Weekend Tips

Plenty of action this week as we have a full set of football fixtures, Horse Racing from Chester,Newmarket,Haydock and Market Rasen, Rugby League Play-off semi-finals and the Ryder Cup. It promises to be a very exciting weekend of sport. 

Football:

This week I am looking towards a treble as the way to go. Everton have been playing really well of late and despite their defeat in mid-week to Leeds they still go into this one as favourites. For me Everton are going to have a terrific season and will challenge for top 4. David Moyes has done a wonderful job and I believe a top 6 finish I think is a cert. Players such as Marouane Fellani, Steven Pienaar, Nikica  Jelavic, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka have been immense. On the other hand Nigel Adkins's Southampton have struggled. Last weeks victory over Aston Villa was crucial. It was one that they simply had to win. However for me as I regularly express Aston Villa are poor and were there for the taking. I think the win with have done the confidence of the team the world of good although I just think Everton will be too strong. As ever with Southampton defensively they are very weak and they will be tormented by Everton whose movement and power will be too much. Skybet go 4/11 the Everton win.

Cisse is back on the goal trail

The second team in the treble is Newcastle. It is very rare that I back my own team however in this instance at 11/8 (SkyBet) that are just too tempting not to back. The Toon travel to Reading whose form of late has been awful. Their performance against Tottenham recently was so poor as similar to Southampton it was defensively that they were so susptical. The marking was poor and they gave far to much time and space to the Tottenham players. Despite their win in midweek I expect a side as strong as Newcastle to put them away. Papiss Cisse (left) scoring in midweek is great news for the Toon and will relive the tension of the striker waiting for his first goal. This too with Demba Ba already on terrific form  should provide nothing but nightmares for an already shaky Reading backline. 

The third and final team is that of Stoke (10/11-SkyBet). Stoke take on a Swansea side who bubble is bursting. Despite a great start to the season Swansea have lost their last two and an away trip to Stoke is always a physical and tough task as all the top teams have found out, with both Arsenal and Manchester City only managing draws at the Britannia. It will be interesting to see how Michael Laudrup's Swansea cope and if they are up for the fight or they will just crumble. 

Elsewhere I am tipping Arsenal to win the early game against Chelsea. The 6/5 (SkyBet) is a nice price and one worth going with. In their current form and at home, Arsenal have a great chance. Despite Chelsea being top of the League for me they have not been playing that well and today is their first real test this season. Lukas Podolski to score at any time 11/2 (SkyBet) is a wonderful bet. 

Other Premier League games that are intriguing is Fulham/Manchster City and Norwich/Liverpool. Fulham at home are very good and I think Manchester City could be in for a tough time. On the other hand Norwich/Liverpool is two teams who have started slowly. Both without a win however the pressure in on Brendan Rodgers here as Liverpool will still be expected to win this one. 

Bet of the day : Everton/Newcastle/Stoke treble @ 5/1 (SkyBet) . 

Lower League win Accumulator: Brighton/Bolton/Gillingham and Huddersfield @8/1 (SkyBet)

Long shot of the day: Fulham to beat Manchester City @7/2 (SkyBet)

Horse-Racing:

Having looked at the cards Newmarket is where the bets are. The main attraction is that of the The Cambridgeshire is at 3.40 and I am tipping Frankie Dettori's mount for Saeed Bin Suroor.

Win Bets:  Newmarket: 1.55 Excess Knowledge @ 8/1 (SkyBet) 

                 Newmarket: 3.00 Chachamaidee @11/2 (SkyBet)

EachWay: Newmarket: 3.40 Man of Action @16/1 (SkyBet)  

Rugby League: 

I am tipping St Helens to defeat Warrington is a thriller tonight to join Leeds in next weeks showcase.  They are 11/10 (SkyBet) to do just that and this is a nice price. 

Golf:

So Europe trail 5-3 after Day 1, a deficit which can be easily rectified. Europe are now out 5/2 to win the Ryder Cup. This is very tempting, as things can change very quickly. Todays foursomes are crucial as Europe must win a minimum of 2 in the morning session and in the afternoon session. Going into the afternoon at 9-7 down I would still fancy Europe but behind by more then 2 will be very tough indeed,  Looking at the quality of European golfer I am amazed that USA are as short as 2/5 after Day 1. This is far too short. 

Good Luck with all your bets this weekend. 

Relegation Fears Become Very Real As Season Nears Its Climax

With eight games to go many Premier League teams are still at risk of relegation. Currently Wigan,West ham, Woves, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Blackpool, West Brom, Fulham, Newcastle United and even Sunderland are involved. None of these are safe.

Wigan have been struggling all year and are my favourites to go down. They just don't have enough to survive. The likes of Hugo Rodallega and Charles N'Zogbia are the key men and will have to produce if Wigan are to survive. They have picked up results recently however I feel that they will go down.

Ba is West Ham best hope for goals 

West Ham were in trouble for a long time however have picked up dramatically and with players like Demba Ba (left), Scott Parker and Victor Obinna they have a chance to survive. Demba Ba is a player I really like and am sure many Premier League teams will want to sign him this summer. Upton Park is a very tough place to go and they will have to pick up points there and fast. 

Woves are a terrific battling team and it is this that i think will see them safe. They will continue to get results and think they will make it. The likes of Kevin Doyle, Stephan Hunt and Matt Jarvis will see them safe. 

Birmingham are in really danger. Poor performances have left them in a very dangerous position. They are tricky at home which is where I see there points coming from. With Nikola Zigic and the arrival of Obafemi Martins i can see them just surviving.

Asron Villa is the one who have an outside chance of going down. They have no ability to grind out results. No fighting spirit. I look at Villa I see a beaten team, no team morale or spirit. Defeat to Woves was crucial. They just don't have the players willing to battle to see them safe. The key man is Darren Bent, his goals will be key. It a bold claim and would be a real shock but for me Villa will go down. Best bet 7-1 got to be worth a punt.

Great character--Holloway 

Blackpool have become many peoples second team after this season. With Ian Holloway (right) at the helm, Charlie Adam, terrific spirit and the way they play I hope they survive. They are on a poor run but I am hoping they can turn it around as they are great to have in the Premier League. 

West Brom will be very close to going down however under Roy Hodgson they will just make it. Three points against Arsenal would have been huge. They are a side improving and battling.

Blackburn are the another team who for me will go down. In freefall and no sign of that ending. 

Fulham will also see themselves safe. They will pick up draws that edge them towards safety. Bobby Zamora's return is key.

Newcastle are also in a dire run of form with only one win in nine. However think they will survive. They have crucial games away at Villa and Blackpool and home games against Birmingham and Woves where the safety points will come from. However they should be wary and they could easily drop back down to the championship.

Sunderland should be safe. Cannot really see them going down. Would be incredible but see them finishing 4/5 points from safety.

Prediction : Blackburn, Aston Villa, Wigan DOWN.

Is a bold claim but can see it happening.