There’s never a dull moment when it comes to Premier League football. Okay, maybe there are a few when Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are in action but their clash at Brighton & Hove Albion was an anomaly.

The Red Devils conceded three goals in a blistering first half and fans are starting to turn on the Portuguese.

Away from the Amex Stadium, there was lots of drama this weekend. Starting with Saturday afternoon’s last-gasp penalty for Newcastle against Cardiff to Manchester City’s demolition job of Huddersfield Town on Sunday, the Premier League did not disappoint.

Here are five of the most important things to take from this weekend’s action…

The Title Is Manchester City's To Lose

There’s only one place to start and that is at the Etihad Stadium. The defending champions, allegedly rocked by news of Kevin de Bruyne’s injury earlier this week, put six goals past David Wagner’s hapless Huddersfield.

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Liverpool face Crystal Palace on Monday evening and that City result will have raised a few eyebrows at Anfield.

The Reds invested heavily in the summer transfer window but the title is City’s to lose. Pep Guardiola’s side are a class above their domestic rivals and it would take a brave man to back against the Blues this season.

Watch this space, another hammering from City could be on the cards in the coming weeks.

 

West Ham United Need Time

With so many new faces arriving at the London Stadium this summer, it was always going to take time for West Ham to settle.

Manuel Pellegrini was given a handsome sum of money to spend in the transfer window but the Hammers are looking disjointed. Fans must be patient in order for Pellegrini to work his magic in the long term.

West Ham were poor against Liverpool on the opening weekend and they were second best against Bournemouth this weekend as well.

Bringing four or five new faces into the starting line-up and expecting players to gel immediately never works – it may take a few months before we start to see West Ham realise their full potential.

 

Harry Kane's August Run Is Over

The England international had failed to score a Premier League goal in August in well over 1,000 minutes of top flight action but that run is over.

With that mental barrier now lifted, Kane can push on and build momentum as he looks to get his hands back on the Golden Boot award – Mo Salah is going to take some stopping though.

Kane’s goal helped Tottenham to a 3-1 victory over London rivals Fulham at Wembley and the England captain had a few opportunities to add to his tally.

Backing against the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot winner in his pursuit of individual recognition would be foolish, especially considering his recent Premier League record.

 

Burnley Struggling, Watford Soaring

Sean Dyche’s Burnley may be struggling to juggle their European commitments. The Clarets failed to inspire confidence against Watford at Turf Moor on Sunday, conceding after just three minutes – not “Burnley-like” in the slightest.

The hosts were taken to extra-time by Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday and those excursions may have taken their toll.

Meanwhile, Javi Gracia’s side are heading in the opposite direction. Watford were a class above Brighton on the opening weekend and followed that up with an equally impressive performance at Burnley.

The Hornets hadn’t scored away from home in the Premier League since January but the signs are positive for Watford in 2018/19.

 

Pressure Cranking Up On Jose Mourinho

Manchester United fans are starting to turn. Despite finishing second in the Premier League table last season, Jose Mourinho is a man under pressure.

United’s lack of transfer activity had fans fearing the worst ahead of the new campaign and Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton confirmed those doubts: the Red Devils are some way below their title rivals.

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United registered just two shots on target in 90 minutes – Mourinho’s side have struggled to create chances so far this season and the Red Devils are in real danger of finishing outside the top four.

Will Mourinho still be in the Old Trafford hot seat come the end of the season? Not if United play like they did against Brighton. It is as simple as that.

 

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

The Great St. Wilfrid Handicap is a flat race handicap run over a distance of six furlongs at Ripon racecourse.

The race derives its name from the patron saint of Ripon, St. Wilfrid. In fact the winning owner receives a trophy which depicts St. Wilfrid on horseback.

Ripon has hosted some of the most exciting, prestigious and enjoyable racing in the country for more than 300 years and this is the most valuable race on their calendar.

Here are some trends and statistics from the last ten runnings of the race.

Age (win-place-runners)

3-y-o: 1-1-8

4-y-o: 2-8-52

5-y-o: 4-7-47

6-y-o: 1-6-40

7-y-o: 2-5-24

8-y-o+: 0-3-25

The five-year-olds have been successful in the last six years.

Only one three-year-old has won since 1999 (Don’t Touch 2015). However no three-year-olds are left in the final declarations this year.

 

 

Weight

Carrying 9st 7lb+: 0-3-17

Carrying 9st-9st 6lb: 5-11-67

It may pay to concentrate on the racecard numbers 4-12 this year.

 

Form

• Ten out of ten winners had run at least three times in the current season.  All the runners still entered pass on that criterion except Glen Moss.
• Eight out of the past ten winners had run in the past twenty one days. That may lead you scratch out Aeolus, Teruntum Star, Al Qahwa, Glen Moss and Dakota Gold, due to a lack of a recent run.
• Nine out of the last ten winners either ran at Newmarket, Goodwood, Haydock or Ripon last time out. The following horses DID NOT do so:  Ice Age, Kimberella, Aeolus, Flying Pursuit, Teruntum Star, Golden Apollo, Brian The Snail, Al Qahwa, Foolaad, Glen Moss, Dakota Gold, Henley and Dark Power.
• The seven horses that DO qualify on the last run statistic are: Spring Loaded, Growl, Pipers Note, Shangai Glory, Gunmetal, Marie Of Lyon and Reputation.
• Five out of the last ten winners had previously won over course and distance. Qualifiers under that statistic are:  Pipers Note, Kimberella, Teruntum Star, Flying Pursuit and Reputation.

 

Trainer Form

David O’Meara has trained the winner three times in recent years. He saddles just one horse on this occasion, Al Qahwa.

Richard Fahey has trained the winner once in the last ten years. He is represented by Kimberella, Growl, Brian The Snail and Marie Of Lyon.

It is pretty significant that Kevin Ryan has been knocking on the door in recent years, with six of his runners placing. Ryan is represented this time by Teruntum Star.

Tim Easterby won this last year with Mattmu and this time he saddles Golden Apollo and Flying Pursuit.

 

Effect Of The Draw

Drawn 1-10: 8-18-100

Drawn 11+: 2-12-96

Horses drawn in a favourable stall this year are: Spring Loaded, Ice Age, Growl, Golden Apollo, Pipers Note, Shangai Glory, Al Qahwa, Reputation, Dakota Gold and Henley.

 

Price

Eight of the last ten winners of the race have been 11/1 or shorter. Horses that have come from the first five in the betting have had a significant prominence.

The first five in the horse racing betting odds for information purposes on the evening of Thursday 16th August were: Growl, Pipers Note, Golden Apollo, Flying Pursuit, Kimberella.

*Please check out the first five in the betting on the actual race day itself.

 

Notable Runners

Pipers Note

The Ruth Carr-trained Pipers Note was narrowly defeated by Mattmu in last year’s renewal and comes into this race at the top of his game.

The eight-year-old chestnut gelding is an eight time winner at Ripon and has won over course and distance.

His trainer Ruth Carr told ATR’s Simom Mapletoft: "Pipers Note is in flying form. He absolutely loves the place and goes into the race on a hat-trick so we’re really looking forward to it.

"He finished second to Mattmu in the race last year, who was a Group-class performer having his first run in a handicap, so that was a really good effort. It would be great if he could go one better on Saturday and I’m very hopeful."

He looks sure to put in another bold show.

 

Growl

The Richard Fahey-trained Growl, who was last seen finishing an excellent third in the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood, looks the pick of the Malton-based trainer’s runners.

The six-year-old could only manage ninth in the Ripon feature last year after a slow start meant he was never in the hunt for glory.

Fahey's assistant, Robin O'Ryan, said: "He just hasn't had things drop right for him yet but he has shown more in his last two runs.

"At York he was drawn on the wrong side and then in the Stewards' Cup he got messed around a bit, but that happens in these races.

"He'd be our main hope if he runs, I imagine, but you need luck in these races, you could run it five times and get five different winners.

"A few more showers wouldn't hurt him, either, but he looks to be coming back to form."

 

Flying Pursuit and Golden Apollo

Stable companions Flying Pursuit and Golden Apollo, who dominated the finish of the Dash at York recently, are understandably prominent in the betting market.

The Tim Easterby-trained pair pulled clear of the field at York, with Flying Pursuit winning by a neck, but he is 1lb worse off on Saturday.

 

Gunmetal

Since leaving Charlie Hills, Gunmetal has scored a couple of times for his new trainer, David Barron.

He ran in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood last time and this race should be more his level. He appears to click with in form jockey Ben Curtis and they could easily go well at a nice each-way price.

888sport suggests: Pipers Note and Gunmetal (e.w)

The first weekend of the Premier League was everything we expected. A sluggish start post-World Cup was nowhere to be seen, the standard was high and there was plenty of entertainment.

Next weekend should be much the same. Fixtures, on paper at least, almost all seem exciting at this time of year.

Everything is a bit of an unknown, the summer overhaul of squads gives a chance to see players many might not have watched much before.

The Saturday 3pm kick-offs have the potential to be thrilling this weekend. Here are a few thoughts and tips…

 

EVERTON vs SOUTHAMPTON

Despite Phil Jagielka being sent off, Everton battled to a 2-2 draw with Wolves last Saturday.

Richarlison was the star man in Marco Silva’s first league match at the helm, but it was an impressive team performance, something Everton fans have seen all too infrequently in the last couple of seasons.

Southampton were involved in probably the worst match of the weekend as they played out a goalless draw with Burnley.

Everton’s good record at home means Saints might have to wait another few days for their first win of the season.

Everton should control this match. Southampton need a special performance from one of their midfielders to stand a chance.

TIP: Everton to win @ 19/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Everton 2-0 Southampton (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

LEICESTER CITY vs WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Leicester played well against Manchester United in the season opener, but the absence of Jamie Vardy left them short on cutting edge.

James Maddison was excellent at Old Trafford, his eye for a pass with Vardy’s speed and timing of runs could make for a lethal combination.

Wolves were vulnerable at the back against Everton and could be caught out in transition by Vardy.

With the ball, though, the Championship winners last term were accomplished as expected. Portuguese duo Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho will win them plenty of matches this season.  

This Midlands clash could be a great match to watch. It’s a tough one to predict as a result, however. Sitting on the fence might be the best way to go.

TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ 10/13

PREDICTED SCORE: Leicester 1-1 Wolves (Priced at 11/2 with 888sport)

 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs FULHAM

It looked like Spurs were going to name a makeshift line-up on opening day, but Mauricio Pochettino was able to name a near-full-strength XI to face Newcastle.

It was impossible to tell that many of the squad had had a shortened preseason. Spurs played with their trademark intensity and looked every bit the side we have seen for the last few seasons.

Fulham, as often happens when a team make such significant changes to the squad, looked a bit disjointed at home to Palace.

Defensively the west Londoners were disorganised. A similar performance at Wembley could result in a pretty ugly scoreline.

Goals are the way to go in this one. Fulham could trouble Spurs’ defence, but the hosts should win this one. Unfortunately, their 27/100 price means there’s no value in backing a home win.

TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 8/15

PREDICTED SCORE: Tottenham 3-1 Fulham (Priced at 9/1 with 888sport)

 

WEST HAM UNITED vs AFC BOURNEMOUTH

West Ham’s defeat to Liverpool was not surprising. The manner of it, however, gave cause for concern as their midfield was blown away. Manuel Pellegrini has a tricky job to get a balanced trio in the middle third.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, got off to a flyer. Sure, beating Cardiff at home was a minimum requirement, but Eddie Howe’s side looked good in the process.

Ryan Fraser’s performance was particularly impressive. The winger is 21/2 to open the scoring.

West Ham’s revamped attack will have a better chance to influence the match this weekend. Marko Arnautovic will be pivotal again this year - the Austrian is a good price to score anytime.

TIP: Marko Arnautovic to score anytime @ 8/5

PREDICTED SCORE: West Ham 2-1 Bournemouth (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

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