Quarter-final beckons for Everton

AUSSIE DAZZLER: Tim Cahill is always value for first/last goal and the 13/2 on offer at the weekend looks a solid bet on Sunday

It’s good to be back from the bright lights of Vegas to wintry Belfast – believe that and you would believe that Arsenal will win the Premiership this year.
My apprentice did miserably last week and failed to build on the super 13/1 fivehit we gave out prior to going to Sin City and we also told readers that Robbie Keane looked on his way back to Spurs – some readers took the 6/1 on offer.
THE PG QUAD
On to this weekend’s selections and we start with the PG Quad and our first port of call is the FA Cup where the big match of the Fourth Round is at Goodison Park as in-form Everton host Martin O’Neill’s excellent Aston Villa team.
The Toffees won that epic game against Liverpool in the last round and any thoughts of tiredness after that exhausting game were dispelled at the weekend when David Moyes’ team eased to a 3-0 home win over Bolton.
Villa are flying at the minute and looked nailed-on for a Champions League place. But one thing Martin O’Neill’s men have at the moment is luck, and a lot of it – if that luck runs out then we could see Villa start to struggle.
We are banking on EVERTON (6/4) to book their place in the next round with a win at Goodison and that hopefully gets the weekend quad off to a winning start.
FULHAM (7/4) are another hard team to beat and they travel to Championship team Swansea who ousted Portsmouth in the last round. We expect Roy Hodgson’s men to in the hat for the next round.
HULL (7/4) frustrated Chelsea last week at Stamford Bridge and should find Sheffield Utd an easier kettle of fish – we expect them to be in the next round after their visit to Bramall Lane.
Portsmouth sacked Tony Adams at the start of the week. Too soon in my opinion and Pompey face MAN CITY (6/4) this weekend and we can see Mark Hughes’ team winning this one and pulling themselves out of the relegation dogfight.
THE PG FIVEHIT
On to our odds-on fivehit and we start in the Championship with in-form BRISTOL CITY (8/11) who can make it four wins on the trot with a home win over Southampton. IPSWICH (8/11) will hope to bounce back after last week’s defeat away at Swansea and we think they can at the expense of Blackpool. PRESTON (4/6) are hard to beat at Deepdale and another three points beckon for them at home to Norwich.
OLDHAM (8/11) are pushing for a play-off place and should get all points at home to Northampton; making the fivehit up are PETERBORO (4/7) who look a solid bet at home to lowly Yeovil.
THE PG XXX
On to the draw treble and all are in the SPL (we have left the Old Firm game out on Sunday as we fancy another Hoops win at 5/4).
ABERDEEN travel to Tynecastle to take on HEARTS and it looks like a point apiece in this one.
HIBS are on a bit of a run at the moment and we are banking on them taking a point at KILMARNOCK.
Making the XXX up is the game between ST MIREN and in-form FALKIRK at Love St.
Remember – doubles and treble!

WEEKEND RACING
WEATHER permitting, we have some top class racing this weekend and we start with the Ascot Chase (2.15). We are taking another chance with AIR FORCE ONE to beat hotpot Voy Per Ustedes – the Charlie Mann horse gets a 5/1 early-week quotation.
Over at Haydock on Saturday with a great day of racing in prospect, and we think Duc De Regniere could well upset World Hurdle favourite Kasbah Bliss in the Blue Square Hurdle (2.55).
The Blue Square Gold Cup Handicap Chase (1.55) is the main feature on the card and we have gone for COE who skated home course and distance, and in this three-mile four-furlong marathon he will take some stopping on Saturday.
On to Leopardstown on Sunday with the re-scheduled Hennessy Gold Cup (3.50) and Welsh National winner NOTRE PERE looks the value bet in this race (but don’t discard Chelsea Harbour who looks way over-priced in this one at 40/1).
The progressive Hurricane Fly puts his reputation on the line in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle, but we are siding with the Noel Meade-trained PANDORAMA who has tasted defeat only once (behind the much-touted Mikael D'Haguenet) and the 4/1 early-week offer looks just too good to refuse.