Follow The Money: One good and good one bad for David Evans

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 05 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Two backs and one lay from our Follow The Money crew, including which David Evans horse to back and one which one to lay...

We start at Ludlow for the day's negative and Aviso is showing little support for David Evans and his son Richard in the 14:20 Two Mile Selling Hurdle. He is now trading at [3.15] from [2.52]. He is known to pull hard in his races so with only four other runners in the race it will make it difficult to try and get him to settle. His jumping has also been poor at times which resulted in unseating his rider at the first obstacle last time out. A more experienced jockey would also help his cause as Richard Evans has only had three rides over jumps in the last five seasons and with little success.

David Evans might be a bit more confident in the 15:40 Five Furlong Handicap at Folkestone, where he saddles two runners and Haadeeth is showing some strong support into [7.40] from [13.50]. He is drawn by the rails which can be a help at this track and despite running over six furlongs for most of his career, he's shown plenty of speed to suggest that the minimum distance will suit today.

Finally we go back to Ludlow for the 15:50 Handicap Chase over Two Miles and four furlongs. Nick Williams' Politeo is showing some interesting support into [5.10] from [7.87]. He was unlucky last time out to have run into a progressive type at Ffos Las. That was over three miles and returns today to the trip he last won over, which was in Down Royal in Ireland around this time last year, when trained by Paul Nolan.

Recommended Bets:

Lay Aviso @ [3.15] Ludlow 14:20
Back Haadeeth @ [7.40] Folkestone 15:40
Back Politeo @ [5.10] Ludlow 15:50

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Boxing News: Derek Chisora threatens to shoot David Haye

Boxing Betting / Editor / 19 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Chisora with Haye's wounded manager Adam Booth

"Haye, who was in Germany to work for television, goaded his compatriot, labelling him a 'loser'. Chisora replied, 'How's your toe?'"

British heavyweights involved in press conference bust-up after Chisora is beaten by Vitali Klitschko...

Boxing fans were treated to more deplorable scenes last night as mayhem ensued in Munich, with Derek Chisora clashing with David Haye. Yes, you read the right - Derek Chisora and David Haye - because, although Chisora was in Germany for a WBC Heavyweight title fight against Vitali Klitschko, the post-bout brawl between the two Brits is what most punters came away talking about.

Chisora had acquitted himself relatively well in the ring, despite losing on points to Klitschko. He showed plenty of spirit and, unlike Haye against Wladimir Klitschko last year, went on the front foot from the off.

However, things erupted between the British fighters in a press conference following the match. Haye, who was in Germany to work for television, goaded his compatriot, labelling him a loser. Chisora then asked Haye, "How's your toe?" in reference to the injury Haye blamed for his defeat to Wladimir Klitschko, before confronting Haye.

Both Brits' entourages were drawn into a brawl as fists and water bottles flew, with Haye's manager Adam Booth suffering cuts to the head. Chisora accused Haye of "glassing" him and was heard to threaten to shoot him.

It was an embarrassing scene which may well result in a fight between the two heavyweights further down the line. In the mean time, it could mean criminal charges against either, or both, fighters as well further fines from boxing's governing bodies. The WBC had already punished Chisora for slapping Klitschko at Friday's weigh-in but, with more fights in the offing for him, he's unlikely to be perturbed by financial penalties.

What Vitali Klitschko thought of the sight of the two Brits tearing into each other is anybody's guess. He looked on grinning and then he took his belt home.

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WSOP Hand of the Day: Vanessa Rousso vs. David Bach

World Series of Poker 2011 / Short-Stacked Shamus / 16 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

David Bach (cowboy hat) and Vanessa Rousso (baseball cap) and others at the main feature table on Day 4 (Photo credit: PokerNews / WSOP.com)

Day 4 of the World Series of Poker Main Event saw players make the money early in the day (during Level 16), then came lots of eliminations as big stacks began to appear around the Amazon Room. By day's end more than 40 players had at least a million chips in front of them, with Manoj Viswanathan of Brooklyn, New York the only one with more than 2 million. One player who'll be returning to a million-plus stack today will be David Bach, and it was a hand between him and Vanessa Rousso that serves as Friday's WSOP Hand of the Day.

There were several hands between Rousso and Bach, actually, all played at the main feature table, that proved memorable. Before the dinner break -- which came halfway through Level 17 (blinds 3,000/6,000, ante 500) -- Rousso, donning her characteristic baseball cap, managed to pass the 1 million-mark herself and seemed destined to end the day among the chip leaders. But her fortunes soon took a downward turn, with the cowboy hat-wearing Bach, a.k.a. "The Gunslinger," the one responsible for most of her troubles.

Just before dinner came a hand in which Bach, then down to about 200,000, doubled through Rousso after picking up As-Ah. Rousso had Ac-Ks, saying afterwards she'd nearly folded to Bach's preflop, four-bet shove. But she didn't, and after the board came jack-high she'd given up a chunk to Bach.

Players then returned from dinner to play the second hour of Level 17, and soon arose another, even bigger hand between Bach and Rousso.

As Chris "Homer" Hall reported on PokerNews yesterday, the hand began with an early position raise by Joe Serock to 13,000 (a bit over 2x). Both Rousso (in middle position) and Bach (big blind) called Serock's raise, and the three of them saw the flop come 10h-9s-6c.

Bach checked, and Serock continued with a just-over-half-pot-sized bet of 25,000. Rousso raised the minimum to 50,000, and the action was back on Bach. There was a little over 120,000 in the middle at that point, and Bach announced he was reraising all in for about 450,000 total. Serock skedaddled, and Rousso went deep into the tank to decide whether or not she wanted to part with any more of the 720,000 or so she had behind.

Finally after a couple of minutes Rousso made the call, showing 6d-6h for bottom set. Bach tabled Qh-Jh for an open-ended straight draw and backdoor flush draw. The turn brought the 8h, giving Bach the queen-high straight, and the 2s on the river meant he was the one now with nearly a million chips while Rousso had suddenly fallen to just over 270,000.

Perhaps sensing weakness in the flop bets of Serock and Rousso, Bach's check-raise shove was essentially a squeeze that easily dissuaded Serock and apparently nearly got Rousso to fold her strong hand as well. Meanwhile, Rousso's hesitation before calling signaled her fear that she'd be putting a lot of her stack at risk while behind. While Bach holding a better set was unlikely here given the action, Rousso would be a 2-to-1 dog with her set versus a made straight. As it turned out, she got her money in as about a 72% favorite, but Bach hit his needed card and Rousso couldn't fill up.

Shortly after this hand, Rousso and Bach would play another in which Bach shoved the turn with the board showing 5s-6c-Jc-9s and Rousso called. Rousso held Qc-Js for top pair, but Bach had As-Ad and after the 8s fell on the river Rousso's day was done. Bach, meanwhile, returns today to a stack of 1.142 million.

Follow PokerNews' live reporting today for updates on Day 5 action, and do take a look at either ESPN2 or ESPN3 (if you get either) for live coverage as well.

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La Liga Betting: Another Herculean effort from David Trezeguet

Spanish Football / Tobias Gourlay / 24 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Trezegol: Hercules' veteran French striker David Trezeguet usually scores at the Jose Rico Perez

"David Trezeguet has scored in nine of the 10 Liga games he has started at the Jose Rico Perez this season"

Barcelona are running out of steam, while Real Madrid are up against a tight five-man defence. Tobias Gourlay thinks there might be a new (old) hero in Spain this week.

Real Mallorca v Barcelona (Saturday 1900 GMT)

Barcelona have been on the boil for so long they have run dry.

The champions lost their perfect away record in Gijon a fortnight ago, then they were beaten by Arsenal and a few days later were unconvincing against Athletic Bilbao.

Pep Guardiola demands exceptional physical efforts from his players, who must pressure their opponents at all time. In particular, he wanted the squad to be perfectly prepared for a series of difficult-looking fixtures at the end of last year.

Barca won all of those games easily, including el Clasico, and seem to be paying for that now. Dani Alves is often thought to be indefatigable, but look at him failing to track Andrey Arshavin in the buildup to Arsenal's winning goal in London.

This weekend, the league leaders travel to Real Mallorca, whose island home has not been much of a fortress against the Big Two, even if Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw here on the opening day of the season.

Mallorca won this fixture a couple of years ago, when it came very late in the season and Barca were past caring. That game aside, the visitors have taken the three points in each of the last five seasons.

Remember that Barca will have an eye on next week's second leg with Arsenal, but, if you fancy they will still have too much for their hosts, you might like Barcelona -2.5 on the Asian Handicap. It should become available at something close to [3.0] and has been a successful bet in each of their last five away wins.

Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid (Saturday 2100 GMT)

Two bogey grounds in a week for Real Madrid: after the Stade Gerland in Lyon on Tuesday night, the Riazor in rainy, windy northern Spain on Saturday.

Real have only beaten Deportivo La Coruna away once in 18 seasons. The win came just over a year ago, so perhaps the psychological block is broken?

Perhaps it is, but that is not to say they will find it easy this weekend. They have scored twice in their last three away games and will come up against a five-man defence that recently stifled all of Villarreal's considerable attacking threat. In France on Tuesday night, it took Real almost half an hour to register a shot on goal.

Although Miguel Angel Lotina's side conceded seven to Sevilla and Barcelona in the preceding home games, the goalless draw is a contender at [23.0].

Hercules v Getafe (Sunday 1600 GMT)

Two compelling statistics: David Trezeguet has scored in nine of the 10 Liga games he has started at the Jose Rico Perez this season; nine of those 10 games have gone Over 2.5 Goals.

If the veteran French striker is in Esteban Vigo's first XI on Sunday, you know what to do.

For the record, Getafe's last away match finished 2-2 and 6/11 away from home this term have thrown up Over 2.5 Goals.

Michel's visitors are better than their recent history - five defeats in eight, home and away - suggests, but Hercules have won five of their last six home games.

It would have been remiss not to mention it, but the goals bet looks the better one.

Athletic Bilbao v Valencia (Sunday 2000 GMT)

Athletic Bilbao have a terrific record at San Mames this season, winning nine of 12 and seven of the most recent eight. On Sunday night, they entertain Valencia, who are maintaining a good run of form without persuading anyone that they are the best of the rest. That is largely because Unai Emery picks a different team every weekend.

Beware Valencia's late-goal habit, however. It did not happen last weekend, but Los Che have scored result-changing goals in seven of their last nine Liga matches.

Best Bet: Back Over 2.5 Goals at [2.1] in Hercules v Getafe
Recommended Bet: Back 0-0 Correct Score at [23.0] in Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid

You can now follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay

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