Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
Like many of you, I shall be gracing the York racecourse with my presence this Saturday. If you’ve never had the pleasure of meeting me and don’t know what I look like then I’ll be the good looking young man sipping champagne and celebrating by handing out £20 notes with my number on to ladies (I’m pretty sure I’ll be doing this, plans may change though).
I would be a fool to give away all my gems of wisdom for Saturday, so I’ll just give you a couple as well as a triumvirate of sporting bets for this weekend.
Sned's Good Things
Wouldn’t it be great to be an Oil Magnate? With spiralling oil prices, you would be one of the few people to enjoy it instead of tearing your hair out as you realise it costs nearly £10 just to get to Asda and that all these lifts you give your mates are actually costing a fortune.
The horse though could actually win you enough for a tank of petrol if you back it. Last time out at Donny it won by 7 lengths over the same distance in a similar quality race.
My other tip is in the big race at 3:25 and I can’t split Regal Flush and Soapy Danger. I have selected a reverse forecast which means these 2 horses have to finish 1st and 2nd (in any combination) for the bet to win.
England travel to Trinidad and Tobago for a friendly on Sunday kicking off at 10:30 pm gmt. I’ve never known a match kick off so late as us being British, we normally make sure the world revolves around us and make games kick off at a reasonable time for the British public. It may noty be the worst thing however that many women and children will be in bed before kick off as it may not be pretty.
England often have problems breaking down weaker opposition away from home and struggle in general away from Wembley. Losses in Croatia, Russia and France, a draw in Israel as well as being level at half time in Andorra and Macedonia do not make pretty reading for the travelling England support.
Don’t get me wrong, England will win but they may not have things all their own way, especially in the 1st half. 7-2 looks great value for the double result of draw/England and this should definitely not be missed.
Twickenham plays host to the Guinness Premiership final between Wasps and Leicester and past finals suggest that this contest may not be as close as the bookies are suggesting. It paid to look at past finals in last weeks Play-off final and I’m aiming to repeat the trick by having Wasps to repeat what themselves, Sale and Leicester have done in the previous 3 finals and win big.
Not wanting to give Union all the attention, the Rugby League Challenge Cup quarter-finals are this weekend and I spy vale in the Leeds v Wigan match. In the last round, Leeds scoring 36 and in the round before that, 38 with Danny McGuire scoring 4 tries in those 2 matches. 5-4 looks a near certainty so I would strongly advise backing it.
Seano's Naps
Written by Sean Martin
Last week my tips were about as successful as a Labour party by election campaign as every selection lost (which is a fantastic achievement given 4 of them were near enough even money shots.) However fear not as I hope to redeem myself this week with a few cheeky efforts to haul back those losses and make myself feel slightly less guilty.
Firstly Fat Boy in the 2:10 at Haydock tomorrow is a recent Newbury winner and flighty sprinter who should make this six furlong trip with ease. Hopefully the ground will suit and he should be good value.
This weekend presents York races and if you are heading down there then I suggest you back Tranquil Tiger in the 3:25 tomorrow. He is a proven stayer and the 1m 6f race should allow him to roar home. Regal Flush and Lion Sands will threaten but my selection should have enough in his locker to prevail.
The quest for the next Chelsea manager has begun with a lot of movement in the exchanges between Mancini, Ancelotti and Rijkaard. Ancelotti has been backed into 4/1 after a rumour was circulated that Abhramovic had short listed him and Rijkaard has long been linked with the job at 6/1. However do not be deterred by Mancini moving out as this often happens in managerial markets which get determined by media rumours and insider snippets.
After Grant, Abhramovic will want a proven winner and Ancelotti failed to give AC Milan champions league football last season and Rijkaard failed domestically and continentally with Barcelona. Whereas Mancini is a winner with a proven track record and is said to have met up with Chelsea representatives for provisional talks so lump on now at 3.85 and look for the potential lay over the weekend.
Believe it or not betting on shows like I’d do anything is very profitable because the shows receive very specific demographics of voters who determine the success of the performers. Normally these are in two groups: young teenage girls and middle aged women.
Consequently Jodie fits the image to prevail in the final in comparison to Jessie and Samantha. Without condemning the poor girl, she is less attractive, heavier and older than her other two contestants but she has a fantastic voice. Audiences love people who aren’t attractive but have talent hence the elevation of Michelle McManus and Rik Waller. Therefore back Jodie at 2.18 and you can sing as well when she is winning.
The IPL has gone the same way as a sober night out in Ziggy’s: it seemed great last week but this time you wondered what all the fun was about. However the semi finals begin this weekend and outsiders the Chennai Super Kings are tremendous value at 9/2. In these tight 20 over affairs individual genius could turn the game and Chennai’s Muralitharan, Morkel and Dhoni are dangerous players.
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