A spring Super Sunday? Yes please. The Premier League heads towards the end of this epic 2017/18 season, but fear not, we still have a few more weeks of it before we wave goodbye until August.
This Sunday sees three of the top six in action, including the champions. There’s not much to dislike about that, particularly when you add West Ham and their penchant for the ridiculous into the mix.
Here are a few thoughts on the two matches…
WEST HAM UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY
The London Stadium has been distinctly calmer of late, after the unpleasant scenes of a few weeks ago. The Hammers’ improved form might just have something to do with that. David Moyes’ side have opened up a six-point gap to 18th and are probably no more than a victory short of safety.
Manchester City celebrated their title at home last weekend in the only way they know how. Pep Guardiola’s side smashed Swansea 5-0 with a performance fitting of champions. A performance and result as dismissive as it was unsurprising.
Guardiola may rotate from now on. City have little to play for, but this could be a good opportunity for the Spanish manager to learn a bit more about some of his younger players. Phil Foden, for instance, should see plenty of minutes. City can relax – if they were ever stressed in the league this season – and that is certainly not a good sign for their opponents.
We know how this match will look. Moyes, as he did at the Etihad earlier this season, will park the proverbial bus. It nearly worked before, making the result a little trickier to predict than the pattern of play.
Any hope of scoring for West Ham will rest on Marko Arnautovic again. The Austrian is the best player outside the top six and will have to have one of his good days if West Ham are to have any hope.
Manchester United stormed back from a goal down to beat Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend. Jose Mourinho’s team look set to retain second place, but there is no suggestion they will relax with Arsene Wenger coming to town.
The Gunners smashed West Ham in the league last time out. Their Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid in midweek, though, bordered on disaster after dominating the match against 10 men. It was, in so many ways, the most Arsenal performance you could imagine.
The second leg of that crucial Europa tie comes just a few days after their trip to Old Trafford. Pragmatism, I expect, will reign supreme in Wenger’s mind as he balances his desire to end with a victory over Mourinho and United with the need to have his best players fresh for next Thursday. Rotation is likely again.
Mourinho’s side will be at full strength. Unlike their disappointing last home performance – the defeat to rock-bottom West Brom – there will be no question of motivation for this one.
The hosts were always favourites for this. Had Arsenal notched a good result on Thursday, there could have been value in backing the away side, however. Instead, it’s best to settle for the underwhelming 21/50 price on a home win, particularly with Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil likely rested.
TIP: Manchester United to win @ 21/50
*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 Bet365 Gold Cup (formerly known as the Whitbread Gold Cup) is a Grade 3 Handicap Chase run over 3 miles and 5 furlongs at Sandown Park in April each year. It is traditionally recognised as the race that ends the current NH season.
Last year the race took on extra significance as Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls battled out the trainers’ championship, however this time around the title has already gone the way of Henderson but there will still be a lot of pride at stake.
Last season the battling pair of trainers came into the race mob handed with entries but this year they run a sole runner each. Nicholls sends out the Badger Ales winner, Present Man, whilst Henderson saddles the eight-year-old Sugar Baron.
The Last 10 Winners:
2017 – HELLAN HARRI (40/1) 2016 – THE YOUNG MASTER (8/1) 2015 – JUST A PAR (14/1) 2014 – HADRIANS APPROACH (10/1) 2013 – QUENTIN COLLONGES (14/1) 2012 – TIDAL BAY (9/1) 2011 – POKER DE SIVOLA (11/1) 2010 – CHURCH ISLAND (20/1) 2009 – HENNESSY (13/2) 2008 – MONKERHOSTIN (25/1)
Ten year trends:
Age (win-placed-runners)
6-y-o: 0-0-5
7-y-o: 2-5-24
8-y-o: 3-5-44
9-y-o: 2-4-40
10-y-o: 0-7-40
11-y-o: 3-4-15
12-y-o+: 0-3-9
Although three horses aged eleven have won in the last ten years, no horse aged over nine has won in the last five renewals of this race. This is a negative looking trend for the likes of: Regal Encore, Theatre Guide, Houblon Des Obeaux, Benbens, Carole’s Destrier, Rathlin Rose and Band Of Blood.
Weight (win-placed-runners)
11 stone or more: 2-9-61
10st 6lb to 10st 13lb: 4-12-54
10st to 10st 5lb: 4-4-46
9st 13lb or less: 0-3-16
Only three horses in the last thirty years have been able to carry 11st 6lb or more to victory in this race.
Ratings (win-placed-runners)
146 or higher: 4-8-52
132-145: 6-19-110
131 or lower: 0-2-15
Nine of the last ten winner have been officially rated 135 or higher. This is a key statistic given that five of the last six winners have specifically come from the 135-146 rated bracket.
Trainer Form
Paul Nicholls is the trainer you have to give the upmost respect to in this race. He won it in 2001 and 2003 with Ad Hoc, Tidal Bay in 2012 and Just A Par in 2015. Given his record this season when pairing up with Bryony Frost you have to give any Ditcheat horses the once-over when making your picks.
Philip Hobbs trained the winner in 2006 and 2008 and is worth following even though he is having a relatively quite season by his standards.
Nicky Henderson last won this race in 2014 with Hadrian’s Approach.
Starting Price
Seven of the last ten winners have been priced between 13/2 and 14/1, with a 20/1, 25/1 and a 40/1 thrown in for good measure.
Favourites have an appalling record over the last ten years. None have won and just six have been placed.
Summary
Pick a horse that matches some or all of the following criteria:
Ran in a race at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival
Is aged between seven and eleven
Ran in the last 50 days
Is rated 135 to 146
Carrying 10st 7lb to 11st 5lb
Finished in the first six on its last chase start
Ideally priced up in the first six in the betting but not the favourite
Interesting Contenders
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion was brought down at the first fence in the Grand National a fortnight ago and the nine-year-old makes a swift return to action. He is clearly the classiest horse in the field but it is going to take a monumental effort to carry the top-weight of 11st 12lb to victory.
Neil Mulholland’s The Young Master will be hoping to take advantage of a first fence unseat in last week’s Scottish Grand National by lining up at Sandown a fresh horse.
The Young Master won this race 2016 and is now racing off 13lb lower mark after losing his way a little bit. He did run with promise however when finishing sixth behind Missed Approach at Cheltenham.
Missed Approach won the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and will be suited by the track at Sandown believes his Lambourn trainer, Warren Greatrex.
Missed Approach gave Greatrex his second ever Festival winner after amateur Irish jockey Noel McParlan rode him to perfection in the Kim Muir in March.
The eight-year-old gelding has contested some of the top staying chases this season. He finished sixth in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on his seasonal return, ran third in the Classic Chase at Warwick, then came second at Musselburgh in the Edinburgh National before doing the business at Cheltenham.
The Stuart Edmunds yard boasts a 40% strike-rate at Sandown making Domesday Book an interesting outsider. The eight- year-old was last seen when winning the Kim Muir at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival and has clearly had problems since. However Edmunds has already sent out winners this week and if this gelding is fully tuned-up for this he could easily belie his big odds.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has three runners in the race and whilst many punters will be getting stuck into the familiar name of Blaklion, his Bigbadjohn could easily sneak in under the radar.
The nine-year-old fell last time out at The Chair in Aintree’s Topham Chase but a return to form for the 2017 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase winner could see jockey Jamie Bargary ending his season on a high.
Conclusion
With the favourite Blaklion having a whole load of trends and statistics to overcome it should pay to side with a runner just marginally behind him in the betting.
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.
There are – depending on which teams you're looking at – three or four matches remaining in the Premier League season. Unfortunately, many of those fixtures carry little meaning, with the top four race already as good as decided.
The relegation battle is as intense as ever, however. The great escape is still possible for a couple of sides (no, not West Brom) and a few teams could be peering over their shoulders right until the final whistle of the season.
Burnley’s disappointing draw at Stoke last weekend dampened their hopes of a top six finish. The Clarets are only four points off Arsenal, however, and victory here would put them right behind the Gunners, who don’t play until Sunday due to their Europa League commitments.
Brighton, on the other hand, have suffered amidst a tough run of fixtures. Two points from five matches have Chris Hughton’s side just short of safety, but only really need a point (they’re already on 36) to be safe this season you would expect.
Roy Hodgson’s Palace have taken eight points from five matches. Safety is still not guaranteed, however, with only 35 points on the board. The Eagles have played good enough football to be safe (registering in the top half on expected points all season) and are delivering on that promise.
Leicester have slumped a little over the last month or two. Claude Puel has undoubtedly improved the Foxes but sitting in that going nowhere midriff of the table makes these spring months tough.
I have stood by this Palace side all season. Form suggests I should do the same this week. Hodgson has done a superb job, and another Premier League campaign looks almost certain now.
TIP: Crystal Palace to win OR draw @ 2/7
Huddersfield Town vs EVERTON
Remember those teams who are peering over their shoulders? Well, that’s Huddersfield. Even after an invaluable win last time out, the Terriers still are sat on 35 points and could be dragged back into the bottom three. With three fixtures against the top six after this, this looks as good as must-win.
Everton are in a bubble of irrelevance. The Toffees are eighth with no hope of going any higher and could easily end up finishing tenth. That sort of placing was probably satisfactory at the beginning of the season, but this has still been a season of disappointment.
Just a few weeks ago, this match looked like it could be a real relegation showdown in the northeast. West Brom have continued their demise towards the Championship since then, while Newcastle have put together a special run to put themselves in a top half spot.
The Magpies have won their last four at home. Their form on Tyneside was always going to be pivotal to their campaign, and after a bit of misfortune earlier in the campaign, this is a well-deserved good streak.
What has been a frustrating too-little-too-late return to form for the Baggies gives them a chance here. It is little more than that, though, and I expect the hosts to notch another three points to add gloss to an already impressive 2018.
TIP: Newcastle to win @ 4/5
SOUTHAMPTON vs AFC Bournemouth
Southampton are one of those teams hunting for a great escape. Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea was disappointing, but these remaining league fixtures are what really matters for Mark Hughes’ side. Things could easily have been better since Hughes was appointed, and the Saints’ fans will no doubt be delighted to see the team actually creating chances.
Bournemouth pulled to safety a few weeks ago and have seemed to relax a little since then. Another successful season for Eddie Howe could look even better if they can snatch a top half finish.
This south coast derby will define Hughes’ firefighter role at Southampton. Anything other than victory and divine intervention will be required. I think they’ll just about do it, thanks to their revitalised attack.
TIP: Southampton to win @ 7/10
*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.
Didier Deschamps. The former defensive midfielder had terrific success at Monaco, Marseille, and Juventus before turning his attention to international football.
He's been in the position since July 2012 and has enjoyed a profitable spell in charge of Les Bleus, although their defeat to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final was considered a major blot on his copybook.
Method Of Qualification
France finished top of European qualifying Group A, ahead of Sweden, although it wasn't all plain sailing. Deschamps' men were defeated in Stockholm and also drew a blank with Luxembourg, which is hugely concerning.
The 1998 winners created plenty of chances throughout their qualifying campaign but scored fewer goals than the Netherlands and Sweden, who both finished below them. Three wins from their last four games helped them cement their place at the tournament.
Star Player Of Qualifying
N'Golo Kante keeps things ticking over in midfield with the Chelsea man helping Les Bleus keep clean sheets during each of his three appearances in 2017.
Whilst he didn't play in every single game (injury kept him out), his presence made a huge difference, with his reading of the game and ability to break up play highly sought after on the international stage. Kante's work-rate helps ease the pressure on a creaky back-line.
Most Memorable World Cup Moment
France 98. The iconic side who lifted the trophy on their own patch will be forever remembered by French football fans.
They got off to the perfect start with maximum points in the group stage, averaging three goals per match, but they didn't have it all their own way in the knock-out rounds.
Extra time was required to see off a plucky Paraguay side whilst Laurent Blanc's decisive spot-kick sent them into the semi-finals at the expense of Italy.
A 2-1 success against Croatia was followed by Emmanuel Petit's breakaway goal in a memorable 3-0 win against Brazil in the final.
Predicted Finish
France are 7/20 to win Group C and they should stroll through to the knock-out rounds of World Cup 2018 but their lack of goals may not see them all the way to the final.
They're 13/20 to finish in the top four but getting past the quarterfinals may prove tough for Deschamps' occasionally inconsistent outfit.
Recommended Bet
The aforementioned 7/20 on France to top Group C is a short-price but it is hard to see them slipping up at that stage of the tournament.
Carlos Queiroz. The veteran Portuguese coach has a rich history of helping sides qualify for this tournament after guiding South Africa to the competition in 2002 and helping Portugal cement their place here back in 2010.
This is the second time he has taken Iran to the World Cup and he is currently the longest-serving manager in their history. He will also be remembered for his stint as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United.
Method Of Qualification
Iran strutted their way through qualification accumulating 12 clean sheets in the process and became the first Asian side to book their place in Russia. Queiroz's side rely on absorbing pressure and hitting opponents on the counter-attack and that may come in handy at the World Cup 2018.
They finished an impressive seven points clear at the top although they took their foot off the pedal towards the end clocking up successive draws with Syria and Korea Republic (South Korea). Whilst they were resolute at the back, they only netted ten goals in as many games.
Star Player Of Qualifying
There are a number of players who impressed throughout the qualification campaign, although Sardar Azmoun arguably has the star quality required to tip a match in their favour.
The 22-year-old was part of Rostov's amazing title bid in the Russian Premier League before moving to Rubin Kazan and is capable of producing a moment of magic which could help Iran unlock the opposition.
Iran have only ever won one game at the World Cup but it was a hugely memorable victory as they surprisingly triumphed 2-1 over the USA at France 98.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to send them through but they did finish above their opponents in the final standings. An 83rd-minute strike from Mehdi Mahdavikia made the difference, prompting mass celebrations from the ecstatic travelling fans.
Predicted Finish
Carlos Queiroz's side will aim to keep it tight against the likes of Spain and Portugal but it's a tough ask and their lack of firepower is a concern.
They will be competing with Morocco to avoid finishing bottom of Group B but the African side may just pip them to that minor honour.
They're 15/2 to finish in the top two, but it is likely that they will require victory over one of the European sides in order to secure their passage to the knock-out stage.
Recommended Bet
Their opening match against Morocco looks set to be a key encounter, with both sides knowing that this game is their best chance to pick up points in Group B.
The Punchestown Festival is one of the highlights of the Irish sporting and social calendar and it all starts in earnest this week from Tuesday through till Saturday.
The Punchestown Festival is considered the grand finale of the jump season with top class horses from both sides of the Irish Sea converging on Kildare to settle scores and confirm reputations. The quality of racing during the week is unrivalled with a total of 12 Grade One contests taking place.
Another festival highlight is the famous La Touche Cup which is run over the cross country course and is a fan’s favourite.
The opening day has three Grade One races including the feature Champion Chase. The other two Grade One’s are The Herald Champion Novice Hurdle over 2 miles and the Growise Novice Chase over 3 miles. There are a total of seven races this day.
Douvan faces nine rivals as he bids to atone for a fall at Cheltenham in the Champion Chase.
The top class two-miler came down at the fourth-last when going well in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on his first start since finishing seventh in the same race a year ago.
The eight-year-old is one of four runners from the Willie Mullins stable along with Queen Mother runner-up Min, Ballycasey and Un De Sceaux, who was second in this race behind Fox Norton 12 months ago.
Champion trainer rival Gordon Elliott saddles A Toi Phil, Doctor Phoenix, Tell Us More and The Game Changer.
Wednesday
The highlight of the Irish chase calendar with the Grade One Punchestown Gold Cup. This day also features the hotly contested Racing Post Irish Champion Bumper, The Grade One Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle over 3 miles and the Weatherbys GSB EBF Mares Flat Race.
Noel Meade's Road To Respect was not disgraced when finishing fourth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup and is on target for Wednesday’s feature race. A couple of superb runs earlier in the campaign culminated with a win in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase, formerly known as the Lexus.
Gordon Elliot won the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup in the past with Don Cossack and three time Grade One winner Outlander is his main representative next Wednesday with Irish Grand National winner General Principle also a potential runner.
Thursday
There are two Grade One races including the Champion Stayers Hurdle and the Ryanair Novice Chase over 2 miles, not to mention the entertaining La Touche Cross Country race on day three of the Festival.
Identity Thief is on course to clash with Penhill, winner of the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, in the Champion Stayers Hurdle.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old put in a star performance at Aintree just over a week ago when he landed the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at his first attempt over three miles.
Warren Greatrex is hoping that a wind-op will help La Bague Au Roi bounce back to form in the Champion Stayers Hurdle.
The Lambourn trainer is stepping the seven-year-old back up to three miles in the Grade One prize after she suffered her first defeat of the season when last of seven finishers in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Friday
Friday’s card is regarded by many as the jewel in the crown of the Punchestown Festival. The day is a favourite with race goers, locals and socialisers alike. This day sees the largest crowds passing through the turnstiles and has a real party atmosphere. The quality of the racing is superb with the best two mile hurdlers around battling it out for the Champion Hurdle title.
Samcro could take on his elders in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle to help aid Gordon Elliott’s title bid. Gigginstown House Stud boss Michael O'Leary has left the option open for the exciting unbeaten six-year-old in order to help Elliott out.
Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon is one of six entries for Willie Mullins. He could also saddle the likes of Faugheen, Coral Cup winner Bleu Berry and impressive Fairyhouse scorer Coquin Mans.
Veteran hurdler, My Tent Or Yours has been given the green light by Nicky Henderson to contest the race after finishing fourth at Aintree recently on only his second start of the season.
Saturday
Since its introduction as an extra Festival day, the Saturday has become the second biggest day of the entire Festival. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle is one of the feature races of the day.
Apple's Jade is bidding to to atone for a disappointing Cheltenham Festival run in the EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle.
Benie Des Dieux, Mares' Hurdle runner-up Midnight Tour, Laurina and Forge Meadow are among her possible rivals.
Odds
You can find all these races and many more on our 888sport website. Just follow this link to the horse racing markets at https://www.888sport.com/horse-racing/
Have an enjoyable Punchestown Festival!
*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.
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, and as always it has attracted some of the finest staying chasers in the UK & Ireland. A maximum field of 30 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.
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
No favourite in the last ten renewals has been successful although four have been placed (including joint and co favs).
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.
The Absolute Key 10 Year 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)
The Principal Contenders?
Sue Smith’s VINTAGE CLOUDS (nap) was a gallant third in the Ultima Handicap Chase last month at Cheltenham and he had previously run a huge race when coming fourth in the Welsh Grand National Trial at Chepstow and is nicely weighted in this contest. Sue Smith almost tasted success in this race when Aurora’s Encore was beaten just a head in 2012.
The nine-year-old heads to Ayr after swerving the Grand National at Aintree last weekend on account of the unsuitable ground.
Vicente put in a disappointing display in his last run, pulling up in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but Ayr always appears to spark his form back into life.
The Paul Nicholls-trained horse is bidding to become the first horse since Couvrefeu II in 1913 to win the Scottish Grand National three years in a row.
The useful novice BALLYOPTIC, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies won the Towton Chase at Wetherby (beating Vintage Clouds by two-and-three-quarter lengths) and finished fourth behind Presenting Percy in the RSA at Cheltenham.
DOING FINE has been popular with punters in the build-up to this race. The Neil Mulholland trained 10-year-old carries just 10-6 and is a consistent sort coming back after a break. He has finished in the top five places in his last nine runs and it looks like he will be suited by this 4m trip. He usually travels well in his races and the quicker ground will be a big plus for him.
Recent Midlands Grand National winner REGAL FLOW has won his last two races in fine style and the 11-year-old is in rude health at the moment.
He gave Milansbar a 10 length spanking at Uttoxeter last time out with that horse franking the form by running well in the Grand National last weekend. The handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that victory so he will probably need to put in a career-best performance here but it is not an impossible task.
The David Pipe trained DAKLONDIKE is an interesting runner on Saturday. The progressive six-year-old has been a real revelation this season, improving for the switch to fences and every step up in trip. Connections are hopeful he will improve yet further for Ayr's four mile marathon and he could be an Aintree type for next year.
The only worry for the Professor Caroline Tisdall owner runner is that the ground may have dried out too much for him come the weekend.
*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.
Football; it's both the most supported sport in the world and the one that attracts the most bets. The biggest football leagues in the world reside in Europe, for the most part. Unfortunately, most of them finish at the same time and make the summer quite empty, leaving a void.
Luckily, there are a whole world of other sports that take place over the summer months, including some very competitive leagues for bettors to make the most of. Let's start with some football from other areas of the world...
Football
Despite the big leagues of Europe shutting down for the summer months, a lot of great football takes place over the summer – and you can bet on it all! The premier summer leagues include those in Scandinavia, East Asia, and North America.
Right now, you can bet on the Finnish Veikkausliiga, where HJK are the clear favourites at 1/5, with SJK Seinajoki not so close behind at 5/1. As for the Norwegian Eliteserien, you can get 1/7 on Rosenborg to be the best in the Midt-Norge and 6/5 on Stromsgodset to be the best in the Ostlandet, with Sarpsborg 08 at 5/2.
If Swedish football’s more your thing, turn to the premier Allsvenskan league, where you can bet on a huge range of markets, including best-promoted team, best in Stockholm, and many player markets as well. Malmo FF are edging the betting at 7/4 to win the league. The Scandinavian leagues all get underway between the middle of March and the start of April and continue through the summer.
Over in Japan and South Korea, two of the most exciting leagues are already underway. Watch any highlights of the J1-League or K-League 1 and you’ll see stands awash with colour and bouncing fans. You can follow and bet on all K-League 1 games each week, and can also back outrights in the J1-League. The Japanese top division is hotly contested, with Kawasaki Frontale at 4/1, Kashima Antlers at 9/2, and the Urawa Red Diamonds at 6/1 to win the league.
The MLS is already underway, and you can find odds for every single game as well as a huge number of outright markets, which include the MLS winner, MLS MVP winner, top goalscorer, top assists, and the winners of each conference. So far, Toronto FC are favoured to win the MLS at 4/1, with the Seattle Sounders and New York City FC at 7/1.
But, the ultimate event on the calendar this year, the biggest sports event in the world, is the World Cup. Taking place in Russia this summer, the World Cup betting is already underway. Many great teams are in the mix to win it this year, including Brazil and Germany at 19/4, France at 11/2, Spain at 7/1, and Argentina at 9/1.
Ice Hockey
Probably the biggest ice hockey league in the world is the NHL and, while the regular season is close to reaching its conclusion, the NHL is far from finished. The Stanley Cup playoffs get underway in April and run through to June. Playoff ice hockey produces incredible performances and huge upsets, which bettors often make the most of. In each NHL game, all year around, you can make the most of our special player markets, which include goal scorers and point scorers.
The regular season standings will greatly sway current odds but the best team in the NHL regular season has only gone on to win the Stanley Cup in eight of the last 31 seasons. So, while the Tampa Bay Lightning are 11/2 to win the cup now, other teams with rosters that are perceived to be better in the playoffs may usurp them.
The Nashville Predators have a strong team at 7/1, as do the Pittsburgh Penguins who are going for three cups in a row at 10/1. Or, there’s the Vegas Golden Knights who are brand new in the league and could complete their fairytale start with a cup win at 11/1.
Boxing
While there is a perceived break in the boxing world, world-class fights take place all year round. This summer, there is a stellar line-up of big boxing bouts.
May starts off with two rematches. The hotly anticipated bout between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin comes to fruition on 6th May after the first bout controversially ended in a split decision. The Kazakh is favoured at 13/25 to win comprehensively this time around.
The less anticipated rematch of Tony Bellew versus David Haye takes place on 5th May, with Haye expected to redeem himself and win at 2/5. The first match saw Bellew put in a good boxing display while Haye was very poor and simply swung for the fences – which effectively resulted in an injury to his Achilles – so anything could happen in this fight.
Later in May, there’s also the mega fight on 11th May between Oleksandr Usyk and Murat Gassiev, in which Usyk looks to demonstrate his dominance as the 33/100 favourite. In another five-star fight on 19th May, Lee Selby takes on Josh Warrington, with the challenger at 7/2 to get a surprise win.
Tennis
Summer brings about two massive Grand Slam events in tennis. First comes the French Open from 27th May to 10th June, which the ‘King of the Clay’ Rafael Nadal is expected to win at 9/10. His closest competitor, Novak Djokovic, is at long odds of 5/1.
Shortly after the French Open comes Wimbledon, which is seen by many as the premier event on the outdoor grass calendar. In both the men’s and the women’s tennis, there are a couple of favourites to take the trophy. Roger Federer is at 7/4 while Serena Williams is at 11/4 to win at Wimbledon.
Formula One
The Formula One season may start at the end of March but the summer is where the top drivers begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
During the summer months, F1 fans will be treated to the Spanish Grand Prix (11-13th May), Monaco Grand Prix (24-27th May), Canadian Grand Prix (8-10th June), French Grand Prix (22-24th June), Austrian Grand Prix (29th June to 1st July), British Grand Prix (6-8th July), German Grand Prix (20-22nd July), and the Hungarian Grand Prix (27-29th July).
Coming into the season, Mercedes GP are firm 4/9 favourites to win the Constructors’ Championship, with their lead driver Lewis Hamilton at 9/10 odds of winning the Drivers’ Championship. But Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, currently 7/2 in 888sport's betting odds, will be hot on his tail this year.
Baseball
Of all of the major sports leagues in North America, the MLB is the one that dominates the summer months. Preseason, or spring training, has recently started, and the season doesn’t come to a close until the World Series sometime around November. You can, of course, bet on every spring training game and regular season game now and through the summer.
As for the ultimate prize, the World Series, last year’s finalists, the Los Angeles Dodgers, are favoured at 6/1 to redeem themselves this year. Still considered to be the best team in the league, the Houston Astros are at 13/2 to win the World Series again, with the New York Yankees also on the same odds.
Golf
Swinging in over the summer is a huge event on the golfing calendar. The 147th Open Championship gets underway on 19th July and runs until 22nd July. While Duston Johnson and Rory McIlroy are in the running at 14/1 and 12/1, respectively, it’s Jordan Spieth at 10/1 who is expected to lift the trophy.
For many, the primary betting events are those in the world of football, particularly the Premier League, the other top European divisions, and the continental club competitions. But even when the UEFA Champions League final rings in the close of the season, there is a huge range of sports and betting markets to get stuck into.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
The Formula One season heads to China this weekend for the third race of the campaign. The Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend was a thriller, with Sebastian Vettel victorious for the second time in as many races despite a late push from Valtteri Bottas.
Vettel has a perfect 50 points and a 17-point lead over title rival, Lewis Hamilton. The Brit was at his attacking best to snatch a podium finish after starting ninth on the grid. Hamilton will fancy his chances of a return to form in Shanghai, though, where he was won on five occasions including in 2017.
Hamilton’s Mercedes should benefit from the long straights at Shanghai. The power of the Mercedes should see some of the highest speeds of the weekend. As is now expected, Hamilton is favourite to take pole at 4/6.
I think there’s pretty solid value in that this week given his dominance at this circuit, even after qualification disappointment last weekend.
Pirelli have picked the medium, soft and ultrasoft compounds. Hamilton and Bottas opted for a couple fewer sets of ultras than their rival Ferraris, however, which could see the Mercedes drivers look for length from their tyres during the race.
Leaving out the supersoft compound is a bit of a surprise. There’s significant variation in tyre selection across the grid, though, with teams beginning to get a sense of what works best for their setup.
Hamilton and Bottas have done well on harder compounds so far this year, which should stand them in good stead for this race. Hamilton is 19/20 to win the race, while I like the 3/5 price on Bottas to make the podium.
The story of Bahrain was the Toro Rossos. Pierre Gasly finished fourth, sending his team into a wave of post-race celebration. Perhaps a giant leap forward for the middle of the field team, or a one-off surge up the standings. Depending on your viewpoint, the 66/1 on Gasly to make the podium could be a decent longshot bet.
Any drivers from the midfield could be in with a chance at Shanghai. The tightening, chaotic turns one and two lend themselves to carnage on the first lap. A decent qualification on Saturday can quickly become an elevated race position with a smart – or fortuitous – piece of driving.
In stark contrast to the Toro Rosso joy, the Red Bulls had a disaster last weekend. Max Verstappen has endured a torrid start to the year but sits at 5/4 to make the podium in China. I think that’s on the short side given their struggles. Daniel Ricciardo’s 6/4 is a little better, though I prefer Kimi Raikonnen at that price.
The Formula One season has started brilliantly. Shanghai has the potential to follow in a similar manner. Its winding corners and DRS zones make for a challenging afternoon as a driver but has the potential for overtaking and driver error.
I am backing Hamilton to make it a sixth career win in China this weekend. Vettel will be happy to limit the damage.
*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 tennis betting season begins in January and runs through to November with a hectic and punishing schedule culminating in the end-of-season finals. Four Grand Slams take place throughout the course of the year and these are also commonly referred to as 'majors'.
This high-profile quartet is enjoyed by tennis fans worldwide and has provided some of the most-talked-about and memorable moments in the sport's history. Ante-post betting is incredibly popular ahead of Grand Slam events and outright markets are generally available for these tournaments all-year round.
The four Grand Slam events are spread throughout the calendar:
1) Australian Open (January)
2) French Open (May)
3) Wimbledon (June/July)
4) US Open (August/September)
Betting on Grand Slams
There are a number of differences between Grand Slam events and standard ATP or WTA tournaments. Men's matches are played over five sets, which not only means the majority of games are much longer in duration but they also provide in-play betting opportunities.
Top 50 players have the tendency to make slow starts to games in Grand Slams (particularly the Australian Open) but the extended format affords them plenty of opportunities to mount a fightback and turn the match in their favour.
Savvy tennis bettors have found that backing favourites at a set down is a profitable way of tackling Grand Slam markets. Top players are often fitter and sharper and, despite falling behind, they are still able to outlast their opponent and subsequently progress to the next round.
Lucrative prizes are on offer for those who reach the latter stages of each of the four Grand Slam tournaments and many competitive and closely-fought matches are likely to take place. Straight-sets victories are slightly less common in these events and this undoubtedly helps punters who play the over/under games markets.
Grand Slams are played on a variety of surfaces and knowing how each player is affected by this is an essential part of successful tennis betting. We profile each of the four events and focus on the important aspects and key elements that should be considered before placing bets on any of the majors.
Australian Open
The season gets underway with the Australian Open, which takes place in Melbourne and is contested across the final two weeks of January. It is the largest annual sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere and is played on speedy outdoor hard courts which tends to favour big-hitters. Short rallies are the norm and powerful players tend to have an advantage.
This tournament does have the ability to throw up a few surprises, although Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have dominated this event over the past decade.
Fitness is the biggest factor in Melbourne and, before placing any bets on the tournament, it's always advised to check how your chosen player ended the previous season. Warm-up tournaments such as the Brisbane International and the Hobart International are also terrific indicators and can be extremely helpful, especially when backing players during the early rounds.
Players who do not participate in these events tend to struggle to acclimatise to the often-sweltering conditions and that increases the possibility of an early exit. On the men's side, in particular, punters should look for players who have played the fewest sets and any competitor who has benefited from a walkover or early withdrawal should be backed in the next round.
French Open
The second slam on the calendar is the French Open, which takes place at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris and gets underway at the end of May. It is the only one of the quartet that is staged on the clay courts, often leading to long, energy-sapping rallies.
This slow surface tends to favour Spanish and South American players and must be considered as one of the most important betting angles. Generally speaking, players growing up in these regions are taught on clay courts and, having been raised on the red stuff, they are very accomplished and are extremely familiar with the steady pace of play.
Rafa Nadal is known as the 'King of Clay' and, as of 2018, 11 of the last 15 winners of this tournament have come from either Spain or South America, with the Majorcan being responsible for nine of those successes. In the opening couple of rounds, it could be worth siding with players hailing from these regions, especially if they are competing against opponents who boast unremarkable figures on this surface.
Whilst the gap has seemingly narrowed between clay-specialists and the rest of the pack, there is a still a clear distinction so meticulously studying players' form on this surface is advantageous and single-handedly the most important betting factor in Paris.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar and is generally considered to be the ultimate tennis Grand Slam. It is played on the grass courts of SW19 at the end of June. It is quite a short turnaround from the French Open and the grass swing is one of the shortest stages, which often results in very little time for preparation.
The courts are always in pristine condition and this allows speedy play, which favours the big-hitters and powerful servers. Milos Raonic has had relative success at the event but has been unable to match those exploits elsewhere. The Canadian is famed for his strength and ability to overpower opponents.
Wimbledon produces the highest number of aces of any tournament and this tends to result in fewer unforced errors. As a result, shorter matches are common, especially in the opening couple of rounds.
The dominance of the big four cannot be underestimated at this tournament whilst on the women's side, Serena Williams has been hugely successful in West London, taking advantage of the natural zip provided by the grass courts.
Due to time restrictions, there are a limited number of grass-court tournaments during the run-up to Wimbledon. Players who have enjoyed success at Queens, Nottingham, Eastbourne or Hertogenbosch can always be relied upon to progress well in the third slam of the season.
Some players specialise on the grass courts and, similar to the aforementioned French Open, bettors should never underestimate players who have a preference for this surface.
US Open
The final slam of the year takes place at Flushing Meadows in New York and is staged on the hard courts. The US Open is a unique tournament, which stipulates that the two players must enter a tie-break in the deciding set. Players who have the stamina and those who possess a decent tie-break record should always be favoured in the betting.
Fitness can play a huge part in this event and this particular tournament is synonymous with upsets. The 2014 final between Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori is an example of underdogs prevailing, whilst, just 12 months later, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci met in the final for an unexpected all-Italian final. Don't be afraid to back the outsiders in the US Open as this event is highly likely to throw up a few surprises along the way.
The gruelling season can take its toll on some of the top players, resulting in some surprise early exits. Punishing schedules can also lead to sloppy errors on the court, which regularly leads to longer matches taking place. This is always something to factor in.
Most players have the ability to compete on the hard courts but very few can cope with the hectic schedule, which places heavy demands on the body. Don't assume that all of the top ten players are automatically going to progress to the latter stages.
Although plenty of research is always advised, there are clear betting trends and angles that punters should consider before betting on any of the four Grand Slams. The surface plays a significant part and should always be factored into ante-post punts. There are also a number of notable differences between each of the majors and its position in the tennis calendar can also have a significant impact on the outcome.
