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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 – 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.     

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 – 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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The Spurs Can Go Marching On 

Tottenham have won all four matches at their new stadium without conceding a goal. They have not been convincing in each fixture but have managed to get the job done. A semi-final against Ajax in the Champions League is on the horizon but qualification for the competition next season is not assured. The Dutch champions have eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus in the knockout rounds and Tottenham could still finish outside the top four in the Premier League. Three points against West Ham at home today would put that issue to bed so TOTTENHAM are the bet at 4/9 with Coral. 

At the other end of the table Brighton are in a fight with Cardiff to avoid relegation. They lost by a late goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this week but showed enough fight to win the points to avoid the drop. Brighton have not scored in seven marches while Newcastle have notched just 13 times in 17 fixtures on the road. Games involving these clubs are the lowest for goals in the Premier League. Cardiff have a winnable game against relegated Fulham so Brighton need something against Newcastle but may have to settle for the DRAW which is 21/10 with Paddy Power.    

It’s the finale of the jumps season at Sandown but it all starts again next Saturday at Uttoxeter and Hexham. The feature race of the final day is the bet365 Gold Cup (3.35) which used to be called the Whitbread. It’s a staying handicap chase over three miles and five furlongs so has similarities with the Grand National. By the process of elimination a system identified ROCK THE KASBAH as a potential winner of the National. The horse was never going well and was brought down on the second circuit. There could be compensation in the bet365 Gold Cup at 14/1 with Coral.  

  

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

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The Ball Is Back In Liverpool’s Court  

The team at the top of the Premier League has changed 28 times this season and that is a record. Another change is expected tonight after Liverpool beat Huddersfield at Anfield. Manchester City are one point ahead but a superior goal difference makes that in effect two points. Both clubs have three more matches and six wins for the top two will clinch another title for City. Its like a rally at Wimbledon when the ball goes from one side of the net to the other. 

The managers know a slip up now would be a catastrophe and the severity of the remaining fixtures suggests neither will drop another point. The outcome could be resolved on the last day of the season and although City look in great nick the value lies in backing LIVERPOOL at 3/1 with bet365 to win the Premier League for the first time and be champions of England and that has not happened for 29 years.   

You can lay Liverpool at 1.08 in tonight’s home match against Huddersfield on a betting exchange. That means you are risking eight pounds to win £100 if they lose or the match is drawn. Conversely, money buyers will be considering the return on investment with a Liverpool win and in 90 minutes you earn a much better rate than from a bank account over 12 months. 

Huddersfield have not scored in eight of nine away matches and they could find the net a number of times tonight and still lose. A few goals at Anfield for the home team would reduce City’s goal difference advantage which currently stands at eight. Manchester United did Liverpool no favours and Huddersfield will not help City. The best bet is LIVERPOOL -2 at 4/7 with Ladbrokes.  

Stephen Maguire was identified as a potential snooker world champion over 10 years ago but it has never happened. He can take a step further that elusive first title by beating James Cahill in the second round of the World Championship in Sheffield. The amateur who knocked out Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round may have a reality check and STEPHEN MAGUIRE -3.5 is 5/6 with bet365.   

It’s the first fixture of the two-day meeting at Sandown that mixes decent Flat racing this afternoon with a brilliant jumps card tomorrow and the finale of the season. The best race of the day is the Group 2 bet365 Mile at 3.35. Addeybb won the Lincoln Handicap and this race last season but the King Power Racing horse BEAT THE BANK has the ratings to prevail at 11/4 with Ladbrokes. 

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

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City Can Beat United In Huge Manchester Derby  

Manchester United supporters will be on the horns of a dilemma when Manchester City play at Old Trafford tonight. A win would give them local bragging rights and be a massive positive step towards a top four finish and qualification for the Champions League. However, a City defeat makes Liverpool favourites to be the champions of England for the first time in 29 years. In a bizarre twist Liverpool fans will be cheering for United all the way. However, they could be disappointed because on current form the home team are not good enough to secure three points.

United are the biggest price they have ever been to win a home match in domestic football. They have lost six times in eight outings and were truly abysmal against Everton on Sunday. Being second best in all departments was bad enough but running fewer miles was testimony to the debacle. City have lost just once in seven matches at Old Trafford and should extend that run. In 23 of 34 Premier League matches they have led at half time and the end of the match. The MANCHESTER CITY/MANCHESTER CITY double result is 13/10 with Ladbrokes. 

The snooker World Championship is now wide open after Ronnie O’Sullivan lost in the first round. His opponent was James Cahill who is the first amateur to compete at the Crucible. The tournament really is a marathon and not a sprint and experience of going all the way counts for a lot. MARK SELBY was the champion in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and the Jester from Leicester can do it again at 9/2 with bet365. 

There is a decent card at Perth today and the highlight is the Listed novices’ hurdle over three miles at 3.00. Go Another One is trained in Ireland and was a non-runner at Fairyhouse yesterday. The track in Scotland is easily accessible from across the Irish Sea. It’s a journey in an eastwards direction which could be thwarted by a horse called EUR GONE WEST who can be backed at 7/2 with Ladbrokes.   

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Liverpool Will Be United Fans For One Night

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When Manchester United play Manchester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday Liverpool supporters will be wanting the home team to win. United are desperate for points to finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League but a win in the derby could hand Liverpool the title. If City slip up Liverpool will be on track for the Premier League and Champions League double. There could be an all-England final of the Champions League for the first time since 2009 and TOTTENHAM are 4/1 with Coral to be the champions of Europe for the first time.

United were abysmal at Everton and the 4-0 defeat could have been a lot worse. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologised to the away fans at the end of the game for the abject effort of his players. A reaction in the Manchester derby will be good news for Liverpool who are trying to win the title for the first time in 29 years. If City drop points Liverpool will take advantage by beating Huddersfield at home on Friday. The visitors are relegated and surely cannot avoid a heavy defeat. LIVERPOOL are 11/8 with Ladbrokes to win the Premier League for the first time.

It’s the final day of the jumps season on Saturday and the new season begins the following week. Richard Johnson and Paul Nicholls are the champion jockey and champion trainer and Tiger Roll must be the horse of the year. The owners are teasing about the horse’s participation but a third Grand National in a row must be the target and TIGER ROLL is 8/1 with Coral to win the race again. The feature race of the finale at Sandown is the bet365 Gold Cup (which for years was called the Whitbread). The 2016 winner, THE YOUNG MASTER, is 9/1 with Ladbrokes for a second win. It all starts again a week on Saturday.

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

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Revenge Can Be Sweet For Manchester City 

If Manchester City lose to Tottenham at home today in the Premier League the players and fans will be sick and tired of seeing them at the Etihad. Four days after Tottenham destroyed the dream of winning four trophies Manchester City welcome the London outfit to their ground again. City actually won the match 4-3 but Tottenham progressed to the last four of the Champions League on away goals.  In fact Tottenham have lost seven of eight away fixtures in all competitions. MANCHESTER CITY can gain some revenge by winning today’s match at 2/7 with bet365. Liverpool meet Cardiff away from home tomorrow. 

The other televised fixture brings together the home team in Newcastle and Southampton. It is one of those meaningless end of season fixtures which generally produce low bookings counts. Both teams look destined to finish in the bottom half of the table but free of relegation issues. Huddersfield and Fulham are down and Brighton and Cardiff are scrapping to avoid the drop. A draw today would serve the purpose for both clubs and finally confirm Premier League status for next season. Neither teams will be fretting over the drop if the points are shared which means the best bet is a DRAW and that outcome is 21/10 with Coral. 

Musselburgh stages a lucrative Flat meeting today with £239,000 in prize money up for grabs which makes it the track’s richest fixture. The biggest prize is for the winner of the heritage handicap over one mile and six furlongs at 3.35. It’s a wide open 14 runner contest with the favourite at 4/1 in the morning prices. Austrian School is respected but could now be handicapped out of the race. Ulster has the form on the All Weather to contend but this is his first race on turf. Making Miracles underperformed at this level last season so looks outclassed. LUCKY DEAL can translate solid form on artificial surfaces and is the horse to back at 8/1 with bet365.   

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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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