Weekend Sporting Round-up 25/26 Feb

NACARAT - Pic: Sporting Life

A brief round up of the weekend’s highlights…

Saturday Horse Racing:
The weekend’s big race, the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton, was won by popular 11-year-old grey Nacarat at 9/2.  His impressive 11 lengths win was his second success of this race after winning it in 2009.

Grumeti won again, taking his hurdling record to 3 from 4, and is 5/1 joint fav for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham with Tom George’s Baby Mix.

Sunday Football & Racing:

THEO WALCOTT - Pic: EPA

Arsenal come from 2 goals down, to beat Tottenham 5-2 in the North London derby.  Spurs were reduced to 10 men towards the end with Scott Parker sent off after a 2nd yellow card.  Arsenal score 5, but Robin Van Persie only gets 1!

In the Sheffield derby at Hillsborough the Owls gain bragging rights in a 1-0 win, halting their 3 successive defeats and United’s 3 successive wins, in what sounded a very uneventful game.

LIVERPOOL - Pic: AP

Liverpool won the Carling Cup, their first trophy for 6 years.  After normal time plus extra time the teams were still level, at 2-2.  So it went to penalties.  And what shockers most of them were, the one finishing nearest to Wembley Tube station being Charlie Adam’s wild effort.  Stevie G’s cousin missed Cardiff’s final penalty and The Reds celebrated a 3-2 win.

Ryan Giggs scored in injury time to earn Manchester United a 2-1 away win at Norwich on his 900th appearance, after the home side thought they had gained a draw when Grant Holt scored 7 minutes from time.

SEABASS - Pic: Sporting Life

Seabass, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by his father Ted, won again, to make it 7 on the bounce, and slashing his Grand National odds from 33/1 to 16/1.  Whether he gets the 4 and a 1/2 miles is to be questioned.

John Ferguson’s Asaid returned to winning ways as expected at Towcester, after his impressive 4th last time out in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown.

Wetherby Charlie Hall Chase + Football 29th Oct

TIME FOR RUPERT (to win me some money)

Thanks for looking at my Blog.  Not much with strong chances on offer this week I don’t feel.  The only horse I would have been really keen on isn’t actually running now (Rajnagan). So Racing wise, only one race interests me, and not surprisingly it’s the days big race.  For a Saturday I feel the standard across the cards is just above average.  There are two horses at Newmarket I could back, but both are short price faves, that won last time out.  I’d rather just watch than invest.

So I’ll just stick with the Charlie Hall, with a small stake bet.  Same with the football bets, nothing over the top.  Most of last Saturday’s profit is still in my account, and until I feel strongly about something that’s where it’s staying.

3.20pm Wetherby
Time For Rupert (3/1).  This horse owes me a fortune from Cheltenham in March.  Two singles, and was part of a double. (2nd)

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I do think a 13 year-old horse could win on the flat though, for his new owners.
Interesting jockey booking aswell.  Sphinx 4.40 Ayr, 15/8 (WON)

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Football:
Man City – 1 goal, Liverpool, Crawley and Wigan + 1 goal = 4/1
For some reason, half of me thinks this is a good bet, obviously or I wouldn’t of done it, but the other half thinks it’s risky!
(Man City won 3-1, Liverpool won 2-0, Crawley drew, Wigan lost 2-0)

Man Utd, Rangers & Tottenham Treble = 3/1
United do have a poor League record at Everton though, but after last week’s embarrassment, I feel they will be going all out.
(All 3 WON)

Sat 22nd Oct Horse Racing & Football

MASTER MINDED

UPDATE:
Good day at Stratford, 4 out of 7 winners, with combined odds of 165/1.
Should of had another winner in Bull Market,  made a mistake at the last.
Hazy Tom also won…  Taking 5 out of 9 winners to 373/1.
Some very good rides on those winners by: Kielan Woods, Jake Greenall, David Crosse, Felix de Giles and Noel Fehily.

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As the Flat season draws to an end and the National Hunt gathers pace, that’s where my interest is today.

AINTREE:
3.30 – Master Minded 1/2 (3rd)
(plus should be a predictable race with an easy Tri-cast, but can’t see it paying much: 1, 2, 3)
5.45 – Hazy Tom 5/4 (WON)

It’s been a while since I’ve gone through a whole card, so today I’ll do STRATFORD:
1.50 – Karasenir 2/1 (unplaced)
2.20 – Marc Aurele e/w 13/2 (WON)
2.50 – Grandads Horse 6/5 (WON)
3.20 – Lord Ryeford 9/2 (WON)
3.50 – Magnifique Etoile 5/6 (WON)
4.25 – Zorro De La Vega 3/1, Mayberry e/w 9/1 (both unplaced)
5.00 – Bull Market (very risky, but just for jockey booking alone) 5/1 (2nd)

SUAREZ

FOOTBALL:
Liverpool to beat Norwich 1/3 (Drew)
Newcastle to beat Wigan 8/13 (WON)
Leicester to beat Millwall 4/6 (Lost)
Charlton to beat Carlisle 4/5 (WON)

Newcastle, Liverpool and Master Minded Treble pays over 2/1
Or if you just want football, Leicester instead of Master Minded still pays over 2/1

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Sat 13th Aug – Football & Horses

R. Cresswell

Just a brief Blog today…

FOOTBALL:

single:
SHEFFIELD UNITED at home to Brentford, Evens. (WON) 2-0

Accumulator:
LIVERPOOL v. Sunderland (DREW)
Barnsley v. SOUTHAMPTON (WON)
SHEFF UTD v. Brentford (WON)
CRAWLEY v. Macclesfield (WON)

Pays around 8/1 or 9/1

UPDATE: 3 out of 4 won.  Liverpool ruined the day.

Excelerbration

HORSE RACING:

I’m NOT overly confident today, but I’m on:

BROWN PANTHER 4/1, 3.05 Newbury (2nd)

EXCELERBRATION 15/8, 3.40 Newbury (WINNER!)

LOUIS THE PIOUS 8/1 each way, 3.20 Newmarket (3rd) Gets the each way money

FOUR NATIONS 3/1, 5.30 Doncaster (2nd)

odds: Paddy Power 2.30pm
photos: SkySports & Sporting Life

Ante-Post Football 2011/12

The football season will be back upon us soon, so here’s my predictions for what might happen.   Highly risky when no ball has even been kicked.  The only two I’m confident of are the two obvious ones, hence the short prices (Man Utd & Celtic).

Premier League:
Manchester United to win the league: 13/8
Liverpool to finish in Top 4: 6/5
QPR to be relegated 7/4

Championship:
Leicester to get promoted 6/4
Ipswich to win the league, each way 20/1

League 1:
MK Dons to win the league, each way 14/1

League 2:
Shrewsbury to win the league, each way 14/1

Scottish Premier:
Celtic to win the league 8/11

(Each Way Odds: 1/4 places 1,2,3) Prices: Paddypower