Bluebirds for final flourish
There are a plethora of special bets available on Saturday’s FA Cup final but a simple wager on Cardiff City lifting the cup, at 5-2 with Bet365, could be the way to go.
May 15, 2008May 14, 2008England can reign at Lord'sThe weather forecast is a bit dodgy, but there should still be enough time for England to win the opening Test against New Zealand, which begins at Lord’s on Thursday. May 12, 2008United stay in pole positionManchester United have been installed 6-5 favourites to retain their Premier League title next season. May 11, 2008Leeds can take commandLeeds United can stay on course or promotion form League 1 by beating Carlisle United in the first leg of their play-off semi-final at Elland Road on Monday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 1. May 08, 2008Shrimpers look a tasty betSouthend United can take a step towards reaching the League One play-off final by making the most of home advantage against Doncaster Rovers in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Friday night. May 07, 2008Hatters can top the billStockport County have what it takes to win the League Two play-offs. The Hatters, a standout 5-2 with Stan James, are fancied to get the better of Wycombe Wanderers (100-30) in their semi-final and can prove too strong for either Darlington (11-4) or Rochdale (11-4) in the decider. May 06, 2008Leeds look banker materialLeeds United look worthy favourites to win the League One play-offs. May 05, 2008Hull can be heroes at 13-5Hull City have what it takes to win the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs and, in the process, reach the Premier League for the first time in their 104-year history. May 01, 2008United are Moscow favouritesManchester United are marginal favourites to win their third European Cup in Moscow’s historic all-English European Cup final. April 28, 2008Get set for theatre of goalsBank on the goals belatedly flowing when Manchester United and Barcelona square up in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. April 27, 2008Saints can stay alive at 5-1There have been so many twists and turns to the Coca-Cola Championship this season that it may pay to back Southampton at a general 5-1 to gain a surprise win away to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 1. April 24, 2008United can seal deal at 2-1Manchester United have been the best team in the Premier League this season and look overpriced, at a general 2-1, to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and all but clinch the title. April 23, 2008Chelsea are in pole positionChelsea are 8-15 to qualify for the Champions League final with Ladbrokes after a scrambling a last-gasp draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night. April 22, 2008Settle for no thrills at AnfieldLiverpool and Chelsea do not make a habit of scoring goals against each other and that trend can continue when the pair clash in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Anfield tonight. April 17, 2008Stoke ready to push onStoke City can take a big step towards winning automatic promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship by beating Bristol City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday - a match that will be shown live on Sky Sports 1. April 16, 2008Chelsea to keep title race aliveChelsea can keep their Premier League title hopes alive by beating Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday night. Rangers look big at 2-1Rangers can all but wrap up the Scottish Premier title by winning away to arch-rivals Celtic tonight. April 14, 2008Tigers on promotion prowlHull City can maintain their bid for automatic promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship by beating Barnsley at Oakwell on Tuesday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 1. Stay with Somerset at 10-1Somerset look a value bet at a general 10-1 to win the County Championship first division for the first time in their history this summer. April 11, 2008United to show no mercyManchester United look a solid bet, at a general 10-11, to snuff out Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge once and for all at Old Trafford on Sunday. April 09, 2008Get on super Sammy at 9-2Sammy Wanjiru looks a good bet to win what promises to be a vintage renewal of the Flora London Marathon on Sunday. April 08, 2008United can stay on boilManchester United should not be extended to finish off Roma in their Champions League quarter-final second leg clash at Old Trafford on Wednesday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 2. April 03, 2008Pompey for cup of cheerPortsmouth look worth a bet at 10-11 to beat West Bromwich Albion in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday. The Grand National - final runnersThe final 40 runners for Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National were revealed today. The participation of Opera Mundi remains in some doubt, with his connections saying that he will not run unless the going is soft enough for him. However, the four reserves need withdrawals before 9am tomorrow to have any chance of making the line-up. After that time, the reserves are eliminated. Below are pen pictures of those left in with bookmaker odds in brackets. April 01, 2008Here's hoping for a win bugIt has been a testing few days in the Stephens household. A tummy bug has taken its toll on the whole family and, to compound matters, our wireless internet connection has been misbehaving - meaning I’ve been unable to keep up with betting activity on the exchanges. March 26, 2008The Grand National - a full guideThe end game is near with regards to my trading on the 161st running of the Grand National. Since last posting I’ve topped up my bets on various horses such as Kelami (which I’ve laid back at shorter odds) and Madison Du Berlais (nobody else seems interested in backing him and perhaps somebody knows more than I do about whether he is going to run), plus I’ve distributed bits and bobs of cash on new faces. Row in with OxfordThe 154th University Boat Race looks like being a war of attrition on Saturday and that points to Oxford and their much heavier crew taking the honours. March 25, 2008England offer value optionEngland look a value bet to beat France in their international in Paris on Wednesday night. March 24, 2008Fifteen more to ponderStill not convinced you have found the National winner? Here are pen pics of 15 more possible challengers, with present Betfair odds and a guess at who may be in the saddle. March 21, 2008Top twelve under microscopeFifteen days to go and now the hunt for the Grand National intensifies. Below are pen pictures of the top dozen horses in Betfair’s betting, with their prices and possible jockeys in brackets. I’ll endeavour to analyse more possible contenders next week. Madison catches eye at 160With only another ten defectors at the latest forfeit stage, the prospect of fancied horses failing to make the cut for the Grand National has increased. March 18, 2008United can gain revengeManchester United can edge closer to another Premier League title by settling an old score with Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. March 17, 2008Aberdeen can take advantageCeltic have not been firing on all cylinders of late and so be wary of backing them at around 1-4 to beat Aberdeen in their Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Celtic Park on Tuesday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 2. March 16, 2008Denman is the missing linkNow that the Cheltenham Festival is over, jump enthusiasts will turn their glare to Aintree and the John Smith’s Grand National. March 14, 2008Denman cheers the bookiesBookmakers were able to toast the Gold Cup victory of Denman after Kauto Star was heavily backed to retain his crown. March 12, 2008Get ready for SixfortenThree days of action squeezed into two? Somebody must be trying to tell us something. Here’s ten horses who it may pay to follow at Cheltenham over the next couple of days. March 11, 2008Bookies toast beaten favouritesThe bookmakers were in party mood after the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. March 09, 2008£500 million Festival bonanzaMore than £500 million is expected to be bet on this week’s Cheltenham Festival. March 05, 2008Cloudy Lane - will he stay trip?The dust is beginning to settle on the weekend action and Cloudy Lane is 6-1 with most bookmakers to win the Grand National after his fluent success at Doncaster. Provided that he does not suffer a mishap between now and the big race, he seems certain to start favourite. And then there were 125A total of 125 horses are left in the National after there were 25 defectors at the first forfeit stage. Spurs for cup of cheerTottenham Hotspur can take another step towards Uefa Cup glory by beating PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their last 16 clash at White Hart Lane on Thursday night, a match being shown live on ITV. March 04, 2008Sidebottom can swing it at 5-2Ryan Sidebottom looks a good bet to emerge as England’s leading wicket-taker during the three-Test series against New Zealand. March 03, 2008United can ease homeManchester United can ease into the quarter-finals of the European Cup by brushing aside Lyon in the second leg of their last 16 clash at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. February 29, 2008Has Joe lost his edge?If the bookmakers are to be believed, there is a 33 per cent chance that the Grand National winner will be in action tomorrow. February 28, 2008Hammers nailed on at 4-1West Ham United look overpriced, at 4-1 with Paddy Power and Skybet, to beat Chelsea in their Premier League clash at Upton Park on Saturday. February 25, 2008Grant cut to get the axeWhat a difference a game makes. Avram Grant has been slashed from 40-1 to 12-1 by Ladbrokes to be the next Premiership manager to lose his job after his team’s defeat in the Carling Cup final. Comply Or Die hits targetMy wife and I helped celebrate a friend’s birthday by visiting a casino on Saturday with the words of a wise old sage who had visited us that morning still ringing in our ears: quit when you are ahead. February 22, 2008Gerrard 11-1 for another late showSteven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo have made a habit of scoring late goals this season and punters could cash in if they repeat the trick this weekend. February 21, 2008Kelami worth a wager at 150The brief will-he or won’t-he saga regarding Character Building is over. He won’t. The trainer of my number one hope for National glory has revealed that the grey has pulled a muscle or two and that he will not be back in action until next season. February 19, 20087-5 United can be Lyon tamersManchester United look a solid bet to beat Lyon in the first leg of their European Cup last-16 first leg at the Stade Gerland on Wednesday night. February 18, 2008Inter can get in the grooveInter Milan look massive value, at 2-1 with Paddy Power, to put another dagger into the heart of Liverpool when the pair meet in the first leg of their European Cup last 16 clash at Anfield on Tuesday night. Barnsley 8-1 to see off ChelseaBarnsley are 8-1 with totesport to produce another FA Cup giant-killing act and knock out Chelsea. February 15, 2008Expect Berry and Bannow to easeThere could well be plenty of movement in the Grand National market on Saturday with a string of Aintree hopefuls in action all over the country. February 14, 2008Go on the defensive at 8-1Goal machines Cristiano Ronaldo and Emmanuel Adebayor will lock horns when Manchester United and Arsenal clash in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday. February 12, 2008Chambers 5-1 to strike goldDwain Chambers is 5-1 with Ladbrokes to win gold at next month’s World Indoor Championships. Adebayor 40-1 for more joyEmmanuel Adebayor’s remarkable goalscoring spree for Arsenal has shaken up the betting for the Premiership title and the Golden Boot. |