Month: May 2018

This Munster hurling championship is nicely simmering heading into this weekend clashes, Limerick @ 6/4 head to Pairc Ui Chaoimh Saturday evening to face Cork @ 8/11. In my eyes prices look about right, Cork played scintillating hurling in the first half last weekend and a repeat of that will see them pip Limerick. Peter Casey is back in training this week, a big player over the next few months for his county. The Gaelic grounds host the other game on Sunday where Tipp @ 1/8 play Waterford @ 6/1. Let’s start with the Deise, injuries and suspensions have them down to the bare bones this week so a good time to play them. Tipperary and Kilkenny are in the same boat, will be lucky to see either county making it to the semi final stages of the All Ireland series this year. A mention for the big Leinster clash between Wexford @ 5/2 and Galway @ 4/9, if the yellow bellies are going to get the better of Galway in a match this year, this might be the one.

The European Tour heads to Italy this week for the next event on the Rolex series, home favourite Frankie Molinari @ 10/1 and last week’s winner in Wentworth is the one to beat. The PGA tour heads to Jacks place, Muirfield Village for the Memorial tournament. A steller field has turned up with eight golfers between 12/1 and 20/1. DJ, Rose, JT, Day, Rory, Jordan, Tiger and Rickie. The time has come to get back into the winners circle, so step forward Tiger @ 20/1 and if you get the better of this lot your back!! The Ladies play their second major of the year which could be dominated by the Jutanugarn sisters, Ariya @ 10/1 and Moriya @ 18/1.  Stacey Lewis @ 80/1 has been way out of form so far this year but showed some good signs last week, and she plays tough golf courses well.

The world cup of darts takes place this week in Germany, starting Thursday, looks a two horse race between the Netherland @ 1/1 (MVG + Barney) and Scotland @ 11/4 (Anderson + Wright), two lively outsiders Austria @25/1 and Belguim @ 33/1.

Aidan O Brien will win both English classics this weekend with Forever Together @ 5/1 in the Oaks and Saxon Warrior @ 4/5 in the Derby.

Bets:

Hurling: Wexford @ 5/2. ( v Galway)

Golf:       Francesco Molinari @ 10/1. ( Italian Open)

Tiger Woods @ 20/1 ew. (Memorial)

Moriya Jutanugarn @ 18/1 ew. US Open)

Darts:     Scotland @ 11/4 (World Cup)

Racing:  Forever Together @ 5/1. (Oaks)

 

P/L  -€17 to a €10 level stake.

Let’s get the ball rolling this week with the hurling.  Limerick have a free weekend after their great victory over a well below par, Tipperary team. As the draw now looks in Munster, Limerick sit in the driving seat sitting back and watching what happens this week. Tipp welcome Cork to Semple and are under serious pressure to put in a winning performance. In my eyes the rebels are the dark horse this year and if Tipp don’t step up on Sunday Cork will punish them as they seem to have got the defensive side in order, so 13/8 about the rebels looks like the bet in this one. Talking about teams under pressure Clare are just not good enough at the moment and expect Waterford to come out on top @ 11/10. The clash of Galway and Kilkenny in Salthill is a first in the Leinester championship and the boys from the west will ease past Kilkenny.

The pinnacle of club football, the champions league final been hosted in Kiev this year, sees Real Madrid and Liverpool clash, a tough one to call but Liverpool shade it for me. Going to give a few value bets for a bit of interest while watching it, most people think it will be a shoot out and I agree. So let’s start with a shoe in more than 1.5 goals in the first half @ 5/4. On the first goalscorer markets let’s take a chance of a set piece playing a big part so Ramos @ 25/1 or Van Dijk @ 40/1 are the two.

This week the European tour kicks off the rolex series with a trip to Wentworth where Alex Noren shot a 62 on the final day last year to leap frog most of the field. Rory heads the betting @ 8/1 followed by Casey @ 12/1. Two to avoid this week, not put anyone off backing Fleetwood or Noren but this week selection is Matt Fitzpatrick @ 28/1. Others to note a big prices Alexander Bjork @ 66/1 and Benjamin Hebert @ 125/1.

The PGA tour is in Dallas Fort Worth this week where Speith heads the betting @ 8/1 followed by two Europeans Rahm and Rose. Adam Scott @ 28/1 is trending the right way and if he has a good week on the greens will go very close. Brooks Koepka I can tell you now is going to be my main tip for the US Open coming soon but @ 30/1 this week looks good value.

Bets:

Hurling: Cork, Waterford, Galway, @ 15/2 treble.

Champions League: 1st Goal Scorer: Ramos @ 25/1. Van Dijk @ 40/1. 1st Half Over 1.5 Goals @ 5/4.

BMW Championship: Matthew Fitzpatrick @ 28/1 ew

Fort Worth Invit: Brooks Koepka @ 30/1 ew

P/L  – €50 to a level €10 staking plan.

On the football front we have the Europa league final tonight taking place in Lyon between Atletico and Marseille, only one team lifting the cup it’s Atletico @ Evens. Might be a bit short for most of us so Madrid to win 1-0 @ 11/2 might be the play to go for and Diego Godin @ 35/1 to score first. The FA cup final takes place Saturday with Chelsea and Man United clashing. A tough one to call but would be leaning towards Chelsea getting the job done late in the piece, so either team to win on penalties @ 9/2 is the bet in this one.

Moving onto the golf, we were unlucky with our Rocco Forte selection Andy Sullivan last week coming up a shot shy. This week the PGA tour heads for Dallas for the Bryon Nelson Classic where Jordan Speith heads the betting @ 5/1. Speith is trending in the right direction but even though it’s a weak field no value in his price. Kucher is 14/1 second favourite and you can lay his win price on the exchanges all day as never gets the job done these days. A couple of outsiders that might go well at huge prices Bae winner in 2013, Kang has some course form and Cejka. Sergio Garcia @ 16/1 is the selection, winner 2 years ago around here and playing well last week but did not the get the rub of the green.

The Hurling championship kicks off in truth this week with some mouth watering clashes! Limerick welcome Tipp to the Gaelic grounds and Cork host Clare in the start of the Munster round robin. We will start with the Leinster section. Dublin had the beating of Kilkenny last week but just didn’t believe in themselves. Kilkenny will improve as the year goes on but will fall short when the prizes are given out in August. For me Galway and Kilkenny fight out the Leinster final and Wexford scrape through for third.

Moving onto the Munster round robin, this is going to be so competitive each week and very hard to call. Limerick the coming team need to step up to the plate but having Hickey and Hegarty on the starting 15 will struggle but have a feeling this might change after Sunday. I have Tipp and Limerick meeting again in the Munster decider with Cork filling the third position as they have outstanding scoring forwards. It’s hard to ignore Waterford but having no home games will not help, but with Gleeson and Barron on the same team it’s hard to rule them out unlike Clare who will finish bottom of this group.

Bets:

Europa League Final; Atletico to win 1-0 11/2. Diego Godin First Goalscorer 35/1.

FA Cup Final; Either team to win on penalties 9/2.

Byron Nelson Classic; Sergio Garcia 16/1 ew.

Hurling All Ireland; Tipperary 11/4.

P/L  -€10 to a €10 level stake.

With the Irish cricket team holding their first ever test match against Pakistan,  starting Friday morning in Malahide, it looks like the weather is not going to be kind but time will tell!  The Irish 13/1 to win on home soil looks a bit short on current form and maybe the draw @ 9/4 looks the bet with the weather forecast.

The Premiership comes to a grounding halt on Sunday afternoon. It’s hard to have a bet as meaningless games are hard to access but you can be sure lots of goals will be scored.

On the domestic scene we are getting very odd results of late and again caution is advised if having a bet. Will roll up again to the markets field on Saturday evening even though the club is in a serious mess both on and off the pitch. (pity!!!)

The golf bandwagon rolls into the TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra beach this week. This place always has a high class field with 16/1 co favourites Day, Speith, Thomas and McIlory. Find this tournament very hard to call at the start as if you get the wrong side of the draw you have very little chance so for me this is a big in running event but that won’t stop me giving Patrick Cantlay @ 50/1. The European tour heads to Sicily for the Rocco Forte and Andy Sullivan heads the betting @ 14/1. If this fellow’s attitude is right and I think it will be, Andy could be back in the winners enclosure again. A outsider to keep an eye on is Joel Stalter @ 125/1.

Bets:

Patrick Cantlay @ 50/1 ew (Players)

Andy Sullivan @ 14/1 (Rocco Forte)

P/L + €10 to a level stake of €10