Weekend Tips

Last week proved to be very successful. In the football my bet of the day won as Cardiff managed to overcome Norwich for a gift at 6/5. Everton also came through after defeating Aston Villa for a lovely 5/2 double.

There was also success of the horse racing front. Four out of the five selections won. The only failure was shutthefrontdoor as he was a non-runner. Therefore the bet became two doubles.

In the rugby union the win looked secure until Wales conceded a late try to only win by 8 points instead of the 10 required.

This week provides plenty more opportunity for wins with football and horse racing.

Football:

This week the bet of the day is Crystal Palace at 7/5 (Skybet) to beat West Brom at home. Both sides are near the foot of the table in dire need of points. Tony Pulis have improved Palace beyond all recognition in the

Ince to help fire Pulis' Palace to 3 points

past month or so and I expect that to continue today. The availability of Tom Ince will also provide Palace with additional firepower in attack and could be the difference today. Having seen him play on many occasions in the Championship I am very interested to see how he performs at the higher level. There is no doubt he has terrific talent and I expect him to have a big impact for Palace and in doing so helping to secure Premier League survival this season.

It is great to see young England players like Ince and Zaha hopefully playing week in week out in the Premier League.

West Brom have struggled all year and I do not think the sacking of Steve Clarke has benefited them. Having said that in players such as James Morrison, Chris Brunt and very talented Saido Berahino they have more than other sides around them. The selling of Shane Long was a strange one and in doing so they have lost a very useful attacking option.  Having seen West Brom of late I think they are going to find it very tough today. The best I can see them getting is a draw.

The treble bet would be a Palace win with Chelsea and Southampton for 7/2 (Skybet).

Horse Racing:

This weekend racing comes from Newbury, Lingfield and Warwick. All meeting have been given the go-ahead after inspections. The ground will be a major factor today as it has been for the past few weeks and so a battling horse who loves the mud is required.

Newbury: Katenko in 2.25 at 11/4 (Skybet). Beaten on his last run and today he is in a very strong field including Paul Nicholls trained favourite Al Ferof. However taking into account Venetia Williams' form of late and that Katenko is 4 pounds lighter I think he will give it the edge.

Smad Place 15/8 (Skybet) in the 4.10 would be my second selection at Newbury.

The double is at 9/1 (Skybet).

At Warwick the stand out bet is Red Brick in the 2.40. Personally thought he would be a shorter price but at 11/4 (Skybet) it is a no brainer. Was disappointing on last run but feel it will return to form today.

Weekend Tips

So another weekend is here and more chances for money to be made. Last week we had a good weekend the bet of the day winning as Sunderland beat Liverpool, this two with the other prediction of Everton beating Tottenham.  Hope you had one of those. However elsewhere Stevenage let down our accumulator and the horses were a disaster.

Dull game predicted for Mowbray's side at St Andrews

This week the Premier League action is limited with only four matches due to the FA Cup however on the plus there are some bumper mid-week fixtures so something to look forward to during the week. This week I would leave the FA Cup alone and just focus on league action. This week for me there is no real stand out bet as there has been in previous weeks. As a result win accumulator and goals accumulator are the way to good. The only one is the game in the Championship between Chris Hughton's Birmingham City and Tony Mowbray's (right) Middlesborough. The game has draw written all over it for me, and @12-5 (SkyBet) could be worth a small punt.

Football:

Win Accumulator: Southampton, Southend, Cheltenham, Sheffield Utd @10-1 (SkyBet)

Goals Accumulator: Ipswich/Peterborough, Notts County/Sheffield Wednesday, Bury/Wycombe, Hartlepool/Stevenage @ 7-1 (Sky  Bet)

Horse Racing:

It has been a fantastic week at Cheltenham and the standard of the racing has been superb. Some fantastic performances and an incredible win for Synchronised and Champion Jockey AP McCoy in the Gold Cup on Friday. This weekened action is not of the same caliber but there are some interesting one there.

Each-way bet: Kempton 2.50-  Soundbyte @12-1 (SkyBet). First ride for this one this season however he is a good horse and one who has won at Kempton before over a similar distance. Is one to watch for the season,

Win bet: Newcastle 2.35- Stormy Weather @3-1 (SkyBet). Beaten favourite last time out however this horse is class and who is constantly improving.

Rugby League: 

This week I cannot see any other outcome then this. Short price but should be a win.

Wins for: St Helens, Hull, Catalan, Wigan, Warrington @ 8/11

Rugby Union:

Wales to beat France and England to beat Ireland @6/5 double (SkyBet)

Wales to win by 6-10 points @4-1 (SkyBet)

Good luck with all your bets this week.

Weekend Tips

With many matches being called off this weekend it has left only a selection of fixtures to look at. 

Due to the poor conditions I would expect that there might be a few shocks today and so picking outright winners could be tough. However the conditions should aid the number of goals and I expect many this weekend.

Predict Birmingham good run to continue

Football:

Both teams to score:

Norwich vs. Bolton

Watford vs. Barnsley

Bristol City vs. Leeds

Cardiff vs. Blackpool

Best bet of the day: Both teams to score in all League One games today- 8-1 (SkyBet)

Long shot of the day: 3 draws- West Brom vs. Swansea, Stoke vs. Sunderland, Wigan vs. Everton

40-1 with SkyBet.

One straight bet : Chris Hughton (right) to maintain Birmingham form with win over Southampton 11/10 (SkyBet)

Worst bet of the day: Arsenal to beat Blackburn at 2/9 (SkyBet). Arsenal should win however this price in far to short for me and would not be going in my Accumulator as do not trust Arsenal to deliver and after Blackburn performances of late. Better bet is Van Persie to score first at 4-1 (Skybet)

Horse Racing:

Each-Way bet : Brunston 12-1 (SkyBet) in the 3.35 at Lingfield.

Rugby Union:

Half-time/full time double bet

France/France- 1/9

Scotland/ England 11/2

Nice 8-1 Double with SkyBet.

Eastmond Heads To Bath As League Continues To Lose Its Stars

Eastmond on his way to bath 

With the recent announcement that Kyle Eastmond is leaving St Helens to join Bath it is a sad day for the game. One of the future stars in Rugby League will have left at the age of 21. He has conquered nothing in Rugby League with no winners medals.

'One that left earlier'
Ashton proved great success in Union

I could understand if he had won everything and wanted a new challenge like Jason Robinson did. I do believe that losing these players at an increasingly early age should worry the RFL. Before it was the older players Robinson, Andy Farrell and Henry Paul but recently Chris Ashton and now Eastmond both in their early 20's. Lee Smith also left and although he came back it is worrying how many good young players are being tempted. Maybe it is the money, Rugby Union has far greater financial power. Maybe its the prospect of playing in competitions such as the Heineken Cup or on the International stage in the Six Nations or in World Cup's in front of 80/90 thousand. League lacks these competitions competitiveness. 

Despite New Zealand's recent triumphs in League, which has been great to see, it is still only them and Australia. England are a far away third and after that you really are struggling. Union is now thought of by the world when people say Rugby. The Rugby Football League (RFL) were slow to react and Union stole a march and the initiative. As a result League has been left behind. The game itself is great  and as a spectacle is second to none. It has a host of famous fans from others sports including the likes of Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney. The newer rules introduced are good e.g. the idea of the 40/20 in 1999. 

Forward thinking- Video Technology 

It move to a summer sport has been a success and it has always been trying to improve e.g one of the first sports to use video technology in 1996, another major success. This has since been copied by Union as well as many other sports. It is a different game to Union as has pace, freedom and constant play. However the people who run Union have got the marketing side right. I know there is an argument for the coverage Union gets over League for many reasons such as background and snobbery however for me the RFL could and should have done more. In Union players have higher profiles due to the marketing and they have spread the game worldwide. Though still true that there is only 9 genuine teams. Although they have developing sides and the game is very strong in France (unlike League) and South Africa where League is non-exsistent. Having been left behind it is very tough for League to compete. The losing of stars also doesn't help. If Sam Tomkins of Wigan was now to leave it would be a disaster. The RFL must act as otherwise the game will go into further decline. It can not survive in England with many of the teams coming from only two counties. 

For too long people in the North of England want the game to be kept in the M62 corridor. They like it as 'their game' that no one really knows about. However this attitude for me must change if the sport is to get national recognition and international success.

Many will argue that it is flattering that other sports come and take the players and that the system of youth development is so good these players will be replaced and the game continued. For example I hear Jonny Lomax is to replace Eastmond. He is another young up and coming star. However despite the fact that I agree with this view I do not think it is healthy for the game. 

I do not really understand Eastmond's decision as he could have achieved so much and I would liked him to have seen the Australian NRL as a bigger challenge then going to Union. Union domestic game is poor as the only care is for the Heineken Cup and so for me the International pull and money may have done it. I wish him all the best however feel it is a mistake that he will later regret.