Weigh in with Wade at 11-8

James Wade should be backed at a best-priced 11-8 with VC Bet to cement his fine start to the 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League by beating world number one Raymond van Barneveld in Bournemouth on Thursday evening. The match is the third on the night and scheduled for 9pm. All the action is on Sky.

Wade, a point clear of van Barneveld at the top of the table, appeared pessimistic about his chances before meeting World Champion John Part a week ago but belied his lack of confidence with a polished display, reeling off five straight legs in the middle of his clash before sealing an 8-4 triumph. And, with van Barneveld off-beam in an 8-5 defeat to Terry Jenkins, Wade now carries the distinction of being the only unbeaten player after the first four rounds.

Wade had been the first to condemn Phil Taylor to a league defeat in week one, when averaging an impressive 94.77.

Adrian Lewis looks a worthy favourite at 5-6 with Sporting Bet to beat Peter Manley in the evening’s opening match, but few will be tempted by best odds of 8-15 about Taylor staging a revival against Wayne Mardle. The 13-time world champion again looked sadly out of sorts when crashing 8-3 to Peter Manley at the Ricoh Arena last week, his third defeat in his opening four games.

Part, 13-8 with VC Bet, is preferred to Jenkins in the evening’s closing match.