Champions League: Tasty 2/1 Double Ahead Of Tuesday’s Action

We’ve got midweek Champions League action for the second week in a row – praise the lord. Domestic campaigns across the continent are drawing closer to inevitable conclusions, with Manchester City, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all clear of their rivals.

But Europe’s elite club competition is only beginning to heat up. The last-16 stage is well and truly underway; it is time to separate the men from the boys. Check out our top tips on this week’s action below, we’ve also got some betting advice on Wednesday’s games as well…

BAYERN MUNICH vs Besiktas

Remember when Bayern were apparently overrated? Well, the Bavarians claimed their 15th successive victory in all competitions on Saturday afternoon – Jupp Heynckes’ men have lost just once in 25 games. It is hard to envision Bayern falling short in this double header; especially in the first leg at Allianz Arena.

Bayern will be quietly confident of taking a hefty lead into the second leg and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will be targeting a goal or two on Tuesday evening. With 26 goals in 31 games in 2017/18, Lewandowski is in irresistible form and is worth backing at 12/25 to score in a home win.

 

Robert Lewandowski

Besiktas have slipped down to fourth in the Super Lig table and fans will have concerns over their recent dip in form. The visitors will find the going tough in Germany, particularly if they concede an early goal but head coach Senol Gunes will have a plan. Besiktas aren’t just here to make up the numbers; they are here on merit. 

This is all about damage limitation for Besiktas and the Turkish side will be happy to get back to Vodafone Arena with an outside chance of advancing to the next round. Unfortunately, it isn’t going to be easy. Bayern are one of Europe’s strongest teams right now and the 8/13 on offer for three or more home goals is a great price.

TIP: Robert Lewandowski to score and Bayern Munich to win @ 12/25

 

CHELSEA vs BARCELONA

Sparks tend to fly whenever these two clubs clash and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see another eventful contest at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Conte’s side cruised past Hull City on Friday night but the Blues will need to perform at their brilliant best in order to stand any chance of securing a positive result against the mighty Barcelona.

Keeping tabs on Barca’s front three will be high on Conte’s priority list and stopping Lionel Messi and co from wreaking havoc is key. Punters can back Chelsea at 6/4 to receive more yellow cards than their opponents and that is well worth a second glance.

Luis Suarez tends to perform well on the big stage and he could be Barcelona’s difference maker on Tuesday night. He has previous in this fixture and the Uruguay international will be expecting a hostile reception from the home crowd. At 7/5 to score at any time, Suarez is one of the better bets on offer for this fixture.

Backing an outright winner here is difficult – it really could go either way. For me, I like the under 2.5 goals line at EVS. Barcelona will be relatively happy to take Chelsea back to Camp Nou on level terms and the Spanish outfit won’t be too concerned if they fail to score an away goal. It could turn out to be a bit of a damp squib…

TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ EVS

 

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

February 18, 2018
Alex McMahon Sport
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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. 
 

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The Road To Aintree - Grand National Weights

Last Wednesday was billed as Phil Smith’s handicapping swan song, the Grand National weights revealing day for the race he had presided over for the last twenty years, and despite a few technical hitches along the way we now have a definitive set of handicap marks.

Definitly Red, the winner of the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month, heads the handicap with 11st 10lb off a rating of 165.

"I sort of expected him to be top-weight really. He's rated 167 so they couldn't do much else.

"The Gold Cup is the plan. We'll get that out of the way and see about Aintree after that.

"He's in great form at home. I couldn't be happier with him” said Brian Ellison.

Blaklion, the current bookies joint favourite at 12/1, has been allotted 11st 6lb following his impressive victory in the Becher Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in December.

He reportedly is none the worse for his exhausting run at Haydock on Saturday and he now heads straight to Aintree.

"He's fine, he's 100 per cent," said Twiston-Davies.

"He's going straight for the National. He's not going to Cheltenham. We're saving him for Aintree."

“He will be ridden differently at Aintree this year. He was beaten eight lengths last year and there was no blame on Noel (Fehily) at all, but he kicked on a mile from home. Maybe if you don't kick on a mile from home that eight lengths could be found.”

The Last Samuri currently sits ninth in the weights' list with 11st 4lb off a rating of 159.

Trained by Kim Bailey for owners Paul and Clare Rooney, The Last Samuri finished second behind Rule The World in the 2016 running of the world's greatest steeplechase.

The 10-year-old finished runner-up to Blaklion in the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree earlier in the season and was last seen out to good effect in the Cotswold Chase.

Bailey, who won the National with Mr Frisk in 1990, said: "The Last Samuri's weight is what we were expecting given his rating.

"If the weights stay as they are and don't rise, I think he would have more of a chance.

"I have been very happy with him since Cheltenham and he will have a prep race somewhere between now and Aintree.

"We have got several options, but there are no firm plans as we will have to see what the weather does first.

"The Last Samuri doesn't need to have a prep race, but we are lining up to have one at the moment."

Last year's runner-up Cause Of Causes (10st 12lb), trained by Gordon Elliott, is one of seven entries for owner J P McManus, who also has the recent Irish Gold Cup scorer Edwulf (Joseph O'Brien, 11st 9lb), last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup second Minella Rocco (Jonjo O'Neill, 11st 7lb) and Anibale Fly (Tony Martin, 11st 4lb).

Elliott is currently mob handed with a total of ten runners entered but this list will be probably whittled down to a maximum of five come April time. As of the weights revealing day he has: Outlander (11st 8lb), Mala Beach (11st 3lb), Noble Endeavor (10st 13lb), Cause Of Causes (10st 12lb), Tiger Roll (10st 9lb), Ucello Conti (10st 6lb), Bless The Wings (10st 2lb), General Principle (9st 12lb), Out Sam (9st 3lb), Poormans Hill (8st 7lb).

Asked about his intended runners, Elliott replied: "I wouldn't like to second guess Michael O'Leary about the Gigginstown horses. If I was a betting man, I would say Outlander's most likely target is the Punchestown Gold Cup. The handicapper has a job to do and you won't hear me complaining.

"I'd imagine I will run Cause Of Causes, Noble Endeavor, Ucello Conti and Tiger Roll. They would be the four at the moment. Bless The Wings could also go if he gets in.

"You'd have to imagine Cause Of Causes is the principal one. He was second in the race last year and he looks like he has a lovely weight with 10st 12lb there again. I'm not complaining and I'd imagine he will go for the cross-country again at Cheltenham.

"Noble Endeavor will have one run and then go for the National and that will definitely be in Ireland.

"Ucello Conti is going to go straight to the race and Tiger Roll will run in the cross-country race at Cheltenham, all being well."

Dr Richard Newland and owner John Provan combined to land the 2014 race with Pineau de Re. This year they have purchased another interesting contender in Abolitionist (10st 4lb), who finished third in last season's Irish Grand National. Abolitionist is 51st on the list off a mark of 145, and looks a safe bet to get into the race proper.

Dr Newland said: "I bought him for the race in the autumn and although he had a little stress fracture he's over it now and I'm hoping to run him at the weekend over hurdles at Ascot.

"He's got to get through Ascot for a start then he needs to run over fences, probably in the Kim Muir, but it's very much our intention to train him for the National and I think he has the right profile.”

33/1 says that he has the right profile for the race according to the bookmakers

There is every chance that Phil Smith may have left some lucky owners attached to the Gordon Elliott stable a small parting gift.

Smith explained his reasoning behind one of his many quandaries: "Bless The Wings is rated 17lb higher on his Cheltenham cross-country form compared to his rating in Ireland, and the form of the cross-country races at Cheltenham has historically been very good in relation to Aintree, with the likes of Silver Birch, Balthazar King and Cause Of Causes.

"On the one hand, Bless The Wings’ rating of 137 in Ireland would not get him in the race, but 154, his cross-country rating, seemed to me to be too high compared to his form on park courses.

"In the end I settled on 143 as a compromise, which should hopefully get him in. He's a very interesting horse – even though he's 13. He is an absolutely super jumper and his cross-country form is very good indeed."

At number 66 in the pecking order it will be touch and go whether the thirteen-year-old will make the final cut, but at 50/1 for a horse that has never fallen in his career, he is certainly worth an ante-post flutter.

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

February 18, 2018
Steve Mullington
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    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. 

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    World Cup Betting: Craziest Wagers In Tournament History

    The World Cup is always a huge betting event, with punters and sports fans around the world making numerous predictions ahead of the tournament. There are always plenty of ante-post markets priced up ahead of the event as well as hundreds of options for each and every match throughout the competition.

    Betting on the World Cup is always an enjoyable experience but it can also be life-changing for some punters who have somehow managed to land audacious wagers during recent tournaments and profited from some wonderful foresight.

    2014 World Cup: Brazil 1-7 Germany

    Very few punters would have predicted this surprise scoreline in the semi-final of the World Cup 2014, however, one lucky bettor in Essex was able to profit from Germany's demolition of the hosts.

    They took odds of 500/1 on a 7-1 scoreline and their £5 bet returned the handsome sum of £2,505 – not a bad night's work. Very few would have predicted Brazil's demise at Belo Horizonte on 8th July, with the shock outcome leaving thousands of home fans aghast at their side's inept performance.

    Toni Kroos was man of the match and netted twice during the 90 minutes with 82 savvy punters taking 80/1 on the midfielder to net two or more goals in the game. A £20 bet in Shropshire landed £1,620 for one bettor who will have been toasting Joachim Low's side's efficiency in the final third.

    World Cup Betting

    There was also a near miss with one fan taking odds of 1000/1 on a 7-0 scoreline which was scuppered by Oscar's late consolation for the Selecao. Brazil have since undergone a major overhaul and coach Tite has done a magnificent job restoring confidence back into the side.

    Brazil are joint-favourites at 19/4 with Germany in 888sport's World Cup outright betting markets and the pair are likely to command a large number of bets ahead of the tournament. If the two dominant forces meet in the final, there will be many people having a small-stakes play on the 7-1 scoreline once again.

     

    Luis Suarez Biting An Opponent

    Luis Suarez's moment of madness in the 2014 World Cup may have evoked disbelief from the majority of fans but it prompted mass celebrations in Norway. One firm were offering punters 175/1 for the fiery Uruguayan striker to bite an opponent during the tournament and 167 bettors decided to snap it up.

    Suarez's misdemeanour wasn't his first brush with controversy and once he sunk his teeth into Giorgio Chiellini, several Norwegian punters were able to start counting their cash. One winner took to social media to show off his winning betting slip, which netted him the equivalent of $916 USD for a $5 bet.

    Suarez will feature at the tournament again in 2018 with his side drawn in Group A alongside hosts Russia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Uruguay are a 6/5 chance to top the group and the Barcelona forward will team up with the prolific Edison Cavani - a 20/1 shot to finish as the top goalscorer this summer.

     

    Multiple Madness

    Many punters love a pre-season multiple bet, with fans aiming to predict the winner of each division or perhaps even the top goalscorer for the season. In 2014, one bettor decided that predicting the outcome of four leagues wasn't enough of a challenge and combined his selections with Germany to triumph in Brazil.

    Betting on the World Cup winner is a hugely popular way of keeping an interest throughout the tournament; however, this market is rarely combined with domestic selections.

    After seeing Real Madrid wrap up the Champions League, Manchester City finish top of the Premier League, QPR secure promotion back to the top flight and Wolves make light work of League One, his attentions turned to Joachim Low's side.

    Following Germany's 7-1 destruction of hosts Brazil, only Argentina stood between the punter and £83,000. Luckily, they prevailed with a narrow 1-0 win and the huge prize was collected but it can't have been an easy 90 minutes for the bettor in question who had staked £100 on the five-fold.

     

    Stripping Off

    Although not a bet of any monetary value, French weather forecaster Doria Tillier promised viewers that she would strip off and present the weather completely naked if France were able to qualify for the World Cup 2014.

    Les Bleus had been less than convincing under Didier Deschamps and required a play-off in order to secure their place at the tournament in Brazil and with Ukraine leading 2-0 from the first leg, Tillier wasn't confident that her side would turn things around.

    She suggested that there was no way France would score three times and overturn the deficit but Didier Deschamps' men had other ideas. A 3-0 victory with goals from Mamadou Sakho and Karim Benzema ensured Tillier was forced to stick to her promise and there was a huge spike in TV viewing figures the following evening.

    Deschamps' men qualified in a straightforward fashion for Russia 2018 and Les Bleus are priced at 11/2 to win the tournament this time around.

     

    Good Fortune In Qualifiers

    There have been many memorable results across the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, although for most football fans, Armenia 3-2 Montenegro isn't one that is likely to stick in the mind. However, for one punter in Coventry, it is unlikely to ever be forgotten.

    The bettor placed a multiple bet that featured 11 selections across two days. Using the Match Result and Over 2.5 Goals market, he saw Denmark, Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic get his bet off to a solid start, although there was one game that wasn't going according to plan.

    World Cup Betting

    Armenia had been tipped to clinch victory over Montenegro, but unfortunately, they got off to a sluggish start and found themselves 2-0 down with 38 minutes on the clock. Armenia pulled a goal back through Artak Grigoryan just after halftime to reduce the deficit but it still appeared to be a huge ask.

    A 74th-minute strike levelled matters and suddenly it was looking much rosier for 11-fold. Nobody could be blamed for writing off the wager whilst also cursing their luck as the clock ticked into injury time, but a 93rd-minute winner from Gevorg Ghazaryan prompted mass celebration both inside the stadium and in one household in Coventry.

    The punter took odds of 820,728/1, scooping around £205,000 for his 25p bet. Betting of the World Cup qualifiers was hugely profitable in this instance but it was far from plain sailing for the small stakes punter.

     

    Grandfather's Windfall

    Wales narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2014 World Cup, yet 62-year-old Peter Edwards didn't seem to mind too much. The grandfather of young Liverpool midfielder Harry Wilson netted £125,000 from a £50 bet, which he struck when his grandson was just 12 years old.

    Edwards took odds of 2,500/1 on the youngster to one day play for Wales and the 16-year-old made his debut from the bench during his side's World Cup Qualifier against Belgium on the October 15, 2013.

    Not only did Wilson's appearance net his grandfather an eye-watering sum of money but it also secured him a place in the record books with the teenager becoming the youngest player to ever feature for Wales.

    Belgium had already clinched their place at the World Cup by this stage and have once again qualified with ease for the tournament. They are likely to be amongst the most popular bets on World Cup 2018 and Roberto Martinez's side are currently priced at 5/1 to reach final.

    The 2018 World Cup is likely to throw up yet more drama and plenty of unexpected results with punters hoping to capitalise on the often unpredictable nature of the tournament. There are likely to be numerous ambitious and potentially ludicrous bets placed ahead of the 2018 competition getting underway in Moscow with punters already casting their eyes towards the numerous betting markets priced up ahead of the event.

     

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

    February 17, 2018
    888sport
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    The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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    The Championship: A Look At Most Popular Betting Markets

    The Championship is often referred to as the most competitive league in the world. Wolves’ runaway mission at the top has undermined that somewhat, but the second tier is still tense as teams chase playoff spots and look to escape the bottom three.

    You can find our Saturday accumulator on our blog. Here, though, we are looking at the outright options…

    Winner

    Okay, we can say with a fair bit of confidence that Wolves are going to win the Championship this season. I know that’s outlandish and all, but let’s just leave it at that.

    What we are really looking at is the ‘to finish 1-6’ odds. Aston Villa’s stunning run of late has them at 1/20 to finish in the top six. Steve Bruce’s side are as good as nailed on for the playoffs having won their last seven in the league.

    Derby are cosy as well, sitting nine points ahead of seventh and at 1/10 to earn a top six berth. The Midlands pair remain in close competition for the second automatic promotion place.

    It’s further down the table that this market gets interesting. Middlesbrough, who are four points off sixth, are as short as 5/4. Tony Pulis’ team are my value pick here, however. Their budget dictates promotion is a must. They have the quality to make it to the playoffs, and I would certainly back them to make it to Wembley. Boro are 4/1 to get promoted.

    Preston are worth a look 7/2. The Lilywhites are built on rigid defence and are immensely hard to beat. Goals are the trouble, but that looks a lengthy price for a team just three points off sixth.  

     

    Top Scorer

    Matej Vydra leads the Championship scoring charts with 17. Unsurprisingly, Derby’s main man is atop the betting market at 2/1. The versatile forward has been finishing at a remarkable rate so far, however, which suggests his production will regress at some point. The challenge is whether that will be enough for anyone to catch him.

    There are only two players within four goals of Vydra. The first is veteran Leon Clarke, who is on 15. Sheffield United’s striker had a ludicrous hot streak in November, but has now scored just one in his last 10 matches. Following that red-hot run, the Blades’ form has dipped with Clarke’s. I don’t see any merit in backing him at 5/1.

    Albert Adomah has found the net 13 times thus far. His 7/1 price is not enough to really turn any heads. The Aston Villa winger has not been getting the same quality of chances as his two main competitors all season long. It would take a special patch of form to win the golden boot.

    My favoured picks from this market are Britt Assombalonga at 9/1 and Diogo Jota at 20/1. Both players are on 12 goals at the moment, and I expect their respective teams to finish the season strongly.

     

    Relegation

    Barnsley are the team to watch in the relegation market. Sitting just one point from safety at the moment, they have hired Jose Morais, who has frequently worked with Jose Mourinho. The new boss has plenty of work to do, however, with the club having won just once in 16 league matches.

    The 9/10 price to be relegated will depend on how you view that appointment. I think it will have a positive impact on the team, who can expect increased productivity from Tom Bradshaw and the trademark new manager bounce.

    If Barnsley are to build a resurgence, there’s going to have to be a team to drop into that bottom three. Hull are currently teetering one point above, but have shown signs of a turnaround with their recent FA Cup form. The 3/1 is a bit short given the quality in the squad.

    Bolton are the team offering the best value here, I think. Having lost Gary Madine to Cardiff, the 7/5 price on the Wanderers to end up in League One is good value. It could all come down to their last two matches of the season against Burton and Nottingham Forest, but I think the Lancashire club will be fighting a losing battle by then.

     

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

    February 17, 2018
    Sam Cox
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    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.

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    Spotlight On The 2018 Grand National Trial

    The Grand National Trial is a Grade Three race for horses aged five years and over and is held over a distance of 3m 4f.

    The contest provides National Hunt racing fans with further clues ahead of the Grand National itself in April and this year includes seven horses that have been entered for the Aintree marathon.

    Those horses and their respective positions in the handicap are as follows: Blaklion (6), The Dutchman (42), Three Faces West (64), Silsol (62), Wild West Wind (65), Mysteree (86) and Sir Mangan (87).

    Some may argue that the race is all but a trial in name only as since 1980 we have not seen the winner of this contest go onto lift the Grand National in the same season.

    Suny Bay, the 1997 winner, did go on to finish second at Liverpool in the National, while the 2005 winner, Forest Gunner, followed up with a respectable fifth place. However there is a certain level of confidence this year that the current National favourite, Blaklion, can go on to buck this 38-year Haydock to Aintree trend.

    Runner-by-runner Guide:

    Blaklion

    Blaklion who is trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden on this occasion by Sam Twiston-Davies, is the current ante-post favourite for the Randox Health Grand National, in which he finished fourth last season.

    The nine-year-old has already won at Aintree this season, having taken the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at the beginning of December. Blaklion was runner-up to Vieux Lion Rouge in this very race twelve months ago and connections and fans alike will be hoping for nothing less than a victory or the narrowest of defeats on Saturday afternoon from this rising star.

    Blaklion does however have to concede lumps of weight all around to his rivals but should have the class to do so.

    The Dutchman

    The Colin Tizzard-trained The Dutchman, who was an impressive 13-length winner of the Grade Two Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January, will also be hoping to lay his Grand National credentials on the line.

    Connections are keen to get another run into The Dutchman before the big day in April and have decided to take up his Haydock engagement on Saturday rather than waiting for the Eider Chase a week later at Newcastle.

    The Tizzard team are in really good form at the moment and the eight-year-old could be the main fly in the ointment to Blaklion in this race.

    Yala Enki

    Venetia Williams’ Yala Enki is a confirmed mud lover and front-runner but surprisingly for Haydock Park the conditions are highly unlikely to be that testing on the weekend.

    Yala Enki is a Tommy Whittle winner however and appears to have an affinity with Haydock so it could be dangerous to dismiss him out of hand.

     

    Three Faces West

    The lightly raced ten-year-old has won three of his eight races over fences, as well as being placed on three occasions. He is also a two-time winner at the Merseyside venue.

    After an 11-month lay-off due to injury he returned to action with a creditable third to Perfect Candidate at Cheltenham in back in November.

    The last time we saw him out was when he fell at Haydock whilst leading the field in the Tommy Whittle Chase.

    His trainer Philip Hobbs really hopes he can give his owners, Paul and Clare Rooney, a live chance in the Grand National.

     

    Silsol

    Paul Nicholls’ German bred nine-year-old was last seen plugging on late in the Welsh Grand National and managed to take fifth place that day.

    Silsol gives the impression he probably needs a bigger test of stamina than this but his rider Noel Fehily is a master tactician and should be able to keep him interested.

     

    Wild West Wind

    The nine-year-old was quite fancied in the Welsh Grand National last time out but fell at the twelfth fence, unable to follow up on his decent seasonal bow at the same venue.
    With Blaklion carrying a welterweight this weekend, Wild West Wind will run off just 10st 9lb and his trainer Tom George is hoping he can capitalise on that advantage and put the uncharacteristic fall behind him.

     

    Daklondike

    Only last week Daklondike’s trainer David Pipe was saying that the six-year-old, and the youngest horse in this field, was looking more of a four-miler and an Eider type so the change of heart is somewhat baffling.

    Connections won the race last year with Vieux Lion Rouge and even though Daklondike is improving at a rapid rate of knots, this is another step up in class again.

     

    Sir Mangan

    Sir Mangan won nicely at Bangor when switched back to fences a couple of runs ago but he was never a factor in the Classic Chase at Warwick and does not really give the impression he is a dour stayer.

    It will take a big leap of faith to be siding with the Dan Skelton runner winning this feature race.

    Mysteree

    Michael Scudamore’s Mysteree will run in this race instead of attempting back-to-back victories in the Eider Chase.

    Following his victory in the Eider, Mysteree finished second on his final start last season in the Midlands National.

    Mysteree was pulled up on his return to action in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in January and will be hoping to bounce back here.

    Conclusion

    With Blaklion being likened to Red Rum this week you would like to think that the Nigel Twiston-Davies’ star would need to win this race in emphatic style should he wish to follow in the footsteps of the Aintree Legend?

    Providing carrying top-weight does not him anchor him down, Blaklion has far superior form to the rest of this field and should be a tough nut to crack.

    The Dutchman looks like the one who will give him his sternest challenge.

    888sport suggests: Blaklion (nap)

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

    February 15, 2018
    Steve Mullington
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    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. 

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    AC Milan Top 8/1 Europa League Accumulator

    Much of this week’s focus has been aimed at the Champions League but it would be foolish to ignore the Europa League.

    With a number of quality teams involved, the tournament is becoming more and more important – especially in the race to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition. Manchester United fans will back that up after their exploits in 2016/17…

    A few of Europe’s most successful clubs will fancy their chances of Europa League glory this season and they don’t come much bigger than AC Milan.

    The seven-time European Cup winners are well placed to advance past Ludogorets Razgrad as we enter the business end of the competition. Check out our top tips on the first leg action below.

     

    BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs Atalanta

    Marco Reus’ return was a welcome boost for Dortmund on Saturday and the Germany star helped his side to a 2-0 victory against Hamburger SV.

    Yes, the Europa League probably isn’t at the top of Dortmund’s priority list but silverware is silverware and the Bundesliga outfit have a real chance to go all the way to the final.

    Meanwhile, Atalanta are prone to the odd slip-up but the Italian side are improving on a yearly basis.

    Now eighth in the Serie A table, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will be confident of finishing the season strongly and Dortmund may struggle if Atalanta defend well. The away side have conceded just four goals in the competition so far – an impressive feat.

    But despite Atalanta’s resilience at the back, they lack options in attack and Dortmund will be relentless. The visitors may crumble under pressure and 3/4 is a great price for Peter Stoger’s team to take a lead into the second leg.

    TIP: Borussia Dortmund to win @ 3/4

     

    Ludogorets Razgrad vs AC MILAN

    This is a real David vs Goliath encounter. Ludogorets, Bulgarian champions in each of the last six years, take on seven-time European Cup winners AC Milan.

    Victory for the hosts here would send shockwaves across the continent – and punters who backed Ludogorets, priced at 5/2 to win the first leg, would be celebrating this dramatic underdog triumph.

    After a hit-and-miss start to the 2017/18 campaign, Milan have found their feet in recent months. Gennaro Gattuso’s men have now gone eight games without defeat and plenty of punters will fancy the visitors here.

    Their Europa League form since mid-August has been impeccable and another win beckons on Thursday evening.

    Milan should be far too strong for Ludogorets, especially over two legs. For me, the visitors will do just about enough in Bulgaria before running riot at the San Siro and that is why the Rossoneri are my top tip of the week at 11/10.

    TIP: AC Milan to win @ 11/10

     

    Ostersunds FK vs ARSENAL

    Ostersunds will fancy their chances against Arsenal here – the hosts have lost just one of their last 28 fixtures at Jamtkraft Arena.

    Furthermore, they’ve won five of their six Europa League home games this season, the only blemish on that record is a 2-2 draw with Athletic Bilbao. The Gunners will not have everything their own way.

    Arsene Wenger has vowed to go with a full-strength side ahead of this fixture, claiming that he has no reason to rest players with the Gunners already eliminated from this season’s FA Cup.

    This could get ugly for the hosts though, Arsenal will be looking to send a statement of intent after Saturday’s disappointing derby day defeat to Tottenham.

    The visitors will be keen to rest players in the second leg as that fixture takes place just three days before the Carabao Cup final. With that in mind, Arsenal represent solid value at 12/25.

    TIP: Arsenal to win @ 12/25

     

    NAPOLI vs RB LEIPZIG

    Napoli are currently one point clear of Juventus in the Serie A title race and Maurizio Sarri’s side will be determined to claim the Italian title for the first time since 1990.

    Again, Europe’s secondary club competition is not a priority for Napoli but building momentum could be key to their title aspirations. They certainly won’t want to lose on home soil…

    For Leipzig, stopping Dries Mertens is vital. The Napoli forward has scored 15 Serie A goals so far this campaign and could shine if selected on Thursday night.

    But don’t write the away side off just yet, they are no slouches either. Leipzig came close to reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League and this should be an entertaining contest.

     

    Dries Mertens

    Over 2.5 goals looks likely given the attacking nature of both sides. This could easily turn out to be the tie of the round if it lives up to the billing. 4/6 for a high-scoring first leg in Naples is a very good price.

    TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 4/6

     

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

    February 15, 2018
    Alex McMahon Sport
    Body

    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. 
     

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    Champions League: Manchester City Head 7/2 Double

    The Champions League is back, thank goodness for that. Premier League football is starting to get stale for most of England’s top clubs; much of the focus is now on the relegation fight near the bottom of the table.

    Runaway leaders Manchester City top my 7/2 double ahead of Tuesday evening; Tottenham Hotspur, fresh from their north London derby, also feature in this week’s article.

    But enough chitchat, it is time to get on previewing the games. Check out my views on the action below – both English clubs could go deep in the competition on current form…

    FC Basel vs MANCHESTER CITY

    Cast your minds back to this season’s group stage. It feels like an age ago but Basel ran out 1-0 winners against Manchester United on home soil – City cannot afford to take the Swiss side lightly.

    Predicting how Basel will go about things is tough. The hosts could give it a real go and risk leaving themselves exposed at the back or try to keep themselves in the tie ahead of the return leg in Manchester.

    Either way, the 8/13 available in 888sport’s Champions League betting markets for Basel to score should be snapped up. City have struggled to keep clean sheets, particularly in Europe, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see both teams hit the back of the net.

    Pep’s side were fantastic in the second half against Leicester City on Saturday night and the Premier League leaders will be quietly confident of carrying that form and momentum into this contest.

     

    Sergio Aguero

    Sergio Aguero scored four goals in that encounter; the City striker has already bagged 12 goals in the calendar year. 59/50 is a decent price for Aguero to score in an away win on Tuesday evening.

    An early goal for the visitors could see the floodgates open and that also brings the over 2.5 away goals at 13/10 into play. Guardiola’s side are still hunting an unprecedented quadruple and City could run away with this one. But for me, that Aguero wincast is the one to be on.

    TIP: Sergio Aguero to score and Man City to win @ 59/50

     

    Juventus vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

    Juventus are hitting form at exactly the right time. The Serie A champions have won their last 11 games in all competitions; conceding in just one of those encounters. Juve will take some stopping here…

    In fact, Massimiliano Allegri’s side have lost just once in 23 fixtures and Spurs will need to be at their brilliant best. With six goals in his last four games, Gonzalo Higuain (5/4 to score during 90 minutes) is the man to watch.

    Looking at Juve’s record, backing a low scoring affair may be a smart move. The first leg is usually a cagey affair.

    Harry Kane bagged another north London derby goal on Saturday afternoon, his seventh in seven Premier League games against Arsenal. With over 30 goals in the 2017/18 season, he will be expected to shine in Turin.

    via GIPHY

    The Spurs frontman is valued at 43/20 to score during Tuesday’s clash – an excellent price considering his recent form. He could fire the English outfit to a positive result; 23/25 for an away win OR draw is my best bet though.

    I actually tipped Tottenham to advance to the quarter-finals shortly after the draw and I am standing by that despite Juve’s resurgence. This could turn out to be one of the ties of the last-16 stage if it lives up to the hype.

    TIP: Tottenham to win OR draw @ 23/25

     

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

    February 11, 2018
    Alex McMahon Sport
    Body

    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. 
     

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    Cheltenham Festival: Outlook After Dublin Festival & Newbury’s Super Saturday

    Supreme Novices' Hurdle Entries

    Getabird (2/1) and Samcro (4/1) were among the 73 entries for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as the initial entries were revealed for the novice hurdle events at the Cheltenham Festival a week last Thursday.

    The Festival's opening race has been a happy hunting ground for trainer Willie Mullins and owner Susannah Ricci as they have taken three of the last five renewals of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

    The promising Sharjah (25/1), also owned by Mrs Ricci, and Menghli Khan (12/1), second to Getabird at Punchestown under a penalty, are also in the top half of 888sport's Cheltenham Festival betting markets.

    Nicky Henderson will be looking to add another victory to his three triumphs in the race already with the exciting hurdler Claimantakinforgan (16/1).

    If The Cap Fits is a general 7-1 shot for the Grade One contest on March 13. The Harry Fry six-year-old maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles with victory at Kempton on Boxing Day.

    Kalashnikov (7/1) fired himself right into the mix for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle with a comprehensive win in the Betfair Hurdle on Saturday.

    The five-year-old looked a high-class prospect after winning a Wetherby bumper and twice over hurdles at Wetherby and Doncaster and he was far from disgraced when finishing second in last month's Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

    Kalashnikov was cut to as short as 7-1 from 20-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after his trainer Amy Murphy confirmed after his win that the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser is the likely next port of call. She said: "He has given us no reason to go anywhere else and I think you have to stay at two miles for now."

     

    Dublin Clues

    The inaugural Dublin Racing Festival was hailed a massive success and it was easy to see why. The two day weekend event gave us some of the best horses in Ireland taking each other on, some standout performances and plenty of Cheltenham Festival clues.

    Samcro was the star of the show on the Sunday making it six wins from six, and collecting his first Grade One in visually eye-catching style, beating Duc Des Genievres by five-and-a-half lengths.

    Gordon Elliott said after the race to not completely rule him out of the Supreme but all the indications are that he will line up for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle for which he is an even money shot.

    The finish of the weekend was undoubtedly in the Flogas Novice Chase which turned into a five-way go jumping the last.

    Monalee, ridden by Noel Fehily, put in a great round of jumping to just fend off his rivals by a hard fought three-quarters of a length. He is now quoted at 4/1 for the RSA Chase.

     

    Gold Cup Aspirations

    Killultagh Vic is said to have recovered "remarkably well" from his final-fence fall in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last Sunday according to his trainer, Willie Mullins.

    The nine-year-old took a heavy fall at the last when looking all over the winner with many fearing the worst given the visual appearance of the tumble.

    Mullins said: "Killultagh Vic is fine and came out of the race remarkably well.

    "He isn't back riding out yet but hopefully he will shortly."

    He made a successful return from his lengthy absence in a hurdle race at Punchestown on New Year's Eve before being thrown in against the big boys last weekend and he acquitted himself rather well.

    At his most recent pomp the gelding claimed the notable scalp of Thistlecrack on his last appearance over hurdles at the 2015 Punchestown Festival.

    Killultagh Vic is currently 10/1 for the Gold Cup.

    Native River put himself firmly in the Gold Cup picture after making a successful return from almost a year on the sidelines with victory in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

    Colin Tizzard's runner won the Hennessy Gold Cup, the Welsh Grand National and the Denman contest last season and despite having been off the track since finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March, he went off the odds-on favourite for his belated return to action.

    When asked about a second bid for Gold Cup glory, his jockey Richard Johnson said: "He feels every bit as good as he did last year. I think if he can produce last year's run in the Gold Cup, that puts him bang there.

    "He was only beaten just over two lengths in it last year and the Gold Cup looks very open this year.

    "You've got to think he's got a fantastic chance." Tizzard told the assembled press:

    "Absolute relief. We all saw what he can do last year. You can't ask for any more really.

    It was an ideal prep for the Gold Cup and as long as he's OK in the next 10 days, the dream is still alive.”

     

    Game Winner

    Altior (4/6) is now odds-on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase after dismissing his two opponents with ease in the Game Spirit Chase on Saturday.

    Nicky Henderson said of Altior on Sunday: "He is 100 per cent and he pulled out great this morning. It was very important yesterday and you have to say it could not have gone any more spectacular.

    "The whole thing impressed me yesterday. He relaxed, put his head down and jumped beautifully. Everything was good.

    "I didn't dare to dream he would win as well as that. It is nice that he is still unbeaten.

    "It's a shame that he has missed good races but if everything goes right he has still got plenty of big races to go for.

    "The wind wasn't a problem. If anything was going to test his wind it was that ground on Saturday. That was great and it (wind) was never going to be a worry.

    "It is well done to the guys who did the operation, they did a very good job as we were able to get him back a little bit quicker from a full hobday operation to the racecourse.”

    February 12, 2018
    Steve Mullington
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    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. 

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    Champions League: How Will The English Clubs Fare In The Knockout Stages?

    Amidst the Carabao and FA Cups, it’s easy to wander into a world where all that matters are cup upsets and domestic football. Of course that’s nonsense, and football fans are really craving the elite of the European game returning to their screens or stadia.

    Champions League matches are the pinnacle of the modern game. English teams have been far from that peak in recent years, but 2018 might be the year they return. Five of them are in the last 16 on the route to the big-eared trophy, so here’s an overview of their chances.

    Manchester City

    Manchester City are the 13/4 favourites to win their first ever Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s side have not been quite the unstoppable force they were in the opening months of the season, but that hasn’t been enough to stop them winning almost all of their matches.

    The blip against Liverpool will be drawn upon as a blueprint for teams in this competition. Fortunately for City, though, they were drawn with Basel in the last 16.

    That is a tie they should win with ease. It would be one of the great upsets if the Swiss team make it into the quarter-finals.

    City obviously have the best chance of any Premier League side, and they are my favourites to win it all right now. Keeping their cushion in the league will be key to keeping players fresh for the latter stages, mind.

     

    Tottenham Hotspur

    The draw for the first knockout round was very Tottenham. The north London club topped a group that included Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, but still landed a daunting last 16 encounter with Juventus.

    The upside is they will be travelling to Turin for the first leg and Max Allegri’s side are not enjoying the same dominance they have in previous years.

    The downside for Spurs is their squad remains so thin. Competing on multiple fronts will require superhuman efforts from Harry Kane, Dele Alli and others. Mauricio Pochettino has prioritised a top four finish in the past, and he might do the same this season.

    I like Spurs at 16/5 to win away at the Italian champions, even if their chances of going beyond the quarter-finals are limited.

     

    Liverpool

    Liverpool qualified as top of their group in emphatic style. The 7-0 win over Spartak Moscow bordered on cruelty, but it did paper over some of the same old problems for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

    Yep, that’s the back four and defence again. Virgil van Dijk may help in that regard, though the former Saint cannot actually fix everything himself.

    Liverpool have one of the world’s best attacks, however. An attack that no team will be confident of shutting out (unless you’re Swansea, that is).

    The tie with Porto, who are flying domestically, is no walkover. The Merseyside giants are still hefty favourites to make it through, though, and are at a decent-looking 13/1 to lift yet another European Cup. Liverpool’s big game record under Klopp is worth remembering for the latter stages of this competition.

     

    Chelsea

    Chelsea paid a cruel price for coming second in their group. Yet another Champions League knockout clash with Lionel Messi and Barcelona has Antonio Conte’s team way out at 25/1 to win the competition.

    Playing the first leg at Stamford Bridge puts even more pressure on the Blues, who have struggled at the start of 2018. The dependence on Eden Hazard seems to be increasing. He will need to produce one of the best performances of his career if Chelsea are to make it through.

    via GIPHY

    Current performances make it incredibly hard to see Conte’s side doing enough in west London to go to Spain with a chance of progression.

    Barcelona to win or draw at the Bridge at 7/20 is good value. Chelsea will need another European miracle to make it through this one. I like the look of Barcelona at 6/1 to win their fifth Champions League of the millennium.

     

    Manchester United

    Manchester United face Sevilla in the last 16 having walked to the top of Group A. At 7/20 to see off the La Liga side, it’s clear that Jose Mourinho’s team are strong favourites, and rightly so.

    Sevilla took just nine points in their group, winning only two matches in the process. They are a dangerous side, but are blighted by inconsistency. Their defence is vulnerable, and will likely struggle to contain Manchester United, who will have Alexis Sanchez available.

    With the second match being played at Old Trafford, Mourinho will be happy to draw in southern Spain. There are few better managers at setting up to keep the game tight. Under 2.5 goals at 3/4 is a good price.

    Winning the league is barely worth considering for United. That might just see Mourinho focus his resources onto the Champions League, which is part of the reason I was so surprised to see them out at 17/1 to win the competition.

     

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

    February 11, 2018
    Sam Cox
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    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.

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    Spotlight On The Betfair Hurdle

    A maximum field of 24 are set to line up in Britain's richest handicap hurdle, the £155,000 Betfair Hurdle (3.35pm), at Newbury on Saturday, and the race will be shown live on ITV Racing.

    This long established and valuable hurdle first took place at in 1963 and has been known over the years as the Schweppes Gold Trophy, the Tote Gold Trophy and now in its current guise as the Betfair Hurdle.

    This Grade Three hurdle is run over a distance of 2m 1/2f and was once used as a Champion Hurdle trial. Horses such as Persian War and Make A Stand have won this race before going onto Champion Hurdle glory at Prestbury Park a month later.

    Here is a runner-by-runner guide to Saturday’s competitive renewal:

    High Bridge

    High Bridge won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle over the course and distance on his latest appearance at the start of December. Amateur rider Alex Ferguson takes a handy 7lb off his back.

     

    Jenkins

    The hat-trick-seeking Jenkins earned a penalty for his latest success which means he has to carry 11st 12lb and the joint top-weight in Saturday’s handicap. James Bowen who rode him to victory is set to stay aboard and claims 3lb.

     

    Blue Et Rouge

    Bleu Et Rouge carries 11st 10lb. Willie Mullins' charge is the only Irish challenger in the field and is the mount of Barry Geraghty for owner, J.P McManus. They are a team not to be ignored in races such as this.

     

    Verdana Blue

    Verdana Blue was third in a valuable Group Three handicap hurdle at Ascot last month behind Hunters Call. Verdana Blue enjoys a good strong pace and she is entered in the Champion Hurdle.

     

    Charli Parcs

    Last season's Triumph Hurdle sixth Charli Parcs ran a cracker first time up this season but flopped badly in the Hunters Call race. It’s probably too early to write him off just yet.

     

    Divin Bere

    Second in last year’s Fred Winter and has since moved stables to Paul Nicholls. Ran disappointingly in the Hunters Call race first time up but there is every chance the five-year-old will bounce back.

     

    Remiluc 

    Sprung a 20/1 surprise when winning the closing race on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham. Despite having a good record at Newbury this would come as another shock should he romp home.

     

    Moon Racer

    The 2015 Champion Bumper winner was last seen finishing down the field in a Grade One at Aintree last April and suffered a bout of colic over the summer. This would be some comeback if he could win.

     

    Misterton

    He finished second in the Greatwood Hurdle and boasts pretty consistent form figures. Has to be respected.

     

    Kalashnikov

    Rifled home in his first two runs, especially in his seasonal opener at Wetherby where he demolished his rivals. Ran superbly in the Tolworth and the ground should pose no problems.

     

    Project Bluebook

    Ran sixth in the Galway Hurdle and could be one of the more likely outsiders in this race. He has the look of a plot horse if ever there was one.

     

    Kayf Grace

    Apparently she has had issues with muscle enzymes but her trainer says she now has a clean bill of health.

    The form of her last win has been franked several times this week.

     

    Spiritofthegames

    Second to William Henry in the Lanzarote Hurdle last time but will probably find this race a little on the short side. Clearly in good heart at present.

     

    Lough Derg Spirit

    He ran a very good race in the Elite Hurdle and Nicky Henderson says this race has always been the target for the six-year-old. One suspects the 14/1 on offer will not last so long.

     

    Poppy Kay

    Poppy Kay landed a Listed contest at Sandown Park on January 6th and has won five times from just nine career starts. The mare will have plenty of supporters under Champion Jockey Richard Johnson.

     

    Lalor

    The six-year-old has been the ante-post favourite for some time on the back of showing smart form in good novice contests on his first three starts over jumps following a successful bumper campaign.  The gelding would be a popular winner for obvious reasons.

     

    Knocknanuss

    The eight-year-old has not finished out of the first two in four runs over hurdles for Gary Moore and went up 11lb for winning at Fontwell last time out. Moore is attempting to win this race for a fourth time.

     

    Waterlord

    Waterlord’s form has clicked this term and is another novice who would have to come into calculations on the predicted ground. He also hails from an in-form yard.

     

    William H Bonney

    William H Bonney has plenty of improvement to make this season but it looks like Alan King has plotted a route to this rich payday. The stable have had winners this week and his price looks rather generous.

     

    Irish Roe

    Peter Atkinson's prolific mare has won seven of her 11 starts to date and she went down all guns blazing behind Maria’s Benefit in Doncaster's Grade Two Mares Hurdle last time out. She is 11lbs well in and must have a live chance.

     

    Silver Streak

    Silver Streak, trained by Evan Williams, was runner-up in the Hunters Call race at Ascot on December 23rd and comes into this as one of the chief protagonists. He had a fair few of Saturday's opponents in behind him that day and Mitchell Bastayan's 5lb claim boosts his prospects even more.

     

    Nietzsche

    Nietzsche finished a close third in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last March and his trainer Brian Ellison hopes that the reapplication of headgear will spark his chestnut gelding back into life.

     

    Coeur Blimey

    A seven-year-old gelding from the Sue Gardner stable who tends to make one too many mistakes in races of this calibre. He is the type to be running on late given a clear round of jumping.

     

    Zalvados

    Was just touched off by the useful Limited Reserve at Haydock at Christmas and then went on to win a maiden hurdle at Ludlow the race after. He could be an overlooked each-way longshot given his super low weight.

     

    Conclusion

    This is not the kind of race to blow your Cheltenham bank on just yet but there are plenty of tempting runners in this race who could easily set you up with a nice little pot for The Festival.

    Silver Streak, Project Bluebook and William H Bonney are the each-way plays in an ultra competitive Betfair Hurdle.

     

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

    February 9, 2018
    Steve Mullington
  • ">
  • Body

    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. 

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