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Trackside In Ireland – By Declan O’Donoghue

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The opening Tipperary flat meeting of the year a few weeks ago had seen a stunning performance by first timer Sir Dragonet, a serious market drifter who romped home at 14/1, a result which shocked and delighted his Ballydoyle connections.

He brought it to another level again during the week when winning the Chester Vase from way off the pace and is now a warm favourite for the Epsom Derby.

Needless to say he was the talk of the town at Tipp on Thursday, a jumps meeting this time where perhaps Brahma Bull was the one to note. The Willie Mullins trained eight year old has been very difficult to train, but patience is a keyword at Closutton and the 13/8 favourite delivered in style in the beginners chase. 

Brian Hayes did the steering and from what Patrick Mullins said some of the bigger names in the Mullins yard did not put up their hands to ride him as he has clearly had jumping issues at home. 

“He has a big engine but hasn’t been easy to train and is hard on himself. He’s an awkward sort but Brian got a nice rhythm going with him” Patrick said. 

He will step up in class a bit now, though possibly over a shorter trip than the three miles covered on Thursday.

Punters were also on target in the opener where even money jolly Carrie Des Champs delivered for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. The Robin Des Champs mare was different gravy, though untidy jumps at the last two hurdles did not help her cause.

Gavin Cromwell is probably still coming to terms with training a Champion Hurdle winner, and while his Rip Van Winkle gelding Cray will never mix it at anything like that level, he paid his way in style here justifying support from 9/1 into “fives.” 

The Robert Tyner trained Pack Your Bags was sent off a generous 11/2 when winning for the third time his last four races. The money here was all for Commandant but the Joseph O’Brien trained 100/30 market leader never really landed a blow for Rachael Blackmore and finished sixth.

So Ryan Moore is always on the best one? Yeah, right… Declan’s winners this week included Sir Dragonet 8/1 (won 13/2) and Magna Grecia 11/2. Other recent winners on the flat were Njord (a reserve!) 8/1 (w 9/2), I Am Superman 6/1 (w 9/2), Happen 11/4  and Circus Maximus 5/4. His Punchestown gems included Pearl Of The West 20/1 (w 12/1); Front View 5/1; Chacun Pour Soi 9/2 (w 3/1); Un De Sceaux 3/1 (w 11/4); Zero Ten 13/8 (w 5/4) and Gypsy Island 13/8 (w 11/10).

Can you really afford to do without this selective Irish information?

This article is provided by Declan O’Donoghue please click the link below for full service proofing and details…

Current: 31.02

Previous: 49.43

All Time: 772.80

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

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All Or Nothing For Liverpool  

The four clubs embarking on the Championship playoffs are traditional top flight outfits who have hit on hard times. They have the resources and infrastructure to survive in the Premier League but only one will face that challenge next season. Meanwhile Manchester City and Liverpool fight to the end for the title this time. There is a sneaking suspicion that LIVERPOOL could prevail at 6/1 with Ladbrokes and then beat Tottenham in the final of the Champions. But it could be all or nothing. 

The first playoff fixture brings together Aston Villa and West Brom at Villa Park. The away team finished one place and four points ahead of their opponents during the regular season. Villa’s eight match form is better than that of their West Midlands neighbours. They have scored in all of 13 most recent fixtures and one goal could be enough to decide the first leg of this semi-final. ASTON VILLA are the team to back to win the match at 10/11 with bet365.     

Leeds accumulated nine more points than Derby during the 46 match season but Derby have the edge in terms of recent form and home advantage today. However, the Rams won two of eight fixtures at home against teams that finished in the top nine. Leeds have won both fixtures in the Championship this season, scoring six goals and conceding one. Leeds have suffered some blows recently and momentum and form should see DERBY win this match at 21/10 with Ladbrokes.   

Aidan O’Brien is winning all the Classics and most of the Derby trials and that process should continue at Lingfield today. The Derby trial at 2.30 is not such a major guide as other races like the Chester Vase or next week’s Dante Stakes at York. O’Brien’s ANTHONY VAN DYCK is the nap at Lingfield at 11/8 with bet365. 

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 – By Rick Elliott

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The Premier League Rules Europe – All Four Clubs Could Be In! 

The impossible dream of the four finalists in the Champions League and Europa League being clubs from the Premier League could still become a reality. Liverpool and Tottenham did their bit in the Champions League from three goals down and now the ball is in the court of Chelsea and Arsenal in the Europa League who are both favourites to qualify from their ties which are decided this evening. One leg of the double has been taken care off but the odds on ENGLAND being the nationality of the winner in both European competitions is now about 1/3 with bet365.  

Arsenal take a 3-1 lead to Valencia after the first match in London in the semi-finals of the Europa League. Unai Emery, the man chosen to replace Arsene Wenger, won the trophy three times with Sevilla so knows what it takes. Despite some shambolic displays in the Premier League winning a competition in his first season would be a fine achievement by Emery. Arsenal have scored in eight of 10 away fixtures in the Europa League and Valencia rarely fail to find the net at home. The best bet is BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at 8/15 with Ladbrokes.   

Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw away to Eintracht Frankfurt in their first leg but were value for a win. They should complete the job at Stamford Bridge and progress to the final of the Europa League, a competition they won in 2012-13. In fact Chelsea are one of just five clubs who have won all three of UEFA’s main club competitions. (Juventus, Ajax, Bayern Munich and Manchester United are the others).  However, anything is possible in two-leg football and a goal for Eintracht would put them in the driving seat. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT are 7/2 with bet365 to qualify for the final.

It’s the second day of the Chester May meeting and the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes (3.35) over one mile, five and a half furlongs is the richest race of the day. Idaho won the race for Aidan O’Brien last season and he has the favourite this time. KEW GARDENS can cope with a seven pounds penalty and justify favouritism at Evens with Ladbrokes.     

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

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All English Clubs Champions League Final?  

If at the start of this season’s Champions League campaign you had suggested that Liverpool, Tottenham and Ajax would be the last three men standing you would have been laughed out of court. Even at 8pm yesterday it would have been fanciful to predict that Liverpool would still be in the competition as they were 18/1 to qualify against Barcelona before the stunning 4-0 win at Anfield. 

The home team were better in all departments and caught out some of the most experienced defenders in the world with the corner routine that clinched the winning goal. Tottenham or Ajax will have their say but the momentum from stunning Barca makes LIVERPOOL the bet to be the champions of Europe for the sixth time at 4/9 with Ladbrokes. The final is being played in Madrid on June 1st. 

Ajax have been the surprise package and were still big outsiders at the start of the knockout round. They have won all three away ties and eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus. Ajax beat Tottenham 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals and the return match is in Amsterdam tonight. Only one team out of 17 have qualified for the final after losing at home in the first meeting in the last four. 

Tottenham certainly have their backs against the wall but have come through matches and ties when the odds were stacked against them. The dynamic for Ajax is different in that they are defending a lead at home rather than needing to win on the road. There could be an all-Premier League final and TOTTENHAM are 5/2 with Coral to qualify for a showdown with Liverpool in Madrid.  

It’s the first day of the Chester May meeting which brings out the Cheshire set to the course. The track is in the middle of the town and has one of the shortest circuits in the sport. Low numbers have a draw advantage but that is often written into the odds. 

Aidan O’Brien uses the meeting to test his best three-year-olds’ Classic credentials and he has three runners in the Chester Vase (3.35). On two-year-old form ARTHUR KITT could stall the O’Brien bandwagon at 12/1 with Ladbrokes. 

Tommy May Be Too Busy To Get Involved – By Ian Hudson

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Southport is in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton which stretches from the suburbs of Liverpool to the famous golfing town. Liverpool and Everton football clubs and Aintree Racecourse are just outside Sefton so the area is a sporting Mecca. The British Masters is taking place at Hillside Golf Club this week which is next door to Royal Birkdale on the best run of links courses in England. This week’s event on the European Tour is hosted by Tommy Fleetwood but compatriot Oliver Wilson is a better betting prospect. He has winning form on a links golf course and Hillside lies alongside the Irish Sea. 

The US PGA Championship has moved from its traditional August date to May. The second major of the season takes place next week so the field for the AT & T Bryon Nelson has very little depth. The leading contenders in the betting are Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth who have both won three major championships so may not be totally focused for the job in hand. Marc Leishman has contended in majors in the past but he has a better chance of winning this week after five top 10s this season. The host course is at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas which stages the tournament for just the second time so there is not a great deal of course form to assess.     

The British Masters was not played from 2009 to 2014 but then Sky Sports got involved and over the last three years the tournament has been hosted by a leading English golfer. Sky Sports ended their involvement and the event was under threat before Betfred became the title sponsors and Fleetwood became the host on a course in his home town. He is number 16 in the world rankings, not missed a cut this season and has finished in the top 10 in almost one third of his starts. Fleetwood played Hillside as a boy but hosting duties may get in the way of contending this week.  

Wilson won his last event on the European Tour on a links course. He won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2014 but that is his only Tour win. However, Wilson played in the winning Walker Cup team for Europe in 2003 at Ganton Golf Club that has similar demands to Hillside. He has recorded three top fives this season including this March in Qatar on a course that is affected by local winds. Hillside is subject to sea breezes which means Wilson, the world number 35, has the game and temperament suited to the playing conditions in Southport this week. The course is in a sporting hotbed which includes four Premier League clubs within 50 miles.  

The PGA Championship is being played at Bethpage State Park in New York State where Tiger Woods won the US Open in 2002. He won his 15th major and fifth US Masters last month so is the only player who can win the calendar year Grand Slam. No player has won all four majors in the same season and Woods is preparing for the second leg so is not in the field this week. The host course in Dallas is relatively easy in still conditions and its main defence is the wind which may or may not be absent this week. Last year’s winner, Aaron Wise, was ninth for driving distance and second in strokes gained putting. The field averaged less than 70 shots. 

Leishman finished second behind Wise in 2018 after leading at the end of round one and two and tieing for the lead at the end of the third round. The Australian combines current form with course form and has a decent skills’ profile. Leishman can build some confidence for the PGA Championship by getting in the mix this week. 

Tuesday’s Horses In Focus – By Unity Racing Investments

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Today’s Free Tip 

Wetherby 1-50 Stakes (Class 5) 10f 

Roger Charlton runs 3yo bay colt Stone Mason. He’s a good looking chap and has been really impressive at home on the gallops. He goes over 1 m 2 f today at Wetherby.

That trip should be his optimal on breeding. They have him as fit and ready as he can be today. But it’s not clear as to whether he will see out the trip. 

There is a lot of confidence from the trainer that he will. He had been entered in a mile contest at Wolves today as well but they have swerved that for a race on turf 11/4 looks like a bargain to me.

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NON-RUNNERS, RULE4 and EARLY PRICES – By High Roller Racing

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With the going at many courses being unpredictable due to the weather there has been a lot of horses taken out of races hence smaller fields and the application of Rule4. For those of you not familiar with Rule4. I will explain below.

Rule4 is a standard deduction made when an early price on a horse or dog has been taken. For example if you have a £10 win on a horse and the 2/1 favourite is withdrawn then your 5/1 looks very generous? Well the people backing the withdrawn favourite get their money returned and the 5/1 horse would be around 3/1 so a deduction is made from the winnings of those taking 5/1 according to Tattersalls Rule4 of 30p in every £ e.g. 5/1 with a £10 stake returns £60 but only a £50 profit….it is the profit that Rule4 is applied to… hence 30p for every £1 won so on a profit of £50 the deduction is £15….so the customer get back £45… £10 stake plus his £35 winnings.

This last few weeks rule4 has come into play a lot BUT it has shown everyone it needs looking at as in general it favours the bookmakers and I think they have enough going for them already.

Rule4 occasionally goes against the bookmakers and one such example was  last Week when a race had 7 horses declared but three were withdrawn making a field of four runners so all bets were win only. The favourite was was on offer the night before at 11/8. The withdrawn horses had a dramatic effect and bookmakers made The 11/8 favourite a 1/5 on favourite. Well he duly obliged and if you had taken the 11/8 less the deductions for Rule 4 you were paid a shade over 4/5 for a 1/5 winner. So Rule4 occasionally works for the punters… but not often!

So what’s the answer? Well I think a review of these rules needs to be made because Rule4 has not been reviewed for years… bookmakers are not keen to get it reviewed and punters are powerless to try and get those in ‘Racing Power’ to do so.

I think that we all need to take early prices at best odds guaranteed and bet with bookmakers such as Bet365 who ignore Rule4 at 5p in the £. Check to see if your bookie does that? If not do what I do and open quite a few accounts and take your bets with those offering the best prices.

So come on racing authorities let have a proper review of Rule4 and a review of betting rules.

My service High Roller Racing is available to all members and you can join by following the link below. Have a great week. Best of luck from Lawrence of High Roller Racing.

CLICK HERE And Become A High Roller!

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

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Things Could Get Worse For Liverpool 

Manchester City have played 37 games in the Premier League this season and Vincent Kompany has had 37 shots from outside the penalty area in the competition over his 11 seasons at the club. City need to a win at Brighton on Sunday to clinch the title and Kompany’s first shot from more than 18 yards to go in secured a crucial three points against Leicester at the Etihad last night. That keeps them in the driving seat and one point ahead of Liverpool before the final day when Liverpool play Wolves at Anfield. Liverpool are the outsiders to be the champions of England in the 2018/19 season for which MANCHESTER CITY are now 1/10 with Paddy Power.

Liverpool are also long shots to qualify for the final of the Champions League ahead of this evening’s second leg fixture in the last four against Barcelona at home.  A 3-0 defeat in the first match was just about the worst result after Liverpool gave Barcelona a good match at Camp Nou last week. They were one outrageous free-kick and poor miss from Mo Salah from coming back from Spain with a 2-1 deficit which would have been a great result. Liverpool were three down against AC Milan in the 2005 final but came back to win the Champions League but this Barcelona side are a different kettle of fish. Salah is absent but Messi plays which means the match could ends up as a DRAW and that outcome is 13/5 with Coral.  

There are five meetings in the UK today and Fakenham offers the most prize money with £70,000 over seven races. It’s a lull before the lucrative Chester May meeting over the next three days which features some trials for the Derby. Aidan O’Brien often sends his leading prospects to the track and his runners should be noted after he won the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket over the weekend. O’Brien has never had a runner at Fakenham where the Norfolk National takes place today at 3.45. FIFTY SHADES has the form and ratings to win the race at 3/1 with Paddy Power.

Premier League Top Four Place Up For Grabs

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Today’s preview was written before Liverpool played Newcastle away from home and the outcome of that match will be hugely significant for the destiny of the Premier League title. Today’s three fixtures are all about finishing in third or fourth place, qualifying for next season’s Champions League and avoiding the long winded chore that is the Europa League. Chelsea, Arsenal and MANCHESTER UNITED are in action and the latter are 10/1 with bet365 for a top four finish.

Chelsea are first up at home to Watford who are playing Manchester City in the FA Cup Final. The visitors’ form has dipped over their last two matches and they are now the outsiders of four to finish seventh and play in European competition next season. Winning the Cup is another route but beating City at Wembley looks beyond them. CHELSEA are playing well in the league and Europe and are Evens with Betfair to beat Watford by more than one goal.

Manchester United visit Huddersfield and should secure the away win that keeps their top four hopes alive. The home team are relegated and have lost their last five fixtures in the Premier League. Huddersfield have a negative goal difference of 54 and have scored just nine goals at home, conceding 30. MANCHESTER UNITED TO WIN TO NIL is 21/20 with bet365. Arsenal look like bankers against a Brighton desperate for points so the DRAW is worth backing at 4/1 with Betfair.

The 1,000 Guineas is the first Classic of the season solely for fillies and is run over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket (3.35). Qabala won the latest trial on the course but over a distance of seven furlongs so is unproven at one mile. In fact the horse has only run twice and both wins were over seven furlongs at Newmarket. IRIDESSA won the Fillies’ Mile at the track last October so is the best bet at 15/2 with bet365.