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Chew over bet on Toffees

Everton are an interesting proposition at 6-4 with Stan James for their visit to Middlesboro in the Braclays Premier League on New Year’s Day.

Part can win with something to spare

John Part can make his experience count against qualifier Kirk Shepherd and deny the ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship a fairytale ending at the Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day. The decider is live on Sky Sports 1 at 7.30pm.

Young Scotton on right track

Young Scotton (1.50 Wolverhampton) rates the best bet on a day lacking in quality.

Blues can ground Ospreys

Take Cardiff Blues at 10-11 to make the most of a seven-point advantage on Skybet’s handicap market for their Magners League visit to the Ospreys on Monday. The match is a 2.05 kick-off.

Back Murray to make a mint

With the New Year looming large, bookmakers have unveiled their traditional list of specials for events that may or may not transpire over the next 12 months.

Reds to give City the blues

Backers should take advantage of totesport’s stand-out 23-10 quote about Liverpool beating hosts Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

The Mighty One so solid

The Mighty One (7.55 Wolverhampton) looks a rock-solid bet at a best morning price of 5-2 with Paddy Power and Ladbrokes.

Everton can tame Gunners

Everton can put another dent in Arsenal’s title ambitions by beating Arsene Wenger’s team at Goodison Park on Saturday - a match being shown live on Setanta Sports.

Pepporoni Pete looks hot

On another busy day's racing, Pepporoni Pete (1.15 Kempton Park) rates the pick of the morning prices at a juicy 7-2 with Sportingbet. 

Ospreys to take wing at Stradey

Take the Ospreys at 10-11 with Bet365 to make the most of a four-point start when they visit Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League on Thursday evening.

City can earn top marks

Manchester City can make it ten out of ten on home soil this season by beating Blackburn Rovers at the City of Manchester Stadium on Thursday night.

Punjabi looks hot stuff

Punjabi, a smart novice last season, rates a cracking bet at this morning's general 6-1 to land the Stan James Christmas Hurdle (1.55) at Kempton Park today.

Wigan can be peerless

Wigan are worth an interest at 13-8 with Skybet to beat visitors Newcastle United on Boxing Day.

Rely on Reading for an upset

Reading look overpriced at a general 3-1 to win away to West Ham United  on Boxing Day - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 1 (start 1pm).

Arsenal ready to march on

Arsenal can ensure they are top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day by beating Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Stay with Loulou Nivernais

Loulou Nivernais, available at a general 13-2, looks a solid bet to win the three-mile staying handicap hurdle (2.30) at Uttoxeter today.

Collins odds-on to get Fulham job

John Collins is hot favourite to become the next Fulham manager after Lawrie Sanchez’s dismissal this morning.

Black Cats set for Christmas roasting

Roy Keane was left spitting feathers after referee Steve Bennett ruled out Danny Collins’ late header against Aston Villa last weekend and the Sunderland manager’s mood could darken further over the Christmas period.

Sands Crooner hard to fault

In-form, well handicapped and with a good record on the all-weather, Sands Crooner (8.50 Wolverhampton) rates a rock-solid bet at a morning price of 5-2 with Ladbrokes and totesport.

Anelka odds-on to join Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka is odds-on to be a Chelsea player by the end of next month.

Everton have strength in depth

Everton could reward a speculative punt at the 9-2 offered by Bet Direct to extend their rich run of form by winning away to AZ Alkmaar in the Uefa Cup on Thursday evening.

Mister Potter ready to fly

With the favourite, Bagan, unlikely to appreciate this step up to three miles, Mister Potter (1.00 Newbury) rates a solid bet at 100-30 with Sportingodds. 

Chelsea can march on in cup

Chelsea can stay on course for more Carling Cup glory by beating Liverpool in their quarter-final clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Hodgson cut for Ireland job

Roy Hodgson is the latest name to attract support to become the next Ireland manager.

Tartatartufata the one at 7-2

Another day, another card lost through frost after Folkestone was finally called off after a third inspection.  There is not much in the way of quality on the all-weather at Southwell, but Tartatartufata (2.40) looks a fair bet at the morning odds of 7-2.

Rely on Rovers in cup clash

Blackburn Rovers can put a jittery patch behind them by beating Arsenal in their Carling Cup quarter-final clash at Ewood Park on Tuesday night.

Beckham 1-2 to start against Swiss

David Beckham faces an anxious wait to discover whether he will be part of new England manager Fabio Capello’s plans after the Italian admitted: “I wish he was younger.”

Granary can rise to occasion

Just two meetings left today after the abandonment of Ayr because of frost.  With doubts over all three of his main market rivals, Granary (3.45 Wolverhampton) rates a solid each-way bet at the best early price of 11-2. 

Taylor a snip to reign at the Palace

Phil Taylor is again the man to beat when the world’s leading arrowsmiths step up to the oche for the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship, starting Monday. The greatest player of all time is available at 7-4 with Boylesports and that is a price worth taking.

Forecast bleak for bottom four

The Big Four may be centre stage on Sunday but there are also key games at the foot of the Premier League this weekend when the bottom four are all at home and will be looking to pick up vital points in the relegation dog fight.

Bremen cracking value at 14-1

Despite the abandonment of Doncaster this morning because of frost, there are two cracking bets today at the early prices, with Bremen (2.30 Cheltenham) and Alfie Tupper (8.55 Wolverhampton) both well worth supporting. 

'Super Sunday' offers range of options

The bookmakers cannot get enough of what they are describing as 'Super Sunday'. Boylesports envisage fiery encounters at the Emirates and Anfield - prompting them to offer a skinny 14-1 that a player is sent off in each game. It is 12-1 for both games to see a penalty and 9-1 for them to finish with the same scoreline.

Torres to top Tevez at Anfield

Carlos Tevez is 100-30 with totesport to outscore Fernando Torres in Sunday’s big clash at Anfield. The Manchester United forward scored twice in the 4-1 demolition of Derby County last Saturday and has now found the back of the net eight times in his past 14 matches.

Paddy Power plot downfall odds

He may not have been appointed yet, but Paddy Power are already betting on what will be Fabio Capello’s downfall. They make failure to qualify for World Cup 2010 the 5-4 favourite. More juicy is the 25-1 offered against him standing down after an affair with a celebrity or the 33-1 that he criticises Brian Barwick in public. Why would he ever want to do that?

Bookies speculate on tenure

Coral are offering 7-1 that Fabio Capello can lead England to glory in either the World Cup or European Championship. And they are already speculating on how many matches that the 61-year-old will be in the hot seat - offering 10-11 about 29 or less, and 10-11 about 30 or more.

Where will Capello be this weekend?

Fabio Capello’s impending appointment as England manager has prompted William Hill to offer 5-2 that he will turn up at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to see the Arsenal versus Chelsea match, while he is 12-1 to turn up at Anfield for the game between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Welcome to The Sports Book

Getting the value is the key to a winning betting strategy and the best prices are invariably available early in the day before the shrewd money comes in. While the bookmakers only offer ante-post betting on the biggest races, they offer prices on every race from 10.15 each morning and that is when the best bets are usually struck. 

I will be scouring the prices of every bookmaker each weekday to unearth the pick of the prices and will put my advice on our Sports Book weblog at midday.

In addition, with betting exchanges becoming ever more popular, there will be a "play of the day" for exchange users. 

In an ever-changing market, it pays to stay a step ahead of the rest and I hope that this new service will enable Sports Book followers to improve their betting.

George Rae, Andy Stephens and Mike Brewer - our team of top tipsters - will also try to ensure you stay ahead of the field with daily advice across a wide range of sports.