Europa League Odds: Betfair market keen on Tottenham's trophy chances

"Betfair punters are confident in Spurs’ ability to negotiate the San Siro test that awaits and make the north London club 4.57/2 to lift the trophy."

Spurs are in fine form under AVB and they head the Europa League winner market on Betfair ahead of this week's fixtures...

Tottenham are the Europa League favourites ahead of the second leg, last-16 fixtures this week. 

Holding a 3-0 lead from last Thursday's game at White Hart Lane, punters are confident in Spurs' ability to negotiate the San Siro test that awaits and make the north London club 4.57/2 to lift the trophy. Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas knows what it takes to win the tournament of course, having led Porto to the 2011 final where they beat Braga. Inter, once backed at 9.08/1, are out to 80.079/1 to win the tournament, 

Chelsea were beaten 1-0 at Steaua Buchares last week, but the Betfair market doesn't expect the Blues to encounter any trouble in the second leg. Rafa Benitez's side are the 6.611/2 second favourites to win the Amsterdam final. 

Newcastle pulled off a decent 0-0 draw to deny Anzhi an advantage from the first leg of their tie in Moscow but are unfancied in the market. Alan Pardew's side can be backed at 20.019/1 to win the Europa League while the mega money Russian opponents trade at 11.010/1.

Benfica are third favourites at 6.86/1 but go to Bordeaux with a slim 1-0 advantage after the first leg at the Estádio da Luz. The market doesn't hold much hope for the French side, who are trading at 55.054/1. 

Other likely contenders include Lazio, at 11.010/1, and Rubin Kazan (16.5n/a). 

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Gordon Elliott: His Excellency's chances on Monday

"On ratings this looks a good opportunity for him but we would never take anything for granted because he’s a bit of a monkey."

Gordon has just one runner at Killarney this evening but he looks to have a favourite's chance in what is a good race. Get Gordon's exclusive comments.

18.20 Killarney - His Excellency

On ratings this looks a good opportunity for him but we would never take anything for granted because he's a bit of a monkey. We were delighted with him when he made a winning chasing debut over course and distance back in May.

We had to run him back over hurdles last month because there aren't any opportunities over fences for four-year-olds at this time of year.

He's in great form at home and he receives the weight-for-age allowance today but I would like to see the ground dry out a bit more for him. It's a really valuable race so let's hope he puts his best foot forward because if he does so, he should run a really big race.

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Cheltenham Festival 2012: Top chances in Power's hands

Latest News / Timeform / 06 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Oscars Well (9) at last year's Festival

""He's just a horse that as the season went on he got quicker and quicker."

Jockey Robbie Power is ticking down the days before next week's Cheltenham Festival.

After a record-breaking year last season, the Irish challenge once again looks strong, with Robbie Power on board some of the leading fancies from the Emerald Isle.

The Grand National-winning rider partners Timeform 144p-rated Steps To Freedom in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Oscars Well in the Champion Hurdle for Jessie Harrington, and Big Zeb in the Champion Chase.

He is also chasing a massive bonus on Citizenship in the final day's County Hurdle.

"I've got a great team going there this year. Steps To Freedom in the first race, Oscars Well in the Champion and obviously Big Zeb in the Champion Chase," said Power.

"I've a few good rides in the handicaps, too, with Citizenship and a few others.

"Steps To Freedom looks to have a favourite's chance. He's got course-and-distance form, which around Cheltenham is a major help.

"We know he handles the track and he's working very well at home.

"I think for every race at Cheltenham you need a little bit of good luck.

"He's a tough horse off the Flat and he coped with the hustle and bustle at Aintree last year."

Oscars Well would have gone very close in the Neptune last year, but for a bad blunder at the last, and drops in trip for a crack at next Tuesday's Champion Hurdle (for which he's [19.0] to win, [3.25] to place and [6.6] without Hurricane Fly).

"The one thing about Oscars Well is that he has a fantastic cruising speed - he almost travelled too well in the Neptune last year and after it we were thinking we should have gone for the Supreme," Power told www.hri.ie.

"He's just a horse that as the season went on he got quicker and quicker.

"Obviously it's going to be very hard to beat Hurricane Fly but if he underperforms on the day hopefully we can pick up the pieces.

"There's a couple of known front-runners in Overturn and Celestial Halo - it will be a strongly-run Champion Hurdle with no hiding place.

"If they go a good gallop, he's got a great cruising speed and if he got a place we'd be over the moon."

For punters who anticipate the Irish celebrating a lot of winner's at this year's Festival, Betfair have opened an "Irish Trained Winners" market within the "Cheltenham Festival Specials" tab of GB horseracing.

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Timeform TV Focus made 138 points profit (at Betfair SP) in year one. Get the expert view on the big races at Cheltenham with TV Focus. Find Out More!

JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Grumeti has suffered a minor setback, but connections fully expect him to make the line-up next week.......

Owner Terry Warner is of the opinion that he has his strongest ever team of horses at this year's Festival....

Experienced amateur rider JT McNamara will partner Teaforthree in the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next Wednesday....

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Timeform Irish SmartPlays: Wake up to chances of Dream

Tipping / Timeform / 19 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Berties Dream

"The Irish Form Book Ten Up Novice Chase doesn't look a vintage renewal by any stretch of the imagination and Berties Dream looks to have strong claims after his impressive Thurles win last time."

With three Grade 2 contests on the card, it promises to be a good afternoon of racing at Navan, and Timeform's Irish team have put forward two win selections and a place bet.

The handicap hurdle on the card isn't a race to go overboard about and, although he is hardly the most solid win betting proposition, Cantrell (15:25) looks to have excellent place claims at a track he has a good record at. He has made the frame five times at the course in the past and, with blinkers back on, and a top conditional booked, it's very hard to envisage him finishing out of the places.

Carloswayback (16:00) hasn't got many miles on the clock and has looked a graded performer in the making of late, whilst his way of racing suggests the shorter
trip won't be a problem, and he can follow up his recent Punchestown win in the Grade 2 novice chase. The form of that Punchestown win has been francked since with the runner-up Gates of Rome scoring next time out and today's race doesn't look a particurly strong contest for the grade.

The Irish Form Book Ten Up Novice Chase doesn't look a vintage renewal by any stretch of the imagination and Berties Dream (16:30) looks to have strong claims after his impressive Thurles win last time. The former Grade 1 winning novice hurdler (when trained by Paul Gilligan) has taken a while to find his form over fences but he looked to have got his act together in no uncertain terms when slamming useful hurdler Marlay Park by 24 lengths in a maiden at Thurles last time and he should take plenty of pegging back this afternoon.

Timeform SmartPlays

Back Cantrell for a place in the 15:25
Back Carloswayback in the 16:00
Back Berties Dream in the 16.30

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Get unsurpassed levels of analysis and statistics for any race in Britain and Ireland with Timeform Race Passes. Click HERE to find out more.

Three more SmartPlays for Sunday afternoon's racing with two bets at Market Rasen and one at Ffos Las......

Timeform take a look at the runners in this 2m 3f handicap hurdle at Market Rasen......

Timeform run the rule over the field for the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan, in which Willie Mullins has a strong hand......

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Paul Nicholls: Latest news on my Cheltenham Festival chances

Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 27 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

With Cheltenham looming, Paul has decisions to make

"I have five entries in the Arkle, for which Al Ferof is obviously my number one hope after his excellent third at Ascot last Saturday."

Paul discusses a host of horses that will be in action over the coming weeks and weighs up their chances of being entered at the Cheltenham Festival. Ante-post bettors take note...

Come back here at 8am on Saturday for my thoughts on all my weekend runners - including a possible reason why a high-profile horse disappointed last time.

But for those of you who like to back ante-post, I will run you through my entries in the novice chases at the Festival, and the National Hunt Chase.

I have five entries in the Arkle, for which Al Ferof, Timeform's leading novice chaser at any distance this season, is obviously my number one hope after his excellent third at Ascot last Saturday. He goes straight to the Festival.

Thursday's Warwick winner Pacha Du Polder is a very unlikely runner and wants a trip. He is also entered in the Jewson, but it could be that we give Cheltenham a swerve with him this year.

Sanctuaire probably makes his chasing debut at either Taunton or Ludlow next week. I was toying with running Escort'men in the Lightning at Doncaster on Saturday but decided against it; I refuse to believe this talented hurdler is as bad over fences as he has shown so far, but handicap hurdles are always an option at the Festival. But he will have his next run in a chase, maybe at Wincanton next Thursday.

That leaves Cristal Bonus to complete my Arkle quintet; he was a classy hurdler who holds entries in the Jewson and RSA as well. He delighted me when winning over 2m4f at Chepstow on his chasing debut and goes for the Scilly Isles at Sandown a week on Saturday. His current target is the Jewson, though.

I also have five in the Jewson, though I have already discussed Al Ferof, Cristal Bonus and Pacha Du Polder. Newbury winner Cedre Bleu goes to Exeter in a fortnight. He could give Cheltenham a miss too, but if he ran well at Exeter and the ground came up soft at Cheltenham, who knows? The remaining other possible is Silviniaco Conti.

I have three entries in the RSA and many will think that Silviniaco Conti is my number one hope at this stage after his excellent second to Grands Crus in the Feltham. But hold your bets on this horse.

We will not be taking on the winner again if he goes down the novice route, and it could be that we wait until Aintree. I think a flat track will suit him better than Cheltenham.

But the race is definitely the plan for Join Together. He was very impressive at Cheltenham last time and has three options for his next outing; Newbury on Betfair Super Saturday, the Reynoldstown or maybe Fontwell on National Spirit Day. Star De Mohaison won at Fontwell before winning the RSA. In fact, those three races are possibles for Silviniaco Conti, too.

I have two entries in the four-miler and Sir Alex Ferguson part owns both. Picture This got a leg last season and was only half fit when winning a match at Folkestone first time up; he is better than that.

But if he runs at the Festival, it could be in a handicap. But the National Hunt Chase is something that I have had in mind for Harry The Viking all season, and he showed all the attributes that you need for this marathon test when battling to win a 3m2f handicap at Doncaster last time. He is a true stayer.

There's plenty of racing to look forward to in the coming week, the highlight being Trials day at Cheltenham on Saturday, and Paul is sure to be have numerous runners putting their Festival credentials to the test there......

Paul Nicholls give us his views on Al Ferof's performance yesterday in finishing third and why he's such an exciting prospect with Cheltenham now on everyone's minds....

There's a host of news from Ditcheat where Denman's recovery is taking a little longer than expected but Zarkandar appears to be in fine fettle with a big race on the horizon...

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Follow The Money: Mirage's chances no illusion

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 05 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

All eyes on Grey Mirage in the 15:30 at Nottingham

Two backs and one lay are as ever the order of the day. Follow The Money talk us through their selections.

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Ludlow, Nottingham and Towcester

Our first mover comes from Ludlow in the 15:10 3m handicap chase, where Cootehill has been backed in to [5.0] from [8.05]. The seven year-old gelding finished fifth last time out at Ludlow in a Class 3 handicap chase at 3m 1 ½ furlong. He takes a drop down in class today, and consequently carries top weight 11st 12lb. The drop back to 3m may be more suitable and he goes well fresh and the last time he rode in a class 4 race he won easily enough at Stratford as an evens favourite.

Over to Nottingham in the 15:30 Maiden Stakes over 1m ½ f where Grey Mirage has been heavily supported in to [3.60] from [9.0]. The unraced 2yo colt's sire is Oasis Dream and he tends to produce offspring who prefer firmer ground; he has a 16.8% strike rate with his 2yo runners. Though it is usually preferable to have experience when running in maidens, this is a relatively weak race and it would be of no particular surprise if Grey Mirage won making his debut today, especially with the good to firm ground suiting.

Finally at Towcester in the 16:50 over 3m ½ f in the handicap chase, Marked Man has drifted out to [4.90] from [3.40]. He is now 15 years old, so should be past his best and has to carry top weight over a stiff track, all of which would appear to make this a rather onerous task. He has appeared twice at this track, falling and finishing fourth and the stiff nature of the track doesn't appear to suit. With three other horses who have won at the course, it would be surprising if he managed to come on top today.

Recommended Bets

Back Cootehill @ [5.0] Ludlow 15:10
Back Grey Mirage @ [3.60] Nottingham 15:30
Lay Marked Man @ [4.90] Towcester 16:50

That's all for today. If you're on the move this information is recorded on 0870 90 80 181

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Catterick, Leicester and Southwell....

Today's Follow the Money comes from Warwick and Windsor....

Today's Follow The Money comes from the cards at Uttoxeter and Kelso......

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Chelsea Manager Betting: Hiddink's chances are alive and kicking

Premier League / Michael / 01 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Still got it. Guus Hiddink during a training session with the Turkish national side.

One Betfair next manager market was resolved on Wednesday morning as West Ham confirmed the appointment of Sam Allardyce, and the Chelsea one also looks to be moving closer to a conclusion.

Early frontrunner Guus Hiddink is once again the favourite at [2.78] and has gone out of his way to confirm that his enthusiasm for club football remains undimmed despite, having spent the majority of the last five years working as a national team coach at first Russia and now Turkey.

In his most open declaration of interest in a return to Stamford Bridge yet, he said: "I feel energetic, so a club role is more preferable - and that's what I like, working every day. I feel I need to do more.

"There is no official offer yet, but I can't guarantee anything. I haven't told the Turkish Football Federation chairman what I thought yet, but he's an intelligent man. I am sure he follows the world media. I never told anybody I was going to continue working here. The team is focused on me - I would affect the team negatively if I answered the speculation."

Attention will now turn to Turkey's Euro 2012 qualifier in Belgium on Friday night - in which they are [3.3] outsiders - as the Euro 2008 semi-finalists don't have a match for three months after that, so it would seem to be the obvious point for a decision to be made over Hiddink's future. The Dutch tactician had suggested before that he would resign if they lose the game, as such a result would do severe damage to their chances of making it to Poland and Ukraine next summer.

Hiddink's main rival to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Blues boss is perceived to be Harry Redknapp at [4.8], even though Roman Abramovich has shown no interest in hiring an English manager in the past, let alone one whose only major silverware claimed in a 28-year coaching career is one FA Cup.

Whoever takes on the challenge is expected to face a tough task dethroning this season's Premier League champions Manchester United, as Chelsea are rated [4.1] second favourites to regain top spot in 2011-12.

You can't replace a player like Paul Scholes but Manchester United have to try and do the best they can. There are two early candidates to come in and fill the void......

This summer will see some big names available on a Bosman free transfer, but as Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch explains, these signings aren't without risk and don't come cheap....

Paul Scholes has confirmed the rumours - he is retiring. The champions will struggle to find another like him, says Ralph Ellis...

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Dancing On Ice: Atta-boy Attwater's sex talk douses his chances

Dancing On Ice / Eliot Pollak / 09 February 2011 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

That naughty boy Sam Attwater

"It turns out that Attwater and his skating partner have in fact been at it like skaters since day one, and even have gruesome nicknames for one another - Tai Tai and Shaneekwa."

Revelations of x-rated activities between the Dancing on Ice hot favourite and his partner may not have resonated particularly well with his core fans, says Eliot Pollak

The big tabloid splash of the D on I week was Gardinergate - with the acerbic judge naughtily making a nice blonde woman cry. The laws of modern television state that if you make jokes about women, you lose your job, whilst actually making a real woman cry entirely unnecessarily, is considered fair game. A great example to set for the next generation.

Whilst it may or may not be newsworthy, such shenanigans make no impact on the betting markets. Of more interest however, are the love lives of the participants, and this is where the second revelation of the week sprang, from hot favourite Sam Attwater ([1.57] to win, [1.1] to top score on Sunday.) It turns out that Attwater and his skating partner have in fact been at it like skaters since day one, and even have gruesome nicknames for one another - Tai Tai and Shaneekwa. As to which one is which, who the hell knows (or indeed cares), but it's this kind of overt sex talk that can turn swathes of broken-hearted voters against you. Big mistake Tai Tai. Or maybe Shaneekwa.

One may argue that previous precedents of loved-up partners (Tointon in last year's Strictly) have done contestants no harm in the ballot box. But there is unquestionably a massive difference in how the (largely female) public condemn a male celeb steamrollering his female partner on the one hand, and the far more acceptable female ravishing her male dancer (viewed as feminist aspirational rutting) on the other.

Elsewhere, one to keep a cheeky eye on is Laura Hamilton; [6.0] to win outright and [1.43] to finish as top female. The papers tell us she is taking the show so seriously, that she has even taken to training in the park with a boxing champion. Because if boxing doesn't help you win an ice dance show, I don't know what will.

Another one keeping their head down and getting on with it is Jeff Brazier. After the misjudged gay slurs (see previous issues), he's spent the week diligently working on his ice skating. If you're looking for a rank outsider should some great plague befall the Attwater, Brazier is your man at [34.0]. Certainly the [9.4] in the 'without Attwater' market is worth a look.

For Kerry Katona, however, the clock seems to be ticking ever louder. Jason Gardiner has equated watching her glide around an ice rink to being tortured. And not in a good way either. Not for the first time, KK could be soon searching for a dignified exit from the white stuff.

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