Road To Aintree - Latest News Ahead Of Grand National

Ante-post favourite Blaklion (10/1) remains firmly at the head of the betting for the 171st renewal of the £1-million Randox Health Grand National after a total of 105 entries were declared for the race at noon on Wednesday 31st January.

Looked after and trained by dual Grand National-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, Blaklion is one of six entries from the Naunton based handler.

His 2018 entries also include the multiple Grade One winner Bristol De Mai (25/1), who is the most likely candidate for top-weight, BetVictor Gold Cup hero and popular Merseyside favourite Splash Of Ginge (50/1) and the Aintree Grade One scorer Flying Angel (66/1).

Britain's current champion Jump trainer Nicky Henderson, who has yet to add this race to his illustrious CV, will saddle three contenders in Gold Present (25/1),Vyta Du Roc (33/1) and O O Seven (66/1).

Irish-trained runners account for 40 of the initial entries with 11 of those runners coming from the Gigginstown House Stud. Total Recall (25/1), Cause Of Causes (25/1) and Ucello Conti (33/1) are the most prominent runners in the betting from Ireland.

Definitly Red (20/1) was pulled up last April after his saddle slipped. Brian Ellison's runner should be a major contender again after his impressive win in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last time out. Before returning to Aintree he will take in the small matter of running in the Gold Cup next month.

Kim Bailey's 2016 Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri ( 20/1) is prominent in the betting once again.

Colin Tizzard has three entries in Sizing Codelco (50/1), The Dutchman (33/1), who won the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January, and Third Intention (100/1).

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer said: "The Dutchman would have to be our leading hope after his last run at Haydock. He will head back up there in three weeks for the Grand National Trial and go from there.

"He has gone up 13lb to 148, so he should get a run in the National. It looks like he will stay that sort of trip and he jumps nicely.

"It was a strong run first time out at Haydock (second behind Sam Spinner in the Stayers' Handicap) and we possibly went back to the well too quickly at Cheltenham with him. He was hugely impressive at Haydock last time."

Other Grand National-winning trainers with 2018 entries include Paul Nicholls, whose sextet of possible runners is headed by dual Scottish Grand National victor Vicente (25/1), and Mouse Morris, who has Irish Grand National scorers Rogue Angel (50/1) and Thunder And Roses (40/1) among his three entries.

Vicente’s owner Trevor Hemmings has won the Grand National three times since 2005 and is the joint most successful trainer in the history of the world’s greatest chase. His other entry is Welsh Grand National fourth Vintage Clouds (Sue Smith, 40/1).

Welsh Grand National hero Raz De Maree (Gavin Cromwell IRE, 40/1) is engaged, as is impressive Classic Handicap Chase victor Milansbar (Neil King, 50/1).

Abolitionist (40/1) was third in last season's Irish Grand National when trained by Ellmarie Holden, and has since been bought by Dr Richard Newland, who claimed National glory with Pineau De Re in 2014.

Newland said: "Abolitionist is coming back from an injury. We got him in the autumn and then he had an issue with a stress fracture.

"He is on the way back now and doing really nicely. He is a nice horse who shows a good attitude and we are pleased to have him.

"We are stepping up his work and hope to have him on the track towards the end of February. Then all being well, he will go on to Aintree for the Grand National.

"He could have a spin over hurdles at Ascot on February 17 or there is a veterans' chase at Doncaster on February 21.

"The rules have changed, so he has to run in a chase this season to be qualified. If he starts off over hurdles, then he would run again over fences in March."

The entry figure has broken the 100-mark for the fourth time in the last five years – entry details since 2010 are as follows:- 2018-105; 2017-110, 2016-126, 2015-98; 2014-115; 2013-84; 2012-82; 2011-102 and 2010-112.

The weights for the 2018 Randox Health Grand National are decided by the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping, Phil Smith, in what will be his final National. The allocated weights will be unveiled on the evening of Tuesday, February 13th, at BAFTA in London’s West End.

The Randox Health Grand National is the only handicap of the year where Phil Smith has absolute discretion to deviate from the normal handicap ratings when determining the weights.

A maximum of 40 runners can go to post at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 14th.

You can find all our latest Grand National odds via this link... 

 

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

February 5, 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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    International Football: 10 Minnows Who Proved Size Doesn't Matter

    The qualifying road to a FIFA World Cup is long and winding and paved with obstacles. There is no such thing as an easy campaign and often the big boys are tripped up, with the unthinkable happening of not doing enough to get to the finals.

    The process for reaching the 2018 competition in Russia has seen a few casualties already, with the likes of Italy, Holland and the United States missing out.

    There is nothing guaranteed or owed to any team wanting to take part in the grandest showpiece of them all. Qualifying for the World Cup with one of the smallest populations globally is an achievement that takes a Herculean effort.

    We looked at 10 of the smallest nations that have defied the odds to book their spots at the World Cup finals.

     

    Iceland

    Iceland’s heroic effort at Euro 2016, when they advanced all the way to the quarterfinals, was backed up with qualification to the 2018 World Cup.

    Iceland's population of 335,025 is the smallest out of any team to have successfully qualified for a World Cup. To say this Nordic Island nation has overachieved would be a gross understatement...

    Iceland

    Iceland will bring their passionate Viking Clapping supporters along to Russia and if Euro 2016 is anything to go by there will be a lot.

    Over 8% percent of their population bought tickets to see their heroes play in France. Simply magnificent and astonishing, Iceland will have the backing of all the neutrals and have already won in a sense by qualifying.

    Tip: Iceland to reach the quarter finals12/1

     

    Trinidad and Tobago

    The dual-island Caribbean nation stunned the World when they qualified for Germany 2006. Their population of 1,369,125 makes them the second smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup.

    The 2006 edition in Germany was the solitary appearance at any World Cup for the Islanders and unfortunately, they battled to stamp their dominance and flamboyant football on the world.

    After earning a brilliant point in a 0-0 encounter against Sweden, their final two games were 2-0 losses to Paraguay and England. When they next qualify for a World Cup, the Soca Warriors will be looking to register their first goal and win.

     

    Northern Ireland

    When Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup finals in Sweden during 1958 they went further than they have ever ventured into the tournament.

    Beating Czechoslovakia and earning a point against the World Cup champions during the time West Germany, was enough to seem them progress to the quarterfinals where they were soundly beaten by France 4-0.

    It was a phenomenal time for the Northern Irish, whose population is the third smallest at 1,876,600 as they punched well above their weight and left with an enormous amount of respect.

    The Green and White army went on to qualify for Spain 1982 and Mexico 1986 but didn't enjoy the same amount of success with a second round and group exit, respectively.

     

    Slovenia

    Slovenia defied the odds when they qualified for their first World Cup in 2002. The Slovenians arrived in South Korea and Japan for the 17th staging of the World Cup finals, with no one quite knowing what to expect.

    The nation with a population of 2,079,976 struggled and ended up losing all three of their group games and suffered a first-round exit. Better times were ahead for Slovenia, as they managed to get in on the party again when they qualified for South Africa 2010.

    There, they were to register their first ever World Cup win against Algeria but ultimately exited during the first round after a draw with America and a 1-0 loss to England in Port Elizabeth.

    How different it could have been but for a Landon Donovan goal against Algeria in the 90th minute, which sealed Slovenia’s fate as America progressed at the expense of the Slovenians.

     

    Jamaica

    The Reggae Boyz announced themselves on the world footballing stage when they qualified for France 1998.

    Despite only having a population of 2,890,299, the Jamaicans qualified for the finals in France and even managed a win in their final group game against Japan. Losses against Argentina and Croatia meant they were on the plane home after the first round.

    They eventually finished in 22nd position out of the 32 teams and that is a placing that would have brought immense pride to the Caribbean nation.

     

    Wales

    Like Northern Ireland, Wales also managed qualification to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden with a minute population.

    With 3,113,200 people in Wales, they marched on in Sweden and went on a journey that resulted in reaching the quarterfinals, only to lose to the mighty Brazil 1-0.

    It was a brave showing by Wales, which had them playing Hungary in a group playoff to reach the quarterfinals after they finished on the same amount of group points. The Welsh haven’t qualified since 1958 and will be hoping to end the 59-year wait with an appearance at the finals in Qatar in 2020.

     

    Uruguay

    The awe-inspiring Uruguayans have a history at the World Cup finals that defies belief as they only have a population of 3,456,750 people but have won the tournament on two different occasions!

    They were the first-ever winners of the event in 1930 when they won on home soil and then went into the lion's den and beat Brazil during the 1950 playing of the World Cup final, when they won 2-1 at Brazil’s home fortress of the Maracanã Stadium to register their second title.

    In total, La Celeste have appeared at 12 World Cup finals, and with their two wins, they also have three semifinals appearances.

    Uruguay may be small in number but they are giants when they arrive at World Cups and their spectacular record on the big stage speaks for itself.

    Tip: Uruguay to win the World Cup32/1

     

    Panama

    Panama, like Iceland, are another success story in qualification for Russia 2018. Their road to glory had the country in disbelief and mass hysteria upon qualification when they qualified for the finals.

    President Juan Carlos Varela declared a public holiday as the celebrations carried on long into the night in the country with a population of 4,098,587.

    Panama

    Los Canaleros are arguably set to compete in the group of death as they were drawn in Group G with England, Belgium and Tunisia.

    Getting out of that group and into the round of 16 will take a monumental effort but even if they do exit during the first round, they have done the nation of Panama proud by reaching their firsts ever World Cup finals.

    Tip: Panama to finish in the top two of Group G11/1

     

    Kuwait

    When Kuwait had eventually booked their spot at the Spanish World Cup in 1982, it sent shockwaves around the globe. It was tough going for the Kuwaitis, who have a population of 4,136,528 people.

    They managed their only ever World Cup point against Czechoslovakia in a 1-1 draw but then went on to lose to France and then England, which resulted in an early group exit.

    At is stands, Kuwait are currently suspended by FIFA and nobody knows when they will next appear at a World Cup. It shouldn't detract from the pride that Kuwait brought to their nation in 1982 when they secured a place at the World Cup, however.

     

    Croatia

    Croatia is another small country that has a superb record at the World Cup finals. With a tiny population of 4,189,353 people, the Croatians have built a rich and prestigious history after appearing at four of the events.

    The most successful of the four came in 1998 when they reached the semifinals and eventually ended up finishing third. The accolades for Croatia didn't stop there, as striker Davor Šuker claimed the Golden Boot with six goals in seven matches.

    It was a stunning show by the Eastern Europeans as they won the hearts and minds of every football fan around the globe.

     

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

    February 7, 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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    Blast From The Past: Football Manager Wonderkids of Yesteryear

    When playing Football Manager, or any football management simulation game, one of your primary desires right from the beginning is to find your next star player. You don’t mind if you have to wait a few years for them to develop as they’ll be yours; the incredible young player that you found and you developed, becoming one of the best in the world – saving you a fortune in transfer fees along the way.

    Building a dynasty is key to long-term success on Football Manager, so here we’ll be looking at the great wonderkids of past editions that allowed us to start up the youth movement, bolster the reserve and youth team, and then bring unrivalled success to the first team.

    Here, we’ll be looking at some of the many wonderkids that Football Manager and the game that it split from in 2005, Championship Manager, have produced over the years, why they were so loved in the games, what games they were discovered on, and how they got on outside of the simulation games.

    While many great wonderkids fulfilled their Manager destiny, such as Sergio Aguero, Arda Turan, Marek Hamsik, Manuel Neuer, Fernando Torres – to an extent – Wayne Rooney, Neymar, Romelu Lukaku, and many others, the focus here will be on those who didn’t quite make it.

     

    Bojan

    As of December 18th, Barcelona were priced at 59/50 to beat Chelsea in the first leg of their upcoming Champions League tie, but back in 2006, they had a team that could walk over this Chelsea setup.

    https://www.888sport.com/blog/football-prediction

    At a time when the Barcelona team was littered with the likes of Carles Puyol, Deco, Henrik Larsson, Ronaldinho, Mark van Bommel, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, the immaculate Samuel Eto’o, and a budding Lionel Messi, everyone’s favourite transfer target sat in the youth team.

    Bojan was all set to be Barcelona’s greatest striker of all time, with so many editions of Football and Championship Manager rating him incredibly highly, right from his 2006 days in the youth team.

    Bojan

    In 2011, Barcelona sold Bojan in a very bizarre deal to AS Roma, in which the Spanish giants received €12 million for the transfer, but were obliged to buy him back at the conclusion of the 2012/13 season for €13 million unless Roma blocked it by forking out €40 million.

    With seven goals in 37 games for Roma and three goals in 27 games while on loan to AC Milan, the Spanish striker was inevitably sent back to Barcelona. Since joining Stoke in 2014, he’s scored 15 goals in 67 games amidst injuries, but is now spending his second consecutive spell out on loan and is valued at €5 million.

     

    Rodney Sneijder

    In the 2008/09 season, or Football Manager 2009, Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder was on top of the world. Though plagued by injuries, he was a superstar in football, so much so that Manchester United – who are 29/20 to win their first Champions League tie with Sevilla – were hotly linked to him.

    But on Football Manager, even if you were running Manchester United, you didn’t care about Wesley, it was all about Rodney. The younger of the Sneijder brothers, of which there are three, would become a megastar on ’09. Far superior to Cesc Fabregas and even touted to become better than Cristiano Ronaldo for the low, low price of £3 million.

    Rodney Sneijder

    Coming through the Ajax youth system, Rodney Sneijder was keenly watched by admirers of his older brother, but he simply couldn’t become what Football Manager had foreseen for him.

    Floating around Dutch clubs and even signing for Dundee United in July 2015 – only to be released one month later – the now 26-year-old Rodney Sneijder was recently picked up by DHSC Utrecht as a free agent, now playing alongside Celtic player Evander Sno.

     

    Sherman Cardenas

    2007 was most certainly the year of Sherman Cardenas on Football Manager. Simply put, Cardenas was a world beater. The humble Colombian would begin with fairly meek ability and potential ability, but his rapid growth had the attacking midfielder become an incredible player.

    For those who discovered him via their scouting networks in South America, he quickly became their hero and the superstar of the Colombia national team – who are doing quite well without him, priced at 4/5 to beat Japan in their first World Cup 2018 game.

    Sherman Cardenas

    Starting off with Atletico Bucaramanga, the fabled Cardenas really made a name for himself at Millonarios in his one season there in the Colombian second division before moving on to La Equidad.

    From his 2010 move to the first half of the 2017/18 season, Sherman Cardenas has played for eight different clubs – two in Brazil, the other six in Colombia – being loaned out regularly by his current parent club Atletico Nacional, of the first division in Colombia. He’s now valued at £405,000 aged 28.

     

    Renato Augusto

    Another wonderkid of the 2007 age was Renato Augusto. One of many young players at the time who were tipped to be the next Ronaldinho – as if that was even possible – the Brazilian central midfielder was a great buy in the game, and has actually done quite well for himself outside of the confines of Football Manager.

    Renato Augusto

    He has enjoyed long stints at Corinthians and Bayer Leverkusen, before settling for a big money move to the Chinese Super League in 2016 for £7.2 million. Now valued at £8.1 million, he hasn’t quite reached his Football Manager heights, but he’s done rather well for himself considering the way that some of these prospects go.

     

    Michalis Pavlis

    Michalis Pavlis, sometimes Mixalis Pavlis, was incredible. From the 2006 edition of both Manager games, the Greek sniper could be purchased for a couple of million at the most and become your top scorer within a season or two – scoring 50 plus goals regularly.

    Michalis Pavlis

    While Football Manager jumped off of the Pavlis train quite quickly, Championship Manager stuck with the AEK Athens sniper until the bitter end of their superb 2010 edition.

    Outside of the Manager dreamland, Pavlis barely played for any club that he signed for, being forced into retirement in 2014 due to being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

     

    John Bostock

    At age 15, Crystal Palace gave one John Bostock his debut in 2007, making him hot property on Manager games - not that he also wasn't before being given a shot in the first team.

    He was up there with the likes of Victor Moses and Aaron Ramsey as great young players to buy from the English leagues year after year. It’d take a few seasons, but Bostock would become your top central midfielder with superb stats across the board.

    John Bostock

    Signed by Tottenham Hotspur after four games for Palace, many loan spells led him being sold to Royal Antwerp in 2013 on a free, and has since played for OH Leuven and is currently playing regularly for RC Lens, still only 25-years-old and valued at £1.8 million.

     

    The Mighty Freddy Adu

    Whether you stayed loyal to Championship Manager or peeled off to Football Manager, in 2005, Freddy Adu was a must-buy. The American attacking midfielder was set to rule the world, potentially even becoming the Pele of the United States of America.

    Making his professional debut at 13 got the ratings on Football Manager to start buzzing, and some major clubs to the east of the Atlantic. The 2005/06 season was the most significant for Adu as clubs in Europe could finally play the hyped-up American as he turned 16, and he barely cost a million.

    In real life, however, it hasn’t been such a fairytale for the once highly touted prospect. Securing a big €1.5 million move from Real Salt Lake City to Benfica in 2007 looked to give him the elite-level experience that Adu needed to become a superstar.

    Freddy Adu

    But after several loan moves and four goals in 17 games with the Portuguese giants, Freddy Adu transferred for free to Philadelphia Union in 2011 but also failed to make an impact.

    Short-lived stints in Serbia and Finland saw Adu return to home in 2015 to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second tier of American football. Now in his prime at 28-years-old, Adu has been a free agent since January 2017, valued at a generous £100,000.

    Freddy Adu was a major player in the game for years, but, in the end, he will forever be known the ultimate Ozymandian example of Football Manager wonderkids.

     

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

    February 4, 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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    Super Bowl: New England Patriots Too Strong For Philadelphia Eagles?

    The New England Patriots, chasing a sixth Super Bowl championship, will take on the high-flying Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night and it is difficult to pick a winner.

    Most pundits ruled the Eagles out of contention after quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending injury in the closing stages of the regular campaign but backup Nick Foles has been excellent in his absence.

    Meanwhile, Bill Belichick’s side had to dig deep against the Jacksonville Jaguars in their most recent encounter. The AFC South champions had beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers and went into Gillette Stadium with no fear.

    Unfortunately for the Jaguars, Tom Brady was clutch on the game-winning drive and New England, valued at 1/2 to win this weekend, will be quietly confident of coming out on top.

     

    New England Patriots

    At the time of writing, 888sport are offering a SPECIAL on New England to win by less than seven points at 4/1punters can access this offer here. Rob Gronkowski should be good to go and the Patriots tight-end could be the difference maker on Sunday evening.

    You can get 7/5 for Gronkowski to score in a New England win but perhaps the best bet of all is for over 4.5 receptions at 8/11. He is Brady’s go-to guy and he should be very influential.

    via GIPHY

    Brady was named regular season MVP for the third time on Saturday night, making him the oldest Most Valuable Player winner in NFL history.

    A Super Bowl win would be the icing on the cake after a superb 2017 season and it would take a brave man to back against New England with Brady in fine form. The Patriots quarterback is priced at 6/5 to throw three or more touchdown passes in Sunday’s showpiece event.

     

    On defence, former Steeler James Harrison could be set to make a BIG impact. It would be ironic if Harrison helps New England to win the Super Bowl just months after he was cut by Pittsburgh.

    11/4 is a decent price for Harrison to record a sack and plenty of punters will be keeping a close eye on his status ahead of the weekend. This will be his fourth Super Bowl appearance and he could be set for a third victory on the big stage. 

     

    Philadelphia Eagles

    Can Foles do it? New England’s defence has struggled to contain opposing quarterbacks this season and the Eagles could shock the world if they perform well.

    Philadelphia were simply sublime against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game and a similar effort would see Doug Pederson’s men go close. The Eagles represent solid value at 11/10 in the +3.5 handicap market; it could be a tight encounter.

     

    If Philly win, Foles may be primed to win the Super Bowl MVP award. Currently available at 14/5 in 888sport’s American Football odds, the Eagles quarterback is worth considering.

    He masterminded Philadelphia’s success against that stubborn Vikings defence and the 17/20 for over 1.5 touchdown passes is a good price.

    via GIPHY

    But the best bet involving Foles may be the over 244.5 passing yards. If Philly are chasing the game, the Eagles quarterback should pass that figure and 10/11 is exceptional value.

    On the defensive side of the ball, Philadelphia have a ball-hawking secondary. You can back Brady to throw over 0.5 interceptions at 6/5 - another solid option considering he turned the ball over six times in a five-game period earlier this season.

     

    Prediction

    For me, New England deserve to go into this one as red hot favourites. Foles has exceeded all expectations so far but the Super Bowl is on another level. Brady has been in this position before and he knows how to lead his team to victory on the biggest stage of all.

    The greatest quarterback in National Football League history will not crumble on Sunday evening; this is Tom Brady’s world and we are all just living in it. New England to win by 7-12 points at 17/4 is my top tip ahead of Super Bowl LII.

    TIP: New England Patriots to win by 7-12 points @ 17/4

     

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

    February 4, 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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    Super Sunday: Crystal Palace Top Delightful 15/2 Double

    Much of the focus will be on Liverpool’s contest with Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s late afternoon fixture but the battle between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United is intriguing for different reasons.

    As of February 4th, three points separates 11th placed Watford and 19th placed Huddersfield Town – a win for either side will see them climb above the Hornets.

    Either way, neutrals will be treated to two huge games of football this weekend – and there are plenty of tasty betting markets to get stuck into.

    Check out our top tips on the action, including a 47/20 shot ahead of what might be one of the matches of the season at Anfield.

     

    CRYSTAL PALACE vs Newcastle United

    Look no further than Crystal Palace here. The Eagles have lost just once on home soil since the start of October and plenty of punters will be expecting Roy Hodgson’s men to extend that run this weekend.

    Newcastle can capitulate away from home and the 21/20 for Palace to score two or more goals is a reasonable price. By the same token, 15/2 for any Newcastle player to be sent off is also worth a second look.

    Magpies fans were left seething at Mike Ashley’s lack of financial support for Rafa Benitez in the January transfer window and with good reason.

     

    Newcastle did manage to sign Leicester City striker Islam Slimani but he alone may not be enough to lift the club out of trouble. The visitors MUST get through the first 15 minutes unscathed – an early breakthrough could see the floodgates open.

    Unfortunately for Newcastle, I can see Palace grabbing the opening goal and that could spell curtains for Benitez’s side. The Eagles have lost just twice in their last 14 top flight games, with both defeats coming against Arsenal.

    Hodgson has had a positive impact since arriving at Selhurst Park and I’m expecting Palace’s resurgence to continue this weekend. 31/20 for the Eagles to take a lead into half-time is a decent price…

    TIP: Crystal Palace to win the first half @ 31/20

     

    LIVERPOOL vs Tottenham Hotspur

    Liverpool’s “blip” is over. After losing to bottom-of-the-table Swansea City and crashing out of the FA Cup at the hands of West Bromwich Albion, Jurgen Klopp’s side needed a response and a 3-0 win away at Huddersfield Town silenced a few critics.

    With Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in attack, anything is possible and punters may be tempted by the 4/6 on offer for Liverpool to score over 1.5 goals.

    Meanwhile, Tottenham were outstanding against Manchester United on Wednesday night – their 2-0 victory flattered the Red Devils if anything. Christian Eriksen grabbed the opening goal of that game after just 11 seconds and the Denmark star is priced at 4/1 to add another strike to his tally for the campaign. 

     

    Christian Eriksen

    Harry Kane will receive plenty of attention in the betting markets but Eriksen could be the one to watch. Having said that, the England striker has a decent record against Liverpool and may also be worth considering.

    Both teams to score looks likely here and that brings the 47/20 for a home win with goals at both ends into play. Klopp’s men are usually reliable at Anfield, especially in the big games and it would take a brave man to back against Liverpool here – even after Spurs’ impressive result in midweek.

    This could be a very entertaining game of football if both managers go all out for the win and neutrals won’t want to miss this one.

    TIP: Liverpool to win and both teams to score @ 47/20

     

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

    February 4, 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. 
     

    Burnley vs Manchester City: 7/1 For Easy Away Win?

    Manchester City are beginning to have the sort of injury problems that would usually be a worry for Premier League leaders. David Silva joined Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus in the medical room in midweek, but Pep Guardiola’s side extended their lead to 15 points. The title is within touching distance.

    Burnley are winless in their last eight Premier League matches. Four draws, four losses, see the Clarets, somehow, retain their seventh spot, such is the strange breakup of the Premier League this term.

    Sean Dyche’s side can put their decline down to a combination of injuries, suspension, and a return to normality. Their first half of the season – as impressive as it was – was always largely unsustainable. Burnley may yet find themselves in the bottom-half of the Premier League.

    Their slightly fortuitous win away at Newcastle in midweek was symbolic of Burnley’s season. The performance was trademark Dyche; effective, industrious, and taking full advantage of fortune.

    Burnley are still the league’s least creative attack with comfortably the lowest expected goals. It’s fair to say their work is cut out against a Manchester City side that average a frankly ludicrous 66% possession (we can expect that to be much higher at Turf Moor on Saturday lunchtime). Burnley to fail to score is at 4/5.

    Even with their star absentees, Manchester City’s team is a bit good. If it’s Brahim Diaz filling in or Kevin de Bruyne taking charge as he did against West Bromwich Albion in midweek, City still boast a terrifying attacking line-up. It is led by a certain Sergio Aguero, who is making a case for being the lead challenger to Harry Kane for the golden boot. Aguero to score first at 5/2 to well worth a punt.

    They are the best team we have seen in the Premier League era, and we are yet to see the full depth of their squad. Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva have hardly been required by Guardiola thus far.

    Bernardo may well get the start this weekend and is 21/10 to score anytime - I like the look of that price. The former AS Monaco man could benefit from the attention that Burnley will pay to some of City’s other forwards.

    It goes without saying how this match will go. We all know the drill by now. City will have all the ball, and at some point the breakthrough will come. They are not a team you can frustrate with a low block, there’s an intrinsic belief under Guardiola that if you just keep playing, your chances will come. And it works.

    The title ‘race’ was never a thing this season, and it has not even looked like being a thing. That’s because City are so damn good at everything. It’s hard not to be in awe of Guardiola’s team at the moment. I fear for each team they face, but the upside is that there are zero expectations upon sides like Burnley.

    Unfortunately, I don’t think that will be enough to spur a shock at Turf Moor. The 7/1 on offer for a 3-0 away win carries most appeal...

    TIP: Manchester City to win 3-0 @ 7/1

     

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

    February 1, 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.

    Spotlight on the Towton Novices’ Chase

    The £32,000 Towton Novices’ Chase is one of the highlights of Wetherby’s NH calendar. First staged in 1996, the three-mile contest was won that day by the subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Mr Mulligan.

    Noel Chance's Mr Mulligan was an emphatic 15-length winner in that very first running of the race. The following season he went to win The Cheltenham Gold Cup.

    Escartefigue, the winner in 1998, became one of the leading staying chasers, and finished second to Teeton Mill in the 1998 King George VI Chase.

    2006 winner Halcon Genelardais went on to win the Welsh Grand National later in his career for Alan King.

    All eyes will be on the result of this race on Saturday as it often produces potential stars that contest races like the RSA Chase, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National as they progress through their chasing careers.

    Two seasons ago this race was won by Blaklion, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who then went on to win the Grade One RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

    This season he won the Becher Chase and is now the 2018 Grand National favourite, proving that good horses regularly come out of this race.

     

    Horses to note:

    Pearl Royale

    Trainer Nigel Hawke has had this race pencilled in for his six-year-old since the mare made a winning debut over fences at Wincanton on Boxing Day.

    Hawke is well aware he is throwing her in at the deep end but he is looking to gauge just how good she is as he sees plenty of potential in her.

     

    Terrefort

    Nicky Henderson's French import Terrefort made a successful British debut at Huntingdon earlier this month.

    However, the five-year-old is also entered in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on the same afternoon so it will be prudent to keep an eye on the declarations nearer the race.

     

    Keeper Hill

    A smart novice hurdler last season, the seven-year-old took his win count over the bigger obstacles to two when landing a Grade Two at Doncaster before Christmas.

    He finished seventh in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle last year and his trainer Warren Greatrex is eager to get this Wetherby run into him before another assault upon Cheltenham next month.

     

    Vintage Clouds

    Vintage Clouds, who was fourth in last month’s Welsh Grand National after being hampered at a crucial stage is an interesting contender for Sue Smith.

    The eight-year-old also received a Grand National entry this week so the stable will be looking for a bold showing on Saturday to beef up his April prospects.

    As we are all aware, owner Trevor Hemmings loves a National runner.

     

    Ballyoptic

    The Nigel Twiston-Davies eight-year-old fell on his only previous visit to the West Yorkshire track when going off the strong favourite for the Bet365 Hurdle.

    We last saw him run in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase where he finished a distant fourth behind Black Corton.

    The ability is certain there with this horse as he showed when winning at Exeter last November against a couple of runners he renews rivalry with on Saturday.

     

    Ami Desbois

    Ami Desbois was last seen in the Dipper Novices’ Chase when he was pulled up after Paddy Brennan reported the eight-year-old was making a noise.

    Having won his first two novice chases at Wetherby it was disappointing for all concerned to see him put in that lacklustre display.

    Graeme McPherson has said he is now in fine fettle at home and they are very optimistic for Ami Desbois chances on Saturday, especially as the gelding is a three time winner at the track already.

     

    Barney Dwan

    Fergal O'Brien has had high hopes for this eight year old ever since he won the EBF Finals at Cheltenham.

    He had a comfortable fifteen-length victory in a three runner race at Market Rasen just before Christmas and he is clearly in good heart again over fences, despite being luckless on some occasions.

    He looks to be one of the more likelier types in this field.

     

    Elegant Escape

    The six-year-old got the better of multiple winner Black Corton when taking the Grade Two John Francome Novices' Chase at the start of December after finishing second on his two previous attempts over fences.

    Black Corton exacted his revenge on Elegant Escape on Boxing Day in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase but it was another performance to be proud of and he looks a big player here.

    The Tizzard team will be extremely buoyant going into this feature race after recording several winners this week.

     

    Captain Chaos

    Dan Skelton’s seven-year-old has won his last two novices chases, admittedly against two small fields with the Aintree victory looking the stronger form of the two.

    It will be a different kettle of fish against a stronger and larger field on Saturday but he looks a better jumper this season and will be hoping to get much further than last year’s sixth fence exit in this very same race.

     

    Conclusion

    Baywing sprang a 33/1 surprise in this race last year but the chances of lightening striking twice are pretty unlikely with some useful novices heading the market this year.

    Colin Tizzard’s Elegant Escape has yet to run a poor race this season and should run another solid one again on Saturday.

    Given the form of the yard this week, the gelding looks the percentage call.

    888sport suggests: Elegant Escape (nap) Vintage Clouds (nb).

    February 1, 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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    Cheltenham Betting: Festival Updates After Trials Weekend

    Champion Hurdle

    Buveur D’Air is one of 23 entries for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on the first day of The Festival, Tuesday, March 13th.

    Buveur D’Air is the 4/6 market leader for a repeat victory in 2018. He lifted the two-mile hurdling crown in 2017 with victory over stablemate My Tent Or Yours (12/1).

    No horse has won back-to-back Champion Hurdles since Hardy Eustace completed the feat in 2005.

    Willie Mullins, who has landed the Champion Hurdle four times since 2011, trains six of 11 Irish-trained entries, with the most prominent of those being the 2015 winner Faugheen (5/1), who is the most recent odds-on winner of the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

    Nicky Henderson is the most successful trainer of all time in the Champion Hurdle with a total of six victories. In addition to Buveur D’Air and My Tent Or Yours, Henderson saddles Call Me Lord (33/1), who looked impressive at Sandown Park on his latest start, Verdana Blue (40/1) and Charli Parcs (50/1).

     

    Queen Mother Champion Chase

    Altior and Douvan headline the 30 entries for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on the second day of The Festival, Wednesday, March 14th.

    Neither horse has raced so far this season but punters appear undeterred as Altior is an EVS shot here with us at 888sport, whilst Willie Mullins’ once invincible Douvan is also near the top of the betting.

    The Haldon Gold Cup winner from November, Politologue, is trading around the 4/1 mark. After his Exeter success he went on to beat Fox Norton (8/1) in a thrilling renewal of the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December.

    Last year’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Special Tiara (16/1) is one of a record 17 entries from the Emerald Isle.

    The JP McManus owned Great Field (7/1) may also make the line-up according to his connections this week.

     

    Gold Cup

    The feature race of the Cheltenham Festival is the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup which will take place on Friday, March 16th.

    The three and a quarter mile blue-riband event, which carries record prize money of £625,000 in 2018, has attracted 38 entries this year, 18 of which are trained in Ireland.

    The reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup champion, eight-year-old Sizing John (7/1), and the excellent Might Bite (7/2), winner of last year’s RSA Chase at The Festival, are the most prominent names amongst the entries and head the betting.

    Noel Meade's Christmas Chase winner Road To Respect (12/1), his well regarded stablemate Disko (20/1), the Eddie Harty-trained Coney Island (10/1) and Jessica Harrington’s Irish Grand National winner Our Duke (9/1) are the Irish raiders that are currently attracting the most attention from punters on both sides of the Irish Sea.

    Another horse that came into the Cheltenham Gold Cup reckoning over the weekend was Brian Ellison’s Definitly Red (16/1) after winning the Cotswold Chase at National Hunt headquarters.

    Ellison told the Luck On Sunday programme: "Everything is good this morning. He's eaten up and he's in good fettle.

    "It was a good day. I thought he was impressive at Aintree and basically nobody picked up on it. This race was another notch up and he was impressive again. I thought he was exceptional and we were realy delighted with him.

    "He's not slow, he's a very deceiving horse. He's always just behind the bridle and as he's got older he's got stronger.

    "I thought he jumped well and he deserves a crack at the Gold Cup now. It's all systems go.

    "I don't think they'll go any faster in the Gold Cup than they did yesterday and it looks a wide open race."

    "We'll get the Gold Cup out of the way and then think about the Grand National. It's often a good prep," he said.

    Bristol De Mai (33/1) may now head to the Grand National instead of the Gold Cup after he was defeated in the Cotswold Chase.

    “We have asked a few questions of the horse and we have found the answers,” Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owner Isaac Soude and Simon Munir, said.

    “This was a step back in the right direction.

    “He doesn’t look a Gold Cup horse on that running. We might have another plan.

    “He’ll get an entry on Tuesday for the Grand National. It might be the National more than the Gold Cup.”

     

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

    January 30, 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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    Spotlight On The Sky Bet Chase

    Run at Doncaster the Sky Bet Chase (formerly known as the Great Yorkshire Chase) is a Listed Handicap run over 3m.

    The 2017 Sky Bet Chase produced a wonderful result when Ziga Boy put in a brilliant front-running display to become the first dual winner of the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster.

    Here is a runner-by-runner guide to Saturday’s fourteen contenders:

    Tenor Nivernais

    Venetia Williams’ eleven-year-old is the oldest horse in the field. He was the impressive winner of a Listed handicap chase at Ascot last season. No horse has carried 11st 12lb or more to victory in the Great Yorkshire Chase since Bob Tisdall lumped around 12st 5lb in 1988.

     

    L’Ami Serge

    Last year's French Champion Hurdle winner has finished the runner-up in both the Coral Hurdle and the Long Walk at Ascot so far this season and will be returning to the bigger obstacles for the first time in over a year. Connections have called upon the services of Davy Russell to bring him home.

     

    Flying Angel

    Flying Angel, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies was successful in last season's Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick and the Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree. The seven-year-old is having his first start in a handicap chase.

     

    Label Des Obeaux

    Alan King, who has won the last two renewals of this race with Ziga Boy, will be looking to Label Des Obeaux to give him a hat-trick. Based on what he shown on his three runs this season the task appears to be a tall order.

     

    Vibrato Valtat

    The Emma Lavelle-trained ten-year-old returns to Doncaster after coming within a neck of getting his head in front for the first time since winning the 2015 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter when he was trained by Paul Nicholls. He clearly enjoys the three miles at Town Moor and must be on any shortlist.

     

    Warriors Tale

    Paul Nicholls, successful in 2005 and 2009, saddles Warriors Tale. The nine-year-old went down by a neck last time out behind Gold Present at Newbury which is pretty solid form.

     

    Wakanda

    Sue Smith’s Wakanda has very good form figures at Doncaster and could well bring the trophy back home to Yorkshire. He narrowly went down by a head in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

     

    Long House Hall

    Long House Hall makes his belated return to the races, having not been out since July 2016, when he recorded an impressive victory in the Listed Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen. He is only 2lbs higher in the weights for that win and could be well handicapped for just his fifth start over fences.

     

    Coologue

    Coologue has had just the one run this season, when pulling up at Cheltenham in December after losing a shoe somewhere along the way. He came second in this race in 2016 before returning to Doncaster two months later, losing by half a length when sent off the 1/3 favourite. In October 2016 he was the winner of the Randox Handicap Chase over 3m 1f at Cheltenham.

     

    Pilgrims Bay

    Winner of the BetBright Chase at Kempton last February on a day when the quirky eight-year-old decided he was actually going to knuckle down and go through with it. He was runner-up last time out at Kempton after a spell of three bad runs but he really is a difficult horse to catch right.

     

    Mustmeetalady

    Mustmeetalady, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, was victorious last time out in a handicap chase over this course and distance. He was a surprise 16/1 winner that day, just getting the better of the 11/1 Vibrato Valtat. Whether the pair of them can progress to take this feature race remains to be seen.

     

    Minella On Line

    Oliver Sherwood’s bay gelding returns to fences after a couple of spins over hurdles so far this season. The nine-year-old has recorded three career wins, two of which were at Plumpton when ridden by Leighton Aspell. It will be a poignant day for Sherwood if he can land a big race winner twelve months on from the loss of Many Clouds.

     

    Thumb Stone Blues

    Thumb Stone Blues had a choice of engagements this weekend but trainer Kim Bailey is running the ultra-consistent eight-year-old in Doncaster’s most valuable handicap Chase. The Rooney owned eight-year-old was a novice hurdle winner here last March and has never finished out of the first three since. The gelding gets into this race with a very low weight and his claiming rider, Ciaran Gethings, takes off a further 3lbs.

     

    Federici

    Federici ran with great promise a couple of races ago when finishing fourth to Blaklion in the Becher Chase at Aintree. The Donald McCain trained nine-year-old was a well backed favourite at Haydock last time out but was comprehensively beaten in what was very deep Haydock ground. It would come as no surprise to see a resurgence in his form given the less demanding conditions and the red-hot form his handler is currently in.

     

    Conclusion

    A competitive renewal once again with a favourite heading the market that has a tendency not to go through with his effort and invariably finishes the runner-up.

    With that at the back of their minds, punters will undoubtedly be looking at some other horses in the handicap and searching out some value.

    As was alluded to above, Federici looks well overpriced for a stable that is having no end of winners at the moment.

    Wakanda boasts a 25% win strike rate and deserves to win a race of this stature at this racecourse. Sue Smith’s gelding has contested some top handicap chases in the last few seasons and looks the type to be on the premises again.

    888sport suggests: Federici & Wakanda (e/w).

    January 25, 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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    Australian Open: Daily Betting Tips And Live Odds

    Tennis fans, the 2018 Australian Open FINAL is here. 888sport punters will be keeping a close eye on the latest betting markets ahead of the first Grand Slam showpiece event of the calendar year.

    Kyle Edmund's Australian Open dream has come to an end. The British star was living the dream but fell short against Marin Cilic in the semi-final. Cilic will now face the legendary Roger Federer in the final.

    The Swiss has won 19 Grand Slam events and a 20th beckons if he is at his brilliant best.

    Meanwhile, the women's final is also confirmed. World number one Simona Halep, fresh from her victory over the well fancied Angelique Kerber, will take on world number two Caroline Wozniacki.

    It is sure to be an intriguing encounter and one that could live long in the memory if both women play to their potential.

    For those concerned, the latest odds and betting markets for both finals are available via this link

    FINALS:

    Marin Cilic vs Roger Federer

    Cilic will be quietly confident of snatching an upset win at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday morning. The big Croatian is chasing a second Grand Slam title after winning the US Open back in 2014 and he will be tough to beat if he finds his best form.

    His big serve could give Federer trouble if the Swiss takes his foot off the gas.

    via GIPHY

    But Federer has been here before - many times. At 36 years old, he is still doing incredible things on the tennis court and it would take a brave man to back against him.

    The 13/5 available for a 3-1 triumph in favour of Federer is a decent price and plenty of punters will be expecting a 20th Grand Slam success for the greatest tennis player of all-time.

    TIP: Over 3.5 sets @ 7/10

    CORRECT SCORE: Roger Federer to win 3-1 @ 13/5

    Simona Halep vs Caroline Wozniacki

    Halep found it tough at times against Angelique Kerber but just about edged it, taking the final set 9-7. Could this FINALLY be her time to win a Grand Slam title?

    Both players were letting the nerves creep in by the end but Halep was the more assured and she deserves her spot in the final.

    Meanwhile, Wozniacki showed her class with a polished performance against Elise Mertens. If she emulates that effort, she will take some stopping in this contest.

    It is difficult to split both players on current form but Halep might edge it. That victory over Kerber could give her the incentive to push on and end her major drought.

    TIP: Simona Halep to win @ 7/10

    CORRECT SCORE: Simona Halep to win 2-0 @ 7/4

    SEMI FINALS:

    Marin Cilic was supreme against Kyle Edmund, defeating the young British star in straight sets. The Croatian was a class above on the day and deserved the win.

    Meanwhile, Roger Federer is through to yet another final after Hyeon Chung was forced to retire through injury; although Federer was on the verge of going two sets up at the time.

    In the women's event, Elise Mertens is out. She came up short against Caroline Wozniacki in her semi-final whilst Angelique Kerber, previously tipped to win the competition, also crashed out against world number one Simona Halep.

    The Romanian was ruthless in that encounter and will be expected to win the women's event on Saturday morning.

    QUARTER FINALS:

    News flash: Rafael Nadal is OUT. The Spaniard had to retire midway through his quarter final with Marin Cilic and the 2014 US Open champion will face Kyle Edmund in the next round.

    Meanwhile, Hyeon Chung continues his rise to prominence and will take on Roger Federer in the second semi-final. The Swiss star is well fancied to win the competition but will need to be at his brilliant best to lift the Australian Open title for the sixth time.

    via GIPHY

    Elina Svitolina was well beaten by youngster Elise Mertens and the Belgian, now 7/1 to win the competition, has yet to drop a single set. She will now face world number two Caroline Wozniacki in the final four; it could be an exciting affair.

    In the other contest, Simona Halep will need to get past Angelique Kerber and the winner of that encounter could go on to lift the Australian Open crown. Predicting the victor is still very difficult indeed…

    ROUND FOUR:

    Tomas Berdych saved his best performance for round four as he cruised past Fabio Fognini in straight sets to set up a tie with Roger Federer. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal also booked his spot in the last eight but Novak Djokovic is OUT of the tournament.

    The Serbian was beaten in straight sets by South Korean youngster Hyeon Chung and he will now play Dominic Thiem’s conqueror Tennys Sandgren in the next round. It is still almost impossible to predict a winner…

    As mentioned above, Simona Halep cruised through to the next round with a straight sets win against Naomi Osaka whilst young American Madison Keys secured a 2-0 victory of her own against Carolina Garcia.

    Quite a few of the top seeds are still involved as we enter the closing stages of the tournament – Caroline Wozniacki, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova are all in contention to go on and lift the trophy.

    ROUND THREE:

    As expected, Federer romped to a third successive straight sets victory – one of our top tips for round three at 4/6. Fourth seed Alexander Zverev came up short in his clash with South Korean Hyeon Chung after a five set thriller and the young Asian will be quietly confident of going far in the tournament.

    Meanwhile, Kyle Edmund is flying the flag for Great Britain but a tough contest with world number three Grigor Dimitrov awaits in the quarter-finals.

    In the women’s event, Angelique Kerber thrashed Maria Sharapova in round three and the German will take some stopping in her pursuit of glory.

    Simona Halep survived a major scare in her round three match with Lauren Davis, eventually defeating the American 15-13 in the deciding set. Most of the top seeds are still in contention as we approach the business end of the tournament.

    ROUND TWO:

    Again, no major shocks in the men’s draw with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Dimitrov all reaching the third round – although the latter needed to muster all of his strength to win the deciding set against Mackenzie McDonald.

    The well-fancied Alexander Zverev was a class above for most of his second round encounter too, cruising through in four sets. It is shaping up to be a very exciting tournament.

    via GIPHY

    Our top tip in round two came in the women’s draw, with Lauren Davis beating round two opponent Andrea Petkovic in three sets. The over 2.5 line was priced at 31/20 in 888sport’s tennis betting markets; a solid price as a single or in an accumulator.

    Maria Sharapova and Madison Keys will both feature in round three whilst number six seed Karolina Pliskova sent out a statement, thrashing Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-1 in her clash.

    ROUND ONE:

    As expected, almost all of the top seeds in the men’s tournament advanced to the second round of the competition. Novak Djokovic dropped just seven games in his whitewash victory over Dustin Brown whilst Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Grigor Dimitrov also cruised into the next round.

    All four men will be quietly confident of lifting the Australian Open crown at the business end of the competition.

    Over in the women’s competition, Elina Svitolina and Carolina Wozniacki both secured huge wins in their respective fixtures. However, fifth seed Venus Williams – a two time finalist at this event – crashed out of the tournament in dramatic style, losing to youngster Belinda Bencic in straight sets.

    Meanwhile, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens also suffered a shock first round defeat and it could be another unpredictable tournament for the women.

     

    Get all of the Tennis odds and more at 888 Sport

     

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

    January 26, 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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