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Today’s ‘Sitting On The Fence’ Preview! – By Rick Elliott

Did you know that Liverpool are playing Everton tonight and the match is being shown live on BT Sport? Well there is a Merseyside Derby in the Women’s Super League and those in the know say the match looks like ending in a draw.

There is another fixture that requires comment because there is a meeting in League 1 that brings together a football club and another that has been the same club in the past! AFC Wimbledon are the team that represent that part of London more famous for tennis and they host MK Dons, the team that used to be called Wimbledon!

Confused? If so all you can do is bet on the draw at 9/4 with bet365.

So, we are sitting on the fence with regards these two standout fixtures and suggest both matches will end in a share of the points. You could throw in a draw in the match between Forest Green and Swindon in League 2 and you have a treble that pays over 45/1.

Racing at Ayr has been abandoned and animals have been seen marching down the High Street in pairs. The track’s biggest Flat meeting of the season has been totally lost to the weather so Newbury is now the principle meeting offering the most prize money.

The richest race of the day is the 4.00 and I have no second thought in tipping a horse called…..SECOND THOUGHT! This Listed race gives three-year-olds a three pound age allowance over older opponents.

Second Thought won on AW Championship Day on Good Friday and can translate that form to turf today. The horse was good enough to run in the same race as Harry Angel at Haydock in May and that is standout form in the context of the race today:

9/4 with Skybet!

Paul Nicholls has a 33% strike rate at Newton Abbott and Sam Twiston-Davies is the leading jockey at the track since 2013/14. The first race is a match between two horses trained by Nicholls and Sam is riding Diego Du Charmil for his boss and the horse won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2016 and is the best bet of the day.

 

http://blog.betfan.com/betfan-2/5906/

Spurs Can Win This London Derby –  By Rick Elliott

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Traditionalists and the old school might not know what to make of the demise of Upton Park and White Hart Lane. For many years they were the home grounds of West Ham and Tottenham Hotspurs. Saturday’s live meeting takes place at the London (former Olympic) Stadium where the Hammers now play and Spurs have a temporary home at Wembley while their own ground is being upgraded.

This long-standing London Derby brings together teams from the east and north part of the capital and north can get the better of east because Tottenham are fancied to win this match. They are a better footballing team with a settled line-up including Harry Kane who is a proven goal scorer at this level. West Ham are average at best and home advantage at the new ground will not be enough to avoid defeat.

In assessing the likely outcome of Liverpool’s second fixture at Leicester in a week you have to get into the mind of Jurgen Klopp. The sides met in the EFL Cup on Tuesday and Klopp made 8 changes for the trip from the starting 11 that could only draw with Burnley at Anfield last weekend. The manager will revert to his best team but that may not be good enough to avoid defeat. Liverpool miss loads of chances and are susceptible at the other end.

Some of their fans are rationalising the Cup defeat by pointing out that Leicester are a decent side who won the league two years ago. However, that’s clutching at straws as the 2015-16 season was a freak when the team massively overachieved. Leicester are now a decent mid-table outfit but these are matches Liverpool should be winning if they have aspirations to win the Premier League. They can’t hit a barn door and are porous at the back which is not a title-winning recipe and Leicester can profit.

Brighton and Newcastle meet on the south coast on Sunday. This fixture brings together two of the promoted teams from the Championship last season. They earned a place in the top division by finishing first and second with Newcastle on top but only by one point. Both clubs are adjusting to the Premier League but Newcastle have more money and are getting their act together. They have won their last three league matches and that run can continue on the road this weekend.

Brighton won a match in the Premier League for the first time in their history at home to West Brom earlier this month. Since then they have lost to Bournemouth in the EFL Cup and league. Bournemouth have lost their other four matches this season and are in the bottom three. If Brighton can’t beat their coastal neighbours picking up anything against Newcastle will be tough and an away win is the prediction.

Ahead of their match at home against West Brom on Monday Arsenal could be described as the enigma of the Premier League, losing at Liverpool with something to spare and then not long after holding Chelsea at Stanford Bridge. One week Arsene Wenger is on borrowed time and the next week he’s the best thing since sliced bread. He needs some stability but the owners and senior managers seem to be making a pig’s ear of running the club. Wenger must feel massively offended about Arsenal playing on Thursday nights in the Europa League.

West Brom are West Brom and nothing much changes at a club when Tony Pulis is in charge. They already seem destined for mid-table safety having won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their first five matches, scoring 4 goals and conceding 4 goals. Pulis has never been relegated as a manager and one of his sides finished in the top half of the Premier League for the first time last season but West Brom overachieved. His sides generally don’t beat Arsenal away from home and even sharing the points in this fixture looks beyond them.

A Quiet Day, However…

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When the highlight of the football programme is a Betfred Cup match in Scotland between Motherwell and Aberdeen you know it’s a quiet day for the sport. However, there is an interesting fact that could provide a betting opportunity. Motherwell have played 11 times this season and not failed to score in any match. Aberdeen are unbeaten in domestic football which makes a correct score of one-all the standout bet:

6/1 with Skybet!

England were head and shoulders above West Indies in the first ODI on Tuesday. The second meeting in the 5 match series takes place at Trent Bridge today. The weather forecast is not good so the match could suffer interruptions. It may become more akin to a T20 slog and that gives West Indies a fighting chance of levelling the series with three matches to play. In any case 5/2 with bet365 seems a big price especially if Chris Gayle gets his eye in and hits the ball around the ground.

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Can we trust managers to respect the EFL Cup? – By Rick Elliott 

The money buyers and banker bettors will be out in force tonight when four good things in the EFL Cup pay over 4/5 in a multiple with bet365. 

Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United all have home ties against teams from a lower division. However, the matches have been priced on the assumption the managers will play a strong team. The four fold looks to offer no value.

The EFL Cup is fourth in the list of priorities of teams playing in the Champions League or Europa League. The four bankers are each involved in European competition so managers may play a second string tonight.

The multiple can be boosted by backing Manchester City to win at West Brom and in their current form that is very tempting. But do we know how important the EFL Cup is to Pep Guardiola and the club’s hierarchy?

The dilemma illustrates the importance of information when betting on sport. Some club insiders may already have inkling that players may be rested for tonight’s fixtures.

Getting going on for even money for the four Premier League sides hosting inferior opponents at home looks a good bet but in reality weakened starting line-ups could make the multiple vulnerable to at least accumulator busting upset.

Titi Makfi Is Today’s Racing Banker Bet 

The Flat season is now in a lull between the Doncaster St Leger meeting and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Champions Day at Ascot in October. Yarmouth stages the principle meeting and richest race of the day.

Titi Mafia has conditions in her favour in the John Musker Fillies’ Stakes (3.50pm) and is the standout bet of the day:

9/4 with Skybet!

On the same card Zabeel Prince (4.55pm) has the form and ratings to prevail but bookmakers have done punters no favours by making the horse odds-on. Wealth Tax has conditions to suit today and Zabeel Prince looks vulnerable in this trappy handicap.

There is much more juice in Titi Makfi’s price and the long journey from Mark Johnston’s stable in Yorkshire to the south coast can prove to be a lucrative and rewarding trip.

The horse has won five times this season but the best effort was in defeat in a competitive handicap at York last month. Titi Makfi has improved throughout the season and that process can continue with a win at Yarmouth today.

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Howard’s Eye-Catchers

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Well who can believe the final classic of the season has been and gone with Capri winning for Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore meaning the jockey has now won every English classic.

I suppose on reflection Capri was the obvious choice but I did fancy Defoe who ran no sort of race and was beaten a distance. I’m sure the horse named after the ever green footballer is better than that and will prove that in the fullness of time.

Last week I moaned about the quality of midweek racing however today we have some super cards which includes a very good listed race at Sandown where I will play Howie’s Hottie. It’s a mile contest and I fancy two against the field in Dbai from the Godolphin team and Larchmount Lad who has recently been transferred from the Hannon’s to David O’Meara.

David is a dab hand of improving horses he gets from other yards and I’m sure he can do it with this one. The way I would play this race Sandown’s 3.05 is by having two win singles plus a reverse forecast.

EYE-CATCHERS

FLAT

Kryptos trainer J.Berry – He romped home at Doncaster last time and is still ahead of the handicapper.

Pipers Note trainer Ruth Carr – Unlucky in running at Doncaster yet finished strongly

Stake Acclaim trainer D.Ivory – Badly hampered when making his challenge and finished down the field. I’m sure he would have been involved with a clear run.

JUMPERS

Guiding Stars trainer H.Wittington – Ran a good 2nd in a bumper on Monday after being off for a while and will improve for the run. Harry has said the gelding has been doing incredible things on the gallops.

Back next Wednesday be lucky.

Howard Davis-Shaw.

CLICK HERE For Howard’s Betting Opportunity!

West Indies Look Good Value To Beat England – By Rick Elliott

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It seems strange for an international series of 5 day matches in any format to be starting in England in the second half of September. The home side host the West Indies in 5 One day Internationals before the end of the month and West Indies are the value option to win the first meeting at Old Trafford today:

12/5 with bet365

England won the recent Test series between sides but the West Indies did not select some of their best players. Only players competing in domestic cricket are considered for the tests and Chris Gayle and others play T20 in franchises around the world.  He either scores a quick 50 or gets run out early but his side have enough talent in the white ball format to beat England today.

The televised match in the EFL Cup brings together Leicester and Liverpool today. Leicester are not playing in Europe and have no chance of history striking twice in the Premier League so this competition is a feasibly objective. Jurgen Klopp is obsessed with the Premier League and Champions league and could send out a second string today. In any case Leicester have been overpriced to beat Liverpool tonight.

For a Tuesday the racing is more about quantity than quality today as there are five meetings in Britain and Ireland, all on the Flat so there is no variety. The principle meeting is at Yarmouth and the feature id 3.05pm, a handicap with a small but select field. High End is well bred and has won all three starts to date. The ground and trip are unknowns but the horse has the class and form to win again today.

In golf there is a large fortune on the line in the US PGA tour finale, the Tour Championship. This event will decide the winner of the FedEx Cup and $10 million dollar bonus. Thirty elite players have qualified for the limited field tournament and any could win.

Betfairway will be highlighting the best bets! This service is still on the crest of a wave:  +216.25 Points Profit for the European Masters earlier this month! You can get all the best golf bets until the end of the season for just THIRTY POUNDS!

JOIN BETFAIRWAY: CLICK HERE!

Enjoy the cricket today – West Indies can beat England at Old Trafford!

Leicester Can Win The League Cup Again – By Rick Elliott 

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What have the Milk Marketing Board, Littlewoods, Rumbelows, Coca-Cola, Worthington’s, Molson Coors, Capital One and Carabao got in common?

This might seem like a list of unconnected organisations when in fact each company has sponsored the League Cup at some stage between 19981 and this year.

The competition comes well down the pecking order of the big team’s targets for the season. However, the two most successful clubs in English football have won the most League Cups.

Liverpool have won the competition 8 times and Manchester United share second place with Aston Villa with five wins but have been the losing finalist one more time.

The winners of the League Cup qualify for the Europa League and the winners of that competition get a place in the Champions League.

That means Leicester’s home tie against Liverpool on Tuesday could be the start of a process by which one of the clubs plays in the Champions League the season after next.

Leicester can make home advantage pay and embark on a journey this season which culminates with them winning the League Cup for the fourth time:

33/1 with bet365!

It’s the second half of September but the cricket season is far from over. England and West Indies are playing in five One day Internationals from tomorrow until a week on Friday.

England won the Test series but West Indies won the one T20 international last Friday night. They are better in the shorter formats of the game than 5 day matches.

Players are only selected for Tests if they are playing in domestic first class cricket and many of the better players appear in T20 franchise tournaments around the world.

West Indies can win the 50 over series against England starting this week.

9/4 with Skybet!

Ayr stages its biggest Flat meeting from Thursday and the highlight is the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday. Ahead of final declarations assessing the race is difficult. Johnny Barnes looks a good bet and the horse is named after a very good footballer who rapped on World In Motion, England’s 1990 World Cup song!

16/1 with bet365!

 

 

It’s a big day for Wayne Rooney….will he score or get sent off? – By Rick Elliott

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Wayne Rooney is 4/1 to score at any time for Everton against Manchester United….and 33/1 to be sent-off. It could go either way for United and England’s record scorer at Old Trafford today and in court tomorrow! He is still held in high regard by staff at his former club but the fans may see things differently and will give him plenty of stick.

The fixture is the second live match of the day and looks a home banker. The same could be said of the London Derby between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and the double on two home wins pays almost 6/4 with bet365. It looks obvious but sometimes the obvious does transpire.

Sunday racing was introduced in Britain to provide the sport on a second leisure day. The quality of the racing has been disappointing and today is a case in hand. Ordinary fare on the Flat at Ffos Las and Bath will not get anybody excited but a winner is a winner and I have found a standout bet today:

Rick’s Sunday Special

Rolling Maul 4pm At Ffos Las

13/8 with Skybet!

The horse has won over course and distance and is suited to conditions today. I wonder if connections and backers have a better day than Wayne Rooney!

The Joy Of Each Way Punting – By Rick Elliott

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Each way betting can be a lucrative and rewarding way to beat the bookies by backing big priced runners to make the payout places.

There is a horse running in the 4.15pm race at Sandown called Directorship that has the highest Racing Post Rating, gets a three pound allowance due to the inexperience of the jockey but can be backed at 12/1 with Skybet who pay a fifth the odds for the first four.

If this type of bet is your cup of tea you will just love a racing service that focuses on each way betting. After a very successful proofing period on Tipster Planet Each Way Hits is now live. Opposing the favourites can boost your betting bank!

What a wonderful start yesterday!

Milan Reef – WON at 8/1!

Heart Of Kernow – WON at 14/1!

Over +50 points profit and already 241.02 points in front this month!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE!

Don’t miss some great opportunities from an each way betting specialist who consistently identifies horses at big prices that make the frame. Directorship is his type of bet and Each Way Hits gives bets like this every day.

For football fans there is the South Coast Derby tonight that brings together two of the minnows of the top division. Brighton won for the first time ever in the Premier League last Saturday. Their 3-1 win at home against West Brom has given their season and confidence a massive hit. Brighton are on the crest of a wave and can beat a Bournemouth team tonight who have lost their first four fixtures this season:

14/5 with bet365!

In backing Directorship and Brighton you are going against the crowd but Each Way Hits proves this is a strategy that can pay dividends and keep you in front.

 

Rooney Has A Busy Few Days Which Could Not Go Well! – By Rick Elliott

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Wayne Rooney has a day in court next Monday and what better way to prepare is a match for his current team against the club for whom he has scored more goals than any other player. The fixture between Manchester United and Everton is always feisty but Saturday’s live TV fixture has several subplots. However, it could end up predictably with three points for United and Romelu Lukaku scoring at least one goal.

Everton have invested a large amount of money and the objective is to break into the elite group of teams that qualify for the Champions league. The club are developing a new stadium close to the docks and nearer the city centre. There was a great deal of optimism at the start of the season but the home defeat to Tottenham last weekend was dispiriting. A trip to a vibrant old Trafford could end in tears.

In addition to being traditional Merseyside and Manchester rivals there has been added spice to the fixtures over recent years. David Moyes was a huge let down for United fans and his main signing from his old club Everton, Marouane Fellaini looked out of his depth. With an injury to Paul Pogba Fellaini will probably start against Everton alongside Lukaku who is also an ex-Blue.

Rooney has been forgiven for moving from Everton to United where he was loyal and never let anyone down. Once he broke Booby Charlton’s club scoring record a move was inevitable and a return to the club he always supported was on the cards. The man had just about everything but brains in his feet is apt. We don’t know how close Koeman and Colleen were to giving him the boot but you sense he is drinking from the last chance saloon at home and work. Losing to United won’t help.

Crystal Palace have made the worst start in the history of the Premier league. You have to go back to the 1920’s to find a side with a worse record in the top division after four games. Ronald de Boer was given the boot and the players now require a manager with tactical acumen who can instil some belief and inspire them. Step forward Roy Hodgson, the civil servant who couldn’t cope with England and got found out when he briefly managed Liverpool.

Hodgson’s first match in charge is the first TV match of the weekend, at home to Southampton. Its too early to talk about must win matches but on current form both sides could be battling all season at the wrong end of the table. The fresh face and new manager syndrome could kick in and Palace can win this fixture despite and not because of Hodgson who amazingly lives to fight another day.

Tottenham put the Wembley bogey to bed with an impressive Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund in the national stadium. Swansea are the next visitors but they are another club that could get embroiled in relegation. You can’t see anything but a Tottenham win and goals from Harry Kane who has scored six goals in his last three matches for club and country because it’s not August.

There is no love lost between Chelsea and Arsenal but it’s not as bad as when Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger were the respective managers. They truly were like chalk and cheese but there was a strange respect and dynamic beneath the hatred. Childishly they’ve refused to shake hands in the past and that’s totally out of character for Mourinho. The Special One has gone north and the top dog in London last season was Antonio Conte at Chelsea.

His side demolished a poor Qarabag outfit in the Champions League this week but Arsenal are another kettle of fish. Wenger has yet again bought some more time with a league win but faced FC Koln in the Europa League on Thursday less than 72 hours before this London derby. The cost of missing out on the Champions league is less recovery time between fixtures in Europe and in the Premier League. Chelsea have the edge in that respect which they can apply to beat Arsenal.