Birmingham City’s survival D-day is looming large but the presence of one man is keeping Blues relatively calm: manager Garry Monk.

Blues need a point from Sunday’s do-or-die clash with Fulham to maintain their Championship status. Nerves, naturally, are slightly frayed, but such has been Monk’s impact on the club since joining last month, supporters are just about bearing up.

Speaking to club legend Dele Adebola on free busses laid on by club sponsor 888sport for last weekend’s away trip to QPR, supporters praised Monk’s positive mindset and open attitude in guiding the club tantalisingly close to safety.

“Since Gary Monk's come in, it's boosted the fans 100%,” said one long-time fan on one of four coaches funded by 888sport as part of its In the Blues’ Corner campaign, which is backing the club’s survival bid.

“He's a person you can relate to, he's embraced fans and the philosophy of BCFC and what it means to us who travel home and away, season in season out - he's brought us all on board. That's been shown on the pitch.”

Despite the 3-1 reverse at Loftus Road, supporters were undimmed in their optimism regarding Blues’ survival – and that’s down to the boss. 

“We've had some very nice managers but I like the one we've got at the moment,” added another fan.

Adebola, who scored 31 times for the club in a four-year spell, also asked fans for their standout Blues performers of the season.

Blogger Davo, who runs a popular supporters’ YouTube Channel, told Dele: “Jacques Maghoma has been great this season, he's been our player of the season. Jota is looking a lot better and David Davis is back to his best in the middle so we're looking strong.”

888sport’s In Blues’ Corner campaign also saw Monk and captain Michael Morrison get into a boxing ring surrounding by passionate Blues’ fans to demonstrate their fighting spirit in the club’s push for survival.

Check out all the latest Blues v Fulham odds at 888sport.com.

New customers sign up today and get £30 in Free Bets. TCs apply.

The second Classic of the British Flat season, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas is open to three-year-old fillies and is held just 24 hours after the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. The race takes place on the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket and is run over a distance of one mile.

The QIPCO 1000 Guineas dates back to 1814 – it celebrated its 200th running in 2013 – five years after the introduction of the 2000 Guineas, an equivalent race open to both colts and fillies.

The biggest shock came in 1918, when Ferry won at odds of 50/1 whilst Tontine’s victory in 1825 came as no surprise whatsoever – she was the only runner!

Here are the main mover and shakers in the horse racing betting markets for Sunday’s 1000 Guineas:

Happily

Aidan O’Brien will be bidding to land a fifth 1000 Guineas on Sunday afternoon and his talented filly Happily has a great chance of helping him achieve that milestone.

Her wins last term included the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown, the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and a win against the boys in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly.

She signed off her season with a below par effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar but some early bad luck in running can be used as an excuse for that performance.

From some recent social media footage taken on the Ballydoyle gallops, O’Brien appears to have her at the top of her game and she is a worthy favourite in this contest.

 

Soliloquy

The Godolphin owned Soliloquy was supplemented for this race after the daughter of Dubawi made a big impression in the Group Three Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket a fortnight ago.

At the time of writing, William Buick who partnered Soliloquy to victory in the Nell Gwyn last month has yet to decide whether he rides her or the other exciting Godolphin filly, Wild Illusion.

 

I Can Fly

Another Aidan O’Brien filly and another runner you can make a strong case for. I Can Fly is a half-sister to the top class Landseer, a winner of the French 2000 Guineas.

She progressed well throughout the 2017 season, winning on debut and then improved again when third to Altyn Orda in the Oh So Sharp Stakes.

She has run already this term, running well when finishing two lengths third to Who's Steph in the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial on her return to action last month.

 

Wild Illusion

Prix Marcel Boussac victor Wild Illusion is a second representative for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin in this fillies Classic.

Ridden prominently at Chantilly, she showed a good attitude that day and should have plenty more to offer this season. The suspicion is however that her pedigree will come to the fore further down the line and she looks an ideal Oaks type.

That’s not to say she cannot be a player in this race and she should be included in any sort of forecast/tricast permutation.

 

Laurens

Karl Burke believes his QIPCO 1,000 Guineas contender, Laurens, is flying under the radar ahead of Sunday’s big race.

Laurens had an excellent juvenile season. She followed up a win in the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster with a hard fought success in the Group One Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, where she just held off Aidan O’Brien’s progressive filly, September.

Burke has never won a Classic. The nearest he has come is when Libertarian finished second in the Investec Derby behind Ruler Of The World. He would dearly love to change that statistic at the weekend.

 

Dan’s Dream

Dan's Dream was another runner that was supplemented on Monday. She has shown improved form this season, winning both starts, most recently taking the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury by one and a quarter lengths from Tajaanus.

Trained by Mick Channon, Dan's Dream was named after Dan Nicholls, who became paralysed from the neck down aged 18. He broke his neck when he dived into a wave and hit a hidden sandbank at Bondi Beach in Australia.

His father David Nicholls founded the charity and any prize-money earned will be going to the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.

Also part owned by Sir Ian Botham and Sir Gareth Edwards, there would be no more popular winner if she could get her head in front on the line.

 

Anna Nerium

Richard Hannon’s Anna Nerium was the surprise 25/1 winner of the Listed European Free Handicap by three lengths at Newmarket last time out and Hannon will be hoping to surprise a few of the big-guns again with her on Sunday.

Tom Marquand, who has ridden the filly on her last four starts, is reunited with the filly again.

Anna Nerium won the Group Three Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury as a juvenile and added her latest scalp to her C.V by defeating her male counterparts which was no mean feat.

Her pedigree suggests that the step up in distance here should give her no problems.

 

Altyn Orda

Roger Varian’s Nelly Gwyn runner-up will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Winner of the Oh So Sharp Stakes last term, the filly ran a promising race first time up and Varian was immediately pinpointing this race for her in his post-race analysis. She should run a big race at a very backable each-way price.

 

Liquid Amber

Trained by Willie McCreery, Liquid Amber will race in the famous Niarchos family silks, the same colours carried to victory in the race by Miesque in 1987.

The daughter of Kitten's Joy ran just twice last season but it was the manner of her victory in the Flame Of Tara Irish EBF Stakes which makes her an interesting outsider here.

A five length, and going away victory, over Aidan O’Brien’s Ballet Shoes at The Curragh gives the chestnut filly every chance of making her mark on her first raid across the Irish Sea.

 

Conclusion

As ever it is always difficult to deviate away from any Aidan O’Brien contenders in the Classics and Happily (nap) is the selection.

An each-way chance can be given to the consistent Laurens (nb) who would probably be half her price in the official horse racing odds for the race had she hailed from the Ballydoyle camp.

 

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

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There are just two weekends left in the Premier League season. Okay, some teams actually have three matches left, but the season is almost over either way.

The focus is on the bottom three. We will still hear a bit of chatter about the top four, of course, but in all likelihood that is done and dusted. Five matches are televised across this weekend, and that’s what takes our focus here…

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs MANCHESTER UNITED

Brighton’s draw away at Burnley last time out should have just squeaked them over the line to safety. Chris Hughton has done a stellar job this season, and it looks like his side will have a second Premier League campaign even though they may well fall short of the famous 40-point mark.

Manchester United as good as secured second place thanks to a Marouane Fellaini winner against Arsenal. Yes, that might be the most Jose Mourinho thing that has ever happened, but it underlines a decent league season for the Red Devils. Their points total could be higher than many previous champions...

I expect a cagey affair under the lights at the Amex on Friday evening. Brighton would take another 0-0, while Manchester United may be beginning to turn their attention to the upcoming FA Cup final.

TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ 10/11

 

Stoke City vs CRYSTAL PALACE

Stoke City’s draw at Liverpool last weekend was a good result without context. In context, it was a disaster, as the Potters look set to depart the Premier League after a lengthy stay. Paul Lambert’s tenure has seen just one victory, they now need two wins from two to have any chance of safety.

At the other end of the spectrum, Crystal Palace smashed Leicester 5-0 at home last Saturday to as good as book themselves a place in the league for next season. Roy Hodgson has done a brilliant job with the Eagles and could yet finish in the top half.

I don’t see Stoke getting a win here. Their defence continues to give up good opportunities, while their attacking creativity is virtually nil.

TIP: Crystal Palace to win OR draw @ 13/25

 

Everton vs SOUTHAMPTON

Mark Hughes’ Southampton notched an all-important victory last weekend. The south coast club are just a point short of safety coming into this match but could be further adrift by the time they kick-off on Saturday evening.

Even after a victory away at Huddersfield last time out – that was a huge bonus for Southampton – Everton manager Sam Allardyce has faced strong criticism. All is not well up at Goodison Park. The Toffees have a decent record at home, but this really is a dead rubber for the Merseyside club.

I don’t buy into the ‘wanting it more’ logic that we hear so frequently in football. At this time of year, though, motivation can be an issue for teams with nothing to play for. That, along with the attacking intent shown under Hughes, makes me fancy Southampton to get a result.

TIP: Southampton to win OR draw @ 2/5

 

MANCHESTER CITY vs Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield’s torturous end to the season begins here. Home defeat to Everton last weekend put the Terriers in severe trouble, with fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal to follow their trip to face the champions. David Wagner’s team have been in a somewhat false position of late, they need something special to avoid the drop.

Anyone who thought Manchester City might relax once it was sewn up have been proven emphatically wrong. Pep Guardiola’s side already have 102 league goals, having scored nine over their last two Premier League matches.

The party spirit could continue at the Etihad this weekend. Huddersfield are in serious trouble.

TIP: Over 2.5 home goals @ 12/25

 

Chelsea vs LIVERPOOL

Chelsea simply have to win this one if they are to make the top four. Antonio Conte’s side have won three straight thanks to their 1-0 victory away at Swansea last weekend, and seem to have moved on from their dire start to the calendar year.

Assuming Liverpool qualify for the Champions League Final, this match is little more than preparation. Their top four status is still under threat, though, and could be under severe pressure in the closing weekend of the season if they lose at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

The Blues’ performances haven’t improved much, even though their results have. I fancy Liverpool to get something here, which will end any top four discussion.

TIP: Liverpool to win or draw @ 7/10

 

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