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Today’s Sports Betting Preview & BONUS Tips – By Rick Elliott

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A Clean Sweep For Premier League Clubs in Europe  

Four English teams are in the finals of two UEFA domestic competitions for the first time ever. It’s also the first time all the finalists are from one country. Those records show the strength of the Premier League and the money clubs can spend on the best coaches and players in the sport. None of the finalists have British managers and most of the players were born overseas. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the only player eligible for England to score a goal in the semi-finals. 

Bournemouth are the highest ranked team with an English boss and Burnley are the only other Premier League team who employ home grown managerial talent. Strictly speaking Chris Hughton and Brendon Rodgers are Irish but are not from mainland Europe. The best coaching talent is getting results in European club football for Premier League outfits. It’s difficult for British managers to get a job. Even so ENGLAND are 7/4 with Ladbrokes to win the Nations League. 

Television money has attracted the best talent and funded modern stadia with perfect pitches. The standard of play is exceptional at the top level of English football. At last the national team is playing with an identity and the excellence domestic in football is being translated at international level. On league form Liverpool should beat Tottenham in the Champions League and Chelsea should beat Arsenal in the Europa League. The DRAW DOUBLE after 90 minutes pays almost 10/1 with bet365.  

It’s the third and final day of the Chester May meeting which has taken place in the rain and the ground is officially Soft. The horses rarely run in a straight line on the circular track which is just one mile in circumference. The horse that can travel from A to B in the quickest time still wins most races. The fastest horse running today is KACHY who is 2/5 with bet365 to win the Conditions Stakes (4.10) despite having the widest draw in the eight runner field. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview & BONUS Tips – By Rick Elliott

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Toffees Can Chew Up The Clarets And Drink In Three Points 

Everton looked out of the running for seventh place and qualification for the Europa League in March but a run of stunning results at home have brought them back in the mix. It’s debatable whether the Europa League is a gift or a chore and it was certainly a negative for Burnley at the start of this season. They are at Goodison Park this evening for Everton’s last home match and three points for the hosts would put pressure on the other sides in contention to be the best of the rest after the big six. Burnley have little to play for and Everton have only conceded in two of nine fixtures. EVERTON TO WIN TO NIL is the best bet at 17/10 with Betfair.

There are intriguing fixtures in other sports including the One Day International between Ireland and England in Dublin, which starts at 10.45am. England are the number one ranked team in ODI cricket and favourites to win the World Cup in England this summer. The batting line-up is not the first choice one today so taking short prices against Ireland in a friendly is not as attractive as backing ENGLAND at 9/4 with Coral to win the World Cup. 

Castleford play at home against Warrington in the Super League in a fixture that is not difficult to call.  Statistically on points scored and conceded and home advantage the handicap should be seven against the visitors. The bookmaker’s line this morning is a six point’s start for Castleford so there is no bet in this market. It could be more of a dour struggle than a point’s fest but bookies are not betting on total points this morning for a match that WARRINGTON can win at 1/2 with Coral. 

Life after Ruby Walsh continues at Punchestown today with the fourth day of their festival and the highlight is the track’s Champion Hurdle over two miles at 5.30. Buveur D’Air fell in the Cheltenham version and Apple’s Jade underperformed. Melon was giving Buveur D’Air a scare at Aintree before falling in a race won by Supasundae on heavy ground. SUMMERVILLE BOY was a top novice last season and can upset the apple cart by winning today at 40/1 with Betfair. 

This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Something Still On The Line For 12 Premier League Clubs

We are at the semi-finals stage of the Champions League and Europa League and there are just two rounds of fixtures to be played in the Premier League. Four English clubs are still involved in European competition and 12 have something to play for in domestic football. Over the next seven days some huge issues will be decided and the action begins this week with the first legs of the last four in both European competitions. Each tie involves a club from the Premier League and the combined odds of ENGLAND be the winning nationality in the Champions League and Europa League is about 2/1 at the best odds.

Tottenham play Ajax at home on Tuesday and Liverpool are away at Barcelona the following night. In all the corresponding fixtures last season both teams scored and there were more than two goals. The four matches in the semi-finals produced 20 goals. Twelve of the 16 fixtures in the quarter-finals featured three goals or more. The goals flow at this stage of the competition and the OVER 2.5 GOALS double in this week’s matches pays just over 2/1 with bet365. Only one match at the same stage of the Europa League featured more than two goals so the UNDER 2.5 GOALS double in this week’s ties pays almost 9/4 with Betfair.

The first two Classics on the Flat take place at Newmarket over the weekend. The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas are run over the Rowley Mile at HQ and both races look open at this stage of proceedings. It’s been a case of which horses are not running due to ill-timed injuries and the answer could be to follow Aidan O’Brien. In Ten Sovereigns (2,000 Guineas) and Just Wonderful (1,000 Guineas) he has the second favourites and the DOUBLE pays 53/1 with bet365. The trainer’s production line of horses continues at Naas where SO WONDERFUL is tipped to win the 4.40 race at 8/11 with Betfair.

The snooker World Championship has been reduced to a field of 12 players and by the end of today we will have reached the quarter-finals stage. Neil Robertson is the clear favourite in a draw that now features three former winners in Robertson, John Higgins and Stuart Bingham. On current form there could be a new champion because BARRY HAWKINS is playing well enough to win the title at 15/2 with bet365.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview & BONUS Tips – By Rick Elliott

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Three Will Become One Or Two In The Champions League 

The odds on England being the winning nation of the Champions League dropped slightly after Manchester United were humbled by Barcelona. There could be a further fall after tonight’s two fixtures as England’s representation will be down to two clubs at the most. Liverpool look home and hosed against Porto but Manchester City or Tottenham will be out because they meet at the Etihad in the second leg of the quarter finals. Tottenham take a 1-0 lead north after the first match at their new stadium. BARCELONA are now 15/8 with Betfair to win the Champions League.  

Manchester City are still chasing the dream of winning the quadruple but they face a massive test tonight. The omens and recent form are good because they have won nine of their last 11 home matches by two goals or more. Even if Tottenham score that margin of victory would suffice for qualification for the last four. Tottenham have actually looked a better outfit without the absent Harry Kane but then he could score the crucial away goal leaving City requiring three to qualify. MANCHESTER CITY are 4/7 with Ladbrokes to go through to the semi-finals for the first time.  

Liverpool take a 2-0 advantage to Portugal and one away goal means the home side require four goals to win the tie. The prospects of winning the Premier League and Champions League double has gone under the radar with all the speculation about City winning the lot. However, this evening they could be in the last four of the Champions League and the league leaders. Liverpool have only won six of 18 jaunts in Europe and victory tonight is not essential. They can go through if BOTH TEAMS SCORE which can be backed at 4/5 with Betfair.  

The Craven Stakes at Newmarket (3.35) is the last major trial for the 2,000 Guineas back at the same track at the start of next month. The race distance is one mile which is the same as the Guineas so a course and distance winner will emerge. ROYAL MARINE has the best form and can win the Craven at 7/4 with Ladbrokes. 

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This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Manchester City Go Marching On To The Quadruple

The sporting season continues with huge events in football and golf. There are the first leg matches in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the US Masters from Thursday. Four Premier League clubs have reached the last eight of the biggest domestic Cup competition in the world and potentially England could have three representatives in the last four. A Premier League team has not won the Champions League since 2012 and ENGLAND is 4/6 with Betfair to be the winning nation.

Liverpool begin their tie at home to Porto on Tuesday and Manchester United welcome Barcelona to Old Trafford the following evening. The all Premier League tie begins tomorrow night when Tottenham take on Manchester City at their bright new stadium. Liverpool, Watford and seven of the biggest clubs in Europe will have their say but the impossible dream goes. Manchester City are 9/2 with Paddy Power to win the QUADRUPLE and that is now a feasible objective.

There are now just three points between Tottenham in third place in the Premier League and Manchester United in sixth. It’s any two from four for the final two Champions League qualification spots. Chelsea could go above Tottenham and Arsenal with a home win against West Ham this evening. The Hammers have not found the net in their last 11 defeats and have picked up just one point from seven road trips. CHELSEA TO WIN TO NIL is the bet at with 13/10 with Paddy Power.

The Masters Tournament is the first major championship of the season and the only one of the four played on the same course. Jack Nicklaus likes Dustin Johnson for the Green Jacket. Tiger Woods is looking for his fifth title at Augusta National and 15th major in total. Justin Rose has the game and temperament to win his second major but we could see just the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam. RORY MCILROY is 7/1 with Betfair to join that exclusive club.

The feature race of the week is the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday. The level of interest will never reach that of the real National at Aintree but the Scottish version is still one of the biggest betting races of the season and bookmakers go 10/1 the field. Another handicap chase, at Kelso over almost three miles (3.40), is the richest race of the day. The top weight is MIDNIGHT SHOT but a seven pound claimer’s allowance could help the horse win at 4/1 with Betfair.

Raheem Sterling Could have The Last Laugh 

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Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

In the past England have gone through qualifying games with ease and then not produced the goods when it mattered most in tournaments. They look good enough to go unbeaten in the group stages of Euro 2020 and progress to the finals which are being played in 13 cities next summer. England have shortened in the betting to win the tournament and are now a best price of 11/2. 

Gareth Southgate’s team are the first England outfit to score five goals in consecutive matches since 1984. RAHEEM STERLING scored four goals in the two matches. He is still young enough to be the PFA Young Player of the Year and is 3/1 with Paddy Power to win the main award for senior players.  

The WGC Matchplay in golf brings together 64 players in 16 groups of four who compete on a round robin basis. The group winners progress to the knockout rounds over the weekend after matches over the next three days. Rory McIlroy is the favourite to win the event for the second time and Dustin Johnson is the number one seed based on world rankings. The top seed has won the event five times since it was first played in 1999.  Johnson was the champion in 2017 on this week’s host course. 

If McIlroy and Tiger Woods win their groups they will meet in the last 16 over 18 holes on Saturday morning. McIlroy, the winner in 2015, could not have got a much easier draw as he plays the lowest seed from two bands and the second lowest seed form the other band. RORY MCILROY is 7/10 with bet365 to win Group 4.  

The racing at four meetings is ordinary today with no banker bet that stands out. The headline on the front page of the Racing Post complies with a system and ratings to identify potential winners of the Grand National. Only three horses meet eight criteria for potential winners of the greatest race in the world. Tiger Roll and Rathvinden are qualifiers but the best value is ROCK THE KASBAH at 20/1 with Paddy Power. 

This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott 

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 England Can Continue The Qualifying Run In Montenegro 

All three British teams and Ireland won their opening fixtures in Euro 2020 qualifying but England were the most impressive. The team on the pitch at the end of the 5-0 win over Czech Republic included two teenagers for the first time for over 100 years. Gareth Southgate does not concur with the adage that you can’t win anything with kids because he will play youngsters if he thinks they are good enough. The semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 are at Wembley and ENGLAND could be running around the stadium with the trophy and that outcome is 13/2 with Ladbrokes. 

The process for qualifying for the finals being played in 13 cities across Europe next summer continues for England with a match in Montenegro tonight. They did not drop a point during qualifying for Euro 2016 and potentially England can win maximum points from the group this time. Twenty one wins in the last 23 qualifiers suggests England breeze through the qualifying process against teams below them in the FIFA rankings. Montenegro’s star player, Steven Jovetic of Monaco, is absent through injury and ENGLAND are the bet at 4/11 with Paddy Power.  

The Indian Premier League is the lucrative Twenty20 tournament that brings together some of the best limited overs cricketers in the world playing for eight franchises. The teams pay for a fortune to attract the best players in the format. Matches are played on a home and away basis and a playoff series won by Chennai last year. The RAJSTHAN ROYALS have Ben Stokes among their overseas stars and can improve on their fourth place finish during the 2018 regular season. Jos Buttler opens for the Royals and he can help his team win the 2019 IPL at 8/1 with Ladbrokes. 

The Grand National takes place a week on Saturday and Tiger Roll could be the shortest priced favourite for over 40 years. The horse has a great chance to become the first back-to-back winner since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974. However, BRISTOL DE MAI ran a great race to be third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and has been allocated a manageable weight and is the better option at 25/1 with Paddy Power.  It’s all about the Flat this Saturday with the Lincoln Handicap and Dubai World Cup taking place at Doncaster and Meydan and we’ll preview both races this week. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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England On A Journey From Wembley To Wembley 

England play Czech Republic tonight at Wembley at the start of their Euro 2020 campaign which could end back at the national stadium next summer. The finals of the European Championships are being played in 13 cities and the semi-finals and final are at Wembley where England won the World Cup in 1966 and lost on penalties to Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 1996.  There would be a neat symmetry if the Germans were the opponents again in July 2020. 

Even when England were rubbish in the World Cup and Euros Wembley was something of a fortress. In the modern era England have won 14 of their last 15 competitive matches at home. The problem wasn’t qualifying but justifying the hype when it mattered most. Czech Republic lost in the final of Euro 1996 but the golden generation is very much in the past. Their first choice goalkeeper misses tonight’s match through injury and the best bet is ENGLAND -1 at 10/11 with bet365.

It is a tale of two Tigers when the Grand National and US Masters take place. The horse and golfer with that name are returning to the scenes of former glories. Tiger Roll is trying to be the first horse since Red Rum to win successive Grand Nationals at Aintree while Tiger Woods is looking to win the first major of the season for the fifth time at Augusta National. The horse has a better chance than the golfer but coincidence betters may back the TIGER DOUBLE at 66/1 with Paddy Power.  

The richest race of the day is a Class 1 Listed NH Flat race at Newbury (5.05). The jockey Noel Fehily is retiring and has his last ride at the track on Saturday. It would be appropriate if he had a winner during the two day meeting and this bumper gives him one of his best chances. Nobby was entered in the champion bumper at Cheltenham but was withdrawn at the 48 hour declaration stage. However, Fehily could have that horse’s measure with GREEN DOPLPHIN at 9/4 with bet365. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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 England Can Make Home Advantage Count In Euro 2020

The two year cycle of international tournaments moves on to the finals of the European Championship. However, rather than in one host nation Euro 2020 will take place across 13 cities in the continent. The semi-finals and final will take place at Wembley Stadium next summer and England have a good record playing at home in the World Cup and Euros. 

Portugal are the defending champions and still have the nucleus of the successful squad from 2016, including Cristiana Ronaldo. The four semi-finalists at the last World Cup were from Europe and France won the trophy. A bright young squad with some emerging talent and home advantage can see ENGLAND be the champions of Europe for the first time and that outcome is 7/1 with bet365.

The Tour Championship is a new concept for snooker and replicates the FedEx Cup in golf. It’s a three-tournament event with the highest earner winning the trophy but the most lucrative event is this week’s actual Tour Championship. There are eight players involved and invitations are based on ranking points over the last year. Every qualifying player has accepted the invitation for an event being played in Llandudno. 

Ronnie O’Sullivan recently became the first player to record 1,000 century breaks in competition but the event may not get juices flowing. The extended format makes for fewer shocks and matches are decided over 17, 19 and 25 frames which favours the current world champion, Mark Williams. The number one seed is MARK ALLEN who can justify his status by winning the Tour Championship at 15/2 with Betfair. 

There is a marathon handicap chase over three miles four and a half furlongs at Taunton today (4.30). The Class 3 contest is the second richest races of the day but it has only attracted five runners which is disappointing in terms of each way betting as only two places count. DANCING SHADOW is proven in long distance chases and has the form to win this race at 15/8 with bet365.  

This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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England Are Contenders For Euro 2020

The semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 are being played at Wembley Stadium so England have a great chance to win just a second major international tournament after winning the World Cup in 1966. The format takes the finals to 13 venues around Europe. The qualifying tournament begins this week and the conclusion could be ENGLAND as champions of Europe and that outcome is 7/1 with Ladbrokes.

There is an international break so no fixtures in the Premier League for two weeks. Liverpool and Manchester City are vying for the title and its any two from four for the remaining Champions League qualification places. Tottenham and Manchester United are in the quarter-finals of this season’s competition and Chelsea have dropped of the pace. ARSENAL are 4/7 with Paddy Power finish in the top four.

Rory McIlroy won the Players Championship on Sunday, an event known as the fifth major due to the quality of the field. The confidence gained from his play over the last four holes sets him up for the US Masters. That is the only major he requires to complete the career Grand Slam and this could be the year. RORY MCILROY at his best is difficult to beat so is the bet at 8/1 with Ladbrokes to win the 2019 Masters Tournament. There are average grade events in Europe and the States this week.

The week after the Cheltenham Festival is always low key and the highlight is a mares’ novice hurdle Finale at Newbury on Saturday for which the final fields are not known. The Grand National meeting at Aintree takes place in two weeks so there is a lull in the jumps season in Britain. Tiger Roll and Anibale Fly advertised their prospects for the National with impressive runs at Cheltenham.

However, Navan stages an excellent card for a Monday in the week after the Festival. The richest race of the day is the novice handicap chase over three miles at 4.30. This is an open contest with several potential winners based on official ratings. MONO LINO has gone up in the weights after a win at Naas 22 days ago but could still be ahead of the handicapper and is 4/1 with Paddy Power to win this race.