Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

England's hopes of achieving rugby World Cup glory next summer looked to be slimmer than Peter Crouch's chicken legs a month ago. However, a pasting of the Aussies at Twickenham a fortnight ago means the echo of Sing Low Sweet chariot can be heard once more and English optimism is raised again. The Litmus test I feel will be on Saturday when the wounded World Champions South Africa arrive. The Springboks suffered an unprecedented loss last weekend against the Scots, who will feel a similar rejuvenation as England in many ways. South Africa are without some key players after some suspect 'supplements' were found in the bloodstream of Chilliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson. This seems the perfect time to play the 'Boks and surely England will round off an impressive Autumn campaign with a convincing win. The handicap is -5.5 with odds on Betfair of 1.98.

International Rugby Union Handicap Betting

England VS South Africa

ENGLAND -5.5 @ 1.98

5 points to win

One of the great National hunt races this side of the new Year takes place on Saturday at Newbury. The Hennessy Gold Cup showcases some great Chasing talent many who have competed at Grade 1 level. The racegoers favorite Denman heads this field and no doubt there will be plenty of support for this one. He is however 8lbs higher than when winning this last year and at the prices I am going elsewhere. In such a competitive and large field I am always willing to punt on 2 selections Win and Place as the race pays 4 places. The 1st of these will be Cheltenham winner Burton Port. Having won at the festival this horse keeps getting better and at odds of 9.6 to win and 2.66 to place looks a solid alternative to Denman at the weights. My other selection is Neptune Collonges at a big price who on his best form has a big chance and will hopefully put in a big performance. He is handsomely priced at 17.5 to win and 4.4 to place with in form Noel Fehily on board.

Hennessy Gold Cup 

BURTON PORT to win and place @ 9.6 and 2.66

3 Points on Win, 3 points on Place

NEPTUNE COLLONGES to win and place @ 17.5 and 4.4

2 Points on WIN, 2 Points on Place

As has become customary on this blog we finish off with some sort of multiple bet for those who like small bets for large returns. And what better chance of winning a multiple do you have than with the NFL. Looking at the fixtures five teams stand out as having a high percentage chance of winning: these are the REDSKINS, GIANTS, RAVENS, TEXANS and the FALCONS. This makes a 5 point multiple which gives combined odds of 7.76.

NFL Five-Fold

REDSKINS

GIANTS

RAVENS

TEXANS

FALCONS all to win

5 Points @ 7.76

Hopefully some good picks there and back to winning ways.

Nicholls takes on the Imperial Empire

Until March last year Paul Nicholls had his hands super glued to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kauto Star and Denman looked to have had this contest locked down, and the odds represented this (5/4 and 9/4). Nigel Twiston- Davies had other ideas with Imperial Commander who landed the prize in fine style under the Stewardship of Paddy Brennan. Nicholls goes up against the Commander once again at Haydock. He brings with him a potential Gold Cup chance for the 2011  festival with Sir Alex Ferguson owned What A Friend. This horse has impressed after winning a Totesport Bowl at Aintree last seasons and straight after I backed him for this seasons Gold Cup at a whopping 42/1 (he is now 14/1). Bragging aside, this horse looks the real deal. This blog is all about good value and good chances, so backing Imperial Commader at 1.72 after a shocking run last time out would not represent this. What a Friend certainly has great value in comparison at 5.00 to win and is 1.91 to be in the top two. If Imperial doesn't fancy it What a Friend is without doubt the most likely to take advantage. I would advise putting a little more on the place so you will make a profit if it comes 2nd.

1st bet: Betfair Chase
What a Friend- Win and Place
2 points on WIN @ 5.00, 5 points on PLACE @ 1.91

Prizefighter in the form of the Super Featherwieghts hits Sky Sports Screens on Saturday. As a Lancashire Lad I have to go with 'The Mongolian Warrior', 39 year old Choi Tseveenpurev who has been based in Oldham for years. He began his career fighting in China, Mongolia and South Korea before emigrating to the exotic land of Oldham. He has sparred with Prince Naseem and Amir Khan, has an Iron Chin and has never been beaten on British soil. I'm backing Choi with both head and heart on Saturday, he is priced 3.4.

2nd Bet: Prizefighter Super Featherweights
Choi Tseveenpurev to Win outright
5 points @ 3.4

After some of my beloved International football enjoyed midweek its a return to league fixtures and what better way to kick off your weekend than a cheeky 5 fold win to boost the beer funds. I'm going for just a few games with a bigger stake. In this weeks accumulator Man Utd and Chelsea will be thrown in from the Premiership, Celtic and Rangers whisked in from the SPL and QPR sprinkled on top from the Championship to make a tasty looking bet. 8 Points is a big stake but the odds are not huge @ 5.96 as these selctions are all big favourites

3rd Bet: Football multiple
Chelsea
Man Utd
Rangers
Celtic
QPR

8 Points @ 5.96

Good luck on whatever your betting on this weekend, always bet responsibly (eg not on Audley Harrison)


Blog Profit/loss update

-57.36

And STILL the Heavyweight Champion of the World...............

A good game of baseball,  Andy Goode playing in an England Rugby Shirt ever again, Holloway fielding the same Blackpool team on Saturday as midweek, a funny female comedian ........... this is a list of things more likely to happen than Audley Harrison becoming the new Heavyweight Champion of the World on Saturday night! I'm not gonna spend any more time disrespecting Audley, he has done incredibly well to even be getting a shot at a World title when you look at his career, which at best can be described a shaky. The result is there. the value however is not. Haye has got the bookies running scared and his latest price on Betfair is 1.18 so you have to be a very rich man to be ploughing into that if you want a decent return. So the average punter needs to forget the 6.6 hope and pray for a miracle bet on Harrison, which some pundits are suggesting and turn the attention to round betting. Realistically speaking this fight should go no further than the 6th round, I believe Audley may last passed the third if he is cautious so my advice is to have a go on group round betting on the 4th-6th rounds. For Haye to win in rounds 4-6 you can get on Betfair 3.95 which is as good a price as your likely to find.

1st Bet: Haye VS Harrison Grouped round Betting
Haye to win in rounds 4-6
6 points @ 3.95


Last weekend's test matches showed that England are capable of competing with  the best of the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand should have had a man sent off and a slow start cost England a shock victory. England can be buoyed by a good second half and should take some confidence into this weekends clash against Australia. The Wallabies were efficient but by no means brilliant against the Welsh and I believe England, provided they start well and cut down on penalties, will overcome the men from Down Under. They are attractively priced at 2.72 currently on Betfair which is definitely worth a punt an even looking tie, especially at Twickenham.

2nd Bet: Test Match Rugby- England VS Australia
England to win
6 points @ 2.72

Accumulators are every football fans favorite. Small stakes for big wins. They should however come with a Government health warning. Everyone knows a tale about someones friends brother who put on a quid on 12 teams to win £10,000 11 teams won but Livingston drew with Cowdenbeath, Sound Familiar? The best way I have found to do this kind of bet is to spend more and allow yourself to get one wrong. My weekly football patent consists of 8 teams win a sevenfold costing me £8 rather than £1, meaning that if one doesn't come through I will get back roughly a 10th of my original win. Here is my bet for the football this weekend.

3RD BET: Sevenfold

Newcastle
Tottenham
Chelsea
Arsenal
Rangers
Celtic
Ipswich
Reading
8 GAMES in a SEVENFOLD
1Point per line
8 Points staked
total return=234.11
1 wrong return = 22.68-39.98



Blog Profit/Loss Update
-53.68