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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 & 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. 

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.

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

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The Wire Is Fast Approaching In The Premier League  

That famous wire is what the Premier League is going down to and today the ball is in Liverpool’s court. The team in second place and one point behind Manchester City play at Newcastle in the tea-time TV fixture with no margin for error. City visit Leicester on Monday and wins for the two title contenders would set up final day deciders. Liverpool play Wolves at Anfield and City visit Brighton and both sides may need points for different reasons. The manager of Newcastle is Rafa Benitez and the Leicester boss is Brendon Rodgers, both former Liverpool managers. If either do their old club a favour LIVERPOOL would almost certainly be champions of England for the first time in 29 years and that outcome is 7/2 with Coral. 

Newcastle are becalmed in mid-table safety, free from relegation issues and with no chance of qualifying for Europe. There is a much held betting theory that the team with something to play for have an edge against opponents with nothing on the line. However, the evidence suggests competitive professional footballers just want to win football matches regardless of the circumstances. Conversely, you could say teams play better without the fear of losing. Newcastle have already lost nine league matches at home, scoring 22 goals and conceding 22. That may not become 10 because Liverpool look vulnerable and the DRAW is 4/1 with Paddy Power.  

The 2,000 Guineas takes place at Newmarket (3.35) over the Rowley Mile and colts and fillies aged three are eligible for the first Classic of the season. It’s a strange anomaly that females can run in all five Classic but male horses can only run in three. However, fillies rarely run in the 2,000 and Derby and today’s field is colts only. The market leaders are Ten Sovereigns and Magna Grecia, both trained by Aidan O’Brien who has won the race nine, between 1998 and 2018. However, SKARDU is proven over the course and distance and can prevail at 8/1 with Coral.       

  

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. 

Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

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Europa League Should Be Better For English Clubs 

Events in the first legs of the semi-finals of the Champions League could not have worked out much worse for the Premier League clubs but outcomes should be better at the same stage of the Europa League. Tottenham must overcome a 1-0 deficit against Ajax after the first match at their new stadium while Liverpool played well but suffered at the hands of Lionel Messi in losing 3-0 in Barcelona. Chelsea and Arsenal go into bat for the Premier League this evening in the Europa League for which ENGLAND is 4/7 with Ladbrokes to be the winning nationality.  

Arsenal have lost their last three league matches so finishing in the top four in the Premier League looks beyond them. The other route into the Champions League is winning the Europa League. That process continues with a home first leg match against Valencia in the last four. Arsenal have not conceded in five home matches in the competition and Valencia have fallen off the pace for a top four finish in La Liga. The Spanish outfit are unbeaten in six knockout matches in the Europa League but ARSENAL look a good bet to win this fixture at Evens with bet365. 

Chelsea are at Eintracht Frankfurt in their first leg last four meeting in the Europa League. The home team have scored at least one goal in 40 of 44 competitive matches this season but two of their three leading scorers will be absent in Germany tonight. Maurizio Sarri has hung on to his job with Chelsea through thick and thin and results in the Europa League have helped his cause. A top four place in the Premier League looks likely and a decent result in Frankfurt is on the cards. A DRAW would be acceptable and that outcome is 23/10 with Ladbrokes.

Whichever horses win at Punchestown today, Ruby Walsh will not be riding any of them. He announced his retirement with immediate effect after winning the Punchestown Gold Cup with Kemboy yesterday. He has won the six big races in the sport but injuries over the last few years have taken their toll. There is no jockey against the name of BAPAUME in the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown (5.30) as Walsh is the trainer’s main jockey but the horse has the best form and can win this race at 9/4 with bet365.     

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

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Ajax Could Clean Up In The Champions League 

The prospect of all-Premier League final of the Champions League was significantly reduced last night when Tottenham lost at home to Ajax in the first leg of the semi-final. The Dutch side were 100/1 to lift the trophy at the start of the knockout stages but are now the third favourites to be the champions of Europe for the fifth time. Tottenham huffed and puffed but created few chances and were well off the pace. The losing margin could have been bigger because Ajax hit the post in the second half. The Amsterdam outfit have won all three away legs in the knockout stages and AJAX are now 23/10 with Betfair to win the 2018-19 Champions League. 

If they get the job done back in Holland Ajax will meet Barcelona or Liverpool in the final in Madrid on June 1st. The match is being played at Atletico’s new stadium so Barcelona will be playing in Spain. The Catalans welcome Liverpool to the country this evening for the first leg of the other last four tie. There has never been a Champions League of European Cup final between Liverpool or Barcelona and Ajax and Tottenham have never gone all the way. Liverpool have not lost in 19 matches and avoiding defeat would be huge tonight. Even a narrow loss would set up a massive night at Anfield and LIVERPOOL are 23/20 with Paddy Power to qualify.  

It’s the second day of the Punchestown Festival and there are plenty of betting opportunities. You know its time to have a break from backing horses when your each way selection is disqualified from third place because the jockey weighed in too light. It’s been a long season and some runners have left their best form at Cheltenham or Aintree. That is the conundrum with the Punchestown Gold Cup at 6.05 which brings together impressive winners at those meetings. Al Boum Photo won the Gold Cup and Kemboy won the Melling Chase but from left field BELLSHILL looks a big price at 11/2  with Betfair to beat them both and the rest of the field.   

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

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Tottenham Can Take A Crucial Lead To Holland

Tottenham are the only club in the last four of the Champions League who have not been champions of Europe before. In fact, Liverpool (5 times), Barcelona (5) and Ajax (4) are multiple winners of the competition in its current guise or the European Cup. Tottenham have not even played in the final but that could all change this year. ‘The names written on the Cup’ could apply this season because Tottenham have pulled off some unlikely results during progress to the semi-finals. Even now they are without their talisman, Harry Kane, but he has not been missed in the Champions League which TOTTENHAM are 9/2 with Coral to win for the first time. 

The next hurdle to overcome is Ajax and it’s the first leg of the semi-finals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening. Ajax have knocked out Real Madrid and Juventus in the last two rounds and won the away leg in both ties. However, they played the first match at home so knew what was required in the reverse fixture on the road. The dynamic is different in this tie and Ajax cannot be gung-ho from the start. Tottenham have conceded just two goals in seven matches at home and preventing the away goal will be paramount tonight. TOTTENHAM may not achieve that objective but can take a lead to Amsterdam by winning the match at 6/4 with Paddy Power. 

On the first day of the Punchestown Festival and the decision to take coverage of Irish racing to a new platform is coming home to roost. Every meeting in Ireland was free to view for Sky subscribers on At The Races. However, there is now an additional charge to watch racing from Ireland. Punchestown is Ireland’s version of the Cheltenham Festival and Willie Mullins always sends a strong team and today he races some superstars. Arguably the best performance at Cheltenham or Aintree was by MIN at the Grand National meeting and the horse is 8/13 with Coral to follow up in the Champion Chase over two miles at Punchestown (5.30) today.