lots of infectious fun to your TV screens later I’m sure.
11:30am - The gates are open and the girls are arriving in numbers for Ladies Day today at Aintree. Hopefully the weather holds up for those in attendance!
10:30am –Here are my own fancies for today, but tread carefully as I was pretty hopeless yesterday bar for Moon Over Germany!
1.45pm - Project Bluebook & Brio Conti (e/w)
2.20pm- Itchy Feet (win).
2.50pm- Lostintranslation (win).
3.25pm- Hell’s Kitchen (e/w).
4.05pm- Flying Angel, Doitforthevillage, Sub Lieutenant & Cadmium (e/w).
4.40pm- Lisnagar Oscar (e/w).
5.15pm- Blackhillsofdakota (e/w).
10:00am – Good morning again from Aintree racecourse on what can only be described as one of Merseyside’s biggest social highlights of the year- Ladies Day.
Dubbed #FabulousFriday (don’t forget to use the hashtag), racegoers today will witness a sea of fashion, bubbles and famous faces, but less about me – what can we expect to find on the track today?
Well, the 45,000 strong crowd should be more than entertained by the following seven race card:
4.05 The Randox Health Topham Steeple Chase (Grade 3) 2m 5f 140,000
4.40 The Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m ½f 100,000
5.15 The Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard Open NH Flat (Grade 2) 2m 1f 45,000
The race over the Grand National fences on Ladies Day is the Topham Handicap Chase at 4.05pm.
Nicky Henderson is chasing a sixth victory in the two miles, five furlong and 19 yard contest and has four entries, headed by top-weight and market leader Janika (7/1, 11st 12lb).
The six-year-old has finished second on all three starts since arriving at Seven Barrows, with his latest effort coming when runner-up in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 14th.
Henderson also is responsible for O O Seven (25/1, 11st 1lb), Divine Spear (40/1, 9st 13lb) and Kilcrea Vale (18/1, 9st 10lb).
Paul Nicholls' entries are Adrien Du Pont (12/1, 11st 1lb) and recent Greatwood Gold Cup scorer San Benedeto( 18/1, 11st 4lb). Nicholls has won the Topham Chase once before, with Gwanako scoring in 2008.
Cregg House was the most recent winner of the Topham Handicap Chase to be trained in Ireland in 2005 and there are several Irish-trained entries including Cadmium(18/1, 11st 2lb), Polidam (25/1, 10st 4lb),Sub Lieutenant (33/1, 11st 5lbs), Woods Well (25/1, 10st 6lb), Call It Magic (5/1 fav, 10st 0lb) and Peregrine Run (16/1, 11st 1lb).
Today’s Non-Runners: 2.20pm Sofia’s Rock, 4.05pm Born Survivor, Voix d’Eau, Dimple 5.15pm Montego Grey & Adjourned.
*Just a reminder that in the Grand National tomorrow Mall Dini is out with a self-certificate and is replaced by the first reserve Just A Par (125/1).
8:30am – The official word from Aintree is that the ground is now SOFT on all three courses. The weather forecast looks dry (fingers crossed) for the rest of the day so let's hope for a rain-free day of racing!
7:30am – Rise and shine folks, it’s time for Day Two of the 2019 Grand National meeting at Aintree. Luckily for punters, Steve is here to cast his eye over the runners and riders, with betting tips on all seven of Friday’s races.
Grand National Thursday: Tips, Odds & News
5:20 pm – Not the Dancing Queen in the last but the Glancing Queen wins the lucky last for Alan King. The mare was well backed at 5/1.
Please come back for our vlog recording later as we do a quick review ahead of tomorrow.
5:05pm - BREAKING: Mall Dini is OUT of the 2019 Grand National after sustaining a leg injury. Just A Par will take his place in Saturday's big race.
5:00pm - Photograph of winning connections at a rather soggy Aintree. Rachael Blackmore with a superb ride on Moon Over Germany to claim victory.
4:50pm – This is Germany calling!, this is Germany calling! Rachael Blackmore is literally over the moon as she dominates the Red Rum Chase from start to finish aboard Moon Over Germany. The others never even got a look in – I blame Brexit!
And so the first afternoon draws to a close and we now have the mare’s bumper. It’s essentially a flat race for NH horses if you’ve never heard of a bumper before. Minella Melody has been the subject of favouritism all day but there’s a fair bit of interest on Timetochill.
4:20pm – Tabitha returns to rapturous applause in the parade ring from many of her friends!
4:15pm – What a cracker of a race! Tabitha Worsley manages to get Top Wood (14/1) back up after being passed on the elbow by Burning Ambition.
There’s another tricky handicap up next (Red Rum Chase) as 13 now go to post after five withdrawals - again, on account of the going.
3:45pm – Supersundae knuckles down in the final furlong to range up past Buveur D’Air and hold on for an impressive win. Robbie Power living up to his surname in a driving finish in testing conditions.
It’s now time for the first of three races this week to be run over the famous Grand National fences. A pack of beagle dogs have just scuttled past my feet which can only mean one thing - The Foxhunters Steeplechase!
Road To Rome and Burning Ambition are popular choices in the sports betting markets.
3:40pm – BREAKING: Ruby Walsh pulls Faugheen up midway through the 2019 Aintree Hurdle. He reported that the 11-year-old is doung but "felt lifeless and he didn't feel right."
3:20pm – Hello mate! Kemboy getting up close and personal for a quick photo following his Aintree Bowl success.
3:15pm – Buveur D’Air has the chance to redeem himself after falling at Cheltenham. Click here for the latest horse racing betting odds!
3:00pm –KEMBOY sees them all off after leading all the way in the Aintree Bowl and makes amends for his Cheltenham mishap. He looks like he will go onto bigger and better things next season.
We now move onto the Aintree Hurdle. Nicky Henderson has pulled out Verdana Blue and Brain Power on account of the ground. Can Buveur D’Air stamp his authority on this field?
2:35pm – Punters are happy as Pentland Hills enters the winner’s enclosure. The Nicky Henderson-trained star is now three from three over hurdles, with wins at the Cheltenham Festival and now Grand National meeting.
2:30pm –Pentland Hills follows up his Triumph Hurdle victory with a dogged win over the well punted Fakir D’Oudaries.
Nico de Boinville reports that the ground is well and truly soft now. It’s now time for one of the most anticipated races of the day – the Aintree Bowl.
2:10pm – First snap from the winner’s enclosure this week. Kalashnikov connections delighted after a superb performance in Thursday’s opener!
1:55pm – KALASHNIKOV (4/1) rifles open in the first race under Jack Quinlan to beat the gallant mare Le Bag Au Roi. Conditions are looking really rough out there but the novices’ battled all the way to the line. A sensational win for Newmarket trainer Amy Murphy.
2:00pm – It’s time for the four-year-old juveniles now. There’s plenty of support for FAKIR D'OUDARIES to put the two Cheltenham Festival winners to the sword. Let’s see what happens…
1:00pm – Bristol De Mai is proving a popular choice amongst the national newspaper tipsters, with one witty headline reading “Do it Mai way”.
Showers have just started here, combined with the icy wind - it is certainly a BIG coat day. If this weather keeps up it will definitely play to the strengths of those who like a bit of juice in the ground.
1:10pm – I’ve just been handed a press release that RMG (Racecourse Media Group) are delivering truly worldwide broadcast exposure. With a little extra help from myself on this here blog we should be garnering a few more fans.
12:30pm – Atmosphere building here at Aintree. I’m on standby in case of a late call for a replacement jockey!
11:40am – Punters are starting to arrive at Aintree ahead of today’s opening race, the Devenish Manifesto Novices’ Steeple Chase. Racing gets underway at 1:45pm and LA BAGUE AU ROI, trained by Warren Greatrex, currently heads the betting at 6/4.
10:00am– Aintree clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch has confirmed that the official going is GOOD TO SOFT ahead of Thursday’s racing. The Merseyside track is picture perfect ahead of the 2019 Grand National meeting…
9:30am– Our man Steve Mullington (@mulldog) has his first update of the day LIVE from Aintree…
Good morning and welcome to the first day of action from Aintree races, a day that the organisers have entitled “A Day For Champions”.
I certainly felt champion (said in my Northern dialect) as I walked through the Aintree gates this morning because I have been a fan of this racetrack and the Grand National Festival ever since I was a schoolboy.
Today is my 26th consecutive visit to this three-day fixture and the sheer excitement I feel as I alight from the train across the road sends shivers up my spine every single year. I sincerely hope I can share some of this Aintree magic with you through this live blog.
Today’s weather is sunny and fairly breezy and there are no reported non-runners. There are seven races to look forward to today and here is the running order:
A cracking race to kick off proceedings with as a whole host of contenders try to make amends for their Cheltenham Festival woes. Standing in their way is the popular mare La Bague Au Roi, who is unbeaten this season.
Doom Bar Anniversary 4YO Juvenile Hurdle (2:20pm)
The Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills goes head-to-head with the Fred Winter scorer Band Of Outlaws, but could the Paul Nicholls-trained Christopher Wood be the fly in the ointment?
Betway Bowl Steeple Chase (2:50pm)
Several runners line up here from the last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup including Bristol De Mai who came a fine third to Al Boum Photo.
Betway Aintree Hurdle (3:25pm)
Buveur D'Air blotted the copy book in his bid to land a third Champion Hurdle and will be bidding to bounce back here. There are Irish raiders aplenty though taking him on.
Randox Health Foxhunters' Steeple Chase (4:05pm)
The amateurs’ version of the Grand National run over the famous Aintree fences with previous winners Dineur (2017) and Balnaslow (2018) in the field once again.
Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase (4:40pm)
Grand Annual third Brelan D’As is well fancied as is the popular mare- Lady Buttons.
Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat (5:15pm)
The up and coming mares step up to the plate in the lucky last.
My Early Fancies For Thursday:
1.45 Bags Groove (e/w), 2.20 Christopher Wood (e/w), 2.50 Balko Des Flos (e/w), 3.25 Buveur D’Air (win), 4.05 Kruzhlinin (e/w), 4.40 Brelan D’As (e/w), 5.15 Shantewe & Eyes Right e/w).
And there is early money for the following runners: 1.45 Bags Groove, 2.50 Kemboy, 3.25 Faugheen 4.05 Road To Rome, 4.40 Revelyn Pleasure, 5.15 Farne.
NEWS JUST IN – Joe Farrell has made the cut for the Grand National and is the 40th named runner. Trained by Rebecca Curtis, he’s now a 14/1 chance with us here at 888sport.
7:45am – And they’re off! The 2019 Grand National meeting is finally here and it should be an absolute cracker. To kick things off, check out Steve’s top tips ahead of Thursday’s racing…
Grand National 2019: Meeting Overview
Starting with Grand National Thursday, the racecourse celebrates North West sporting champions past and present, as well as hosting four excellent Grade One races, including the Aintree Hurdle.
Day two of the festival sees the world-famous Ladies Day, when all things style and fashion are thrust into the spotlight.
Strutting their stuff on the track, rather than on the catwalk, will be a stellar cast of runners and riders for the Topham Chase - a formidable and frantic race in its own right, run over the National fences.
And then Grand National Day needs no introduction at all with it being the most iconic steeplechase in the world, watched by a global audience of 600 million and a race wagered upon by many a punter.
Grand National: Early Aintree News (March 24th)
West Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith has her sights set on a second Grand National victory, this time with the Trevor Hemmings-owned Vintage Clouds.
Smith enjoyed the biggest victory of her career in the 2013 edition of the world's greatest chase when outsider Auroras Encore triumphed at 66/1.
Vintage Clouds, in contrast, is 14/1 with us here at 888Sport, after a series of good performances in staying chases.
The nine-year-old, who ended last season with a creditable third in the Scottish Grand National, began this campaign with victory in a valuable handicap chase over just shy of three and a quarter miles at Haydock Park in November.
Having disappointed in the Welsh Grand National on his next outing, the grey horse showed the benefit of a wind operation when a close second behind Beware The Bear in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 12th.
Vintage Cloud was allotted 10st with a rating of 144 when the weights were announced in February for the £1-million Grand National and, following his run at Cheltenham, is officially 5lb well-in as his rating has gone up to 149.
Smith, who is based at Craiglands Farm near Bingley, said: "Vintage Clouds has come out of Cheltenham in good form.
"He took that race really well and he had just come back from a small wind op, so we were absolutely delighted with him. He jumped great and we couldn't have asked for more.
"Danny Cook gave him a lovely ride and all the team have done a lovely job with him at home.
"The Grand National at Aintree is now the plan for him and the three-week gap between his last race and Liverpool should be ideal.
"We are easing him back into his usual work routine, but he is fit and should be spot on for the Grand National."
Hemmings is one of only four owners to have won the Grand National three times, along with Noel Le Mare (Red Run 1973, 1974 & 1977), James Machall (1873 Disturbance, 1874 Reugny, 1876 Regal) and Sir Charles Assheton-Smith (1893 Cloister, Jerry M 1912, Covertcoat 1913).
Hemmings tasted success through Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015), and if successful in 2019, he will become the most successful owner in Grand National history.
A maximum of 40 runners can line up for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on Saturday 6th April with the next confirmation stage on Monday 1st April.
It is the 172nd running of the world renowned Aintree chase, which is over four miles, two furlongs and 74 yards and 30 fences.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
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.
The Grand National is the most prestigious race in the world for jumps racing, making it the jewel in the crown for every jockey, trainer and owner in the sport.
Preparation for the meeting begins at the start of the National Hunt season, where trainers will be readying their charges for a run at the major races at the end of the term.
It is the most prized race for a reason. The Aintree course is the most difficult in jumps racing, providing 30 daunting fences for horse and jockey to clear. Becher’s Brook, The Chair and Foinavon deliver the toughest test to all competitors in the meet.
Only the elite horses can combine the stamina and speed to emerge with the victory over four miles and 514 yards of the event. Race favourites have come unstuck in the meet – only seven have triumphed in the National since the Second World War.
Gordon Elliott’s charge won the National by a head in 2018, seeing off Pleasant Company on the line by a head after dominating for the majority of the contest.
However, it has not been a happy venue for favourites of the past and we’ll now look back at why the leading contenders have failed to deliver the ultimate success when given the backing of the bookies.
Hedgehunter
Willie Mullins’ charge almost became the first horse to win the event in back-to-back years since Red Rum achieved the feat in 1974.
He made his debut in the National in 2004 and was in prime position to make a run at victory, only to fall at the final hurdle to allow Amberleigh House to take the crown.
Hedgehunter returned for 2005, having triumphed at the Bobbyjo Chase to take momentum into the race and he was the favourite for the victory. He put forward a dominant performance to win the National, finishing 14 lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
Expectations were raised for the following season, and Mullins opted to gamble by placing his charge in the running for the Cheltenham Gold Cup along with the National.
Although Hedgehunter performed well in the Gold Cup, he lost out by two-and-a-half lengths to War of Attrition. At the age of ten, Mullins’ charge was in the prime of his jumping career.
He was expected to duel it out for Clan Royal for the crown, with both horses considered joint-favourites in the horse racing odds at 5/1 at the start of the race. Hedgehunter manoeuvred himself into position with three fences remaining in the contest after a clean ride.
However, unlike the previous year, he lacked the speed down the stretch and could not match the surge of Numbersixvalverde to lose out on a historic successive triumph by six lengths.
Butler's Cabin
Butler’s Cabin was a surprise choice as the favourite for the Grand National in 2009. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge was not in the best of form heading into the event, failing to win a race in almost two years.
He did have pedigree in elite competitions, however, having triumphed in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham Festival in 2007, producing a strong outing to claim the win by three-quarters of a length.
The French-bred horse carried that momentum into the Irish Grand National. At Fairyhouse, with AP McCoy in the saddle, he rose to the occasion to claim the crown as a 14/1 shout in the horse racing betting odds.
Although that display was two years prior to the event at Aintree, Butler’s Cabin had the confidence of the bookies, despite an underwhelming 2008/09 campaign in the National Hunt.
He finished fifth in his last outing at the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at Cheltenham Festival and his lack of form was evident as McCoy struggled to guide his charge into contention.
Mon Mome surprised everyone in the field with a brilliant ride as a 100/1 outsider, beating the rest of the field by 12 lengths.
His victory highlighted the difficulty in predicting the National as he lacked form and a previous notable win to enhance his credentials before the meet. The race was Butler's Cabin final act in his professional career.
Red Rum
Red Rum was already a legend by the time he arrived for the National in 1975. Ginger McCain’s charge was pursuing his third crown on the bounce; a feat that had never been achieved in the history of the prestigious event.
His first victory two years previously was a slight surprise as he mounted a furious comeback to defeat the Australian thoroughbred Crisp by three-quarters of a length.
Red Rum successfully defended his crown in 1974, although he was not considered the favourite for the race, being considered behind Scout in the sport betting odds.
However, Red Rum was able to dominate the rest of the field to finish ahead of his rival L'Escargot, earning his place in the history of the National.
There was no surprise to see him installed as the favourite for the crown in 1975. It wasn't to be, however, as L'Escargot ended Red Rum’s winning run, denying him the most wins at the event – at the time - by producing a special outing.
The 12-year-old was a fine horse in his own right and only a flawless display was good enough to defeat the legendary Red Rum. L'Escargot had a surge down the stretch to see out the win by 15 lengths, taking his place in the winners’ enclosure.
Of course, Red Rum returned in 1977 to add to a third jewel to his crown, etching his place as the greatest horse in National history. However, he never managed to win the meet as the favourite.
West Tip
West Tip's first appearance at the National in 1985 ended with a fall at Becher’s Brook.
However, like Hedgehunter, he put his disappointment behind him and returned in 1986 – not as the favourite – to win the event by two lengths ahead of 66/1 outsider Young Driver.
The performance, and his form over the next season, saw him declared as the leading contender in the horse racing betting odds for the race in 1987. West Tip was backed at 5/1 – a narrow price for the National.
Richard Dunwoody kept his charge in contention throughout the race, positioning his horse in the middle of the pack before making his move two fences before the end of the meet. However, he did not have the kick needed to challenge the leaders in the field.
He faded down the stretch on this occasion as Maori Venture took the crown, forcing him to settle for fourth place.
West Tip would finish fourth in 1988 and second in 1989, becoming a legend of Aintree due to the quality of his performances in the National, although he only managed to win it once during his illustrious career and never as the favourite.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
In December 2016 a persistent hip injury put a full-stop to seventeen years of Robert Lester Zamora finding the back of the net with unerring ease.
For six different clubs, in three different leagues the boy from Barking scored 152 times while striking up lethal partnerships with Teddy Sheringham, Carlos Tevez and Andrew Johnson along the way. At each of these clubs he was a terrace favourite. At most they sang a reworded Dean Martin standard in homage.
Here the England international discusses the varying fortunes of four of his former employees and throws in too some cherished memories from his playing days.
We begin on the south coast and a Brighton side eying up a FA Cup semi-final result that will shock one and all.
FA Cup: Seagulls Can Soar As Underdogs
Can Chris Hughton’s Brighton overcome a Manchester City team who have smashed fives and sixes past opponents for fun in recent seasons and reach their first FA Cup final since 1983?
That is the question posed to Bobby Zamora ahead of this weekend’s Wembley encounter and having enjoyed two successful spells at the club he wants to be positive despite the odds being very much against his beloved Seagulls. Eventually he answers as he played: on the front foot.
“They are going to need eleven heroes. I’m looking at the two centre-halves who will have to do a fantastic job – Dunky and Duffy. Those guys are going to have to be on their game because it’s going to be very tough obviously. Those two can be heroes by shutting City out as best they can.
"Going forward we always look at Glenn Murray with his experience and then on the wing I like Anthony Knockaert who can unlock doors and create a bit of brilliance and win a game. Brighton have a few players who can provide an attacking threat and it depends on who Chris goes with but for me it comes down to the two centre-halves.”
“It will be a bit of release against City because the pressure is off and I always liked to play in those games as the underdog where you’re not expected to win. They will be focusing solely on the semi-final, not their relegation fight and they can cause an upset.”
The 38 year old’s positivity is balanced out by a cold dose of reality however, because unquestionably this is a superb City creation Brighton face on Saturday. How good only time will tell but Zamora believes already they compare to the very best that history can offer.
“Manchester City are a special team, they really are. For years now they have been a great footballing side and especially at home where I’ve been on the receiving end of some big wins for them at their ground.
"They’re on track to win multiple trophies and if they win a treble they will be one of the best. If they win the quadruple it’s undoubted that they’re the greatest team ever in the Premier League.”
Blowing Bubbles: Hammers Settling Down
In January 2004 Zamora fulfilled a childhood dream and joined West Ham United, the club both he and his family supported. His introduction bordered on Roy of the Rovers fare.
“It’s all the clichés. As a kid I used to go to Upton Park and watch all of the games and sing I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles. I remember on my home debut against Cardiff I’m running out and the crowd are singing it and I am as well.
"I had to pinch myself and I had hairs standing up on the back of my neck. There I was singing I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles but on the pitch. It was mad. Then we won 1-0 and I scored the winning goal which made it absolutely perfect. It was an unbelievable feeling.”
Switching to the present day, Manuel Pellegrini appears to have calmed the waters after a disharmonious period for the Hammers following a divisive move to a new home and a succession of underwhelming performances on the pitch. What is Zamora’s take on how things currently stand in East London?
“I think it’s a happier place now but there is still the bedding in period for the move to a new ground to consider. That was the catalyst for the problems and that feeds into the players and feeds into the performances.
"The fans know they can’t go back to the Boleyn Ground and they are where they are. In time everyone will be seated where they want to be seated and with that comes less pressure on the team which means they can relax and play better football. That’s what we’re beginning to see this year.”
A cult hero who the fans can relate to can often help ease tensions enormously and Zamora certainly played alongside such a figure in the form of Carlos Tevez. Does he see any similarities between the Argentine and Marko Arnautovic, another enigmatic figure who plays with a good deal of singular passion up front?
“I wouldn’t put Arnautovic and Tevez in the same category. Whatever was going on with Carlos – whatever he was being told and whatever was in the papers - he just got on with his job. I feel that Arnautovic let his performances slip after what went on in January. That wouldn’t have happened with Carlos. That would have pushed him on to perform better to warrant a move.”
Speaking of moves, who does the ex-poacher think the Hammers should target in the next window, as they seek to build on mid-table safety and push for European qualification?
“They need a good, solid centre-half who is going to play every game. They’re gold dust. I’d like to see somebody else up front too. I don’t know what’s going on with Andy Carroll or Arnautovic and I’d like us to go for a marquee proven striker who can get you 15 goals a season in the Premier League.
"They may cost you a lot of money to get that player but that’s what you need to push for European football.”
Premier League: Can Fulham Bounce Back?
After four eventful years at the Boleyn Ground, Zamora moved across the capital to Fulham and soon after secured legendary status by helping to fire the Cottagers to an unlikely Europa League final.
En route they played Juventus, beating the Turin giants 4-1 to overcome a first leg defeat and Zamora stood out that evening, getting the better of a defensive great. He recalls it all with a broad smile.
“I remember playing against Cannavaro in Turin and it wasn’t our greatest game. But it was nice to be up against him. At Craven Cottage we had a team who literally believed we could beat anybody. We had that mind-set.
"We had already beaten Manchester United and Arsenal and put in some great performances in Europe. When Juventus turned up and we went a goal down we went up a gear and created chances. Ultimately it was one of the best performances Fulham have ever had. It was special to play against a World Cup winning captain and do so well against him. “
“Cannavaro was my toughest ever opponent. Not the biggest, fastest or strongest but very clever. He pulled your shirt at the right time, fouled at the right time, got you booked: all those little parts that other defenders don’t do.”
Nine years on and the picture is a lot bleaker at Craven Cottage with relegation almost inevitable. After a tremendous return to the top flight last May how did it come to this?
“For me Fulham have missed two good centre-halves. They genuinely needed two proper centre-halves and that has let them down this season. They were crying out for them in January but didn’t get them and now they’re paying the price.”
“They have the ability to bounce back but that comes down to their recruitment over the summer. Hopefully Scottie is given a chance next year and then the club can move forward. They need to keep hold of a lot of their players too but that will be a financial decision.
"Ideally if they can retain Bebel and Schurrle, those two could be important and make a massive difference but that comes down to their mid-set and whether they want to go down to the Championship.”
Championship: QPR To Start From Scratch
After scoring the winning goal in a Championship Play-Off final for West Ham in 2005 Zamora then made a habit of it in 2014 with his second-to-last club QPR. Only this time he waited until the dying moments to enact one of the most dramatic Wembley moments in recent memory to down a stunned Derby County.
“Genuinely, when the ball hit the back of the net and I was running off all I was thinking was ‘thank God I don’t have to play f***ing extra time’. I promise you. That is exactly what was going through my head. Because we hadn’t had a shot on target. We were under the cosh and had ten men. It was the most one-sided game I’d ever been a part of.”
Once again however, the euphoria of the past has diminished as the Hoops languish near the foot of the Championship having sacked their coach Steve McClaren this week. On this occasion even Zamora struggles to find a bright side.
“I like Steve. I think he’s an unbelievable coach. He has been working with what’s there and could possibly have done with a few more funds. Unfortunately QPR have spent so much money in the past they’re now having to tighten the reins.”
“Where they go from here I don’t know because Steve is fantastic and I respect him massively. Possibly it might be Alan Pardew.
"He has been out of the game for a little while and no doubt he’s chomping at the bit. He’s a character and he’s a good fit for the owners and club. So yes he’s an option.”
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
