NO SHOCKS ON CUP FINAL SATURDAY

It’s Cup final saturday  with the English and Scottish versions taking pride of place at Wembley and at Hampden this weekend.

New Premiership champions Chelsea take on relegated Portsmouth in the English final at Wembley and what a story it would be for Pompey to win on Saturday after the season they have had. Bookmakers price them as big as 14/1 for FA Cup glory on Saturday with Cheslea priced at 1/6.

Avram Grant would love to put one over on his old team but the PG  can’t see that happening and we think Chelsea will coast home to complete the double, which would  be a great feat for manager Carlo Ancelotti who can make it a memorable first season in English football.

Up at Hampden, Ross County will be looking for yet another SPL scalp when they face Dundee Utd in the Scottish Cup Final.

They have knocked out Aberdeen and Celtic en route to the final and will be hoping to shock the Tangerines on Saturday.

Dundee Utd have had a great season which has seen them finish third in the SPL and they have looked a good, talented footballing side under Paul Hegarty who took over when Craig Levein took the Scotland job – and we think he can deliver the cup for the Tannadice side.

Weekend Final Punts

First Goalscorers: Anelka (Chelsea) 7/2, Goodwillie Dundee Utd (9/2) – two singles and a double.

4/1 Double: Dundee Utd (-1) and Chelsea (-2).

Correct Scores: Chelsea to win 3-0  (6/1) and Dundee Utd to win 3-0 (8/1) – two singles and a double. 

BET OF THE WEEK

IS THIS THE BEST £2 OF THE SEASON?

WE have seen some cracking bets in the PG pages this year, but one Falls Road punter for me has just hit the bet of the year so far.

He has brought the PG motto ‘bet small, win big’ to another level after he secured a three-and-a-half-grand pay-out from Sean Graham – with a £2 outlay.

We go back to 2,000 Guineas day to explain this one with the punter placing 3 x 40p doubles and an 80p treble.

The bet got off to the best possible start when TARTAN GIGHA won the opener at Newmarket under Kieren Fallon at odds of 12/1. His next horse was in the 2,000 Guineas and he went for the unbeaten French horse MAKFI, who caused the upset of the season so far, winning at 33/1.

Our man had already banked £176.80 but had double that running on his last selection and he had an anxious 45-minute wait before the 4.05 at Thirsk was due off. 

He opted for OSTEOPATHIC REMEDY and our poor punter must have been sweating buckets as he watched his selection hit the front a furlong out; but this is a consistent sort and the 8/1 shot held on well to give our punter his dream bet. He picked up a massive £3,528.40 for his £2 bet, an amazing piece of punting for the Falls Road man who’s no doubt watching that ash cloud to see if his plane to Barbados can take off this morning.

Weekend Racing

ANOTHER great weekend of racing ahead this week. We went close last week with Mabit and Overturn who both finished second, so does the winner’s enclosure beckon for the PG this week? Let’s hope so!

Today we have the Yorkshire Cup where the Godolphin-trained Kite Wood leads the betting, but we have gone Henry Cecil's MANIFEST made a pleasing return to action when chasing home Harbinger at Newbury - form which has been franked by the winner - and he steps back up in trip.

On Saturday we have the Totesport.com Lockinge Stakes from Newbury (3.05) where a small but select field goes to post, and it looks a straight fight between PACO BOY and Zacinto. The Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes combo will want to make up for last year’s fourth placing when sent off the 11/8 jolly.

Paco Boy looked back to his best at Sandown when he hacked up in the Group 2 Bet365 Mile and again  looks one of the best milers around. 

Hopefully fitness will also be a factor in his favour, especially with Zacinto making his seasonal debut.