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This Weeks Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Huge Matches for Liverpool And Arsenal

It’s a huge betting week for football, racing and snooker. There are the second legs in the Champions League semi-finals, the first two Classics of the Flat season and it’s the latter stages of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Liverpool and Real Madrid are sitting pretty ahead of their second matches against Roma and Bayern Munich and a repeat of the 1981 final is on the cards which Liverpool won 1-0 thanks to a late winner from left-back Alan Kennedy who was nicknamed Barney Rubble. LIVERPOOL are 6/4 with bet365 to win the Champions League and become top dogs in Europe for the sixth time. Arsenal play at Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final after a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the first leg. Tottenham are at home to Watford in tonight’s live Premier League fixture.

The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas are the first two of five Classics complete by the Oaks and Derby at Epsom in June and the St Leger at Doncaster in September. The Triple Crown is rare because it involves a horse winning over from one mile to one mile six furlongs from May to September. Nijinsky in 1970 and Oh So Sharp in 1985 are the last colt and filly to achieve the feat. This weekend’s races are run over the straight Rowley Mie at Newmarket which does not suit every horse. Course form and the ability to handle the track are paramount so MASAR (2,000 Guineas on Saturday) at 5/1 with Betfair and SOLILIQY (1,000 Guineas on Saturday) at 8/1 with Ladbrokes are the horses to back and the double pays 53/1. There are five Flat meetings today as jumps racing takes a short break.

It’s the second week of the snooker and the two ante post favourites have not progressed to the last eight. Mark Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan are out and both players are former winners. A player from Asia has never won the world title and Ding Junhui is now the market leader. The championship has a history of producing multiple winners because of the demands of the tournament which is played over 17 days. MARK WILLIAMS has won it twice and he is now 15/2 with Paddy Power to become the champion of the world again. Matches in the second round take place today and the final is this Saturday and the following day.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Fulham Can Win Tonight’s London Derby In The Championship

There are no Premier League fixtures tonight so the main football betting action is a London derby in the Championship between the home team in Millwall and Fulham. There are incentives for both sides because Millwall are in the thick of making the playoffs and Fulham are vying for automatic promotion to the Premier League. Millwall have not lost in 15 fixtures at home but that run could come to an end tonight. They have come well off the pace into playoff reckoning. Both teams are unbeaten in five league matches but FULHAM are 13 points and 3 places above their opponents and are the team to back at 23/20 with William Hill.

Since rugby league became a summer sport Friday has been Super League night with one fixture taken out of the schedule for live television. In the olden days the sport was played on muddy pictures at antiquated grounds. TV money has taken the sport into the modern era but one element has not improved the sport. The referees go to the video official all the time because they can pass on responsibility for making a call. This could be the future of football with VAR and rugby league illustrates how it should not be done. WIGAN can cover a handicap of 4 points at home to Castleford and that outcome is Evens with bet365.

The Flat season is now properly underway and the first two Classics of the season take place at Newmarket in two weeks. Yesterday’s Craven Stakes is a major trial for the 2,000 Guineas and Maser was an impressive winner. The horse produced a stunning performance and MASAR can now be backed at 6/1 with Ladbrokes to win the first Classic of the season over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. There are six meetings in Britain and Ireland today but the racing is more than quantity over quality. The richest card is at Ayr where the most valuable race is the handicap chase at 3.45. THEINVAL has the form and ratings to prevail at 11/4.

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Chelsea Can Beat Burnley Tonight

We are coming to the end of the Premier League season and most of the major issues have been decided. There are some minor subplots but the current state of play means there are many meaningless fixtures. Incentive and motivation is key and there are some good betting opportunities from season scenarios. Burnley are safe while Chelsea are still just about fighting for the fourth place. The teams meet at Turf Moor tonight and the HOME team are 7/2 with bet365 to win the fixture. Burnley have won their last five league fixtures and could still qualify for the Europa League.

Chelsea would do anything to avoid playing in that competition next season. The business plan of the champions is based on playing in the Champions League every season and Roman Abramovich won’t tolerate missing out. Antonio Conte was the best thing since sliced bread when he became manager of the club but his days are numbered. Conte will probably get the sack in the summer and Chelsea are back to square one. JOSE MOURINHO is 40/1 to be the next Chelsea manager and stranger things have happened. Howard Kendall managed Everton three times.

Burnley have not been the best team in all of the five matches they have won but have been clinical in taking chances and dogged in defence. That strategy cannot be sustained and sooner or later the possession stats will translate into the match outcome. Burnley have conceded at least one goal in their last seven home fixtures and a Chelsea win means Champions League qualification is not a forlorn hope. On balance there is more at stake for the London club so CHELSEA are the bet at 10/11 with William Hill but Conte’s still gone soon.

The Craven Stakes is one of the major trials for the 2,000 Guineas, the first Classic of the season in which colts predominantly compete. That race is run over the straight Rowley Mile at Newmarket and the Craven is run over the same course and distance. Roaring Lion has the form and ratings to prevail but the price is too short. MASAR has some good 2yo form and is a viable alternative at 5/1 with Paddy Power.

It Will be A Magical Day For Enable – By Rick Elliott

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It looks like being a magical day for Enable at Chantilly but Aidan O’Brien may still have a winner on Arc day with a horse called Magical. The Irish trainer is throwing five darts at the most prestigious Flat race in Europe of which Winter is his standout runner but Magical travels to France with a decent chance in the first race (1.10pm).

O’Brien has won the feature two-year-old race for fillies at the meeting four times and Magical could increase his tally to five. The horse has won at Group 3 level and was second in Group 1 company on his last start. O’Brien looks like being disappointed in the Arc but MAGICAL can give him a winner on the card at Chantilly today.

2/1 with bet365!

Happily was the horse that beat Magical at the highest level on his last start and the first race will provide a good form guide for the following contest. Happily is rated to win the 1.45pm race at Chantilly but Masar looks the horse to back. Masar has won a Group 3 race and is an improving colt who impressed last time out. The race distance of one mile will suit MASAR who can win the Chantilly second race on Arc day.

3/1 with Betfair!

However, there’s no getting away from Enable who wins the Arc!

There are three live televised matches in the Premier League today and only one is not difficult to call. Arsenal can beat Brighton by at least one goal at home but the other two fixtures have draws written all over them. Burnley can pick up a point at Everton and Liverpool can avoid defeat at Newcastle. A double on two draws pays 15/1 with bet365 but the standout bet of the day across all sports has to be ENABLE!