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Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Wolves Can Hold Their Own Against Liverpool

Wolves were one of the best sides to be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League when they came up last season and have had no problems taking on the big boys. They are at home to unbeaten Liverpool tonight who will end the first half of the season at the top of the league if they pick up three points at Molyneux. The betting suggests an away win is on the cards but Wolves would disagree. The club with a strong Portuguese influence can avoid defeat. 

The home team have met sides from the top six five times this season and have only suffered one defeat. Wolves beat Chelsea at home earlier this month and drew the other three fixtures against the Premier League elite. The Liverpool defence is disrupted by injuries but Wolves are just about at full strength. Wolves play deep and hit teams on the counter attack. They are just one of three teams to take points of Manchester City this season so the DRAW is the bet at 7/2 with bet365. 

There are eight second round matches in the PDC World Championship today. Despite having a pint of beer thrown on him during the walk-on Michael Van Gerwen kept his composure to record a comfortable first round win. Several seeds on the other side of the draw are gone from the darts tournament at the Alexandra Palace in London. MVG at his best will take some beating but the ante post tip, MICHAEL SMITH, has looked good and can still be backed at 8/1 with Ladbrokes.     

There is an excellent card at Ascot today featuring a novice chase and novice hurdle worth almost £20,000 to the winner. Lil Rockerfeller has the best hurdles form of the four runners contesting the chase over two miles and five furlongs at 2.30 but unseated the rider at Cheltenham a week ago. The Grade 2 hurdle for inexperienced horses at 1.55 over just less than two miles looks open. On form figures THISTLE DO NICELY is a big price at 16/1 and is the each way nap.  

Unowhatimeanharry Is The Nap Of Saturday At Ascot  – By Ian Hudson 

There is no racing in Britain and Ireland for three days which means Saturday’s fixtures are the last betting action before the start of two major jumps festivals in Britain and Ireland on Boxing Day. The JLT Long Walk Hurdle is the highlight of Saturday’s card at Ascot and Unowhatimeanharry is the horse to back to cover some of the expenses over Christmas. Kempton and Leopardstown are the venues for the main holiday meetings in Britain and Ireland and the racing is superb at both tracks. 

The spell from Saturday to Tuesday is the longest break of the season and the only blank days in the calendar. Good Friday was another protected day but now the All-Weather finals at Lingfield are the highlight of the Easter period for some racing fans. The lack of racing from Saturday adds to the anticipation for the racing on Boxing Day when the King George V1 Chase at Kempton is the highlight. There are eight Grade 1 races during the four day Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The meeting features many trials for the championship races at the Cheltenham Festival.  

The Long Walk Hurdle is a Grade 1 race run over three miles and one furlong and there are 12 obstacles to be jumped. The race is one of the major trials for the stayers’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and since 1971 five horse have won both races. Thistlecrack was the latest in the 2015-16 season and that horse is now entered in the King George on Boxing Day. Thistelcrack won that race in 2016 which was just his fourth race over fences. The horse ran pleasingly in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and was not far off his best on ratings. There should be some improvement for the King George and Thistlecrack is a leading contender.  

Bristol De Mai won the Haydock Grade 1 for the second year in a row. The horse will run in the King George which is the second leg of a series which offers a one million pound bonus for any horse that wins the three most prestigious staying chases of the season. Bristol De Mai is ideally suited to Haydock but Kempton and Cheltenham are not his forte which means winning the King George and the third leg of the bonus series, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, looks beyond him. Thistlecrack can win the King George for the second time and get right in the mix for the Gold Cup. 

Unowhatimeanharry won the Long Walk Hurdle in 2016 but could only come third in the stayers’ hurdle the following March. Sam Spinner won the race last year but then disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival. The Ascot feature has a history of producing multiple winners and Big Buck’s and Reve De Sivola won it three times in as many years. Baracouda is the only four times winner from 2000 to 2004 only missing out in 2002. The trainer, Francois Douman, has the same record while Richard Johnson is the leading jockey with four wins between 1999 and 2013. 

The last 10-year-old to win the Long Walk Hurdle was Deano’s Beano in 2002 and Unowhatimeanharry is now that age. The horse was the best staying hurdler of two seasons ago but did not produce his form at the Festival. He was back to his best in winning the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury at the end of last month. 

Unowhatimeanharry can win at Ascot on Saturday and thus again become a leading contender for the staying hurdle race that matters most at Cheltenham next March. 

Premier League TV Fixtures To Go To Form – By Ian Hudson

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Liverpool are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League but Manchester City have the superior goal difference by eight. The league leaders deserve respect for not losing any of their first 17 matches. Liverpool have conceded just seven goals in those fixtures and the forwards are now showing the form they produced last season. They are aiming to be the champions of England for the first time since 1990. The club can stay on track with a win at Wolves on Friday night.

The home side can expect to earn more points after Christmas than during the first half of the season. In fact Wolves have the potential to break into the top six. They have won their last three matches in the Premier League and are now in seventh place, just one point and one position behind Manchester United. Wolves have underachieved based on statistics but avoiding defeat against Liverpool even at home looks beyond them. 

Arsenal lost to Southampton in their last league match after an unbeaten run of 14 fixtures. However, they have conceded 23 goals which is the highest total of the top five by seven goals. Arsenal also have the worst goal difference of the quintet of teams at the top of the table. The club has new energy under Unai Emery but Arsenal could be in a slightly false position but are 8 points ahead of Manchester United in sixth place. Burnley are at the Emirates on Saturday. 

Burnley overachieved last season based on wealth and their wage bill and playing in the Europa League at the start of the season did not help. The weekly cycle of playing on Thursday and Sunday set the club back at the start of the season. Burnley are now in the bottom three and a match at Arsenal is unlikely to bring any points. However, they are slowly turning things around and losing to Arsenal on the road would be expected of a team further up the table. 

Cardiff have limited resources but two wins in four fixtures have taken them into 16th place ahead of the home match against Manchester United. However, only one of their 14 points has been won away from home and they have already played six of the bottom nine at home. Cardiff have the least financial clout in the Premier League which means other clubs can afford to spend more money during the transfer window. 

Finishing in the top four looks out of reach but United still have the quality to pick up three points in South Wales. 

Tottenham are third in the Premier League despite a difficult start to the season. Nine of their squad were involved in the World Cup semi-finals. The club did not invest in players during the summer and there is the ongoing issue of the new stadium. Nobody really knows if Mauricio Pochettino will have his head turned by overtures from Manchester United. Tottenham visit Everton on Sunday afternoon.

 

The home team are still in the top half of the table despite no wins in four fixtures. Losing at Manchester City is no disgrace and they were within a fluke goal at Liverpool in the 96th minutes from drawing the Merseyside derby. Everton look destined for mid-table safety, with little chance of qualifying for the Champions League and free of relegation issues. A draw at home to Tottenham would fit that scenario which means there should be no shocks in the live TV matches.  

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

The Baby Faced Assassin Is Back At Old Trafford 

Three words are engrained in the heart and mind of Manchester United fans: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, otherwise known as the baby faced assassin. The clubs new caretaker manager scored the winning goal against Bayern Munich in the final of the 1998-99 Champions League in Barcelona. He has been plucked from the mediocrity of Norwegian football to take over at one of the biggest football clubs in the world.  

The United cult hero is unproven in management at this level and his only Premier League experience was a disaster at Cardiff City in 2014. Mauricio Pochettino is the favourite to be in charge at Old Trafford at the start of next season while SOLSKJAER is 3/1 with William Hill to be the permanent appointment. 

There are eight second round matches in the PDC World Championship today, starting from 12:40 until about 10pm. The closest match according to the betting is Mervyn King against Jan Dekker. The former is the marginal favourite and should have enough to beat an opponent who has had a poor season. KING is 20/23 with Betfair to progress to the third round of the world darts. 

There are two huge jumps festivals over Christmas in Britain and Ireland, both starting on Boxing Day. Kempton over two days and Leoparsdtown over four stage several mid-season championship races that could have implications for similar contests at the Cheltenham Festival. The King George V1 Chase and Christmas Hurdle are the features at Kempton but there are eight Grade 1 races at Leoparsdtown 

The best trainers and jockeys come to the fore at the Irish track at this time of the year. Six days ahead of the meeting APPLE’S JADE is the banker at 4/5 with Paddy Power to win Ireland’s Christmas Hurdle. The race and the other 27 races over four days will be covered by our Leopardstown Christmas Festival special.  

Chelmsford should be applauded for putting up over £100,000 in prize money at tonight’s All-Weather fixture. The feature race is the Class 2 handicap over one mile and six furlongs at 8pm. On ratings there is very little to choose between most of the field but one horse is progressive and stands out at the weights. AIRCRAFT CARRIER is well treated and is the nap of the day at 15/8 with Coral.  

Irish Trainers Can Win The Big Races – By Ian Hudson

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There is a significant trial for the Champion Hurdle and one of the most prestigious handicap chases of the season on Saturday. The action takes place in the north east and south of England at Newcastle and Newbury racecourses. The Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Ladbrokes Trophy Chase are the highlights of the televised racing but both are key in the context of more important races later in the season. Samcro and Kemboy, both trained in Ireland, can put down markers for bigger tests.      

The big hurdle race at Newcastle is a Grade 1 race over two miles and half a furlong and horses aged four and over are eligible. It’s the first leg in the Road to Cheltenham series which also includes the International Hurdle and Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. It’s a recognized trial for the big one in March. Buveur D’Air won the race last season and then won a second successive Champion the following March. Two horses won three renewals back in the 1970’s and Irving was the winner in 2014 and 2016. The race has a history of producing multiple winners.   

Samcro was still scheduled to run on Thursday so a great race and showdown is on the cards. Samcro and Buveur D’Air are first and second favourites for the Champion Hurdle so the race on Saturday will be a good form guide. Despite being one of the best novices last season Samcro has not delivered against seasoned hurdlers. The horse is a potential winner of the Gold Cup and not going chasing this season is a surprise. Maybe connections are looking at Samcro being just the second horse ever to win the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup because he has the scope to emulate Dawn Run. However, Sommerville Boy could be the fly in the ointment on Saturday. 

The winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the festival in March is running against experienced and proven horses for the first time. The way Sommerville Boy won at Cheltenham suggests the horse could be something special. Mistakes at the last two hurdles would have cost lesser horse the race but Sommerville Boy recovered and stormed up the hill to record a narrow win in the festival opener. The Fighting Fifth brings together the best novices from last season and the Champion hurdler in a race which can establish Samcro is the best horse over hurdles in Britain and Ireland.   

The Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury was called the Hennessy for many years and some stalwarts still call the race that name. It’s a handicap chases over three miles and two furlongs and has a history of being a good form guide for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National. Since 2012 the winner has then won one of the two biggest chases of the season three times. Native River won the race in 2016 and won the Gold Cup in March. It’s a race in which horses in the first season out of novice company also have a good record. Kemboy has an excellent profile for the race.  

Samcro and Kemboy are trained by Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins in Ireland. Both trainers have wealthy backers and dominate jumps racing at home. Their horses are primed and ready to take two big pots back across the Irish Sea. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

Cardiff Can Beat Out Of Form Wolves

Cardiff and Wolves have history from their time in the Championship because a crucial fixture ended in acrimony last season. Wolves won that match in south Wales but the outcome could be different in Cardiff tonight. The home team are in the relegation places and the excellent start made by Wolves in the Premier League has been negated by four defeats in their last five matches. 

Despite having potentially the more experienced players proven at a higher level Wolves were outplayed by Huddersfield at home last Sunday and lost the match quite comfortably. Wolves have not scored more than one goal in seven league matches on the road. CARDIFF are the team to back at 29/10 with Betfair to record a third home win of the season. 

Its FA Cup weekend and there are 20 ties in the second round. The winners go into the pot with the Premier League big boys. The Golden Ticket of an away match against Manchester United and life changing gate receipts is getting closer. For non-league teams losing at the second round stage is akin to losing a semi-final for the bigger clubs. 

Solihull Moors are one step away from that potential dream tie but BLACKPOOL are tipped to win on one of the smallest grounds in the fifth tier. The League One team are in the mix for promotion to the Championship but can also reach the third round of the FA Cup by beating Solihull in 90 minutes on the road and that outcome is 19/20 with bet365.    

The best bet of the night could be Dundee United to beat Ayr at home in the Scottish Championship at odds against. The visitors are the league leaders but their opponents have won five of their last six fixtures since the appointment of a new manager. DUNDEE UNITED are an improving team playing with enough confidence to win this fixture and a home win can be backed at 11/10 with Ladbrokes. 

There is a decent televised card at Newbury today on the first day of the track’s winter festival. It seems just about anything that lasts more than one day is called a festival and what we actually have is what for many years was the first day of the Hennessy (Ladbrokes Trophy) meeting. UKNOWHATIMEAMHARRY is not bothered about word games and the horse is the nap in the 3.00 race at 7/2 with William Hill.

We Are Betting Against Goals Today 

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Their opponents have scored in each of Arsenal’s away fixtures in the Premier League this season. Arsenal have not reached half time in a league match in 2018/19 as the team in front. Both trends are under threat in the fixture at Bournemouth today against a side who have lost their last two Premier League fixtures. The combined statistics over the last 10 matches have produced a both teams to score rate of 62.5% which equates to odds of about 8/13. You can only back that outcome at 4/9 so the value bet is BOTH TEAMS NOT TO SCORE at 7/4 with Ladbrokes. 

Wolves were one of the best teams to be promoted to the Premier League when they came up last season. The club has a strong Portuguese influence and that includes the manager who is mates with an agent with connections. There has been a dip in results but not form over the last few matches but that could change when Huddersfield visit Molineux today. The trends in this match strongly suggest fewer than 2.5 goals but that is reflected in the odds. The Yorkshire outfit are the lowest scorers in the league so the bet is WOLVES TO WIN TO NIL at 11/8.  

Sunday racing in Ireland again delivers a lucrative meeting with almost €300,000 up for grabs at Navan while the two meetings in Britain offer a total of £144,000 in prize money. The Troytown Handicap Chase over three miles is the feature race at Navan (2.30) in which 12 of the 25 runners are trained by Gordon Elliott. His great rival for the trainer’s championship in Ireland, Willie Mullins, has only one runner. MINELLA BEAU has the form and ratings to win this race at 7/1 with William Hill.     

Footpad Can Put Down A Marker For The Season – By Ian Hudson

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The significant action in the context of the Cheltenham Festival this weekend is in Ireland and the star of the show is Footpad. There is a competitive handicap chase at Aintree on Saturday but Naas and Navan stage races that could have a bearing on the jumps meeting that matters most next March. Footpad won the Arkle at the festival last season and could graduate to being a leading contender in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in the spring. 

The National Hunt season is now in full swing and the turf Flat season ended last Saturday at Newmarket. From now until Christmas there is a major televised jumps race each Saturday as the best horses reappear after a summer break. Between now and the end of the year there are competitive handicap chases at Cheltenham and Newbury. The Ladbrokes Trophy, formerly the Hennessey Gold Cup, has historically provided pointers for the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

There is a £1 million bonus up for grabs for any horse who can win the Betfair Chase at Haydock later this month, the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kauto Star (2007) is the only horse to win the bonus so it takes a special steeplechaser to win the three most important staying chases in the same season. Might Bite has the versatility to win three Grade 1 chases on different types of track. Bristol De Mai and Native River could both win one of the three but Might Bite can act going right and left handed and on a flat and undulating track. 

Footpad won the Arkle over two miles at Cheltenham in March. The horse was ridden off the pace by Ruby Walsh who made his move approaching the straight. The race was put to bed in a few strides and the manner of the win suggested that stamina would not be an issue. Footpad is prominent in the betting for the King George and speed will be important at Kempton over Christmas. Willie Mullins has never won the Gold Cup and this weekend will be informative about his leading contender. 

Footpad is entered at Naas on Saturday and Navan the following day. The Naas race is a better opportunity but the horse won’t be tested. The tougher assignment is at Navan in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase, which is run over two miles as is the option at Naas. At some point Mullins will step the horse up in trip and how he copes will determine the season-long target at Cheltenham. Mullins has another potential winner of the Fortria Chase in Great Field so the easier race is on the cards. 

The Rewards4Racing Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday is a Class 2 contest over 2 miles, three furlongs and 200 yards. At the time of writing the final field was not known but 23 horses were still in the race ahead of the declarations. If Value At Risk is a runner the horse would be of interest. A run 13 days ago means fitness won’t be an issue and many of the leading contenders have not run for more than 200 days. Value At Risk is a solid handicapper but Footpad is the best horse running in Britain and Ireland over the weekend. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Stalemate When Ireland Host Wales 

When Wales beat Ireland 4-1 in Cardiff last month in the UEFA Nations League the best players on the pitch were the obvious candidates. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey could get a game for most international sides but they will be absent for the reverse fixture in Dublin tonight. Denmark could not score against Ireland on Saturday but the home team have found the net in the first half in just one of their last 11 internationals. Christian Eriksen did not play for Denmark against Ireland and he is their Bale counterpart as a world class player. Three of the last eight meetings between Ireland and Wales have been goalless and neither side have goals potential in the selected sides. Therefore, the best outcome to bet on in this fixture is the DRAW at 21/10 with Paddy Power.

There are eight other Nations League fixtures and 10 international friendlies tonight. It’s debatable whether there will be much difference in the level of effort and motivation in the two types of fixture. France and Germany have had huge meetings in the World Cup and European Championships. Germany lost 3-0 to another big rival in Holland at the weekend and the once untouchable manager is under pressure. Joachim Low may not survive another humiliating defeat and FRANCE should be backed at 8/11 with bet365 to win this fixture. Argentina will be without Lionel Messi when they play in BRAZIL tonight. The home team have lost twice in 29 fixtures so out the South American outfit to back at 8/13 with William Hill. 

There are two Flat meeting and two over jumps today in Britain and a jumps fixture at Punchestown in Ireland which offers most prize money. The conditions hurdle over two miles at 2.35 is the richest contest at the track. The race has only attracted four runners but none of those are bigger than 9/2 in the forecast betting. Don’t Touch It comes out on top for form and ratings but Hidden Cyclone has not run for 363 days. Stooshie is the most progressive of the quartet but EIGHT TILL LATE can translate good Flat form over hurdles and is the selection at 4/1 with Ladbrokes.   

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Warrington Look Good With A Start 

Rugby league has it’s the day in the sun with the Grand Final between Wigan and Warrington at Old Trafford. However, there could be more rain than sun in Manchester, the city with a reputation for wet weather. In rugby league rain means difficult conditions and problems in handling the ball which points to a low scoring match. The favourite on the day has not won the Grand Final since 2010. During the regular season and Super 8s Wigan finished 2 places and nine points ahead of Warrington. Wigan had an average superior point’s difference of 4 points. You can cover two bases by backing WARRINGTON +4 at 6/5 with William Hill. 

Denmark have not conceded in seven of their last 10 matches and Ireland have won just once in six fixtures. Denmark were much too good for Ireland in the World Cup playoff match in Dublin last year and ran out 5-1 winners. They won’t have the same intensity for this Nations League match and Christian Eriksen, who scored a hat-trick in that meeting, is absent due to injury. Ireland lost 4-1 to Wales in Cardiff last month and they have just been humbled against Spain by the same score. DENMARK are the bet at 13/8 with bet365.

There are 34 declared runners in the Cesarewitch which is run over two miles and two furlongs at Newmarket today. Famously the race starts in one country and ends in another. Jumps trainers do well with predominantly National Hunt hurdlers and Willie Mullins has sent six horses from Ireland. However, Alan King who has few runners on the Flat, could have the answer with JUST IN TIME who is 20/1 with Betfair. The Dewhurst Stakes on the same card is the most prestigious race of the season for horses aged two. Too Darn Hot is a big favourite but at the relative odds ANTHNOY VAN DYCK is the horse to back at 4/1 with Ladbrokes.  

Kenya Can Do The Cambridgeshire Double – By Ian Hudson

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Kenya won the Irish Cambridgeshire and at the weights has been given a decent chance to complete the double in the English version at Newmarket on Saturday. The heritage handicap over the Rowley Mile has a maximum field of 35 runners and the race looks like being fully subscribed. Kenya has produced the goods in the hurly burly of a big field handicap and can use that experience to win the Cambridgeshire for Aidan O’Brien. The jockey has not been named but it could be Ryan Moore.

The race is open to horses aged three and older and the distance is actually one mile and one furlong. The race was first run in 1839 so is one of the oldest handicaps on the calendar. The Cesarewitch was first run in the same year and the races form the Autumn Double. Three horses completed the double in the 19th century but horses with different attributes are suited to each race so it is now never attempted. In fact no horse has run in both races in the same year for more than a century.

The Cambridgeshire is a handicap which means each horse is allocated a weight based on proven form. The theory is that each of the 35 runners has an equal chance of finishing first. However, there will be unexposed horses who have been prepared for the race and they could be blots on the handicap. The trick is identifying horses on a winnable mark and in such a big field a number of runners may qualify. There could be a potential Group horse lurking in this handicap. 

Naturally the winner of the race will go up in the weights and in such a open contest multiple winners are rare. In fact no horse has won the Cambridgeshire three times but seven have won it twice. Bronze Angel is the most recent dual winner (2012 and 2014) and carried eight stone and eight pounds in both races. The weights rise after the first win led to a dip in form and Bronze Angel slipped down the weights ahead of the second win two years later. The Starting Price was 9/1 and 14/1. Since 2000 there have been three winning favourites and the average price of the winner is 20/1.

The leading trainers and jockeys won the race four times but both those records were set in the 19th century. Marcus Tregoning trained Bronze Angel and is the only trainer to win the race more than once since John Gosden was the winning trainer with two different horses in 2007 and 2008. Since 2000 no jockey has ridden the winner more than once. Moore has never won the Cambridgeshire and Frankie Dettori’s only winner was in 1994.     

      

Kenya won the Irish Cambridgeshire with plenty in hand and can accommodate an eight pounds rise in the weights. Horses that are trained outside the UK are worth considering. The form of races in Britain and Ireland can be hard to compare so Kenya could be that horse given too little weight. The winner often makes progress from a previous race but Kenya’s form is now in the public domain. The horse was in a different class in Ireland and can complete the Cambridgeshire double at Newmarket this weekend. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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England Play Switzerland In Real Friendly

England were 22 minutes away from playing in the World Cup final but have now lost three matches in succession for the first time since 1988. On the one hand England only beat Tunisia, Panama and Sweden in 90 minutes in Russia but progressed further than Germany, Brazil, Spain and Argentina. The cards definitely fell kindly but you can only beat who you have to play and England did score 12 goals in seven matches during the World Cup. Switzerland are their opponents this evening at Leicester’s ground in what is a genuine friendly rather than the pseudo friendlies that are fixtures in the UEFA Nations League. ENGLAND are 7/10 with Ladbrokes to beat Switzerland tonight.

The bane of international football in the past has been meaningless matches with nothing at stake. Inventing a tournament concept will not fool the fans and everybody knows winning Euro 2020 is what matters and the Nations League is a manufactured environment. At least tonight the match is called a friendly and is not being disguised as something it is not. Team selection and motivation are key and you would fancy the England second string to beat Switzerland. However, England have won just three of their last nine friendlies and Switzerland have lost twice in 22 matches. The visitors scored six against Iceland in their last match and England are strong up front so the bet of the match is BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at Evens with bet365.

Backing football teams at odds-on is not everybody’s cup of tea and in international friendlies teams often don’t play to their best. Players may lack the desire and hunger while opponents may have something to prove. However, in any potential scenario Poland must beat Ireland at home tonight in a non-competitive match. Ireland have just seven Premier League players available for selection. POLAND have a new coach and must be backed even at 11/20 with William Hill.

It’s the second day of the Listowel harvest festival and the fixture is the most lucrative of the day. The richest race on the card is the handicap hurdle over two miles at 3.40 and there is a maximum field of 18 runners. The place terms are one quarter the odds for the first four and KUIPER BELT is the each-way bet. The horse has won two minor races in England and now steps up to handicap company with potentially something in hand so is the selection at 10/1 with Coral.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Gareth Bale Plays For Wales Against Ireland 

Ryan Giggs famously rarely turned up for meaningless matches that Wales played possibly because Sir Alex Ferguson told him he couldn’t. The Manchester United player and manager could have been concocting injuries and illness and it was more than a coincidence that Giggs was fit enough to play in competitive matches for Wales. His most effective player is committed to always playing for his country.

It must have been frustrating for a series of managers of the Welsh national team that their best player was unavailable so often. The roles are now different and the current manager of Wales must be delighted that Gareth Bale is available for selection for the Nations League match at home to Ireland. That manager is Giggs and GARETH BALE is 14/5 with William Hill to score the first goal.

The Nations League is basically about international friendlies disguised as competitive matches. The concept has given a structure to fixtures that meant so little that Giggs more often than not stayed in Manchester due to some minor complaint that always seemed to clear up before Manchester United’s next match. In any battle of will Ferguson held sway and Giggs pulled out of Wales’ squads.

The current manager of Wales has the chance in Cardiff tonight to compensate for failure to qualify for the World Cup that was partly due to a 1-0 loss at home to Ireland. In fact there is a competitive element to tonight’s match because the league winners qualify for the Euro 2020 playoffs next March. However, there are 12 teams vying for that one place. WALES are 10/11 with Betfair to beat Ireland tonight.

Salisbury has been in the news for all the wrong reasons but today the racecourse stages a decent meeting that features one of only two Group races at the track. The fillies’ stakes over six furlongs for horses aged two is a Group 3 race which has attracted some decent juveniles. On form and ratings FIRELIGHT is the horse to back and that runner is 6/4 with Ladbrokes to win Salisbury’s biggest fillies’ race.