Punters' Guide Blog

Taking a break....

2010-08-12T09:01:00.000+01:00

Blog is going under a makeover folks
back at end of August
Poke us on FACEBOOK

Plate Day at Galway

2010-07-28T12:37:00.000+01:00

Big day today with the Galway Plate and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood - we are banking on Happy Days for THE FONZE and stroll in the park for CANFORD CLIFFS.
Junior looks a solid bet in the first at Goodwood while Crown Prosecutor will take all the beating in the second race. Sea of Heartbreak is flying and can make it 4 in a row in the 4.00,
Over at Galway Final Day looks the bet in the opener with the First Beauty catching the eye in the second.
Top weighted Head Waiter could run a big race in the 4.10 and hotpot Endless Intrigue could keep teh Dermot Weld golden run going in the 4.45

Good Luck

FREE £20 BETS UP FOR GRABS @ just email puntersguide@irelandclick.com

Goodwood starts as bookies count their Galway winnings

2010-07-27T10:13:00.000+01:00

A frustrating first day for punters at Ballybrit as bookmakers got the better of the argument so with Glorious Goodwood starting today make sure you swim before you sink as the two festivals could well wipe us out, so limited selections and a few placepots are the order of the day.

We start off with our placepot numbers at Galway and hopefully these are 6 lucky numbers
17-13-19-9-15-7 - stand out bets for us are NINETY-TWO TEAM in the second race who knows how to win round here and gets a 6/1 pricing while IF PER CHANCE looks a nice bet in the 7.00 race under Fran Berry and gets a 7/1 quotes ( 2 singles and a double).

On to the first day at Goodwood and again we start with our placepot numbers so here we go with 7-5-11-7-8-10 the magic numbers.
The big race is the Group 2 Lennox Stakes and we have opted for the Irish trained AIR CHIEF MARSHALL who looked back in the goove at the Curragh last time out and could lead this field a merry dance at 9/1 while AUSTRALIA DAY could follow up on that win over Hurdles by winning the first race at 11/2. ( 2 singles and a double).

Good Luck...

If you want to a free £20 bet just email us GALWAY/GOODWOOD to puntersguide@irelandclick.com to enter - it's that simple..

Mondays winner E McCullough - Spinning Wings unplaced

Find us on FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/

Hail Caesar in opener at Galway

2010-07-26T10:23:00.000+01:00

All the action gets underway at Ballybrit today with a fantastic week of top class Irish racing ahead and hopefully the PG can steer you to the winners enclosure tonight.
If you want to a free £20 bet just email us GALWAY/GOODWOOD to puntersguide@irelandclick.com to enter - it's that simple..

On to the action and here's our selections for the first night

5.00 Hail Caeser Danger Jerrys Agent
5.35 Mojitio Royale Danger Fearnwood Girl
6.20 A World Apart Danger Tashqeel
7.00 Galianna (NAP) Danger Spinning Wings
7.35 Footprint Danger Emily Jane
8.05 Driveheron Danger La Chassotte
8.35 Fort Defiance Danger Lady Chatterbox

Best of luck folks.. you'll need it..

HARBINGER of doom for FAVOURITE

2010-07-23T09:13:00.000+01:00

Great week of racing ahead starting with the big Ascot meeting this weekend and then it’s on to the Galway Festival for another feast of racing at Ballybrit. Add Glorious Goodwood to the mix and we have some mouthwatering action – so let’s get started.

Saturday racing

We start with the action at Ascot on Saturday and what a race the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes looks, with Derby winner Workforce taking on the older horses – Sean Graham have put the impressive Epsom winner in as their 4/5 favourite.

Michael Stoute holds the ace hand in this race and his two horses have dominated the betting in this race for weeks. We think the ever-improving HARBINGER looks more of a value bet than the jolly and with top French pilot Oliver Peslier getting the leg up, that’s our pick.

He has hacked up on all three racecourse appearances this year, and remember, the wily Stoute brought Conduit, Tartan Bearer and Ask to a one-two-three in the race 12 months ago. We think Dar Re Mi, the only filly in the race, could grab a place on Saturday at 12/1.

Sean Graham BET: Workforce 4/5, Harbinger 5/2, Cape Blanco 6, Dar Re Mi 14, Youmzain 14, Daryakana 16, At First Sight 66, Confront 200.

We also have the Victoria Racing Club International Stakes Heritage Handicap at Ascot on Saturday, which is run over seven furlongs, and the Jeremy Noseda-trained HIMALAYA could be in the shake-up in this one and gets a 14/1 early week quote for the race, which is good each-way value.

Over at York we have the SkyBet York Stakes where easy Ascot-listed winner RAINBOW PEAK looks the one to beat judged on that facile win there in June, and could follow up at around 3/1.

GALWAY FESTIVAL

On to Ballybrit and the Galway Festival and another tough week of racing ahead, but we have come with a few horses to keep an eye out for next week, starting with the big one on Wednesday, the Galway Plate.

Paul Nicholls sends over Five Dream for this one and he looks the best of the English challengers, getting a 12/1 quote from Sean Grahams.

Heading the market is the Dermot Weld-trained Majestic Concorde who gets a tempting 9/1 pricing; it’s hard to ignore Weld’s horses at Galway but the PG are looking elsewhere in the race.

THE FONZE from the little Eoin Doyle yard looks the horse to follow in this type of race. After spending the summer winning three times over hurdles, he reverts to fences and looks the one to beat. His chasing form is half decent as well, thumping old stalwart War Of Attrition last November in a Grade 2 Event and the 12/1 looks like cracking value.

On to the Galway Hurdle and if Northumberland Plate winner Overturn turns up for this race then he will take some stopping.

BAHRAIN STORM won this race last year and could well double up after winning at Tipperary at the weekend, with the Pat Flynn yard in great form he gets a 14/1 price for next Thursday’s race.

Glorious GOODWOOD

And so we head to Glorious Goodwood which gets under way on Tuesday and we have some cracking racing ahead with the Stewards Cup ending a top-class five days of racing on the Saturday.

We will have more on the big races at Goodwood in next week’s PG but we will concentrate on the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday where CANFORD CLIFFS looks the one to be on. He could take on Rip Van Winkle who knows how to win round here while Xtension could run a big race at big odds and gets a 25/1 pricing for the race, which could be great value.

FACEBOOK

We have free bets to give way on the big races next week here or Facebook along with our selections on all the top festival action next week.

Log on to the blog anytime @ http://thepunter sguide.blogspot.com/ or you can now find us on Facebook.

Yes folks, you heard right, we are now on Facebook – just do a search for the Punters Guide on the ever-popular website and you will find us in the blink of an eye.

Lower Falls Punter grabs cracking Curragh treble

IT TURNED out to be a Super Sunday for Lower Falls punter Chris McKenna who took William Hills for a few quid with a cracking £10 treble.

He placed the bet on his way out of town on Saturday evening after banking a few quid with the PG Selection Temple Meads who won at 11/2 that afternoon. So he went for the big one and picked three fat ones at the Curragh on Sunday in the first three RTE races.

He took Dunboyne Express in the 2.35 and he had no sweat in this one as he bolted up by eight lengths at 9/2 to give him a £55 double which quickly turned into a £550 win single when LATIN LOVE came with a storming run to win the 3.05 race.

His last selection was in the big race of the day, the Irish Oaks, and he stood by Epsom Oaks winner SNOW FAIRY who it has to said won pulling a cart at 7/2.

He raked in £2,475 for his £10 stake – his biggest ever return on any bet and Chris flies out to sunshine state Florida this weekend with an extra few quid in his tail which is music to my ears.

Win a few quid, keep it and enjoy it – that’s the best way to play the bookies.

and the Friday NAG is Hevelius at Ascot...

Who's it going to be?

2010-07-20T09:41:00.000+01:00

THE SEAN GRAHAM PG CUP 2010

The Punters’ Guide begins it quest to find the best betting squad in Belfast which will hopefully get underway at the end of August.

We have limited the teams to 32 this year and Sean Graham Bookmakers will continue to sponsor the event now in it’s sixth year and the team to beat this year is the 2010 winners BCC punters who beat all before them last year and are already quoted as the 6/1 favourites this time round.

It’s a free to enter competition with great prizes up for grabs in every round and you can even bet on your team to win the tournament - all will be revealed, so if you and your mates think they have what it takes then drop us a email at the address below with your team name and contact - it’s a first come, first served basis.

Just email puntersguide@irelandclick.com with team name.. it's that easy..

ROSE TO BLOSSOM AT ST ANDREWS

2010-07-15T10:35:00.000+01:00

WHO could forget last year when 59-year-old Tom Watson turned in probably the most remarkable performance ever seen at the British Open.

Leading the tournament on Sunday afternoon with one hole to go and needing just a par to win, poor Watson bogied, setting up a four hole play-off with fellow American Stewart Cink, which Watson lost by six shots.

Defending champion Cink is out of form since his Open win and is priced at around 70/1 – he can be left alone this year.

So who do we fancy to go well?...

The pressure is on again after talking up Graham McDowell to win the US Open at 60/1 a few weeks back.

Obviously world No.1 Tiger Woods is slowly getting his game back to some sort of shape after taking a six-month break from the game. Woods could be the man to beat this week, especially as St Andrews is his favorite course. 9/2 is a great price for Woods, but I will be leaving the Tiger out of my betting equation this week.

We have got it down to two placers who we think have great each-way chances this week, and with bookmakers paying the first seven places it’s important punters back each-way.

First up is Englishman Justin Rose – the man on form this last few months.

Red-hot Rose has won twice in the last month in America, winning the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T National, raking up over $3 million, and he now stands third in the Fed-Ex Cup standings. Rose is priced around 20/1 with Sean Graham and should go close this week; funnily enough, he is paired to play with Woods the first two days.

Our other nap is the big hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros. This guy is probably the biggest hitter of a golf ball in the world and will be taking on the St Andrews with his power; he’s way overpriced in my book.

If the wind does not blow too much then Quiros could be a sneaky each-way bet and is priced at around 70/1 with Grahams.

If you fancy a flutter on the Irish golfers this week, U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell is priced at 25/1 while former British Open champion Padraig Harrington, who is not playing well this year, is under-priced at 22/1.

Young golfing sensation Rory McIlroy is as small as 16/1, while the back-to-form Darren Clarke could snatch a place at 66/1 – whatever you back, let’s hope you are in contention come 5pm on Sunday.

PG DELIVERS YET AGAIN

THE Punters Guide yet again delivered to its legions of followers at the weekend after SPAIN (4/1) lifted the World Cup on Sunday night – predicted by your favourite betting column a month ago.

Local punters filled their boots, while most punters who backed the David Villa/Spain double were still paid out on the wincast double, albeit at 1/4 of the stake; so if you had £20 on at 18/1 Sean Graham paid you £5 at 18s – could have been so different if he had put away that chance against the Dutch.

On the to the horse racing and we had two big races last week, the July Cup and the John Smiths, and again the PG steered its readers to the winner’s enclosure in both races after tipping up 2/1 shot STARSPANGLEDBANNER and 5/1 Saturday winner WIGMORE HALL, which worked out as a 17-1 double.

On to the racing ahead and in the next few weeks a couple of cracking races to look forward to. We start with the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot next weekend and what a hand Michael Stoute has here, with easy Derby winner Workforce and the ever improving Harbinger. We think the Stoute stable jockey Ryan Moore has picked the wrong one and HARBINGER looks the bet with French jockey Olivier Peslier landing the ride on the second favourite.

English Oaks winner Snow Fairy will try and make it an Oaks double by winning the Irish version on Sunday, but the rain at the minute will hinder his chances and we are going with the Goldophin horse Hibaayeb who scooted up in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and gets a 5/1 pricing.

We have the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Saturday and Ed McMahon will saddle Temple Meads, who missed an engagement at Royal Ascot and is worth following at the weekend.

Spain to edge it - just

2010-07-08T14:38:00.000+01:00

I can't believe we have already reached the World Cup Final as Holland lock horns with Spain on Sunday night.
The PG put Spain up at the start at 4s and if they can win on Sunday then we'll get a few quid back but not that much to tempt to lay-off in the Dutch. Spain are 11/10 to win it in 90 minutes with Holland price 13/5 with Sean Grahams with 2/1 the draw. Expect a tight game and Spain are hard to break down and have conceded no goals in the knock-out stages and have won all them by 1-0 which is priced at 5/1.
So on to our bets for Sunday night:
and our NAP hand is Van Bommel to booked first at 11/2 and a few pound of him seeing RED at 33s
Both teams to win on penalties usually a good bet at 10s
First Goal : Inestia (again) at 14s and Last Goal Pique at 33s
A 2-2 scoreline at 14s and man of the match award Inestia at 8s..

STARSPANGLEDBANNER LOOKS THE JULY CUP BANKER

2010-07-08T10:58:00.001+01:00

Let’s start with last week’s great news that the BHA are to reduce the number of race meetings in the calendar year.

I don’t know about the average punter but for me there are way too many meetings going on in the UK/Ireland everyday.

On the busy days like Friday/Saturday there is a whopping seven or eight meetings going on, way too many for the average Joe Punter in the shops so the news is warmly welcomed by the PG.

On to the action and the PG gave out a few winners last weekend when Twice Over won the Eclipse and Triple Aspect won the Coral Sprint. We nearly made it a hat-trick only for Pollys Mark to be thwarted in the Bet365 Lancashire Oaks.

JULY CUP

We are slap bang in the middle of the July Newmarket meeting and some cracking races ahead over the next few days. We start with the big one the DARLEY JULY CUP SPRINT (3.10) on Friday.

Aidan O’Brien holds the ace in this one with easy Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Starspangledbanner who won easily at Royal Ascot and is the one to beat.

He sluiced home from 50/1 outsider Society Rock who he faces again in Friday’s race.

He had Kinsale King back in third and Fleeting Spirit back in fourth and both reoppose but I can’t see them reversing the Ascot form.

The each-way bet at 16/1 could well be Kingsgate Native - a huge disappointment at Ascot but could snatch a place at a good price.

Todays RACING

Let’s get to today’s action and hopefully try and come up with a few winners. We start with the Bahrain Trophy (1.30) and we have opted for easy Mussleburgh winner Harris Tweed to get off to a flyer while ELZAAM looks the one to be on in the TNT July Stakes (2.05).

The big race of the day is the Princess Of Wales’ Sportingbet.com Stakes (3.10) and we like the looks of HOLBERG who won with a bit in hand and Goodwood. The form of that race has held up well and CROWDED HOUSE could well grab the forecast spot.

FRIDAY RACING

On to Friday and apart form the July Cup we also have the ultra competitive Bunbury Cup - which is as usual a hard race to work out.

We have put two up for the race and first selection is CROWN CHOICE from the very much in-form Walter Swinburn stable and he comes into the race fresh from victory in the Totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap at Sandown and should be involved at the finish.

MAN OF ACTION has won two from two and two over course and distance and should make the frame with the John Gosden yard starting to hit form.

JOHN SMITH’S CUP

We finish with the big race on Saturday the Johns Smith’s Cup from York and if you think the Bunbury Cup was tough then this is tougher.

We have yet again got it down to two horses and again Walter Swinburn is responsible for one of them with DESERT KISS who is 20/1 as he chases a hat-trick after wins at Doncaster and Chester - could be a big each-way player in this one.

The Michael Bell trained WIGMORE HALL takes a step down in class and looks the one that all have to beat. The Newmarket trainer has claimed the services of 7lb claimer Martin Lane which could be valuable in this stern handicap.

Paying the penalty

2010-07-05T10:47:00.000+01:00

Two cracking World Cup semi-finals to look forward to on Tuesday and Wednesday and the big question is who will line up in Sunday's final?
These two games will be tight and going on form the Germans have only to turn up but have they peaked too soon?
They are 15/8 to beat Spain on Wednesday night with Sean Grahams and I thought they would be the 5/4 favourites but everyone expects Spain to come out of third gear sooner or later and if they do then Germany will have a lot on their hands.
In the other semi PG darkhorses Uruguay are the 9/2 underdogs against the mighty Dutch who have won all five fames thus far and are 4/6 to make the final in 90 minutes.

So this is our bets for the next two days pens out:-

Back all teams to win on penalties at 9/1
First Goalscorer Bets: Forlan 7/1 and Iniesta 12/1 singles and a double
First goals in both matches direct from a free-kick 16/1
Back a draw double 11/1 in both games

Monday Nag: EFFIGY 8.10 Windsor

ON THE READY FOR WORLD CUP QUARTER FINALS

2010-07-01T09:02:00.000+01:00

I told our readers a few weeks back that England should have been 66/1 instead of 6/1 but not even I thought they would be as bad as they were.

The Rooneys, Lampards, Terrys and especially the Barrys where absolutely awful and just didn’t turn up in South Africa.

It was like watching a Sunday league team but then that’s putting Sunday football down and the big question is did they make the Germans look great? We’ll come to that later.

At the start of the World Cup we got the PG Crystal ball out and forecast the outcome of the tournament and we have come up with seven out of eight of the quarter-finalists, which is some going.

Let’s just say I would have been penning this from sunnier climates if England had of won their group - that late, late Landon Donavan goal last Wednesday beat the Punters’ Guide out a few pound in our Group winners bet, but it turned out OK in the end as England headed home on Tuesday.

Lets get stuck into the quarter-finals which get underway on Friday afternoon.

BRAZIL v Holland

Kick-off Friday 3pm

What a match to start with. New tournament favourites Brazil take on the Dutch, who have banked four out of four wins so far in South Africa and have the fit-again Arjen Robben back in the team and they will hope that striker Robin Van Persie can peak.

Brazil looked mighty impressive on Monday night easily disposing of Chile 3-0 and Kaka looks like he’s getting back in the groove.

The big question is can the Dutch live with Dunga’s boys and pull off a shock result?

We think they will fall short but only just. Brazil will edge it with a 2-1 scoreline and Robhino will open the scoring at 6/1.

URUGUAY v GHANA

Kick-off Friday 7.30pm

On to Johannesburg on Friday night and the PG dark horses Uruguay take on sole African representatives Ghana with a semi-final place up for grabs.

We told readers in our preview a few weeks back that Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez will be handful for any defence and they have fired the South Americans into the quarter-finals with five goals between them, and will look to add to that come Friday night.

Ghana have surprised a lot of people and in striker Asamoah Gyan they have a player in form who will cause the Uruguay rearguard a lot of problems but have they got enough in their locker to shock the South Americans? I don’t think so and we are taking Uruguay to win this one 3-1 and Diego Forlan to grab the first at 9/2.

GERMANY v ARGENTINA

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

On to Saturday and for me the match of the quarter-finals when Germany and Argentina square up to each other in Cape Town and if both their last 16 games are anything to go by then we should be in for a treat.

Bookmakers price Argentina as their slender 13/10 favourites for this one and it’s 2/1 Germany and 2/1 the draw. It’s that tight.

Germany as we know throttled England 4-1 but is this good form? The English were woeful and were lucky in the end to qualify from the weakest group and I think this has let the form guide down.

In saying that this young German team will test Maradona’s team and players like Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger get on the ball then expect the Jochaim Low’s side to cause a scare or two.

Argentina have grown in every game and in strikers Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain have two players in top form and we think this could be the difference come Sunday afternoon and we have plumped for a 2-1 win for Argentina and Higuain for first goal at 5/1.

SPAIN v PARAQUAY

Kick-Off Saturday 7.30pm

On to the last of the quarter-finals and it’s back to Johannesburg and it’s the ante-post favourites Spain taking on the fourth South American side in the quarters Paraquay.

Spain have not set the world on fire yet even though they peppered a poor Portugal side on Tuesday night, but there were glimpses in that game that they are not far off hitting top form.

They entertain a Paraquay team who remain unbeaten and are very solid at the back and in Barrios and Santa Cruz in attack will cause the Spainish defence problems. But is that enough?

We don’t think so and we expect our tip for the World Cup Spain to progress to the semi-finals with a 2-0 win with Inestia a good punt for first goal at 8/1.

PG WORLD CUP QUAD: Uruguay 11/10, Brazil 1/1, Argentina 13/10 and Spain 8/11 to win in 90 minutes.

CRUNCH TIME LOOMS IN SOUTH AFRICA

2010-06-24T09:27:00.000+01:00

We are fast approaching the end of the Group games in South Africa and to be honest the World Cup 2010 is still as wide open as ever.

The European sides have been woeful with the likes of Italy, Spain, England and waste of place France all struggling in their respective groups.

On the other hand the South Americans have been flying with the likes of Brazil and Argentina looking the part while Mexico, Chile, Paraquay and the PG dark horses Uruguay are all catching the eye in the opening games.

Spain must win on Friday night against in-form Chile to book their last 16 place.

Punters got their fingers burnt on Tuesday with one punter in particular in London placing £30,000 on Uruguay and Mexico to draw at 8/11.

Uruguay didn’t read the script winning 1-0 to leave a sour taste in the punters mouth.

Thursday Quad

On to today’s games and the struggling Italy (1/2) along with table-topping Paraquay (1/2) should both in their final games against Slovakia and New Zealand this afternoon.

Holland (6/5) should end with a win against Cameroon and Denmark (6/5) could sneak second with a win over Japan.

Friday Quad

On to Fridays quad and BRAZIL (6/5) look set to make it three wins in the group with victory over Portugal.

Ivory Coast (1/3) looked doomed but cane end with a win over whipping boys North Korea.

SPAIN (1/2) should book their spot with a win over Chile and Switzerland could slip up against Honduras with the draw priced at 14/5.

LAST 16

The last 16 knock-out games begin on Saturday and as go to press it’s looks like Uruguay will be taking on South Korea in the 3pm game while Mexico will face Argentina on Saturday night.

We expect Argentina and Uruguay to make it into next weekend’s quarter-finals.

England will face the might of the Germans on Sunday while the USA who wrecked my Group Betting will face Ghana. TWO tight games but Ghana could scrape through while the English could nick it against the Germans - they have to play at some stage of these championships...

Cracking start for the PG

2010-06-14T10:44:00.000+01:00

Great start for the PG as we have predicted 6 out of 6 correct results at weekend and we are still counting our winnings as we blog away.
First Goalscorers today:- Van Persie 7-2, Eto'o 9/2 and Barrios 13/2 doubles and a treble
What a week of sport ahead with 3 games everyday and Royal Ascot so if you fancy a free bet let us know already 3 winners for today are Ryan Dommigan from Lurgan, Ronan O'Kane and Armagh punter Liam McLaughlin.

Winners over the weekend and selections:
Bo Mo: Germany to win 2-1 (£20 win)
Shieldsy: Rooney and 3-1
St Johns Punters:
England to win 2-1 over USA
Clarkey
Argentina to win 3-0 over Nigeria and Tevez to score first goal.
all losers...

Harpo:
Suarez first goal and Uruguay to draw 1-1

what we told bloggers on Friday...
Opening weekend Games
Right, let’s try and get off to a winning start at South Africa 2010. We begin with the opening games on Friday.
Hosts SOUTH AFRICA take on MEXICO and this looks a hard one to call, so we suggest the draw at 21/10 – the opener’s always so cagey. First goalscorer selection: Steven Pienaar at 11/1.
FRANCE take on URUGUAY on Friday night and again we suggest the draw in this one at 21/10 – double-up on both games and that could give us a dream start. First goalscorer selection: Luis Suarez at 7/1.
PG FIVEHIT
Some great games over the weekend and our banker bet is ARGENTINA (1/2) to beat Nigeria on Saturday afternoon, and that starts our five-hit.
GERMANY (8/15) look too strong for Australia on Sunday night while HOLLAND (8/13) should get off to a winning start against Denmark on Monday.
SPAIN (1/3) are expected to get off to a winning start and they should see off Switzerland on Wednesday.
Making the five-hit up are CHILE (8/13) who should make a winning start against Honduras.
PG QUAD
On to our first quad of the World Cup and SLOVENIA (6/5) are first down to beat Algeria on Sunday, followed by CAMEROON (11/10) to beat Japan on Monday.
SOUTH KOREA (15/8) can get their ball rolling by beating Greece on Saturday night.
Hopefully three up ahead of our last selection on Monday night where we have gone for PARAGUAY (10/3) to upset the holders Italy.

PG CRYSTAL BALL WALLCHART PREDICTS A SPAIN v BRAZIL FINAL

2010-06-10T09:28:00.000+01:00

Beers in the fridge - check! Wallchart placed on the wall behind the widescreen TV - check! Ante-post bets placed - check! Wife and daughter banished when all matches are on – check!

Yes folks, we can only be talking about the start of the 2010 World Cup which gets under way in South Africa tomorrow (Friday) as 32 teams battle it out in the most wide-open tournament ever.

The PG has got the crystal ball out and filled in one of many wallcharts and hopefully we can come up a few winners; and so let’s start with the various groups and who we think will reach the knock-out stages. There’s money to be won...

Group A is a hard group to call with hosts South Africa the outsiders of the group at 11/2 and we agree with Sean Grahams on that one.

We think France will struggle in this against Mexico and Uruguay but a last 16 place beckons for Raymond Domenech’s erratic team at the expense of Mexico.

We are banking on URUGUAY (10/3) to win the group and expect strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez to fire them to a shock victory in this group.

They squeezed through in qualifying but are a strong, solid team who could be a surprise package in this year’s finals.

PG Selections: 1. Uruguay 2. France

On to GROUP B and we think this will a easier group with many pundits’ favourites ARGENTINA (4/9) strolling through to the last 16 in this group.

The big question is, who gets second and we think that Greece and South Korea will be heading home early with Lars Lagerback’s Nigeria grabbing that second spot.

PG Selections: 1. Argentina 2. Nigeria

On to GROUP C and ENGLAND are the 1/3 favourites to win what looks an easy group for them, but the USA will push them all the way in this group and expect a tough opening game between the sides on Saturday night.

Slovenia and Algeria make up the group but we expect both teams to go home early.

PG Selections: 1. England 2. USA

On to GROUP D and another tough group to call. We have GERMANY (5/6) coming out on top in this one but only just. Expect this group to be closely fought with Ghana grabbing the second spot ahead of Serbia and Australia – but only just.

1. Germany 2. Ghana

HOLLAND (4/7) lead the betting in GROUP E.

They will take some stopping and should ease through to the knock-out stages, but who gets the second place?

Expect a close battle between Japan, Cameroon and Denmark, but we expect ex-Rangers manager Paul Le Guen’s Cameroon to edge it.

PG Selections: 1. Holland 2. Cameroon

On to GROUP F and I will not be rushing in to back defending champions Italy at 1/2 to win this Group.

PARAGUAY (13/5) claimed the scalps of Brazil and Argentina in the South American qualifiers and can shock the world champs in this group with New Zealand and Slovakia catching early planes home.

PG Selections: 1. Paraguay 2. Italy

On to Group G, dubbed the Group of Death, and BRAZIL (8/13) are naturally favourites, and we think they will ease through.

The race for second isn’t so clear cut and we are taking the Ivory Coast to grab second place ahead of Portugal.

1. Brazil 2. Ivory Coast

We end with GROUP H and SPAIN (2/7) look a penalty-kick in this one. Chile looka very solid bet for the runners-up spot here, so that means that Honduras and Switzerland will be heading home early.

PG Selections: 1. Spain 2. Chile

LAST 16

On to the knock-out stages and first up we have URUGUAY taking on Nigeria and we expect the South Americans to make it through the last eight.

ARGENTINA take on the French and we expect Maradona and co to make it through while ENGLAND will oust Ghana to make it to the quarters.

GERMANY will be too strong for the USA while Holland will beat holders Italy to set up a quarter-final game against Uruguay.

BRAZIL should get the better of Chile while PARAGUAY can make it two South American teams in the quarters by beating Cameroon.

Making up the quarter-final line-up are SPAIN who will book their place in the last eight with a win over the Ivory Coast.

Quarter Finals

We now reach the quarter-finals and we make HOLLAND the first team through to the semi-finals beating Uruguay on Friday, 2nd July.

That night we expect BRAZIL to join them by sending England packing with some ease.

On Saturday 3rd July we are banking on ARGENTINA getting the better of Germany and setting up a semi-final clash with SPAIN who should get the better of Paraguay.

Semi Finals

We are now down to the last four and we start with the Brazil v Holland match. We are taking the Samba Boys to win this one and progress to the final.

SPAIN face a tough ask against ARGENTINA and we think the European champions are up to it and can book their place in the final.

THE FINAL

So to the final and before a ball is kicked you could be quids in with 11/1 for a Spain v Brazil final. We think that SPAIN will have too much for class and will win World Cup 2010.

FREE BETS: We have 5 x £20 scorecasts to giveaway for the opening games so if you fancy a flutter over the weekend just drop us a email at puntersguide@irelandclick.com to enter.

That's how easy it is, no crappy questions here..

It's reaching fever pitch

2010-06-07T16:50:00.000+01:00

Some betting for the first live games Friday and Saturday.

Grahams much better for Group Betting

2010-06-03T11:46:00.000+01:00

Got an email from Sean Graham this week which gave the PG interesting reading on the group betting for the World Cup, which gets under way next Friday.

If you back all the favourites to win their group and put a tenner on then you win £398.81 – that’s over £100 more than you win with William Hill and £87 more than you would win with Boyles.

Ladbrokes come in nearly £72 shy of Grahams total while Paddy Powers are the closest to Grahams, coming in £60 shy. Grahams have a 5% bonus added to all group winning trebles and after reading this let’s hope the other four bookmakers start changing prices to compete with Sean Grahams who are way out in the front of their rivals when it comes to the group betting for South Africa. It pays to shop around for the best prices.

Check out our 20-page World Cup preview next week as the PG gets out its crystal ball for South Africa.

Bet of the Week

Ladbrokes took a Bank Holiday beating on Monday from Lagmore punter Desy McCullough.

Desy placed a £20 treble on Monday morning before heading off to Newcastle for the day and didn’t know he had won until Tuesday morning.

While he was enjoying the sun and eating ice-cream, his treble was going rather well. Crown Prosecutor got the bet off to a flyer under Kieran Fallon, scooting home at 3/1 – the £20 bet was now an £80 bet.

Things got better when Forte Dei Marmi won the 4.10 at Redcar for Luca Cumani at 4/1 to give Desy £400 on his final selection.

His last selection was in the 5.00 at Leicester and he took the Andrew Balding-trained Veni VIdi VIci who came, saw and conquered at 7/2.

Desy had just scooped £1,800 and didn’t even know, so you can imagine his delight when he checked the results in the morning paper. Eased the sunburn a bit, we’ll bet.

A jubilant Desy told the PG that he is swapping sunny Newcastle for sunny Portugal after his windfall. Just right Desy – when you win, hold on to it and use it wisely.

Bet winner £50 : Raymond Hughes who has went for a Spain v Brazil final at 10s.

THURSDAY NAG : Cheyenne Red

Friday Blog : Oaks and Derby weekend

10 DAYS TO GO

2010-06-01T10:42:00.000+01:00

World Cup News:
Fabio Capello is preparing to make the seven most difficult telephone calls of his life today as he picks his final 23-man squad for South Africa. Who's the seven who will miss out? Think Walcott will be one of them..
Thierry Henry has hinted he could play a super-sub role at the World Cup finals after he came off the bench in France's 1-1 friendly draw with Tunisia.
Harry Kewell is set to take the next step in his World Cup preparations with the Socceroo striker expected to join team training on Thursday.
Javier Mascherano claims Argentina will fear nobody at this summer's World Cup despite their struggle to qualify for the finals in South Africa. Strike duo Ike Uche and Victor Anichebe were the most notable names to miss out on Nigeria's 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.
Nemanja Vidic was forced to appeal to Serbia fans for calm as they rioted during his side's embarrassing 1-0 friendly defeat by New Zealand.
Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz and Paulo Da Silva of Sunderland have been included in Paraguay's final 23-man World Cup squad.

First £50 winner is ....... Eamon Grieve

14 Days to GO

2010-05-28T08:53:00.000+01:00

We have 14 days to go now folks as the tension mounts for South Africa and here's some World Cup news -

Madjid Bougherra has declared himself fit for Algeria's World Cup campaign despite missing the end of the Scottish Premier League season with a calf injury.

England manager Fabio Capello is "very confident" Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry will be fit for the World Cup despite his current ankle injury.

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of the World Cup with knee and ankle injuries which led to him missing the last six months of the season.

enmark defender Simon Kjaer suffered a World Cup scare in a challenge with Mame Biram Diouf during his side's 2-0 win against Senegal in Aalborg on Thursday.

Spain and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has trained for the first time since undergoing knee surgery on damaged cartilage last month.

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott believes he will reap the benefits of David Beckham's involvement with the England squad at the World Cup.

The Friday Nag: Crown Choice (4.05 Newmarket)

Weekend Soccer

We have the League One and Two Play-Off finals at Wembley this weekend and both games look hard to call as try and get a few quid in the coffers for our assault on the World Cup.

Millwall face Swindon who ousted Charlton on penalties in the League One final on Saturday and on Sunday we have Rotherham taking on easy semi-final winners Dagenham & Redbridge.

So after studying both finals we have come with a 11/2 double and taking Millwall and Rotherham to win at the weekend.

Tight games in both though and 2-1 scorelines both stick out at around 9/1 and we think 2 singles and a double in the correct score bet.

We are siding with in-form punter Martin Miller and taking Steve Morison and Adam Le Fondre for first goals at the weekend again we think 2 singles and a double in this particular bet.

Don’t forget those scorecasts - you never know.

GAA

Tyrone are now as low as 9/2 for All-Ireland glory after they overcame a battling Antrim side at Casement Park on Sunday, with Micky Bradley’s backdoor-bound Saffrons priced at 300/1.

Micky Harte’s side are also 5/4 to retain the Ulster Championship with Armagh next best at 7/2, and what a match we have in store on June 6th when the Orchard County face Monaghan, who for me could be the surprise package this season.

This Sunday Down take on Donegal at Ballybofey and this is another tough one to call. Sean Graham bookmakers are finding it hard to split the teams and a draw at 13/2 could be the value bet in this one – it’s that tight.

Overall, Cork edge the football betting at 9/4 and they face the old enemy Kerry on Sunday week, seeking revenge after losing out in the final last year to their fierce rivals.

It’s a game that will give punters the first real and reliable clue as to what shape the All-Ireland champions are in this year and what a game it promises to be in Killarney.

BET OF THE WEEK

Quite a few bets to get through this week and we start off with a winning one from a Glen Road punter who took Sean Grahams for quite a few quid at the weekend.

The punter in question placed a £20 five-timer last Tuesday week. He had MILLWALL to overcome Huddersfield at 10/11 in the second-leg play-off game and they did just that, winning 2-0.

ROTHERHAM (11/10) were the next team down and they duly put Aldershot to the sword in the League Two play-off second leg, again 2-0.

He took SEVILLE (13/10) on the same night and they got the better of Atletico Madrid in the Copa Del Rey final – yet another 2-0. Our punter now had a £200 double running on the big weekend games, so the sweat was well and truly on.

He took Blackpool (21/10) to cause a Wembley upset in the Championship play-off final, and Ian Holloway’s men did just that, winning a 3-2 thriller.

On to the Champions League final and our punter now had close to £650 riding on Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan and he wasn’t to be let down with the Italians grabbing a 2-0 win to the delight of the Glen Road punter, who scooped £1,412.95 in an end-of-season cracker.

Martin Miller, the £1 punter who recently scooped £315 with his four first goalscorers, is at it again and has his first two up in the same bet.

He took Diego Milito to open the scoring in the Champions League final at 11/2 and Michael Chopra in the Championship play-off at 9/2 and the sweat is on for the weekend. He has told the PG he is banking on Rotherham striker Adam Le Fondre and Millwall’s Steve Morison doing the business for him – best of luck to Martin at the weekend.

We end with a real betting heartbreaker that has put Lisburn punter Aaron Macken off gambling for life.

Aaron placed his usual £10 quad on the horses and then it was out for a few pints with his mates.

Sitting in his local, Aaron watched his first selection BALDUCCI win the 2.30 at Haydock and his bet became a live £200 double when Kingsgate Native won the Temple Stales 30 minutes later.

Word got round the bar of the sweat and Aaron’s next selection was Hamish McGonagall in the big sprint at York at 7/2 and our now sweating punter found himself with a massive £900 riding on his final pick.

He had to wait 30 minutes for the 4.15 from York and he was pacing the floor and smoked about 20 cigarettes as the race time loomed.

He was on the Alan Bailey-trained Love’s Theme in the six-furlong dash and his horse drifted from 4s to 9/2 before the off and Aaron was in with a chance of scooping close to five grand for his tenner.

It wasn’t to be Aaron’s day as Love’s Theme finished second and this is how Sporting Life described it: ‘ Led early, pressed leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong.’

Absolutely gutting for the punter who has turned his back on gambling, but maybe he’ll have one last go at the weekend as he gets a consolation £50 Sean Graham betting voucher which is in the post for the deflated punter.

15 DAYS TO GO

2010-05-27T10:14:00.000+01:00

Friendly News

A double from Robin van Persie was enough to see Holland step up their World Cup preparations with a 2-1 victory over Mexico at Badenova-Stadion in Freiburg.

Germany enjoyed an easy workout against a local amateur team in their training camp in Sudtirol, thrashing their hapless opponents 24-0.

Debutant Mathieu Valbuena scored the late winner as France came from behind to beat Costa Rica 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up clash in Lens.

Free Bets

Fancy a £50 ante-post bet courtesy of Sean Grahams?

Just answer this simple question: Who are the current holders?

Email: puntersguide@irelandclick.com

Racing News

A Great weekend of racing at the Curragh has given us some valuable clues for the English Derby and Oaks that are just a few weeks away.

The most impressive winner of the weekend was Canford Cliffs in the Irish 2000 Guineas, as predicted here last week.

He will now head to Royal Ascot and go for the St James Palace Stakes where he will lock horns with English 2000 Guineas winner, the unbeaten Makfi. We expect the Richard Hannon horse to exact revenge for that Newmarket defeat and Sean Grahams have installed the Irish Guineas winner as their favourite.

The Derby betting took a bit of a shake-up after Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Vermeer absolutely skated home on his seasonal debut at the Curragh to leave the Ballydoyle trainer mob-handed for the Derby.

Guineas flop St Nicholas Abbey leads the betting at 2/1 but Jan Vermeer was cut from 14s in to 7s by Sean Grahams after the weekend. O’Brien also has easy York winner Cape Blanco in the race and it will be interesting to see what horse Johnny Murtagh climbs aboard come June 5th.

Fame and Glory looked back to his best when sluicing up in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday, winning by seven lengths, and next stop for the O’Brien superstar is the Coronation Stakes where he could take on the mighty Sariska – Sean Grahams price both at 9/4 for the race.

Jim Bolger’s Gile Na Greine has been pushed out to 20/1 for Oaks glory after a poor run in the Irish 1000 Guineas, with Rumoush still leading the market at 5/1.

Tonight (Thursday) at Sandown we have the Group 3 Blue Square Brigadier Gerard Stakes and we are taking the Michael Jarvis-trained SRI PUTRA to follow up on his seasonal debut win at Newmarket and we are banking on him to get the better of favourite Glass Harmonium.

Countdown begins to South Africa

2010-05-25T09:23:00.000+01:00

England looked OK last night but Walcott should be dropped for South Africa in my view - headless chicken springs to mind as they beat Mexico 3-1.
Striker Scott McDonald, defender Jade North and midfielder Nick Carle have been axed from Australia's squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa while France coach Raymond Domenech says the 23 players he has in camp at Tignes will make up his squad for the World Cup in South Africa.
World Cup hosts South Africa continued their build-up to this summer's finals with a promising, yet ultimately disappointing 1-1 draw with Bulgaria.
Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez scored twice as Argentina continued their preparations for the World Cup with a 5-0 victory over Canada.
Nigeria have played down fears over the fitness of John Obi Mikel, who is recovering from a knee injury less than three weeks before the start of the World Cup.
Park Ji-Sung and Park Chu-Young scored as South Korea beat fellow World Cup qualifiers Japan 2-0 in a friendly international on Monday.
Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra will rest for up to 10 days as he sweats over his fitness ahead of the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz scored the only goal as Paraguay earned a late win over fellow World Cup hopefuls North Korea in their friendly in Nyon.
Ronaldinho and Adriano will both miss the World Cup in South Africa after being omitted from the 23-man Brazil squad named by national coach Dunga.
Portugal's World Cup preparations got off to a miserable start as they were remarkably held to a goalless draw at home to African minnows Cape Verde they were 1/33...

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHOOT-OUT

2010-05-19T18:50:00.000+01:00

The PUNTERS GUIDE returned yet again to the winners enclosure yet again this season after getting the Scottish Cup final predictions spot on.

We urged punters to lump on Dundee Utd striker David Goodwillie for first goal at 5/1 and we thought the Tannadice team would win it 3-0 at 8/1 and they did just that, and quite a few punters out there were wise enough to put the two together for a scorecast that paid a handsome 28/1.

So on to this weekend’s action and we start with the big one of the season – the Champions League Final which takes place at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night.

Well, it's the one we've been waiting for. Italian League and Cup champions Inter Milan, led by the confident Jose Mourinho, against German League and Cup champions Bayern Munich, led by his mentor Louis Van Gaal.

After coming second in the group stages to Barcelona, Inter made their way to the final by beating Chelsea home and away (3-1) in the second round, beating CSKA Moscow home and away (2-0) in the quarter finals and then beating Barcelona in the semi finals 3-2 on aggregate (3-1, 0-1).

Munich also came second in their group, to Lyon, and made it by beating Juventus 4-1 on Matchday 6. They then made their way through to the semi finals by beating Fiorentina and Manchester United in the second round and quarter finals. Both were on the away goals rule as well (2-1, 2-3) before Munich crushed Lyon in the semi finals 4-0 on aggregate.

Inter haven't won the Champions League since 1965, which was their second in a row after they won it in 1964 as well.

As for Bayern, they last won it in 2001, beating Valencia in the final. For both sides on Saturday evening, this is their first chance at an historic treble, which has only been achieved five times (Celtic, Ajax, PSV, Manchester United and Barcelona).

I was more than surprised when I saw the Sean Grahams betting coupon for this one. The Belfast firm make Inter Milan their 5/4 favourites in 90 minutes with Bayern Munich a tempting 21/10 and 21/10 the draw – in my head I had both down as 6/4 in 90 minutes play – I think it’s that hard to call.

Inter Milan have had the hardest route to the final, beating Chelsea and then dismantling champions Barcelona in the semi-finals while Bayern knocked out Man Utd in the quarters and then took Lyon apart in the semi-finals.

They will miss the suspended Franck Ribery on Saturday night but they are still are a team to be feared, with Dutch maestro Arjen Robben having the season of his life while livewire Croatian striker Ivica Olic could well cause the Inter backline all sorts of problems. He needs one goal to join Lionel Messi on eight in the race for the Golden Boot. For me, Wesley Sneijder will be the key for Inter on Saturday night; if he has a good game then so will his team, and striker Diego Milito has been a revelation since his move from Genoa and will be a handful for Munich.

WEEKEND Bets:

Inter and Munich (both) to win on penalties at 9/1

CL First Goal: Olic at 13/2

CL Correct Score: 2-2 at 14/1

CL Scorecast: Olic and 2-2 at 50/1

Weekend Double: Inter Milan draw (21/10) and Cardiff (6/5)

DOLLY TO TAKE THE LOLLY

We have Irish Guineas weekend at the Curragh and what a cracking pair of races we have lined up as we try and keep the winning machine going after handing out two winners last weekend.

We start with the 2,000 Guineas and on Monday Aidan O’Brien left in NINE horses for Saturday’s race, but what one Johnny Murtagh jumps on is another story as the duo chase their third consecutive 2,000 Guineas after Henrythenavigator won in 2008 and Mastercraftsman won last year.

According to Sean Graham bookmakers and whispers from around the country, Steinbeck could be the one for Murtagh, but for us the best Irish challenge could be Noll Wollop from the Tommy Stack yard who impressed at Leopardstown

Overall we think the English challengers Canford Cliffs and Xtension, third and fourth behind Makfi in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, are the ones to beat.

Dick Turpin, who finished second in the race, just missed out on the French equivalent last Sunday and we are going take another chance with his stablemate Canford Cliffs.

PG Selections 1. Canford Cliffs 2. Xtension 3. Noll Wollop

On to the ladies and the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday when the Mick Channon-trained filly Music Show, who was sixth behind the promoted Special Duty in the Newmarket equivalent after winning the Nell Gwyn Stakes on her seasonal debut, is the early-week market leader for this one.

We have a liking for the unbeaten LOLLY FOR DOLLY in this one – she fairly bolted up on her last start at the Curragh to make it two out of two for the Tommy Stack filly.

Lolly’s around 4/1 for Sunday’s race and for us is the one to beat, with Kevin Prendergast's filly Termagant being a danger on her seasonal debut.

We have the Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday and we are expecting BORDERLESCOTT to go one better than last year when he finished second to Look Busy, and he can gain revenge on favourite Equiano who beat him at Newmarket a few weeks back.

We also have the ultra-competitive Silver Bowl at Haydock and we have opted for COLONEL CARTER who won at Doncaster on Saturday evening and is now on a hat-trick – 12/1 looks rather good value for the Brian Meehan horse.

Punter scores BIG with £1 FIRST GOALSCORER BET

YOU’LL RECALL that cracking £2 bet last week and we have a gem of a £1 bet to tell PG readers about this week.

RVH worker Martin Miller is not a big-hitting punter by any means. He enjoys a flutter but spends only what he can afford – that’s a rule we should all live by.

At the weekend he placed a first goalscorer bet on the cup finals and the League Two play-offs, and boy did it pay off.

He placed 4 x 20p trebles and a 20p quad – a modest £1 bet.

The bet got off to a flyer when David Goodwillie got the ball rolling for Dundee Utd in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday at rewarding odds of 5/1, and a few minutes later Didier Drogba made it two from two at odds of 11/4 when he curled in that free-kick to put Chelsea one up at Wembley.

The League Two play-off at Aldershot was the next port of call for our punter and he took Rotherham’s Adam Le Fondre for first goal and the bet looked beaten until the striker popped up in the 89th minute with the winner, priced at 11/2.

Martin had banked £30 going into his last selection, which was the other live League Two clash on the Sunday.

He didn’t even get a sweat. He turned the match on and Dagenham were 1-0 up and his man Paul Benson had just scored from two yards out.

He picked up £309 for that modest outlay of a £1 with his quad working out at a massive 866/1 and that for me deserves a mention on these pages.

A North Belfast punter who also merits a mention is Joe Greene who touched with a £50 fourteen-timer.

He took short-odds French, Spanish and Italian teams in his bet and had 11 up going into Sunday. Inter Milan won 1-0 and Sampdoria won 1-0 which left Joe waiting on Palermo, who scored the winner in the 94th minute to secure him a bumper £3,435 pay-out – great punting by both guys, who end the season on a high.

World Cup Prices from Sean Grahams

2010-05-17T10:30:00.000+01:00

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

25 DAYS to go before the World Cup 2010 kicks-off when hosts South Africa take on Mexico in Johannesburg.
The PG will be spending that time giving out FREE £50 Sean Graham Bets on outright winners or if you fancy a player to win the Golden Boot, it's entirely up to yourself.
We keeping you up to date on all World Cup markets as well as other big sporting events over the summer period. So keep us logged on and you could grab a free bet and a few winners.

Saturday 12th June
South Africa	v	Mexico	Johannesburg
A	19:30	Uruguay	v	France	Cape Town
B	12:30	South Korea	v	Greece	Port Elizabeth
B	15:00	Argentina	v	Nigeria	Johannesburg
C	19:30	England	v	USA	Rustenburg
Sunday 13th June
C	12:30	Algeria	v	Slovenia	Polokwane
D	15:00	Serbia	v	Ghana	Pretoria
D	19:30	Germany	v	Australia	Durban
Monday 14th June
E	12:30	Holland	v	Denmark	Johannesburg
E	15:00	Japan	v	Cameroon	Bloemfontein
F	19:30	Italy	v	Paraguay	Cape Town
Tuesday 15th June
F	12:30	New Zealand	v	Slovakia	Rustenburg
G	15:00	Ivory Coast	v	Portugal	Port Elizabeth
G	19:30	Brazil	v	Korea DPR	Johannesburg
Wednesday 16th June
H	12:30	Honduras	v	Chile	Nelspruit
H	15:00	Spain	v	Switzerland	Durban
A	19:30	South Africa	v	Uruguay	Pretoria
Thursday 17th June
B	12:30	Argentina	v	South Korea	Johannesburg
B	15:00	Greece	v	Nigeria	Bloemfontein
A	19:30	France	v	Mexico	Polokwane
Friday 18th June
D	12:30	Germany	v	Serbia	Port Elizabeth
C	15:00	Slovenia	v	USA	Johannesburg
C	19:30	England	v	Algeria	Cape Town
Saturday 19th June
E	12:30	Holland	v	Japan	Durban
D	15:00	Ghana	v	Australia	Rustenburg
E	19:30	Cameroon	v	Denmark	Pretoria
Sunday 20th June
F	12:30	Slovakia	v	Paraguay	Bloemfontein
F	15:00	Italy	v	New Zealand	Nelspruit
G	19:30	Brazil	v	Ivory Coast	Johannesburg
Monday 21st June
G	12:30	Portugal	v	Korea DPR	Cape Town
H	15:00	Chile	v	Switzerland	Port Elizabeth
H	19:30	Spain	v	Honduras	Johannesburg
Tuesday 22nd June
A	15:00	France	v	South Africa	Bloemfontein
A	15:00	Mexico	v	Uruguay	Rustenburg
B	19:30	Greece	v	Argentina	Polokwane
B	19:30	Nigeria	v	South Korea	Durban
Wednesday 23rd June
C	15:00	Slovenia	v	England	Port Elizabeth
C	15:00	USA	v	Algeria	Pretoria
D	19:30	Australia	v	Serbia	Nelspruit
D	19:30	Ghana	v	Germany	Johannesburg
Thursday 24th June
F	15:00	Paraguay	v	New Zealand	Polokwane
F	15:00	Slovakia	v	Italy	Johannesburg
E	19:30	Cameroon	v	Holland	Cape Town
E	19:30	Denmark	v	Japan	Rustenburg
Friday 25th June
G	15:00	Korea DPR	v	Ivory Coast	Nelspruit
G	15:00	Portugal	v	Brazil	Durban
H	19:30	Switzerland	v	Honduras	Bloemfontein
H	19:30	Chile	v	Spain	Pretoria

NO SHOCKS ON CUP FINAL SATURDAY

2010-05-14T09:11:00.000+01:00

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.

Man Utd to get last day blues

2010-05-07T09:05:00.000+01:00

WEEKEND SOCCER

The Premiership season reaches its climax this weekend and it has come down to the final day of the season with Chelsea and Man Utd scrapping it out for the title.

Both teams have home games with Chelsea 1-9 shots against Wigan at the Bridge, while Man Utd are 1-8 to beat Stoke at Old Trafford.

In their hearts most Man Utd supporters have thrown the towel in by now and glumly expect the Blue Army to steamroll Wigan on Sunday – we can only agree.

PG Fivehit

Man City 8-13 to win at West Ham and Spurs 1-2 to win at relegated Burnley – they are the first two teams down in our weekend Fivehit.

Back to Saturday and we begin our Fivehit with teams who need points for one reason or another. Tranmere (8/13) need to win at Stockport and hope Exeter fail to beat Huddersfield to stay in League One and they should collect three vital points in this one.

At the top of League One it is tight for the automatic promotion places and if Leeds fail to win at home to Bristol Rovers then it’s wide open for the other four teams and CHARLTON (5/6) can win at Oldham to give themselves an outside chance.

MORECAMBE (4/5) know a win against Aldershot on Saturday will see them qualify for the play-offs against a team who have already qualified, so hopefully a winning Fivehit this week.

PG QUAD

On to the weekend quad and we are banking on MILLWALL (1/1) to gave us a winning start with a win over fellow promotion chasers Swindon at the New Den.

BARNET (1/1) are on the brink of going out of league football but can survive if they beat already promoted Rochdale, and we think they can. WALSALL (1/1) can end their season with a win over MK Dons and making the quad up are HUDDERSFIELD (2/1) who could condemn Exeter to League Two football next season as they chase that remaining automatic slot.

PG XXX

We finish with the draw treble that rewarded punters who back the double with an 11/1 winner last week.

The Championship play-offs get under way this weekend – expect close games. We have opted for draws in both with BLACKPOOL taking on NOTTINGHAM FOREST on Saturday morning and CARDIFF tackling LEICESTER on the Sunday.

Overall, I have a liking for Cardiff at 9/4 to be playing Premiership football next season just ahead of Forest.

Making the XXX up is the visit of Sunderland to Wolves in a dead rubber at Molineux, hopefully a 3-3 draw with Bent netting a hat-trick.

We put Darren Bent up each-way at 50/1 to win the Golden Boot and he is third on 24 goals – two behind Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba. In a poor team, that’s some going.

last PREMIERSHIP GOAL

Skybet have laid odds on who scores the last Premiership goal of the season, which is a lottery of a bet but the PG has invested a few pounds on... guess who?

Darren Bent at 14/1 to be the last goalscorer of the 2010 Premiership season is the bet for us.

Racing

The Punters Guide and his merry band of Belfast Media Group colleagues will embark on the short trip to Downpatrick on Friday night for a fundraising night.

For anyone who has not sampled the south Down race track for a evening meeting, well, it’s simple – you don’t know what you are missing out on.

The seven-race card gets under way at 5.30pm on Friday and ex- Man Utd players David May, Paul McGrath and Paddy Crerand will be in attendance.

If you are travelling down make sure you give yourselves plenty of time for travel – there are some roadworks en route to the venue. ANY TIPS let us know..

We delivered a very lucky Special Duty in the 2000 Guineas at 9/2 last weekend while Canford Cliffs grabbed third for us at 12/1 in the 1000 Guineas so hopefully another winner or two for this weekend. We start with the ultra-competitive Grade 2 Swinton Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday (3.35) and recent Scottish Champion Hurdle winner OVERTURN from the Donald McCain yard looks a great bet at 10/1 in this one as he chases a fourth win on the trot.

Another horse chasing four wins on the trot and worth a mention is CICERON and he could run a big race at 14s.

Back to the flat, and we have the totesport Victoria Cup (3.25) and the jolly in this MABAIT looks the one they all have to beat after he sluiced home from Tartan Gigha (a winner since) at Sandown.

Luca Cumani loves these big handicaps and has booked Kieran Fallon for the 6/1 favourite.

Splendorinthegrass won well on his seasonal debut and could be the each-way value in the race with Ted Durcan taking the ride on this 20/1 outsider.

CLIFFS LOOKS 2,000 GUINEAS VALUE BET

2010-04-30T09:04:00.000+01:00

We have the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas this weekend and punters have it all to do to work out the first classic winners of the flat season

We start with the boys and the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday where the unbeaten St Nicholas Abbey from the Aidan O’Brien yard is put in as the 6/4 favourite by Sean Graham.

The race was won by superhorse Sea The Stars last year and if any of Saturday’s runners can achieve half of what the John Oxx-trained horse did, then they will have a great season.

I have concerns for the favourite, though. One is the ground that he will encounter at the weekend, and another is that the all-conquering O’Brien stable has not been firing on all cylinders early-season.

CANFORD CLIFFS is our first suggestion for the weekend and gets a generous 7/1 pricing.

Richard Hannon’s yard has been in great form and although Dick Turpin stole the Greenham from him at Newbury, Richard Hughes reported the horse as “electric” at the weekend and if he reproduces that Coventry Stakes form then he will take some catching at the weekend.

ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL finished off his season last term with a second behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Racing Post Trophy.

He started this term in breath-taking fashion, winning the Craven Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance and one thing is certain, he will be thereabouts come 3.10 on Saturday. But we think he looks more like Derby material with the mile and a half seeming right up his street.

Lastly, on to our each-way pick and AL ZIR looks way overpriced at 16/1, although that will have gone, I expect, by the time you read this.

The Godolphin runner finished third in that Racing Post Trophy race but prior to that had won his only other two starts with considerable ease and is bred to stay further, so a place beckons for Frankie Dettori.

PG Selections 1. Canford Cliffs 2. Elusive Pimpernel 3. Al Zir.

On to the Sunday and the ladies in the 1,000 Guineas which looks wide-open on the early week betting.

We had a 20/1 upset last year when Ghanaati sprang a surprise, but we feel that this year’s 3/1 jolly SPECIAL DUTY has a great chance of winning.

He was beaten on his seasonal debut in France but the Head/Maarek-trained chestnut filly looked a different class when trouncing a high-class field in the Cheveley Park Stakes over this course in October and looks the one they all have to beat.

Of the dangers, the Marcus Tregoning-trained Rumoush has big claims after winning the Feilden Stakes here last month and she gets a 7/1 pricing.

The each-way bet of the race could be the improving Pipette who won well on his seasonal debut and could run a big race for the Balding/Fortune partnership and is as big as 25/1.

PG Selections: 1. Special Duty 2. Rumoush 3. Pipette

WEEKEND SOCCER

WE’VE HAD some Super Sundays in the Premiership this year but none bigger than this weekend’s games when the league can literally be won or lost.

First up we have leaders CHELSEA taking on LIVERPOOL at Anfield and then we have the champions, MAN UTD, taking on SUNDERLAND at the Stadium of Light.

We start at Anfield and if rumours are to be believed, if Chelsea score on Sunday the Kop will cheer because most of the Red Army will be hoping that Chelsea can outpoint their bitter rivals in the tense run-in. Liverpool are still in the hunt for that fourth and final Champions League spot but will need a minor miracle to grab it and went out of Europe on Thursdy night in the Channel 5 Cup.

Punters Guide Quad

We are taking CHELSEA (1/1) to grab the three points that will put them on the brink of the title at Anfield and they are the first team down in the weekend quad.

MAN CITY (1/1) are still battling Spurs and Aston Villa for that fourth spot and know two home wins in their next two games will all but guarantee them that fourth spot.

The Championship ends this weekend so all games kick-off on Sunday at 1pm.

Who goes down is the big question on Sunday with SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (5/4) taking on Crystal Palace at Hillsborough and we are taking the Owls to get the win that will ensure Championship football next season.

Making the quad up are MIDDLESBORO (5/2) who will hope to end the season on a high at Leicester, who will have one eye on the play-offs.

Punters Guide FIVEHIT

Straight into the Fivehit and here are five teams this weekend who quite simply need to win for different reasons so we are banking on SWANSEA (1/2), BLACKPOOl (1/2), LEEDS (6/4), MORECAMBE (11/8) and ALDERSHOT (1/2).

Punters Guide XXX

We end with the draw treble and fingers crossed we get a sweat this weekend on this particular bet.

So mark X in the following games: CARLISLE v WALSALL, YEOVIL v OLDHAM and we finish with the HARTLEPOOL v EXETER game.

Remember those doubles and treble – a 10/1 winner come Monday morning is much better than nothing, folks.

Hammer blow for Wigan?

2010-04-23T10:48:00.004+01:00

It’s squeaky bum time in the Premiership after last weekend’s results and the the title race has become a two-horse race.

Arsenal lost 3-2 at Wigan on Sunday to end their slender hopes while Spurs did champions Man Utd a massive favour by beating table-topping Chelsea.

The Blues remain the 8/13 favourites and they host Stoke this weekend while Man Utd are now as short as 5/4. The Reds entertain in-form Spurs at the weekend and for anybody who believes in miracles, well... Arsenal are 250/1.

Wigan's win – their first ever over Arsenal in the Premier League – takes them seven points clear of third-bottom Hull and eight ahead of Burnley and they're now 25/1 with Sean Graham to go down.

The Latics were backed at a remarkable 799/1 on Betfair in-running against Arsenal, with one customer securing £3 at those massive odds as they trailed 2-0 while some other optimistic punters snapped them up at all rates down from 769/1 so miracles do happen; but the 250/1 for the Gunners looks too much of a miracle. At this stage Burnley and Hull look doomed to the Championship.

PG QUAD

We start with the weekend quad and first team down are WEST HAM (1/1) who know a win at home against Wigan will all but guarantee them Premiership football next season.

HEARTS (11/10) can pile on the misery for Motherwell at Tynecastle.

BRENTFORD (1/1) are finishing the season with a flourish and look too strong for Yeovil.

WOLVES (13/10) can all but guarantee their Premiership status with a win at home over Blackburn and we think Mick McCarthy’s team can grab all points.

PG FIVEHIT

On to the Fivehit and first down are BOLTON (4/7) who should bank all points at home to Portsmouth while LEEDS (1/2) can get all points at home to MK Dons.

MILLWALL (1/2) should bag all points against Leyton Orient while SOUTHAMPTON (1/2) can keep their slim play-off hopes alive with a win over Carlisle.

We won’t get rich backing the fivehit this week but a ROSS COUNTY (1/1) win over Partick could boost it.

PG XXX

We finish with the draw treble and the first ‘X’ down this week is the visit of ABERDEEN to ST JOHNSTONE.

PRESTON are hard to beat at home and the best LEICESTER can hope for is a point.

Safe HARTLEPOOL can grab a point in the non-contest at WALSALL.

All draws priced at 11/5 by Sean Graham and remember to perm the bet with doubles and a treble

Betting Story:-

Bookmakers hit by big Saturday tip

I GOT a phone call on Saturday afternoon at around 4.30 from a mate saying, ‘Did you back that tip?’

‘What tip?’ I replied. ‘Whozthecat,’ was his reply. ‘First I heard, mate,’ I told him, and he went on to boast that everyone and their granny was on it up and down the road.

‘I got on at 25/1 this morning,’ he delightedly told me. I cut him short and thanked him for the information that he didn’t give me and hung up – who needs mates like that?

He was right, though, everyone and their granny was on it with one South Belfast bookmaker refusing to take any more bets.

It was backed right down to 10/1 and got home by half a length to the delight of many a local punter. Me? I was content with old PG favourite ANDYTOWN winning at 9/2 at Ayr.

Weekend Racing:-

We have the big one, the Rabobank Champion Hurdle, on Friday (5.30pm) and what a race we have to look forward to with a high-class field going to post for this Grade One hurdle

Trainer Philip Fenton has confirmed that Dunguib is to run in the race where he is set to lock horns with the likes of Quevega, Solwhit and Punjabi. So is the novice up to the task?

We think so, and the biggest danger could come from Champion Hurdle flop Solwhit who won this last year. The early week Sean Graham market has Dunguib, Quevega and Solwhit all leading the market at 10/3 – what a tight race we have on Friday evening.

Sean Graham Bet: Dunguib 10/3, Quevega 10/3, Solwhit 10/3, Hurricane Fly 9/2, Punjabi 5, Voler La Vedette 10, Medermit 14, Ronaldo des Mottes 20, Thousand Stars 28, Muirhead 33, Won In The Dark 33,

On the last day at Punchestown we have the four-year-olds’ Champion Hurdle and we are taking Alvian to bounce back in this race after his bad run in the Triumph.

On to Saturday’s racing and we have the end-of-season Bet365 Gold Cup marathon at the mixed Sandown card and the money has come for the Paul Nicholls-trained Just Amazing who is now as low as 8/1.

You may remember that last year we tipped up a 25/1 winner in this race when Monkerhostin did the business and he is not without a chance on Saturday – the top weight gets a 20/1 quote to repeat the feat, which may well be worth a tickle.

ERIC’S CHARM fell at the first in the National but if he jumps round on Saturday then he has an outstanding chance and is priced at 16/1 for this gruelling three mile five furlong trip.

Friday Punchestown Selections

3.40 White Head

4.15 Hume River

4.55 Copper Bleu

5.30 Dunquib

6.05 Luska Lad

6.40 Mr Cracker

7.10 Another Cliche

7.45 Spill The Beans

DUNGUIB READY TO STEP IT UP

2010-04-22T12:49:00.000+01:00

We are slap bang in the middle of the Punchestown festival at the minute and still three cracking days to go.

We have the big one, the Rabobank Champion Hurdle, on Friday (5.30pm) and what a race we have to look forward to with a high-class field going to post for this Grade One hurdle

Trainer Philip Fenton has confirmed that Dunguib is to run in the race where he is set to lock horns with the likes of Quevega, Solwhit and Punjabi. So is the novice up to the task?

Sean Graham Bet: Dunguib 10/3, Quevega 10/3, Solwhit 10/3, Hurricane Fly 9/2, Punjabi 5, Voler La Vedette 10, Medermit 14, Ronaldo des Mottes 20, Thousand Stars 28, Muirhead 33, Won In The Dark 33, De Valera 100.

We have the Grade One World Series Hurdle (today, Thursday) and another competitive field going to post for this one and Mourad looks the one they all have to beat. The Willie Mullins-trained horse has been trained all year long for this race and hosed up at Fairyhouse last time out.

Jessie’s Dream, now trained by Gordon Elliott, is an interesting runner. He has had a disappointing year chasing, and reverts back to hurdles where he was unbeaten. That could be a wise move as he bolted up at the Punchestown festival last year and the 25/1 on offer looks cracking each-way value.

Sean Graham Bet: Quevega 4, Karabak 9/2, Mourad 9/2, Powerstation 8, Souffleur 9, Berties Dream 12, Cousin Vinny 12, Noble Prince 12, Oscar Dan Dan 12, Bensalem 14, Ninetieth Minute 16, Thousand Stars 16, War Of Attrition 16, Kayf Aramis 20, Lie Forrit 20, Jessies Dream 25, Bouggler 33, Prince Erik 33, Whatuthink 33, Aitmatov 50 – others 50s or more.

Also today is the Grade One Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase (6.40) and Captain Cee Bee will hope he can redeem his reputation in this one after that Cheltenham run when he broke a blood vessel – if he gets a clean round of jumping this is the one to beat.

Osana has had two festivals in four weeks and that could take its toll so we have opted for Sports Line to give the favourite most to do in this one as he attempts to put his bad Cheltenham run behind him as well.

SATURDAY ACTION

On the last day at Punchestown we have the four-year-olds’ Champion Hurdle and we are taking Alvian to bounce back in this race after his bad run in the Triumph.

On to Saturday’s racing and we have the end-of-season Bet365 Gold Cup marathon at the mixed Sandown card and the money has come for the Paul Nicholls-trained Just Amazing who is now as low as 8/1.

ERIC’S CHARM fell at the first in the National but if he jumps round on Saturday then he has an outstanding chance and is priced at 16/1 for this gruelling three mile five furlong trip.

Which rocket will be firing?

2010-04-16T10:39:00.000+01:00

THE WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP gets under way at the Crucible this weekend and Sean Grahams make Ronnie O’ Sullivan their 4/1 jolly, closely followed by John Higgins, who gets a 9/2 quote.

Last year’s champion Higgins is a hard man to beat at the Sheffield arena and will be thereabouts as usual.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been described by many as the most naturally gifted player ever to grace the green baize, but sometimes his head is just not in it and he seems to get bored midway through matches. If that’s what he’s like, then fair enough, but he should remember that ordinary, hard-working punters might have good money on him. The world number one goes into virtually every tournament as the bookies' favourite but the big question for punters is, which Ronnie O’Sullivan will turn up this year? If it’s the Ronnie O'Sullivan who wants this championship then the 4/1 on offer could be the summer holidays spending money. But if it’s the bored, irritable Ronnie, then he will be home by the end of the first week.

Local hopes will lie with Antrim player Mark Allen who could be the outside bet of the tournament at 18/1.

He looks to have a good draw and we think he could at least get to the semi-finals, and then if he can hold his nerve... you just never know.

Last 10 winners

2000 Mark Williams bt Matthew Stevens 18 - 16

2001 Ronnie O'Sullivan bt John Higgins 18 - 14

2002 Peter Ebdon bt Stephen Hendry 18 - 17

2003 Mark Williams bt Ken Doherty 18 - 16

2004 Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Graeme Dott 18 - 8

2005 Shaun Murphy bt Matthew Stevens 18 - 16

2006 Graeme Dott bt Peter Ebdon 18 - 14

2007 John Higgins bt Mark Selby 18 - 13

2008 Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Ali Carter 18 - 8

2009 John Higgins bt Shaun Murphy 18 - 9

Horse Racing

Poker to hold all the aces at Ayr

WE HAVE had Nationals at Fairyhouse and Aintree, and now it’s on to Ayr for the Scottish National this weekend – all this in the space of 13 days.

Local punters revelled in Tony McCoy’s English National glory on Saturday with Sean Grahams reporting big bets on Don’t Push It and so did a few off our bloggers who took our advice last week. Andytown punter Jimmy Mallon had more to shout about than most after cleaning up with a £20 double on Saturday.

Jimmy took From Dawn To Dusk at early odds of 14/1 to win the listed John Smith's Handicap Chase which gave him £300 riding on DON’T PUSH IT at an early 20/1. Those odds as we know tumbled to 10/1 but Jimmy didn’t care, picking up £6,300 on Monday morning and has told us a cruise beckons for him and the missus.

On to this weekend’s racing and we start with the big one at Ayr – the Sottish Grand National, and what a cracking race it looks.

We might have lost the mighty Denman earlier in the week but excellent horses go to post for this gruelling four-mile race.

Ferdy Murphy held back and didn’t send his Cheltenham winner POKER DE SIVOLA to Fairyhouse for the Irish National, targeting this race instead.

The trip will be not a problem as he won over the distance in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at the festival and looks the one to beat on Saturday.

Of the outsiders, the veteran Himalayan Trail catches the eye and has been in great heart, winning his last two races. He does like the ground a touch softer, but at 25/1 he could well run into a place.

Sean Graham Bet: Poker De Sivola 6, Chief Dan George 7, Meanus Dandy 8, Faasel 12, Gone To Lunch 12, Killyglen 14, Theatrical Moment 14, Razor Royale 16, That’s Rhythm 16, Halcon Genelardais 20, Lothian Falcon 20, Mobaasher 20, Air Force One 25, Dom D’Orgeval 25, Hold The Pin 25, Merigo 25, Nenuphar Collonges 25, Out The Black 25, Scots Dragoon 25, Auroras Encore 33 – the others you can have for 33s or more

FLAT IS BACK

The Flat season is back in full swing and we have Newmarket on today where the Craven Stakes is the big race. I’m looking forward to see if Elusive Pimpernel has trained on from last year; if so, he will take some beating.

We have a liking for CANFORD CLIFFS for the Guineas and he has his prep run on Saturday in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes – the 5/1 price on a Guineas win will tumble if he wins on Saturday.

Keep an eye out for DANSILI DANCER in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes – he fairly skated home at Kempton but could go off here at a half-decent price with Adam Kirby doing the steering.

Weekend Soccer

BATTLE OF MANCHESTER

BLOODY Brighton let us down in a close Fivehit last week but four winners at this stage of the season is still good going.

It’s that time of the season that punters need to study the league tables and check out who’s playing for what.

We have the Champions League and Europa Cup semi-finals next week and the PG is sticking its neck out and going with a Bayern Munich success in this year’s competition at 9/2 and Liverpool to lift the first ever Europa League title at 7/4.

Let’s get started with this weekend’s quad and we start with the big game of the weekend – the Manchester derby.

Man City will hope to end Man Utd’s dream of the title and will do just that if they can beat their arch rivals at Eastlands come Saturday lunchtime.

The champions dropped vital points last weekend at Blackburn which enabled Cheslea to go four points clear of Ferguson’s team who now can’t afford to drop any more points. MAN CITY (8/5) go into the game on a goalscoring high after knocking in 11 goals in their last two matches and know a win could all but cement that Champions League spot. We think they will edge this one.

MIDDLESBORO (3/1) are chasing Swansea and Blackpool hard for that last play-off spot and we think Gordon Strachan’s team can grab the three points they need at promoted West Brom.

BLACKPOOL (6/5) are the other contenders for that remaining play-off spot and can keep the pressure on with a win over Nottingham Forest.

Making the weekend quad up are SOUTHAMPTON who are chasing that remaining play-off spot in League One and can gather all points at Yeovil.

The quad pays £228 for a £5 outlay. A bigger gamble than usual, but there’s all to play for.

We start the draw treble this week at Ewood Park where Everton pay a visit to take on a hard-to-beat Blackburn side who Man Utd failed to break down last weekend. We think a point beckons for each of these teams.

MILLWALL travel to play-off-chasing HUDDERSFIELD on Saturday and both teams might be happy with a point.

KILMARNOCK simply cannot afford to lose at HAMILTON on Saturday and a point could ease their relegation fears.

On to the five-hit and we start in League One where LEEDS (4/5) look a cracking bet to keep their automatic promotion push going with a win at Gillingham.

BURY (1/1) have found their feet again and can grab all points at home to Port Vale.

SUNDERLAND (8/13) can put the final nail into the Premiershp coffin of Burnley.

IPSWICH (10/11) can make home advantage count with a win over Doncaster at Portman Road.

And BRADFORD (10/11) can grab their second win in five days when they entertain Barnet.

PG Competition

We have 6 sets of 4 tickets to giveaway for the opening day of the Punchestown Festival (TUESDAY 20th April)

To win them just call us us before 11.30 am on Monday and answer this question -

Who won the Scottish Grand National on Saturday?

Call Tracy on 90619000 ext 229 or email puntersguide@irelandclickcom or post the answer and your name on the Blog.

Friday Nag: RJEEF (14/1) second race Newbury

National Lottery

2010-04-09T09:00:00.000+01:00

THE world’s greatest betting race takes place this weekend. Yes, folks, we can only be talking about the Grand National.

A total of 40 runners will go to post at 4.15pm on Saturday for the most exciting race in the world. Everybody and their granny has a bet in the National and our usual advice to all punters out there is GET IN EARLY, GET YOUR BETS DONE AND GET OUT before the stampede begins; and believe me it will.

Check out opening times this weekend for your local bookmakers. Sean Grahams open their doors at 9am on Saturday morning and if you are a once-a-year punter take advantage of the help desks that Grahams have on offer this weekend.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of the big race on Saturday. We got it down to 10 live contenders on Monday and now we’ve got down to a short-list of four – and that was hard work. One thing about the National is those four predictions could fall at the first. The National, my friends, is about 80 per cent luck and 20 per cent skill.

THE PG BIG FOUR FOR THE RACE

The Paul Nicholls-trained Big Fella Thanks leads the market at 7/1 and looks all set to go off the favourite on Saturday afternoon, but we have looked elsewhere for the winner

In fact, last year’s winner MON MOME (12/1) is our first pick as he looks to grab back-to-back wins. The ground looks like it will come up soft on Saturday so this will be right up his street as he won on similar ground last year and was a fast-finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Now he’s primed for another go at the National fences and if he gets a safe passage round then he will take some beating.

The greatest national hunt jockey of all time, Tony McCoy, hopes to break that hoodoo that has hung over him all his career and finally win a National. He now rides DONT PUSH IT on Saturday and the big question is - can he do it?

Nigel Twiston-Davies has five horses in the field and has an outstanding chance of doing the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National double

When IRISH RAPTOR won the John Smith's Topham Chase last year he went into the PG notepad as a possible future National horse.

He turns up on Saturday with Paddy Brennan on board and looks a great each-way bet in the race at 40/1 – he loves it round the Liverpool track and we think he’ll run a big race.

We have gone for a ‘fat one’ for our fourth and final selection in Saturday’s race and ERIC’S CHARM ticks all the right boxes at 50s.

He’s an out-and-out stayer and the punishing four-mile trip will be right up this Oliver Sherwood-trained horse’s street. He can impress here after wins at Sandown and Newbury and to us looks tremendous each-way value.

So that’s us for another National lottery. Whatever you back on Saturday, let’s hope you get a run for your money.

Sean Graham LATEST BETTING: Big Fella Thanks 7, Mon Mome 12, Black Apalachi 14, The Package 14, Arbor Supreme 18, Niche Market 18, Tricky Trickster 18, Character Building 20, Snowy Morning 20, Vic Venturi 20, State Of Play 22, Backstage 25, Don’t Push It 25, Whinstone Boy 25, Can’t Buy Time 28, Comply Or Die 28, Ballyholland 33, Chief Dan George 33, Dream Alliance 40, Irish Raptor 40 – others 40 or more.

Weekend Soccer

IT’S FA Cup semi-final weekend and on paper it looks like a Spurs v Chelsea final with Harry Redknapp’s team 2/7 favourites to oust injury-ravaged Portsmouth.

PG XXX

Chelsea are a too-skinny 4/7 to beat Aston Villa in the other semi. With Martin O’Neill’s team eager to avenge that recent 7-1 drubbing, and with the Wembley leveller factor, this is our first draw in our XXX at 5/2.

REAL MADRID are on a red-hot run at the minute in La Liga and at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu they take on bitter rivals BARCELONA (one word: Messi). What a mouthwatering prospect this is for the armchair viewer on Saturday night. The draw at 11/5 looks the safe way out in this one.

DERBY need points on the board as they battle for their Championship lives and can grab a point at Oakwell where they face BARNSLEY.

PG QUAD

On to the weekend quad and our first three teams down are all looking points on the board in that grim dogfight at the Premership basement. HULL (1/1) can grab three precious points at the expense of fellow battlers Burnley, who look a relegated team already.

We think WEST HAM (11/10) can stay ahead of Hull with a win over Sunderland at Upton Park, while WOLVES (7/5) can grab three points at home to Stoke to keep themselves clear of the bottom three.

Making the PG Quad up are SOUTHAMPTON (1/1), who are still chasing a play-off place and can claim three points at home to Charlton.

PG FIVEHIT

We end with this week’s Fivehit. We take PRESTON (4/5) to grab all points against Scunthorpe while MIDDLESBORO (4/6) can heap more misery on hapless Sheffield Wednesday.

BRIGHTON (1/1) can take all points at home to Carlisle while shaky LEEDS (1/2) can grab all points at home to Southend. We go North to the SPL to make the Fivehit up and HEARTS (8/11) look too strong for Kilmarnock at Tynecastle.

Aintree to start with a Big Bucks win

2010-04-07T18:32:00.000+01:00

FANCY A £20 BET AT AINTREE??
simply answer this question - Who won the National last year?
answers can be posted at http://thepuntersguide.blogspot.com/
or emailed to puntersguide@irelandclick.com loads of bets up for grabs right up to Friday lunchtime so get emailing and posting
Thursday Selections:-
2.00pm

Big Buck's
R Walsh

P F Nicholls

111-111

2/5, 2/7

1/3

Danger Bouggler
2.35

Barizan
A P McCoy

Evan Williams

111122

5/1

Danger Me Voici
3.10

What A Friend
R Walsh

P F Nicholls

1161-21

10/3, 3/..

11/4

Danger Carruthers
3.45

Having A Cut
Mr J T McNamara

E J O'Grady

P13-PP1

8/1

Danger Trust Fund
4.20

Chapoturgeon
T J Murphy

P F Nicholls

F2-F477

10/1

Danger Consigliere
4.55

Somersby
R Thornton

Miss H C Knight

333-112

11/10

Danger The Jazz Musican
5.30

Wishfull Thinking
R Johnson

P J Hobbs

1/2-111F

5/1

Danger Sir Tantallus Hawk

National countdown begins

2010-04-06T12:01:00.001+01:00

The Grand National meeting at Aintree kicks-off on Thursday with three-days of top clas National Hunt action and we will giving you daily tips here and more importantly free bets galore so log in daily to enter competitions.

A blogger put up great stats up last year which I think need to be taken seriously and read carefully if you a serious gambler. Here are some very interesting National trends that you PG readers might take on board when trying to pick a National winner...

WEIGHT

In the last 57 years only Red Rum has carried more than 11st 5lbs to victory, while Hedgehunter is the only horse since Corbiere in 1982 to carry more than 11st (and Hedgehunter only carried 11st 1lb). We know there is no Red Rum in this year’s field so we’re looking for a horse carrying no more than 11st.

AGE

The last time a 7-year-old won the National was 68 years ago and you have to go back a further 27 years to find the last 6-year-old winner. You'll be looking for a horse aged between 8 and 12 inclusive.

Only 2 teenage horses have won the National and the last one was 85 years ago.

Horses aged in double figures have won 12 of the last 18 runnings but 9-year-olds also have a decent record.

DISTANCE

Every winner of the National since 1970 has previously won over 3m or further, so that defeats the myth that 2m 4f horses are perfect for the National.

In ’07 all six runners who had yet to win over 3m or further failed to finish, as did the seven similar runners in ’06.

HEADGEAR

Blinkered, visored or cheekpieced horses have a poor record in the National. Since L'Escargot in 1975 only Earth Summit has carried headgear to victory. Since then 146 horses have failed to carry headgear to victory, although McKelvey finished 2nd in ’08 with headgear on.

IRISH HORSES

Irish-trained horses have a good record in the National, winning 6 of the last 9.

PREVIOUS RUNNERS

In the past 20 years 18 of the horses finishing in the first 4 ran in the previous year’s National. SIX of the last seven winners had previously run over the National fences.