Tottenham Can Saunter Past Rochdale

There are 10 teams left in the FA Cup and seven of those are from the Premier League. Stranger things have happened but I’ll go to the bottom of our stairs if that does not become seven from nine. Rochdale are 18/1 with bet365 to beat Tottenham in the competition at home today.

The sandy pitch might be a leveller but not to the extent that a team bottom of League One can beat one of the big guns of English football. The teams have never met in a competitive fixture. Tottenham will progress but they have not won the Cup in the Premier League era. LEICESTER CITY are 11/1 with Ladbrokes to win the Cup.

Two of the last 16 ties are undecided but the draw for the sixth round has already been made. Despite the “romance” of the Cup the cream rises to the top. Portsmouth (2008) and Wigan (2013) defied the trends but one of the superpowers usually lifts the trophy in May. Manchester City could do the double for the first time and there could be a first all-Manchester final.

It’s perfectly feasible that the semi-finalists will be City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham and those sides are currently first, second, fourth and fifth in the Premier League. Rochdale are the last hope for the romantics but TOTTENHAM -2 at 5/4 with William Hill is the bet. Let’s hope the farce that is VAR is not a factor!

When the racing is from Market Rasen and Ffos Las you know it’s not a brilliant day for the sport. The modest tracks have their attractions but hardly fit the initial objective of bringing quality racing to the schedules on Sunday. Ireland stages many big races on Sundays but its usually moderate fare in Britain. Despite the quality a winner is a winner and CAPTAIN CHAOS (3.50pm at Market Rasen) cannot be opposed at 8/15 with Betfair.