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This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Can The Final FA Cup Fifth Round Tie Also Go To Form?

The romance of the FA Cup has taken a blow after all seven ties played so far in the fifth round were won by the team higher in the hierarchy after 90 minutes. There are no replays from now on but extra time and penalties was not required in any of the ties. Ultimately Manchester City’s quality told against Newport and they are through to the quarter-finals. This week the club play Schalke in the Champions League and Chelsea in the final of the EFL Cup. MANCHESTER CITY are 10/1 with Betfair to win four trophies which no English team has ever done in one season.

If the final tie of the fifth round is won by the higher ranked team Manchester United will beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight. All in the garden was rosy for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before PSG were too good for United in the Champions League. If United lose tonight his credentials for being the permanent manager will be questioned. However, Chelsea are in disarray and a defeat at home would be damaging for the manager, Maurizio Sarri. The PSG reverse could be a blip and MANCHESTER UNITED are tipped to beat Chelsea at 11/4 with Paddy Power.

It’s the third round of matches in the Six Nations at the weekend and a potential decider when Wales play England in Cardiff on Saturday. The old rivals are the only teams to have won their first two matches but England are top of the table as they have picked up two bonus points. They have the superior point’s difference by 32 so 16 points per match. Home advantage is worth six points so on current form England should be 10 points favourites. You can back ENGLAND -4 at 10/11 with Coral.

In cricket England embark on a five match One Day International series against West Indies and there are two fixtures in Bridgetown this week. The home team won the three Test series 2-1 but that result went against the latest form. England are first in the official ODI world rankings and West Indies are in 9th place. The home team defied the odds in the Tests but over five 50 over’s matches ENGLAND can beat their hosts 4-1 or 3-2 at combined odds of about 4/7 with Paddy Power.

The Cheltenham Festival begins three weeks tomorrow and there are some final potential prep races at Kempton on Saturday. The Dovecote Novice’s Hurdle often produces a decent winner who gets into the picture for similar races at the Festival. Wissahickon looks a good thing in the Winter Derby at Lingfield on the same day. There are many Nationals these days and ROYAL TARA is the tip to win the Surrey version at Lingfield today (3.50pm) and that outcome is 5/1 with Coral.

More Cup Games Should Go To Form 

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The teams higher in the pyramid than their opponents have won the four FA Cup ties played in the last 16 so far. There are three fixtures today and two ties involve Premier League teams playing clubs lower down the hierarchy away from home. Swansea host Brentford in the other match which brings together two teams from the bottom half of the Championship. The home team are three places and four points better off than their opponents but have played one more game. Home advantage can be key and SWANSEA are fancied to win the match at 8/5 with Paddy Power.

There were only seven Premier League teams in the fifth round which is lower than average but the three that have already played have progressed to the quarter-finals. Manchester United visit Chelsea on Monday which means another team from the top division will qualify for the last eight. With Wembley getting closer the bigger outfits are focusing more on the Cup. Wolves (at Bristol City) and Crystal Palace (at Doncaster Rovers) are potential winners so should play strong teams. The DOUBLE for both Premier League teams to win in 90 minutes is 9/4 with Coral.     

Sunday racing was introduced in Britain to share the decent racing over two days of the weekend. However, the reality is that yesterday there was full of grade races and there is nothing better than Class 3 contests at Huntingdon and Market Rasen today.  In Ireland many of the major races take place on Sunday and Navan stages two grade 2 races this afternoon. Blow By Blow looks a big price in the novice chase at 3.25pm but the nap runs in the conditions hurdle over two miles and five furlongs at 2.20pm. On form and ratings BACHASSON is the horse to back at 13/8 with Paddy Power. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Newport Can Prevent A Drubbing Against City 

There are three matches in the last 16 of the FA Cup today and the first tie of the round saw the Premier League side beat a team from a lower division on the road. All the evidence suggests there should be the same outcome at the end of Manchester City’s trip to Newport in the fifth round. They say you should never back a team at odds-on away from home and only the money buyers will be interested in the 6% return on investment on a City win. The betting angle comes in the form of the margin of victory and the spread bookmakers make City three goal favourites.

Newport have conceded just six goals in their last six FA Cup ties against opponents from the Premier League and Championship. The home team have let in just one goal in their last three fixtures. The pitch and conditions will be alien to City but they should have the class and professionalism to win the match. They have just come off a 6-0 win against one of the top six sides in the Premier League. Team selection is irrelevant as the City second string is better than most sides first 11. However, it should not be a cricket score so NEWPORT +3 is the bet at 6/4 with Ladbrokes.

It seems almost as if Brighton are trying to get knocked out of the FA Cup because they have played the reserves in the third and fourth rounds. Privately Chris Hughton may be fuming that the understudies are winning ties. However, if he rests his best players Brighton could come unstuck at home to Derby today. Frank Lampard, the rookie manager of Derby, has sent out strong teams in the Cup despite the main objective being promotion to the Premier League. His positive policy can pay dividends at Brighton and DERBY are 10/3 with bet365 to win the match. 

Newbury’s loss is Ascot’s gain because the two big races lost last Saturday will be part of a nine race card at the royal racecourse. The Denman Chase and Betfair Hurdle were scheduled for Newbury but the meeting was cancelled due to the outbreak of equine flu. Clan Des Obeaux is the clear form pick for the Denman Chase (2.45) but TERREFORT can upset the odds by winning the race at 5/2 with Ladbrokes. Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the Betfair Hurdle (3.20) twice in the last five years and AL DANCER has a similar profile to those winners so is the tip at 11/4 with bet365. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Palace Can Defy The FA Cup Trends 

It’s the last 16 of the FA Cup this weekend and there are seven clubs from the Premier League left in the competition. Despite some shocks in the earlier rounds the cream usually rises to the top. There is one tie bringing together teams from the top division which could have six representatives in the last eight. However, with Chelsea hosting Manchester United only two of those at most will be from the top six. 

The average finishing position of the Cup winners is fourth in the Premier League but this year could see a different outcome. CRYSTAL PALACE play at Doncaster in the fifth round and look a decent bet at 10/1 with bet365 to be running around Wembley with the trophy in May. The favourites, Manchester City, have other fish to fry. One of Chelsea or Manchester United will not be in the last eight. 

Five ties this weekend are between teams from the Premier League and the Championship. Seven of 13 Premier League outfits that are out were eliminated by clubs from a lower division. There have been a lower than average number of fixtures involving two teams from the top flight and there is only one in the fifth round. QPR host Watford tonight in a meeting of teams from the highest two divisions. 

The home team are 18th in the Championship and have lost five league matches on the bounce. Their opponents are 8th in the Premier League so safe from relegation. The higher ranked team have not conceded in four of their last five matches but may field a weakened team.  However, the strength of each squad means the bet is WATFORD TO WIN TO NIL at 2/1 with bet365.  

Kalashnikov won the Betfair Hurdle last season. The horse graduated from the handicap company that contested the race in 2018 being run again on Saturday to finish second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He was immediately sent novice chasing and has a prep race today in that division for the Arkle Chase at the Festival. KALASHNIKOV has the form and ratings to win the Grade 2 novice chase at Sandown (1,50pm) at 1/2 with Coral. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Mixed Night For Arsenal And Chelsea

New managers at Chelsea and Arsenal have not really had the desired effect and both clubs have dropped out of the Champions League places. However, they do have another route into the competition and that is by winning the Europa League. In the halcyon days under Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger playing in the poor relation to the Champions League would be unthinkable but needs must. In fact the Europa League could buy both new bosses some time and the combined price for CHELSEA OR ARSENAL to win the competition is about 3/1 with Coral. 

Arsenal are away to Bate Borisiv for a match the manager should take seriously. They are not involved in the FA Cup at the weekend so the Europa League is the only chance of a trophy. Unai Emery won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla and is expected to field the first string today. Arsenal won a corresponding match 4-2 away from home in 2017. Bate have not competitively since December and ARSENAL have the form to beat their hosts by at least a goal at 5/4 with Ladbrokes. 

Chelsea have lost their last four away matches without scoring a goal and a similar outcome against Malmo could see the end of Mourizio Sarri. The hosts have not been beaten at home in 18 matches but most of those fixtures were in the Swedish League. However, they have lost just 2 of 14 fixtures in Europe in Sweden.  Chelsea meet Manchester United in the FA Cup on Monday which could be seen as a priority. MALMO can inflict a damaging defeat on the manager at 7/1 with Coral. 

Thankfully equine flu is now just a bad memory and some trainers who had been in lockdown are now allowed to have runners. Kelso stages two decent races (2.25 and 3.00) but there are only four and two runners in these contests which have odds-on favourites. Clonmel features a Grade 3 novice hurdle over three miles at 2.40 and on ratings MOSKOVITE is the bet at 11/2 with Ladbrokes.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Tottenham Face Tough Task At Wembley 

The Premier League’s chances of producing the winner of the Champions League were reduced with Manchester United’s 2-0 loss at home to PSG last night. Tottenham are in action tonight when they meet Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their last 16 tie at Wembley Stadium. 

United had a reality check against the champions of France who were missing Neymar and Edinson Cavani but were still much to good at Old Trafford. Tottenham face the best team in Germany in the first of three clashes between Premier League and Bundesliga outfits. PSG’s win now means FRANCE is 6/1 with Betfair to be the Champions League winning nationality.  

   

Tottenham beat Leicester 3-1 in the Premier League on Sunday following three league matches in which the points have been secured with late goals. It’s encouraging that Dortmund have let in at least one goal in nine of their last 10 matches but Tottenham will be without Harry Kane and Deli Alli this evening. 

PSG coped without two major payers against United but it could be a different kettle of fish for Tottenham. Dortmund will not be at full strength but depth of squad could be the deciding factor. The visitors might not be going back to Germany with three points but would take the DRAW and that outcome is 23/10 with Ladbrokes.   

Ajax host Real Madrid in tonight’s other last 16 fixture and the defending champions should have no fears about a trip to Amsterdam. Real have won six and drawn one of their last seven matches in all competitions. They have also won five of six away fixtures in the Champions League. Ajax have not been in great form since returning from the winner break so REAL MADRID are the bet at 10/11 with Betfair. 

Was it an overreaction or did the BHA get it right? That question is hopefully hypothetical because racing resumes in the UK today after a six day break due equine flu. We should not worry about the quality of racing at four meetings in Britain but Fairyhouse in Ireland stages the richest race. The rated chase over almost three miles at 3.05 is a good opportunity for CALL IT MAGIC, the tip 3/1 at Ladbrokes.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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United Can Beat PSG At Old Trafford  

When the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League was made Manchester United were big outsiders to beat PSG over two matches and progress to the quarter-finals. The club has been transformed since Jose Mourinho was sacked and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became the caretaker boss. United are favourites to beat the champions of France in tonight’s first leg at Old Trafford. That is down to the unbeaten run under Solskjaer but the absence of Edinson Cavani and Neymar due to injury helps. Even under Mourinho United were difficult to beat at home where they are on an unbeaten run of 10 matches. MANCHESTER UNITED are 7/5 with Betfair to beat PSG.

The eight first leg ties in the first knockout round of the Champions League are spread over two weeks and four match days. Tottenham play Borussia Dortmund at Wembley tomorrow and Liverpool and Manchester City are in action next week. Roma are at home to Porto this evening in the other fixture of the night. The hosts have only failed to score in 2 of 15 matches at home this season but the fans are not happy. The club can get the Ultras back on side with a win this evening and ROMA are the team to back at 11/10 with bet365. The double on the home teams pays 4/1. 

   

There are fixtures in the Championship tonight including the televised match between the home team in West Brom and Nottingham Forest. The Baggies have not won a home match since Boxing Day but Forest have not won in seven fixtures on the road. The visitors have recruited Martin O’Neill to manage the club he played for in the Division One and European Cup winning era. However, there has not been an upturn in results and WEST BROM are the tip at 3/4 with Betfair.   

To the relief of everybody in the industry racing resumes in the UK tomorrow. The authorities have concluded the risk of further positive tests for equine flu is worth taking so the sport is back on schedule for the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National. Red Rum was the last horse to win back-to-back Nationals and the 2018 winner, TIGER ROLL, is 20/1 with bet365 to emulate that horse.   

This Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott 

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England Favourites To Be Champions League Winning Nation

The first knockout ties in the Champions League take place this week and two English clubs are involved in fixtures. The last 16 is spread over four match days and Liverpool and Manchester City play next week. Manchester United play PSG at home and Tottenham welcome Borussia Dortmund to Wembley this Tuesday and Wednesday and both teams will be hoping to establish a first leg lead. ENGLAND are 13/8 with Betfair and favourites to be the winning nationality. 

Wolves are emerging as the best of the rest and can consolidate seventh place in the Premier League with a win over Newcastle at home tonight. The hosts are on a decent run and playing with confidence. A win would take them four points clear of Watford in eighth position and in good shape to qualify for the Europa League pending the outcome of other competitions. Even though Newcastle have not lost the previous four corresponding fixtures WOLVES are tipped to win this one at 7/10 with bet365.  

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will make an announcement this evening about the resumption of racing. Four new cases of equine flu were identified last night but at one stable in Newmarket which could be isolated. Odds on the action resuming increased with the news and it’s now 10/11 with Paddy Power that racing will take place in the UK before this Saturday. The Grand National should not be under threat and last year’s winner TIGER ROLL is 25/1 with Betfair to win the race again. 

England are trying to avoid a 3-0 drubbing in the Third Test against West Indies. They put together their first 100 partnership of the series in the first innings and now lead by 142 runs. However, England have managed batting collapses in the previous four matches and in a relatively low scoring game things could change. With the match well in advance after two days and the weather not an issue there should be a definite result. WEST INDIES are 14/1 with bet365 to win this match.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Today’s Nap Is At Naas In Ireland Where The Show Goes On

A leading Grand National winning trainer has used the word ‘overreaction’ while the headline on the back page of a high circulation daily national newspaper is ‘OUT OF CONTROL’ The reality might be somewhere in the middle but equine flu has put racing on hold in the UK for at least until next Wednesday which means Newbury today is lost. The meeting was due to stage the richest handicap hurdle of the season ands a prep race for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. NATIVE RIVER was scheduled to run and last year’s winner is 11/2 with Betfair to win the Gold Cup if it takes place. 

Racing continues in Ireland but with no horses trained in Britain allowed to take part. ITV4 show five races from Naas and it will be interesting to see how the channel covers the equine flu. There will need to be a balance between scaremongering and presenting an accurate picture of the potential damage to the sport. The richest race on the card is the mares chase over two miles at 2.10 which features an odds-on favourite. Pravalaguna is the obvious winner but on ratings SYNOPSIS is not far behind the favourite and can be backed at 5/1 with Coral to prevail.   

Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over Manchester United have won five consecutive matches on the road. The relatively easy run of fixtures for the caretaker manager continues with today’s Premier League fixture at Fulham. If United win this match they will be in the top four at least until other teams play their fixtures this weekend. The visitors have won nine and draw two of their last 11 meetings with Fulham. The team at 19th in the table are weakened by injuries so MANCHESTER UNITD -1 on the3 handicap is the bet at 7/4 with Betfair. 

Brighton and Burnley are teams just above the drop zone who could be dragged into the mire with a poor run of results. Every point counts and both sides can pick up one in Brighton today. The last three meetings have produced just one goal and hence two goalless stalemates. The obvious bet is the DRAW at 21/10 with Coral

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Racing Continues In Ireland At Dundalk 

There are mixed messages coming from certain vested interests about the implications of the outbreak of equine flu that has led to the cancellation of racing in Britain for six days. One high profile trainer has used the word “unthinkable” for the potential damage to the industry but bookmakers “hope for a swift return”. 

The facts are that there has been an outbreak of equine flu and there will be no racing in Britain until next Wednesday at the earliest. The British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) have taken a precautionary measure and will review the situation with regards the resumption of racing on Monday. My view is that the early action will prevent an epidemic… but I’m not a vet! 

The lockdown of racing in Britain does not currently affect meetings in Ireland but there will be no British runners. That means tonight’s All Weather fixture at Dundalk goes ahead and there is some overseas action for those who want a bet. The 7.30pm race at Dundalk is a decent contest over two miles. Kerosin has proven ability in former days to be a major player and Chess Grand Master is unexposed at this level. However, on form and ratings the progressive RASHHAN is the horse to back at 5/4 with bet365.The show goes on in Ireland but racing in Britain has been halted.  

Tonight’s live football action in England is the Championship meeting between the home side in Aston Villa and Sheffield United. The visitors are 11 points ahead of their opponents in the current table. Villa have won just twice in their last 11 league fixtures and have conceded 27 goals at home in the Championship over 15 matches. If SHEFFIELD UNITED win tonight they will be top of the table at least until other fixtures tomorrow. On form that is a feasible outcome at 31/20 with Ladbrokes. 

Wigan and Leeds have got new coaches so both sides may take some time to reach the level that has seen the clubs win 13 Grand finals in total. They each lost their first fixture in the Super League so another defeat would be damaging. No side since 2005 have suffered defeat in their opening two matches and won the Grand Final. Wigan also have to deal with a two point’s deduction for breaking salary cap rules. The handicap seems too big so LEEDS +10 is the bet at 10/11 with Ladbrokes.