Category: Read it Roll it Hole it

Good to be back on the blog circuit again. To start, my thoughts on the on goings on in Irish football over the last week or so. Martin and Roy had to go, end of story. So we move onto Delaney, is this man untouchable? Its looks like that from where I’m sitting or am I sitting on the wrong seat. Delaney does not wear a cape so will someone take this man on because everyone is saying something has to be done but nothing ever is. Quinn, Townsend and Kerr having a go at him, enough of the talking we need actions boys.. Onto the picking of management again, we are world leaders of fuck ups so lets give Mick the job until August 2020 and Stephan Kenny then comes in. Kenny is the only one that stood up to Delaney and told him what he wanted if not getting the job straight away so well done Stephan. Personally Kenny should have got the job straight away and i was disappointed by the statement Dundalk put out but maybe I’m missing something!!

The draw for the PDC world darts was made Monday and after having a look at it, the top half has the best two players in the world Van Gerwan and Anderson so there’s one semi final and for me Mensur Sulijovic and Peter Wright make it to the other semi on the bottom half of the draw. The plan is to back the Sulijovic and Wright and take your money out when one of these make the final. (easy peasy lemon squeezy).

The golf season in the states is on a break until the new year but Tiger Woods tournament the hero challenge on this weekend with a stellar field taking part. Rose, DJ, Rickie, Tiger , JT, De Chambeau the list goes on.. Jon Rahm @ 12/1 fits the bill this week for me. Mauritius Open and the Australian PGA also take place so let’s keep it simple Benjamin Hebert @ 35/1 in Mauritius and Cameron Davis @ 25/1 in Australia, a nice new patent.

On the racing front, the rain has arrived and the NH season is in full swing now. Serious declarations in Ireland this weekend with Limerick Friday and Fairyhouse Saturday and Sunday. The Fightening fifth hurdle takes place Saturday in Newcastle, looks like a good clash in store with reigning champion hurdler Buveur D’air taking on young bucks Samcro and Sommerville Boy, Bedrock also in the field.  If a bet pops up over the next few days will put it on the Facebook and Twitter pages.

News on the racing club – Things are moving very swiftly with our colours ratified by the HRI and all accounts good to good. Three Queens enjoying life out in Eric McNamaras but will be making her racecourse debut in our colours very soon, exciting times.

Bets:

€1 ew Patent. Cost €14.

Jon Rahm @12/1 (Hero Challenge)

Benjamin Hebert @ 35/1 (Mauritius Open)

Cameron Davis @ 25/1 (Australian Open)

P/L Horses – €66

Sports  +€232  both to €10 level stake plan.

On the horse front, Scobie Wan Kenobi Racing Club have a mare in training with local man Eric McNamara. “Three Queens” is her name. She ran in two maiden hurdles but then picked up an injury on the gallops but recently got the all clear to go back into training. We are still open to new members costing only €200 per annum. Hopefully, over the next few months she will get herself fit and then the fun can begin!!!

Just a quick word on our friend Rachael Blackmore who took the lead in the jockeys table on the 1^st of June and still leading the bunch. This is a great achievement as now she is riding winners on the flat also. With the national hunt season kicking back into swing we will be putting up a few horses in the next few weeks.

On the sporting front the new PGA season kicks of this week in the US, with a lot of unfamiliar names to most people, but two golfers who graduated from the Web.com tour Denny McCarthy and Kramer Hickok and ones for the notebook. Nick Watney @ 80/1 is our pick, showed much improved form in the second half of last season and one that’s not afraid to get the job done.

The European tour heads to the home of golf this week for the Dunhill championship with a good field assembled which includes US Ryder cup players Koepka and Finau. Last year’s winner Tyrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood also tee it up. This is a tournament that’s played over three courses so lots of luck needed in getting the right course on the right days is huge. Of the shorter price ones Eddie Pepperell @ 25/1 will go close while Stephan Gallagher @ 100/1 loves this place and is playing well at the moment. Our pick is Chinese player Haotong Li @ 66/1, on the comeback from injury he has started the last two tournaments well but faded away but now I think he’s match fit and can contend this week as he has proven can play links golf well.

Our football treble this week is Athletic Bilboa, Burnley and Watford all to win pays odds of 9/1.

In the sporting circles over the last few days and weeks everyone seems to have an opinion over Man Utd and the Ryder cup so here’s mine. United are a shambles at the moment but I put it down to the players they have two groups within the squad at the moment, the overpaid ones who are not trying and the ones who are not good enough, add in Mourinho’s ego and this is all going to end in tears!! I have said for a while, players should only sign one year contracts at the start of each season and if the club want to hold onto them for the following season they should have first refusal. Send in Stephan Kenny to sort out the mess. On other football news Aston Villa’s manager Steve Bruce got a cabbage thrown at him last night in their home match against Preston.

Lots of stories circling after the Ryder cup, the major one for me is a woman who got hit by a golf ball from a Brooks Koepka tee shot and has lost her vision and now suing the European tour. Having attended golf tournaments in the past you never stand anywhere near the landing zones which should be marked out on fairways especially. For example, on a hole measuring 500yards the landing zone would be between 250-350 and also places not to stand are short left and right of the green.

I thought the yanks were going to ease past Europe last week but with stories coming out they had no chance, not surprised with the Reed/Speith class but Dustin and Brooks nearly coming to blows is a strange one. I have a funny feeling their fiancés/girlfriends might be involved!! The Ryder Cup is going to be dominated by the home teams in the near future as the course set up is the number one factor in winning.

Bets:

Haotong Li @ 66/1 ew (Dunhill Championship)

Nick Watney @ 80/1 ew (Safeway Championship)

Football Treble @ 9/1 (As Above)

P/L: Horses – €66 and Sports + €174 both to €10 Staking Plan.

 

The All Ireland football final takes place this Sunday between Dublin and Tyrone and if you’re not from either county or an avid football fan it’s hard to get excited,but like all games there’s a double your money bet sticking out!! Both teams to score a goal @ Evens.

The football treble bet has not clicked yet but we’re hitting the crossbar… West Ham v Wolves @ 9/4 is a draw, Birmingham @ Evens to beat QPR and Bristol City @ 5/4 to get the better of Blackburn gives us odds of around 14/1.

The golf season is heading towards the Ryder Cup in a few weeks time and it’s last chance saloon for the European golfers, as the Made In Denmark is the last counting event with captain Bjorn making his picks on Wednesday afternoon (please don’t pick Casey, that’s Paul not Mike or Peter!!) Going to be a very nervous week for Olesen @ 8/1 fav in front of his home fans along with Pieters, Pepperell and Wallace who can all make the team with a win. Robert Rock (nothing to Dickie) @ 40/1 is our selection this week, playing well of late and with a good putting week will be amongst the leaders.

The PGA tour is in the second week of the play offs and a super win last week from Bryson DeChambeau must now make him a certainty to make the US Ryder Cup team. Dustin heads the betting again this week followed by Justin Thomas last year’s winner of this. Tiger hitting the ball great and is getting closer to the winning line along with Matsuyama and Day. Adam Scott @ 28/1 is a solid EW bet in this, getting putts to drop again and that is the key to this fellow’s game. Also seems to be in a good place mentally which is huge in this game.

There will be no blog for the next few weeks as im off on holidays, so keep an eye out on the Twitter and Facebook for tips over the next few weeks. Still looking for members for the Racing Club so check out details on the website.

Bets:

Football Treble @ 14/1. ( As Above)

Robert Rock @ 40/1 ew (Made in Denmark)

Adam Scott @ 28/1 ew ( Dell Championship)

P/L Sports: + €204. Horses -€66 both to €10 level stake.

 

Now that a small bit of normality is beginning to set back into the county after last Sunday’s triumph, we have to start to pay for the celebrations………Just a quick word on the whole experience, being in Croke Park last Sunday was the pinnacle for Limerick supporters. Lucky to have been at lots of sporting events all over the world but the feeling you got at the final whistle the other day…….  that’s the ultimate moment a feeling every genuine supporter deserves to have, but for many it will never happen, so Limerick hurling supporters savour all these moments, as they are precious.

We had no blog last week for obvious reasons. The brain was green and only one thing happening!! Let’s see can we back up our 25/1 winner of the USPGA Brooks Koepka.

The play offs start this week on the PGA tour which starts off with the top 125 players making it in. A mention for Waterford’s Seamus Power who got in, just………Big achievement for Power who was on the bubble for the last few weeks and by getting in sees him get a full tour card for next season. The tournament itself is back at Ridgewood country club in New Jersey. Jason Day @ 14/1 has best tournament form along with form on this course T2 in 2014 and T5 in 2010. DJ @ 9/1 won this last year on a different course and his form at the moment is in and out. Koepka @ 14/1 is a winner of big tournaments, Rahm @ 20/1 is treating to blow the field away some week but getting the week right is the problem. Justin Thomas @ 12/1 is second favourite this week and at the moment is the most consistent of the top golfers. Patrick Cantlay @ 40/1 is a golfer I really like but my god is he slow on the course. Hideki Matsuyama @ 40/1 has had a poor year so far but trending in the right way now. Going to hold fire with an outright bet on the blog so keep eyes on the Facebook and Twitter for updates. Matsuyama is off first on Thursday so 1^st round leader @ 40/1 looks juicy.

The European tour is in Prague this week for the Czech masters, with only two counting events left for Ryder cup points Thomas Pieters @ 13/2 needs to win at least one to have any chance of making Thomas Bjorn’s team for France. This is huge pressure for Pieters but I have no doubt he’s going to give it a good shot. Mikko Korhonen @ 55/1 is our selection, the Fin winner of the shot clock masters in Austria earlier in the seson is a very steady operator and I can see him in the mix this week.

The football season is back up in running all over Europe with all the big guns starting well. Our football treble this week is a Draw @ 9/4 between Middleboro and West Brom on Friday night followed by Huddersfield @ 5/4 home to Cardiff and Swansea @ 5/4 home to Bristol City. The treble works out around 16/1.

Mikko Korhonen @ 55/1 (Czech Masters)

Hideki Matsuyama @ 40/1 (1st Round Leader Northern Trust)

Football Treble @ 16/1 (As Above)

P/L. Horses -€66.  Sport + €234. Both to a €10 level stake.

Where can we watch the USPGA Championship this week? Not Sky Sports not BT Sports not even the BBC. Were all going to have to watch it via streaming on Eleven Sports. What you need to do is download the Eleven Sports App and register. Once your register the first seven days are free on a trial basis. Eleven Sports will be showing the first two days live via their Facebook page also. This is the way that the major sports are going but lets not tell the heads of the GAA!! Eleven Sports is owned by Andrea Radrizzani the man that also owns Leeds United!!! Boooo!!!!..

Also, this is the only platform you will be able to watch La Liga and Serie A matches going forward.

Onto the golf tournament itself, it’s being  hosted by Bellerive Country Club. First used as a major event back in 65’ when Gary Player won the US Open. The 2018 edition is going to be battled out by the big guns and 3 stick out for me. World number 1 Dustin Johnson @ 10/1, last weeks winner Justin Thomas @ 16/1 and our tip Brooks Koepka @ 20/1 ( advised on our Facebook page last Sunday night @ 25/1. Bellerive is a premium for hitting the fairways and you need to be a good lag putter as the greens are massive around here.

The Premier league kicks back into action this weekend, so I will run through my predictions and best bets and each week will be putting up a football treble. Man City @ 4/6 are a fair price to lift the PL again with only Liverpool @ 4/1 being their only realistic competition. As I type, City only have brought in Mahrez to a strong looking squad and Liverpool have boosted in goals and in midfield but will still leak too many goals. Arsenal under Emre will be interesting as this fellow is a super coach. Arsenal will push the pool or second stop. Mo Salah is 11/2 to top the scoring charts and if hes stays with Liverpool this is a huge price as Kane is a false favourite for me. Bournemouth @ 5/1 to get relegated looks big.

So this weeks treble is Watford @ 13/10 home to Brighton, Barnsley @ 13/10 away to Bradford and Derby and Leeds to play out a draw @ 11/4. A €10 treble pays €198.

All Ireland tickets are the only thing being talked about in Limerick so if you have a spare one J. My application to be a guest with the Artane Boys Band to play the triangle is gone in, so fingers crossed there!!!

Bets:

Brooks Koepka @ 20/1ew (USPGA)

Mo Salah @ 11/2 (Premiership top scorer)

Bournemouth @ 5/1 ( Relegated)

Watford, Barnsley and Derby v Leeds Draw @ 18/1 ( Football Treble)

P/L Horses – €66.  Sports – €6 both to a €10 level stake.

Looking for a Horse Tipster after my performance in Galway last week the nearest i got was tipping a non runner!!

With Galway filling up the sports calendar this week we can’t forget the other sports that are going to keep us going over the weekend.

Only one place to start and that’s the second clash of close neighbours Galway and Clare. Galway are having a problem putting teams away in recent times as we have seen with both Kilkenny and Clare. Saying that Clare were outstanding last week and deserve another go at the all-Ireland champions. Let’s hope for another titanic clash and may the best team win.

It’s hard trying to pick winners in the golf especially when you are only tipping one in each tournament, but this week I have at least two crackers in the Barracuda Championship and the Ladies British Open.

Going to start with the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, stuck between two for this. Brooks Koepka @ 30/1 and Jon Rahm @ 25/1. Rahm who I tipped in the British Open recently had a very good start but the wheels fell off half way through the second round. DJ who won in a canter last week in Canada is 7/1 favourite and could possibly go back to back.

This part of the blog you need to take seriously!! Going to keep it very simple Robert Streb @ 100/1 in the Barracuda Championship and Sung Hun Park @ 28/1 Ladies British Open.

Bets:

Robert Streb 100/1 ew (Barracuda Championship)

Sung Hun Park 28/1 ew (Ladies British Open)

P/L Sports + €14 to a €10 level Stake.

Only one place to start this week and that’s the two All Ireland semi finals in Croker this weekend!!!  Saturday sees the clash of Galway(4/11) v Clare (3/1) and Sunday – Cork (10/11) take on Limerick(11/10). Let’s start off with the clash on Saturday, in fairness, I have been going against the banner all year and in my eyes they are way over achieving by getting this far but fair play to them. The only way I can see them being competitive this week is to run at the Galway defence as I think there are serious deficiencies in both corner backs, but that’s where Galway’s weakness finishes. At this moment they are the best in the land and for them not to succeed this year they will have to seriously put in a very poor performance.

Sunday’s clash has the makings of a cracker!! I have been a big fan of the rebels for a while and at the start of the championship i tipped a Galway/Cork final. The bookies have them very close so all three results come into play in this clash. As a Limerick fan you can only be delighted the way the team are playing this year. Again, I’m going to name Peter Casey who was superb coming off the bench last time and if Limerick are going to make the final this boy might need a bit more game time. It’s great to see the Limerick bench so strong at the moment and let’s hope the boys in green can step up again on Sunday.

On the Domestic soccer front Dundalk take on AEK Larnaca on Thursday evening. Let’s hope Stephan Kenny and the boys get a positive result going into the second leg. Limerick have a lots of problems on and off the pitch but let’s hope they get a fair crowd on Friday night at the markets field for the clash against Waterford.

Good to see friend of the blog Frankie Molinari winning the British Open last week!

Back to the bread and butter of the tour this week. In Europe the tour heads to Germany for the European Open where Patrick Reed is back to defend his crown, he heads the betting @ 9/1 followed by Casey, DeChambeau and Perez. Yes it is a European tour event but with four full time PGA tour players heading the betting. Yusaku Miazayto @ 80/1 a solid performance again last week, still value in this fellows price.

The PGA tour heads to Canada this week where Dustin Johnson heads the market @ 6/1 followed by Brooks Koepka @ 12/1. If any of these two are in the mood one of them could run away with it.. Bubba Watson @ 20/1 and our own Seamus Power @125/1 the ones that catch the eye. Power tied tenth in this last year and playing well at the moment, has an early tee time Thursday morning which is a good thing and if the big guns fail to fire Seamus could well go close to gaining his maiden title.

Next week sees the start of the Galway racing festival, so a daily racing blog will be available on site with tips to hopefully pay for the All Ireland tickets !!

Bets:

Yusaku Miaziyato @ 80/1 ew ( European Open)

Seamus Power @ 125/1 ew (Canadian Open)

P/L: Horse + €84.  Sports + €34. Both to €10 level staking plan.

The British Open takes centre stage on the sporting calendar this week. The draw and the weather always play a big part so keep an eye out on that. It’s dry most of the week apart from rain forecast on Friday morning up to around lunchtime. Dustin Johnson heads the market this week @ 12/1 followed by Justin, Rickie, Rory and Rahm. Last year’s winner Jordan Speith is no way near the top of his game so looks unlikely to defend his title even though our man Paddy Harrington was the last winner of the claret jug in Carnoustie. This tournament is always an in play event and there will be value during it. Saying that our main pick is going to be the Spaniard Jon Rahm @ 22/1. Jon made a big effort on the last day of the Irish Open to defend his crown and resting up last week should see him primed for his first major victory.

Last week’s blog you were advised the world cup winners @ 2/1 and just a quick word on our 250/1 selection in the Scottish Open, Miyazato was 5 under after 6 holes but hitting the ball out of the rough on the eight felt a twinge and pulled out after the first round, not one to give up on yet. Nicks Lost was advised on the Facebook page Friday night @ 11/8 and winning comfortably at Evens. Best of luck to the league of Ireland clubs playing their second legs this week.

Please keep an eye out on Twitter and Facebook for updates as it pays to have your finger on the pulse. Membership still open to the Racing Club and good to see a few euros coming in. Keep it coming.

Bets:

Jon Rahm @ 22/1 ew (British Open) Ladbrokes going 25/1 they might lay you €1 ew!!!

P/L  Sports  + €44.  Horses  + €94 both to €10 level stake.

Busy week ahead on the sport betting front, so we will get stuck into the two world cup semi finals straight away. Tonight sees France take on Belgium, two of the three teams I selected at the start of the world cup that could win it along with the Spanish. Belgium put in a good team performance to overcome Brazil but I think the French are motoring well and will get the better of Belgium tonight and go on to lift the trophy. England take on Croatia in the other semi and this is very hard to call. With the Croats having gone all the way to penalties in their last two ties, fatigue must be a factor. A major plus for them is the form of Modric, Rebic and Rakitic and these three alone will cause the English middle lots of headaches. In summary, France and Croatia to contest the final Sunday with the French claiming the title with an Antoine Griezmann brace.

The hurling quarter finals take place over the weekend with Clare @ 2/5 taking on Wexford @ 9/4. Lets keep this simple… Clare’s season was over when losing the Munster final to Cork and @ 2/5 are the worse price I have ever seen about a hurling team in recent times. Limerick take on Kilkenny in SempleStadium on Sunday and the bookies can’t separate these two with evens your choice. The signs are just pointing towards the Shannon siders with Kilkenny coming off two tough weeks against the strongest team in the country at the moment. So we will travel to Thurles on Sunday with some optimism hoping that Limerick pick the right team but I have my doubts..

With only just over a week till the start of the British Open the Scottish Open sees eighteen PGA tour regulars heading across the pond to play this week. Rose and Fowler head the betting this week. Going to throw a big price bomb at you Yusaku Miyazato @ 250/1. This guy is playing some of his best golf at the age of 38 and if he can’t get his head across the line soon, still a great each way price.

The John Deere classic takes place this week in the US and no Jordan Speith in the field.. Molinari and DeChambeau head the betting and it will be no surprise to see these two fight this out but again we look down the field for a bit of value and Nick Watney @ 100/1 is the one who could hit the frame.

Please keep an eye out on the social media platforms of Twitter and Facebook for updates and more tips. Membership to the racing club always open, please check out the website for details.

Bets:

France to win World Cup @ 2/1.

Wexford to beat Clare @ 9/4.

Yasaku Miyazato @ 250/1 ew (Scottish Open)

Nick Watney @ 100/1 ew (John Deere Classic)

P/L Sports + €54.  Horses + €81 both to a €10 level stake.

 

Don’t do this often but going to give myself a mention on the tipping. Our golfers did not make the frame last week but Francesco Molinari was tipped up @ 9/2 on the social media outlets after two rounds in the Quicken Loans and went on to win by eight shots. Uruguay beat Portugal and Dundalk came out on top against Cork. Finally the Cork hurlers did the job against Clare! that’s all in the past now so onto this week.

The Hurling has the two prelim games between Carlow & Limerick and Westmeath v Wexford, could one of these be sticky for the big boys!! The Leinster Hurling final reply is a unique one. Sunday sees the game on in Munster between a Leinster and a Connacht team, I think Galway will come out on top this time as Kilkenny played to their best last week, while Galway still on the upgrade.

The World Cup has been excellent in my eyes with some great games to keep us entertained! Have to feel a bit sorry for Japan last night but saying that the clash between Brazil and Belgium Friday night looks interesting. As I have been saying on social media, I think Brazil need to break the midfield partnership of Paulinho and Casemiro, which will happen now as Casemiro suspended but also, Jesus up front is not the answer and if Marcello comes back in at left full they are vulnerable. Saying that Belguim need to play better as a team or they will be heading the same way as Spain – Home. France and Uruguay is a game I’m really looking forward to seeing, with Griezmann clashing with his two Atletico Madrid buddies Godin and Jimenez.

The Irish open takes place this week in Inishowen Co Donegal on the Ballyliffin golf links. It will be interesting to see the lay out of the course and how it plays with the hard and fast conditions. Rory heads the betting @ 7/1 just over last years winner Jon Rahm @ 15/2. Two catch my eye this week, Thomas Pieters @ 40/1 a winner waiting to happen and our own Paul Dunne @ 33/1. The PGA tour hosts the Greenbrier classic where Tony Finau heads the betting @ 14/1 over Bubba @ 16/1. If Watson is in the mood 16/1 is a very fair price as his game is top notch at the moment. Brian Harman @ 33/1 will be our selection.

Please keep an eye out on the Twitter and Facebook pages as tips will appear!!  Bellewstown starts tomorrow so we might get a selection or two for the hill of crockafotha!!

Bets: Paul Dunne @ 33/1 ew (Irish Open)

Thomas Pieters @ 40/1 ew (Irish Open)

Brian Harman @ 33/1 ew (Greenbrier Classsic)

P/L: Horses + €81.  Sports + €84 both to €10 level stake.