The Premiership

Manchester

Every point is sacred for the two Manchester clubs after United’s shock defeat to Wigan in midweek. On paper United  look to have the easier of the fixtures this weekend, hosting Aston Villa, and are 1/4 for the win, although if you fancy a second upset in a row for United, Villa are generously in at 12/1, a £10 stake returns £120 (£110 profit). Last time out United squeezed out a 1-0 away win, the same score line this time around comes in at 13/2. Phil Jones was the goal scorer that day and he is given odds of 20/1 to repeat that feat again.
Man City head to Norwich, with the Canaries riding the crest of a wave that has seen them beat Spurs and rise to 10^th in the league, on the same points as 9^th placed Fulham. Odds of 5/1 are available for a Norwich win, 3/1 for the draw and 4/7 for City to win. The reverse fixture saw a 5-1 drubbing in City’s favour, 55/1 is on offer for a repeat score line, however unlikely given current form. A £10 stake returns £560

The FA Cup

The two Wembley semi finals will be played on Saturday (to avoid a clash with the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster for Liverpool) and Sunday. With four very evenly matched  teams still left in, it’s no surprise that you will see no difference between winners markets for Spurs and Chelsea, both 13/8 for the win, and only a slight difference between Liverpool and Everton, 6/4 and 15/8. A £10 stake on either Spurs or Chelsea will return £26.25 (£16.25 profit). For the same bet Liverpool will return you £25 and Everton slightly better at £28.75. Hardly the most exciting of bets! 

Perhaps more fun and potential profit will be found in combined bets spread over the two games, (although the day in between will make for a nervy wait!) if you think both ties will go beyond the 90 minutes and into extra time or penalties.  A combined double bet of a team from both days winning on penalties for example (10/1 for Saturday and 9/1 for Sunday) will return £1100 from a mere £10 stake.
An additional bet of no goal scorer through 90 mins and extra time is at 15/2, which might be worth another £5 if you are already looking at the draw.
Bookmakers also offer a ‘red card special’ on both games, refunding all first/last goal scorer, correct score and scorecast bets if a man is sent off.

The Grand National

40 runners and riders line up for the biggest jump race on the calendar.
Synchronised will go in as top weight and also likely favourite.  Ridden by 16-time champion jockey Tony McCoy, he bids to become the first horse in 78 years to capture steeple chasing’s two biggest races in the same season, the Gold Cup and The Grand National. Golden Miller is the only horse to have achieved the double in the same season, in 1934! Pre race odds have Synchronised with a starting price of 15/2, a £10 stake would return £85 (£75 profit
Pre-race day odds are obviously always slightly more favourable if you are thinking about backing one of the favourites. However, if you are looking further down the field at horses coming in with weights under 11 stone, the majority of bookmakers will revise and improve yours odds if the starting price goes up, not down. Many horses around the 25-40/1 mark will have greatly fluctuating prices in the run up to the race. This gives you an opportunity to secure a much better price for former winners or seasoned campaigners, such as Mon Mome, State of Play or Arbor Supreme, by betting now. Backed the day before you would secure 40/1 for Mon Mome and State of Play and 66/1 for Arbor Supreme, (£30 spread each way returns £942.50, £912.50 profit, should all three come in the top 5, ¼ odds paid) but at the starting post (SP) that price will no doubt have at least halved.

Thompson’s Top Tip

There is no easy way to predict the national! In the last 10 years only 3 favourites or joint favourites have gone on to win. Any horse carrying over or around 11st has the proven pedigree to stay the 4 mile course.  As most bookmakers will pay to 5 places, pick 5 horses over at least 10st8 in weight and place £5 each way on them all, then sit back and watch in hope!

My choices

West End Rocker 12/1
Junior  14/1
Becauseicouldntsee 18/1
Seabass 20/1
Planet of Sound 33/1

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