Thursday, March 30, 2006
NASCAR heads to Martinsville Speedway
KASEY KAHNE LOOKS BEST WITH bet365 AT 14/1
DirecTV 500, Martinsville Speedway
Su Apr 2 – 1:30 pm EST (FOX)
The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series heads to Virginia this Sunday, as drivers go head-to-head from Martinsville Speedway in the DirecTV 500. Like Bristol last week, Martinsville is another short track event where the cars must go slower and, as a result, the drivers feel more comfortable bumping into each other around the track. Last week, Kurt Busch used a bump on Matt Kenseth to race his way into the lead with four laps to go on Sunday and win the Food City 500. This week, there is even more emphasis on braking, so driver skill makes an even bigger difference to where the car ends up.
And, no driver has driven this track better in recent years than Jeff Gordon, and he’s 4/1 favorite here a bet365 to win his fifth Martinsville race in seven years. Over his career, he’s had twenty top-10 finishes here (14 top-5 finishes), and he’s the one driver in the field who could still go close to winning in a lesser car than what he’s got. He has to be top of any shortlist of drivers to win this week, but his team mate Jimmie Johnson (9/2) must also go close.
Johnson has finished no worse than 9th in his last seven races here and, after an awful run at Bristol that saw him drop into third place in the points, he should be primed to get things going again this week. Of the other current drivers, only Gibbs team mates Tony Stewart (7/1) and Bobby Labonte (33/1), Dale Jarrett (50/1), and Mark Martin (14/1) can boast of wins here, which shows just how good Jeff Gordon has been. If there is going to be a ‘shock’ winner, then Kasey Kahne could be the one at a standout bet365 price of 14/1. Kahne finished second in this race last year and, after five races this season, is in second place in the points standings. He’s looking a much better driver of late and will be well up to the task of winning his second race of the season.
Nigel’s Checkered Flag … Kasey Kahne @ 14/1
bet365 latest DirecTV 500 prices … Jeff Gordon 4/1, Jimmie Johnson 9/2, Kurt Busch 13/2, Tony Stewart 7/1, Matt Kenseth 9/1, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick 12/1, others on bet365 website (Each-way 1/ odds, 1.2.3.4)
DirecTV 500, Martinsville Speedway
Su Apr 2 – 1:30 pm EST (FOX)
The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series heads to Virginia this Sunday, as drivers go head-to-head from Martinsville Speedway in the DirecTV 500. Like Bristol last week, Martinsville is another short track event where the cars must go slower and, as a result, the drivers feel more comfortable bumping into each other around the track. Last week, Kurt Busch used a bump on Matt Kenseth to race his way into the lead with four laps to go on Sunday and win the Food City 500. This week, there is even more emphasis on braking, so driver skill makes an even bigger difference to where the car ends up.
And, no driver has driven this track better in recent years than Jeff Gordon, and he’s 4/1 favorite here a bet365 to win his fifth Martinsville race in seven years. Over his career, he’s had twenty top-10 finishes here (14 top-5 finishes), and he’s the one driver in the field who could still go close to winning in a lesser car than what he’s got. He has to be top of any shortlist of drivers to win this week, but his team mate Jimmie Johnson (9/2) must also go close.
Johnson has finished no worse than 9th in his last seven races here and, after an awful run at Bristol that saw him drop into third place in the points, he should be primed to get things going again this week. Of the other current drivers, only Gibbs team mates Tony Stewart (7/1) and Bobby Labonte (33/1), Dale Jarrett (50/1), and Mark Martin (14/1) can boast of wins here, which shows just how good Jeff Gordon has been. If there is going to be a ‘shock’ winner, then Kasey Kahne could be the one at a standout bet365 price of 14/1. Kahne finished second in this race last year and, after five races this season, is in second place in the points standings. He’s looking a much better driver of late and will be well up to the task of winning his second race of the season.
Nigel’s Checkered Flag … Kasey Kahne @ 14/1
bet365 latest DirecTV 500 prices … Jeff Gordon 4/1, Jimmie Johnson 9/2, Kurt Busch 13/2, Tony Stewart 7/1, Matt Kenseth 9/1, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick 12/1, others on bet365 website (Each-way 1/ odds, 1.2.3.4)
NCAAB – The Final Four
GEORGE MASON 6/1 TO WIN THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH
This Saturday will see an enormous interest in the NCAA Final Four games. First up, George Mason will look to keep their Cinderella-story alive by advancing to the final as a No.11 ranked school against the powerful Florida team. If you watched George Mason beat Michigan State and North Carolina during the first week of the NCAA tournament, then nothing the Patriots did in Week 2 would have surprised you, including their giant-killing act over Connecticut. Now they are through to the one of the most wide open Final Four fields ever and, as none of the other semi finalists are nearly as imposing as UConn, who’s to say they can’t go all the way at the bet365 price of 6/1.
They’ll be comfortable with their underdog tag for this Saturday’s game against Florida, for which bet365 have Florida currently favoured by six points, while the Total Points has been set at 132.5 points. The bet365 money line has the Gators at 10/27, with the Patriots at 11/5. The game is due to start at 4.05pm ET, and we’ll have live betting via our In-Play Console found on the homepage.
Live Game Pick: George Mason (+6.0) @ 10/11
bet365 CUSTOMERS SOLD ON TIGERS TOURNEY RUN
In the second game, two powerhouse schools clash, with both UCLA and LSU coming off big wins against No.1 seeds. UCLA beat Memphis in the Sweet Sixteen, while LSU brushed aside the mighty Duke in the round of 32 before narrowly beating Texas in OT. Those wins by the Tigers are more impressive than anything that UCLA has achieved in the competition, and they’re a young team that just keeps getting better.
bet365 customers certainly agree, as we’ve seen a lot of early money for the Tigers, and the line for this game now has them favoured by 2 points, with the Total Points trading low at 121.5. The bet365 money line has the Tigers at 20/29, with the Bruins at 5/4. Again, we’ll have live betting on this exciting match-up, so join us here at bet365 when the game starts at 8.45pm ET.
Live Game Pick: LSU (-2.0) @ 20/23
bet365’s NCAA Men’s Championship prices … Florida 6/4, LSU 2/1, UCLA 3/1, George Mason 6/1.
AVOID MARCH SADNESS – PLACE YOUR PARLAYS WITH bet365!
A $50 parlay on our 2 picks this weekend pays out $187.38, which includes a bet365 bonus of 5%. Whether you’re betting on NCAAB or NBA, you’re assured of getting more back with the bet365 Parlay Bonus, which pays out up to 50% more on successful parlays on the following 6 markets:-
Point Spread, Game Total, First Half Point Spread, Second Half Point Spread, First Half Total, Second Half Total.
This Saturday will see an enormous interest in the NCAA Final Four games. First up, George Mason will look to keep their Cinderella-story alive by advancing to the final as a No.11 ranked school against the powerful Florida team. If you watched George Mason beat Michigan State and North Carolina during the first week of the NCAA tournament, then nothing the Patriots did in Week 2 would have surprised you, including their giant-killing act over Connecticut. Now they are through to the one of the most wide open Final Four fields ever and, as none of the other semi finalists are nearly as imposing as UConn, who’s to say they can’t go all the way at the bet365 price of 6/1.
They’ll be comfortable with their underdog tag for this Saturday’s game against Florida, for which bet365 have Florida currently favoured by six points, while the Total Points has been set at 132.5 points. The bet365 money line has the Gators at 10/27, with the Patriots at 11/5. The game is due to start at 4.05pm ET, and we’ll have live betting via our In-Play Console found on the homepage.
Live Game Pick: George Mason (+6.0) @ 10/11
bet365 CUSTOMERS SOLD ON TIGERS TOURNEY RUN
In the second game, two powerhouse schools clash, with both UCLA and LSU coming off big wins against No.1 seeds. UCLA beat Memphis in the Sweet Sixteen, while LSU brushed aside the mighty Duke in the round of 32 before narrowly beating Texas in OT. Those wins by the Tigers are more impressive than anything that UCLA has achieved in the competition, and they’re a young team that just keeps getting better.
bet365 customers certainly agree, as we’ve seen a lot of early money for the Tigers, and the line for this game now has them favoured by 2 points, with the Total Points trading low at 121.5. The bet365 money line has the Tigers at 20/29, with the Bruins at 5/4. Again, we’ll have live betting on this exciting match-up, so join us here at bet365 when the game starts at 8.45pm ET.
Live Game Pick: LSU (-2.0) @ 20/23
bet365’s NCAA Men’s Championship prices … Florida 6/4, LSU 2/1, UCLA 3/1, George Mason 6/1.
AVOID MARCH SADNESS – PLACE YOUR PARLAYS WITH bet365!
A $50 parlay on our 2 picks this weekend pays out $187.38, which includes a bet365 bonus of 5%. Whether you’re betting on NCAAB or NBA, you’re assured of getting more back with the bet365 Parlay Bonus, which pays out up to 50% more on successful parlays on the following 6 markets:-
Point Spread, Game Total, First Half Point Spread, Second Half Point Spread, First Half Total, Second Half Total.
Golf - the Bell South Classic
ROLLINS IS SWEET AT 40/1 FOR SUGARLOAF
Bell South Classic
Th Mar 30 – 22.00 BST (SS2)
Fr Mar 31 – 22.00 BST (SS2)
Sa Apr 1 – 21.00 BST (SS2)
Su Apr 2 – 20.00 BST (SS2)
This weekend, we’ll be hoping to win some betting money for next week’s Masters by finding the winner of the Bell South Classic. Hopefully, that should be easier than finding last week’s ‘shock’ winner, Stephen Ames, who was a 100/1 shot pre-tournament and surprisingly easy to back In-Play here at bet365, until he turned the event into a procession in the final round.
He takes a well-earned break, but there’s no such luxury for our main selection this week, John Rollins, who can be backed at a tasty 40/1 here at bet365. While last week’s track at Sawgrass demanded accuracy off the tee, Sugarloaf, this week’s port of call, is more suited to long hitters, and Rollins scores heavily there. He can also point to some good course form having finished top-six in 2002 and 2003, while his recent outings suggest that he’s about to enter the winner’s enclosure again. An eighth place a Sawgrass was his fourth good showing of the year, after a 4th at Torrey Pines, 5th in the Nissan and 15th at Scottsdale.
He’s bound to put up a good show this week, and I’ve also got a sneaky feeling for Tag Ridings at a massive bet365 price of 100/1. We can ignore his last two missed cuts as they were at Bay Hill and the Players’, and instead concentrate on his excellent 6th here last year (14th in 2004), and a superb 5th place finish at Doral this season. We’ll also be having a saver on Retief Goosen at 15/2. While he’ll no doubt have one eye on the Masters, it was only an inspired Ames that prevented him from winning last week and, with his game in such good nick, he’ll be wishing that Augusta was this week. A good performance here will see his odds for the Masters trimmed and, as his record in the first Major of the year is so good, we’ll also be backing him at 14/1 with bet365 to win there too. Check back next week for a full betting preview of the Masters.
Bell South Classic Three Off The Tee … John Rollins @ 40/1, Tag Ridings 100/1, Retief Goosen 15/2. Each-way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5
Bell South Classic
Th Mar 30 – 22.00 BST (SS2)
Fr Mar 31 – 22.00 BST (SS2)
Sa Apr 1 – 21.00 BST (SS2)
Su Apr 2 – 20.00 BST (SS2)
This weekend, we’ll be hoping to win some betting money for next week’s Masters by finding the winner of the Bell South Classic. Hopefully, that should be easier than finding last week’s ‘shock’ winner, Stephen Ames, who was a 100/1 shot pre-tournament and surprisingly easy to back In-Play here at bet365, until he turned the event into a procession in the final round.
He takes a well-earned break, but there’s no such luxury for our main selection this week, John Rollins, who can be backed at a tasty 40/1 here at bet365. While last week’s track at Sawgrass demanded accuracy off the tee, Sugarloaf, this week’s port of call, is more suited to long hitters, and Rollins scores heavily there. He can also point to some good course form having finished top-six in 2002 and 2003, while his recent outings suggest that he’s about to enter the winner’s enclosure again. An eighth place a Sawgrass was his fourth good showing of the year, after a 4th at Torrey Pines, 5th in the Nissan and 15th at Scottsdale.
He’s bound to put up a good show this week, and I’ve also got a sneaky feeling for Tag Ridings at a massive bet365 price of 100/1. We can ignore his last two missed cuts as they were at Bay Hill and the Players’, and instead concentrate on his excellent 6th here last year (14th in 2004), and a superb 5th place finish at Doral this season. We’ll also be having a saver on Retief Goosen at 15/2. While he’ll no doubt have one eye on the Masters, it was only an inspired Ames that prevented him from winning last week and, with his game in such good nick, he’ll be wishing that Augusta was this week. A good performance here will see his odds for the Masters trimmed and, as his record in the first Major of the year is so good, we’ll also be backing him at 14/1 with bet365 to win there too. Check back next week for a full betting preview of the Masters.
Bell South Classic Three Off The Tee … John Rollins @ 40/1, Tag Ridings 100/1, Retief Goosen 15/2. Each-way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5
FREE HORSE RACING BETS from bet365
FREE BETS A FEATURE AT bet365
Last week’s Lincoln tip, Cesare, was rather disappointing in the end, but neither the track nor the ground worked in his favour, so he’s not one to give up on yet. Hopefully we’ll return to winning ways this weekend and bag a free bet (or two) here at bet365, courtesy of their brand new racing offer. Normally, we’d have to wait until the Channel 4 cameras were in action to take advantage of bet365’s 4/1 Offer, but we’ve now extended this to include two Feature races every day of the week. To take advantage, simply back a winner at 4/1 or more in a bet365 Feature race and we’ll give you a free bet to the same stake on the next bet365 Feature Race.
KEEP HANNON’S ASSET ON YOUR SIDE
The best advice for the early weeks of the new flat season is to follow the trainers in form. Some trainers will have their horses fitter than others, and Richard Hannon is well-known for dealing with more forward types and, after some good results on the All-Weather recently, looks sure to get his turf campaign off to a flyer. During the past week, he’s saddled three winners plus as many placed, and he could have the answer to Saturday’s Easter Stakes (3.50) with his colt Asset. Hannon has a great record in this early season ‘Classic’ trial, and his runner looks to have all the credentials to win here after a creditable third to the top-class Opera Cape on his final appearance as a juvenile last year.
BACK RAJEEM TO RETURN IN TOP FORM
Clive Brittain is another trainer whose win-to-run ratio is better at this time of year, and his hat-trick seeking Rajeem could well play a leading role on her return to action in the earlier Masaka Stakes (2.45). She was last seen finishing strongly over this 1m trip at Newmarket last backend. The race is one of six shown live on Channel 4, so bet365 customers can take advantage of our 4/1 Offer, while they can also watch the race on their PC by betting £5 and clicking on the ‘Live Stream’ next to the race.
Weekend Flat Picks: Asset (3.50 Kempton) & Rajeem (2.45 Kempton)
LOG ON TO ROSS COMM FOR NATIONAL GLORY AT bet365’S 25/1
Not forgetting the jumps action this weekend and there’s a cracking card at Uttoxeter where Vaughan in the novice hurdle and Wellbeing in the concluding handicap are the two main fancies. However, we’ve already got one eye on next week’s Aintree meeting which gets under way on Thursday. Look out for bet365’s two Feature Races each day, and check back next week for a full betting preview on the big race itself. If you’re looking for an ante-post bet now, then Sue Smith’s Ross Comm looks interesting at the current price of 25/1, especially as we’re paying out on FIVE places! The grey is lightly raced for a ten-year-old and is on the upgrade judged on his win over a barely adequate 2m 4f at Bangor last Saturday. He looks to have a handy weight too off just 10st 5lb and, with bet365’s non-runner no bet policy, you’ve also got the insurance that if he doesn’t run for any reason, you’ll get your money back.
Grand National Pick: Ross Comm @ 25/1 – Non-Runner No Bet (Each-way ¼ odds
1.2.3.4.5)
Last week’s Lincoln tip, Cesare, was rather disappointing in the end, but neither the track nor the ground worked in his favour, so he’s not one to give up on yet. Hopefully we’ll return to winning ways this weekend and bag a free bet (or two) here at bet365, courtesy of their brand new racing offer. Normally, we’d have to wait until the Channel 4 cameras were in action to take advantage of bet365’s 4/1 Offer, but we’ve now extended this to include two Feature races every day of the week. To take advantage, simply back a winner at 4/1 or more in a bet365 Feature race and we’ll give you a free bet to the same stake on the next bet365 Feature Race.
KEEP HANNON’S ASSET ON YOUR SIDE
The best advice for the early weeks of the new flat season is to follow the trainers in form. Some trainers will have their horses fitter than others, and Richard Hannon is well-known for dealing with more forward types and, after some good results on the All-Weather recently, looks sure to get his turf campaign off to a flyer. During the past week, he’s saddled three winners plus as many placed, and he could have the answer to Saturday’s Easter Stakes (3.50) with his colt Asset. Hannon has a great record in this early season ‘Classic’ trial, and his runner looks to have all the credentials to win here after a creditable third to the top-class Opera Cape on his final appearance as a juvenile last year.
BACK RAJEEM TO RETURN IN TOP FORM
Clive Brittain is another trainer whose win-to-run ratio is better at this time of year, and his hat-trick seeking Rajeem could well play a leading role on her return to action in the earlier Masaka Stakes (2.45). She was last seen finishing strongly over this 1m trip at Newmarket last backend. The race is one of six shown live on Channel 4, so bet365 customers can take advantage of our 4/1 Offer, while they can also watch the race on their PC by betting £5 and clicking on the ‘Live Stream’ next to the race.
Weekend Flat Picks: Asset (3.50 Kempton) & Rajeem (2.45 Kempton)
LOG ON TO ROSS COMM FOR NATIONAL GLORY AT bet365’S 25/1
Not forgetting the jumps action this weekend and there’s a cracking card at Uttoxeter where Vaughan in the novice hurdle and Wellbeing in the concluding handicap are the two main fancies. However, we’ve already got one eye on next week’s Aintree meeting which gets under way on Thursday. Look out for bet365’s two Feature Races each day, and check back next week for a full betting preview on the big race itself. If you’re looking for an ante-post bet now, then Sue Smith’s Ross Comm looks interesting at the current price of 25/1, especially as we’re paying out on FIVE places! The grey is lightly raced for a ten-year-old and is on the upgrade judged on his win over a barely adequate 2m 4f at Bangor last Saturday. He looks to have a handy weight too off just 10st 5lb and, with bet365’s non-runner no bet policy, you’ve also got the insurance that if he doesn’t run for any reason, you’ll get your money back.
Grand National Pick: Ross Comm @ 25/1 – Non-Runner No Bet (Each-way ¼ odds
1.2.3.4.5)
Weekend Soccer Preview
SHOW NO MERCY WITH REDS AT A TASTY 8/15
WBA v Liverpool
Sa Apr 1 – 5.15 pm ko (PremPlus)
If West Brom are to repeat last season’s great escape, it must start here and now at the Hawthorns, but they can expect no mercy from Liverpool. The Reds have got Champions League football to secure for next season and, now that they’ve rediscovered their goal scoring touch, they can exploit any weaknesses in the Albion defence – and there are plenty.
Liverpool’s seven-goal haul against Birmingham last week contrasts sharply with the Baggies recent draw against the same side, and another hatful could be on the cards here. Back the Reds with confidence at bet365’s 8/15 and fill up on the ‘Over’ goals at a standout 21/20. Once the game kicks off, don’t forget to check out our live markets (up to 14 available) via the In-Play Console on the bet365 homepage.
Live Game Picks:
Liverpool @ 8/15
Over 2.5 Goals @ 21/20
BACK CHELSEA CLEAN SHEET AT 4/6
Liverpool go straight into our Premiership Acca this weekend, along with Chelsea to beat Birmingham at 3/10. That may be a no-brainer as far as the 90 minute market goes, but there are other less obvious betting opportunities on the clash here at bet365. After a recent 7-0 thrashing, everyone will be expecting the floodgates to open at St Andrews, but only one of the Birmingham’s six Premiership home games since the turn of the year have produced more than two goals, while Chelsea don’t score many on their travels. Only twice this season have they scored more than two goals, so there’s more than a smidgeon of value in bet365’s ‘Under’ price of 19/20. A safer bet is Chelsea to keep a clean sheet at 4/6, as Birmingham haven’t scored in five of their last six meetings with Chelsea. The match kicks off at 12.45 (live on Sky Prem Plus), so bet365’s live In-Play Console is well worth checking out.
Chelsea to keep a clean sheet @ 4/6 & Under 2.5 Goals @ 19/20
VILLA COULD SURPRISE AT 9/1
Everton’s home game against Sunderland should be easy pickings for the Toffees. They may have been exposed by a 10-man Liverpool at Anfield, but they’re unbeaten in four matches at Goodison Park. Take the 4/11 here at bet365, but be wary of backing Arsenal at 2/7 to beat Aston Villa. The Gunners record in domestic games close to Champions League games is poor, and Villa might come away from Highbury with one of their best results of the season – 9/1 to win, 4/1 to draw.
POMPEY ARE UP FOR IT AT 10/3
There are a couple of away teams that may pull off surprises at tasty prices this weekend, starting with Middlesbrough (12/5) at Man City. Premiership safety still isn’t totally certain for Boro after Pompey’s return to form, but one more win should do it, and that can come at the expense of their opponents. Stuart Pearce’s side don’t have much left to play for this season, and a pumped up Boro could be too good for them.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth are finally looking serious about avoiding relegation, and that extra edge will make all the difference against a Fulham side who are going nowhere fast. They look a value bet at bet365’s 10/3 to take all three points at Craven Cottage. We’ll perm any one from the two in an Acca this weekend, knowing we’re assured of some extra value with bet365’s Premiership Bonus, which pays up to 60% more on such bets every weekend.
Premiership Acca: Middlesbrough / Portsmouth (perm 1 from 2); Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton – best return £309.19 (£25 stake), including a bet365 bonus of 5%
WBA v Liverpool
Sa Apr 1 – 5.15 pm ko (PremPlus)
If West Brom are to repeat last season’s great escape, it must start here and now at the Hawthorns, but they can expect no mercy from Liverpool. The Reds have got Champions League football to secure for next season and, now that they’ve rediscovered their goal scoring touch, they can exploit any weaknesses in the Albion defence – and there are plenty.
Liverpool’s seven-goal haul against Birmingham last week contrasts sharply with the Baggies recent draw against the same side, and another hatful could be on the cards here. Back the Reds with confidence at bet365’s 8/15 and fill up on the ‘Over’ goals at a standout 21/20. Once the game kicks off, don’t forget to check out our live markets (up to 14 available) via the In-Play Console on the bet365 homepage.
Live Game Picks:
Liverpool @ 8/15
Over 2.5 Goals @ 21/20
BACK CHELSEA CLEAN SHEET AT 4/6
Liverpool go straight into our Premiership Acca this weekend, along with Chelsea to beat Birmingham at 3/10. That may be a no-brainer as far as the 90 minute market goes, but there are other less obvious betting opportunities on the clash here at bet365. After a recent 7-0 thrashing, everyone will be expecting the floodgates to open at St Andrews, but only one of the Birmingham’s six Premiership home games since the turn of the year have produced more than two goals, while Chelsea don’t score many on their travels. Only twice this season have they scored more than two goals, so there’s more than a smidgeon of value in bet365’s ‘Under’ price of 19/20. A safer bet is Chelsea to keep a clean sheet at 4/6, as Birmingham haven’t scored in five of their last six meetings with Chelsea. The match kicks off at 12.45 (live on Sky Prem Plus), so bet365’s live In-Play Console is well worth checking out.
Chelsea to keep a clean sheet @ 4/6 & Under 2.5 Goals @ 19/20
VILLA COULD SURPRISE AT 9/1
Everton’s home game against Sunderland should be easy pickings for the Toffees. They may have been exposed by a 10-man Liverpool at Anfield, but they’re unbeaten in four matches at Goodison Park. Take the 4/11 here at bet365, but be wary of backing Arsenal at 2/7 to beat Aston Villa. The Gunners record in domestic games close to Champions League games is poor, and Villa might come away from Highbury with one of their best results of the season – 9/1 to win, 4/1 to draw.
POMPEY ARE UP FOR IT AT 10/3
There are a couple of away teams that may pull off surprises at tasty prices this weekend, starting with Middlesbrough (12/5) at Man City. Premiership safety still isn’t totally certain for Boro after Pompey’s return to form, but one more win should do it, and that can come at the expense of their opponents. Stuart Pearce’s side don’t have much left to play for this season, and a pumped up Boro could be too good for them.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth are finally looking serious about avoiding relegation, and that extra edge will make all the difference against a Fulham side who are going nowhere fast. They look a value bet at bet365’s 10/3 to take all three points at Craven Cottage. We’ll perm any one from the two in an Acca this weekend, knowing we’re assured of some extra value with bet365’s Premiership Bonus, which pays up to 60% more on such bets every weekend.
Premiership Acca: Middlesbrough / Portsmouth (perm 1 from 2); Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton – best return £309.19 (£25 stake), including a bet365 bonus of 5%
Friday's Very Special Offer....from VCBet
10% BONUS ON ALL TREBLES & ABOVE PLACED ON ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP MATCHES BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. (FRIDAY)
Maximum stake £200 per bet (or currency equivalent) . Applies to bets struck before 01.00 (CET) on 01/04/06.
PREMIERSHIP SPREAD BETTING PREVIEW
If you're looking to try something a bit different this weekend, why not supplement your normal punting with a spread bet with bethilo? There's a great cash offer for new clients:
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*Suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with bethilo. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
Premiership Preview
We've got 3 live matches on TV this weekend. If you're thinking about having a punt, we've checked out the latest prices from bethilo:
It's Blues against Blues at lunchtime on Saturday, when a depleted Birmingham City host leaders Chelsea. Bethilo predict an away win by a couple of goals, and this makes sense when you look at Birmingham's crippling injury list. Half their squad is out of action, including some of their more skilled players such as Izzet and Sutton. It may well be a case of damage limitation for Bruce. To make things worse, Jarosik will not be allowed to play given that he's on loan from the visitors. If they put in the same amount of effort against Chelsea as they did in the second half of their last match against Man Utd, they've got a chance, but DJ Campbell and Heskey need to up their game.
The other live game on Saturday is West Brom v Liverpool, and it should be an attractive match. The Baggies have been playing nice football recently, but just can't get the results. They were unlucky not to get a draw against Spurs. Although Liverpool will be without Gerrard (suspended) they're still favourites to win by one goal. Ref Uriah Rennie is notoriously lenient so don't expect too many cards - bethilo only anticipate three. West Brom are a clean team playing attacking football, but it remains to be seen if they can withstand the Reds on current form.
Finally, Sunday afternoon is all about West Ham v Charlton. The Hammers are strong at home (you can ignore the Pompey result, as that was played with only half a team) and are slight favourites. Harewood and Ashton are a great partnership, and Charlton have not played well away from home this year. Expect goals in this match as West Ham try to keep their UEFA Cup dream alive. Finally, ref Rob Styles shouldn't have to reach in to his pocket too often as both these teams play clean - bethilo are predicting just 3 to 4 cards in this derby.
For full details of the above offer, and to open your account, visit the bethilo site here
bethilo is a trading name of Sporting Index which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
The information contained herein is for your general information and use. In particular, it does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by Sporting Index Ltd and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining to make) any specific decisions
*Suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with bethilo. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose. bethilo is a trading name of Sporting Index which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Monday, March 27, 2006
VCPoker Neteller Promotion
VCPoker Neteller Promotion
Fed up with over full, under fuelled freerolls? Then put on the brakes and make a stop at VC Poker for a chance to play in a $5,000 freeroll against a maximum of 998 other players.
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Players depositing between Saturday 1st April (00.00.00 GMT) and Friday 7th April (23.59.59 GMT) will be automatically registered in an MTT freeroll held Wednesday 12th April at 19.00 GMT
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Players depositing between Saturday 15th April (00.00.00 GMT) and Friday 21st April (23.59.59 GMT) will be automatically registered in an MTT freeroll held Wednesday 26th April at 19.00 GMT
Players depositing between Saturday 22nd April (00.00.00 GMT) and Friday 28th April (23.59.59 GMT) will be automatically registered in an MTT freeroll held Wednesday 3rd May at 19.00 GMT
As if that’s not enough to pique your interest, we’ve also lined up an impressive array of free cash offers. All you need do to take advantage of this fabulous offer is
Download the software and set up real money account
Go to the cashier page and click on Deposit
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NTEL2 - $50 bonus (7,500 Action Point requirement)
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Promotion T & Cs
1. Each weekly freeroll restricted to 999 runners. The first 999 new players opening a real money account and making a deposit via Neteller will be registered for the $5,000 freeroll.
2. A minimum of 9 players is necessary for the tournament to take place.
3. All qualifying date parameters run from 00.00 hours to midnight.
4. Entry into tournament restricted to new account holders depositing via Neteller
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60th Anniversary 60/1 Bet from VC bet
LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY…
60/1 Arsenal to win Champs Lge & Middlesbrough to win UEFA CUP
Max stake £25 per person
60/1 Arsenal to win Champs Lge & Middlesbrough to win UEFA CUP
Max stake £25 per person
Sunday, March 26, 2006
THE HAND OF DROG
THE HAND OF DROG
Following another contentious issue involving Didier Drogba and a hand-ball incident this week-end VC Bet offer 33/1 about the Ivorian scoring with his hand in the televised Premiership match against Birmingham at St Andrews next Saturday lunchtime.
VC Bet's Neal Wilkins commented "It would appear that there is an incident in almost every game involving Didier Drogba and with an apparent leniency being shown in recent hand-ball situations 33-1 is an attractive price about history repeating itself within a week next Saturday!"
33/1 Didier Drogba to score with his hand against Birmingham on April 1.
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New poker room!
Canbet recently rolled out a new poker room!
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Roulette launches on VC Bet
VC Bet is proud to announce the launch of the Roulette game, straight from the VC Bet homepage - the only bookmaker to provide this service
When a player clicks on the Roulette button, the Roulette game will pop up from the VC Games client and the player will be able to play from the same account, as indeed they can for all VC Bet/VC Games transactions.
We are hoping that this will prove immensely popular with all out VC Bet customers and are sure that it will be profitable for all our affiliates, who will be rewarded on the same terms for all activity at VC Games as they are at VC Bet.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Super Bowl 2007- latest odds!
COWBOYS GAMBLE ON OWENS SEES THEM CUT TO 20/1 FOR SUPER BOWL
The Dallas Cowboys signed controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens to a three year contract on Saturday, and that has had a positive effect on their Super Bowl odds here at bet365. We’ve cut them into 16/1 (from 25/1) to be champions in 2007, while the Philadelphia Eagles (who unloaded Owens), have had their odds drop from 14/1 to 20/1. Not surprisingly, the signing of outspoken Terrell Owens has sparked conversation throughout the NFL as to whether the veteran wide receiver will elevate the Cowboys' offense or burden them with his antics. However, Dallas’ HC Bill Parcell’s is renowned for his ability to communicate with players and, if he can keep TO’s ego in check, the Cowboys could well make a serious run on the title this coming season.
In other betting moves here at bet365, the Cleveland Browns have had their odds cut to 66/1 form 125/1, after they too dipped their toe quite deeply into Free Agency, signing two-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest to a three year contract. The bet365 outright market is still headed by the Indianapolis Colts at 6/1, who are ahead of Pittsburgh (10/1) despite being routed by the Steelers in the playoffs.
bet365 Super Bowl 2007 prices … Indianapolis 6/1, New England 8/1, Denver, Pittsburgh 10/1, Seattle, Kansas 12/1, others on bet365 website.
NASCAR - Ford City 500 odds.
12/1 BURTON BACK IN THE SADDLE
Ford City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway
Su Mar 26 – 1:30 pm ET (FOX)
A ticket to see Bristol races is like none other for NASCAR fans, and this weekend over 160,000 of them will cram into the Thunder Valley track in Tennessee for the spectacle that is the Ford City 500. It’s a special race, and it takes a special sort of driver to win here. Nice guys needn’t turn up, as there’s sure to be plenty of side-by-side racing, plenty of mangled sheet metal, and even more frayed tempers by the end of the weekend.
They don’t come much tougher than Kevin Harvick (12/1), and he finally came good in this race last year after starting from 43rd on the grid. However, that was after several near misses at Bristol, and he might not be the best bet to win this week. But watch out for his Childress team-mate Jeff Burton, whose strong run at the end of last year came under the fall lights at Bristol. That run has rolled into this year, and he finally ended his winning drought by taking the Busch race at Atlanta last week. At bet35’s 12/1, he looks a great each way shot this week.
However, there is a duo from another organization that needs looking at this week, because they probably should have swept the season here last year. Matt Kenseth (9/2) dominated the fall race to give car owner Jack Roush his seventh win at Bristol, while Greg Biffle (4/1) had some failed strategy in the late stages of the spring race to allow Harvick the win. Biffle finished ninth in the end, and went on to finish third in the fall race, so he’s a worthy favorite to win this week. Best of the bet365 long -shots could be Kenny Schrader at a massive 66/1 here at bet365. His No.21 Wood Brothers Ford has always performed well at Bristol.
Nigel’s Checkered Flag … Jeff Burton @ 12/1
bet365 latest Ford City 500 prices … Greg Biffle 4/1, Matt Kenseth 9/2, Kurt Busch 15/2, Jeff Gordon 8/1, Tony Stewart 9/1, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Burton 12/1, others on bet365 website (Each-way 1/4 odds, 1.2.3.4)
NCAAB – March Madness is in full swing
ALL FOUR NO.1’s ALIVE, FOR NOW
There have been only four instances when all four No. 1 seeds even reached the Elite Eight, never mind the Final Four, so the odds are heavily stacked Duke, Connecticut, Villanova and Memphis advancing en masse to Indy. Still, none of the four have relinquished the favorite’s role in their respective region so, going into the Sweet 16 stage, it’s conceivable that all four could make it. However, there is plenty of competition blocking their path. Follow (and bet) on all the live action via bet365’s ‘In-Play Console’, where the odds are constantly updating in real time.
On paper, none has it easier than bet365’s outright favorites, Connecticut (9/4). The Huskies don't have anyone seeded higher than fifth left between them and the Final Four. On the other hand, Villanova (7/1) look to have the toughest assignment. Should they beat Boston College, they’ll be up against either Florida or Georgetown. Memphis (8/1) won their first two games by the most points (32), and they’re solid favorites with bet365 to reach the last eight and face either No.2 seed UCLA or No.3 Georgetown, where anything can happen. Duke (9/2) always makes the Sweet 16, but don’t always make the Final Four, not even as a No.1 seed. Seven times in the previous eight tournaments, Duke has been top seed going into a regional, and it has come up short four times. History tells us that some combination of these top four seeds is going down short of Indy.
bet365’s NCAA Men’s Championship prices … Connecticut 9/4, Duke 9/2, Villanova 7/1, Memphis 8/1, Boston College 9/1, UCLA, Florida 10/1, others on bet365 website.
AVOID MARCH SADNESS – PLACE YOUR PARLAYS WITH bet365!
Why go anywhere else for your March Madness parlay wagers, as you’re assured of getting more back with the bet365 Parlay Bonus. Each week, we pay out up to 50% more on successful NBA & NCAAB parlays on the following 6 markets:-
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Poker Tournament! Entry fee just $1.00!
Canbet special Poker Tournament! Entry fee is just $1.00!
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March Madness $10,000.00 Added Tournament Details:
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DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS...
DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS...
All Weekend Premiership Matches
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Tottenham v West Brom, Live on Sky Sports 1, Monday 8pm
60/1 Jenas to score first goal & Tottenham win 2-0
Max bet £25 per person.
All Weekend Premiership Matches
Have a bet on the First Goalscorer and if your player scores from OUTSIDE THE PENALTY AREA we’ll double your winnings!
Singles only, maximum bonus £500 per person. Credits within 48 hours.
Tottenham v West Brom, Live on Sky Sports 1, Monday 8pm
60/1 Jenas to score first goal & Tottenham win 2-0
Max bet £25 per person.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Golf from Sawgrass
PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP – COOL HAND LUKE IS BIG AT 20/1
Th Mar 23 – 17.00 BST (SS2)
Fr Mar 25 – 17.00 BST (SS2)
Sa Mar 26 – 19.00 BST (SS2)
Su Mar 26 – 19.30 BST (SS2)
The US Tour takes a big step-up in class this week, as the top golfers in the world tee up for the players Championship from Sawgrass, widely known as the 5th Major. Fortunately for golf fans (and punters), the event gets plenty of TV coverage, and perhaps as a result, there’s also plenty of betting opportunities here at bet365, including once the players tee off via our Live In-Play Console.
Naturally, when looking for the winner, the first place to look is at the head of the betting, but there are good grounds for avoiding the bigger names this week. Tiger may have won three times this year, but he’s not playing at his best right now, and nor are the likes of Els, Mickelson and Goosen. Of the ‘top five’, the one most likely to play his game this week is Vijay Singh, but his putting woes continue to make him opposable, so the value lies further down the bet365 betting list.
The omens are good for a European win this week and, in particular, Luke Donald, who looks to have all the credentials to win at the stand-out bet365 price of 20/1 (21/1 Enhanced Win Only). The worry when supporting Donald is that he doesn’t have the length off the tee, but that’s no handicap on this relatively short course (just over 7,000 yards), which places more emphasis on accuracy off the tee. Just look at last years’ winner – Fred Funk – one of the shortest hitters on tour, but also one of the most accurate. He also dispelled any doubts about is temperament by leading from the front to land the Honda Classic a fortnight ago, and lost nothing in defeat when second here last year. The time is right for Donald to step another level his week, closely followed by Padraig Harrington and Robert Allenby.
Harrington has to be on any short-list this week. He has a cracking record in this event, with two runner-up spots in 2003 and 2004, and this year he’s been a quarter-finalist in the Matchplay, 26th at Doral and 16th in the Honda. He looks to be coming into form just at the right time, as is Allenby who was 4th last week at Bay Hill, and fourth here in 2003.
LEHMAN IS BEST OF THE YANKS AT 40/1
Even better value can be found in bet365’s speciality markets. The same names generally appear in the top-20 of the leaderboard year after year and, while they’re unlikely to come up trumps in the outright market, they’re going to give us a great run for our money in the ‘Top American’ market. In particular, Tom Lehman and Jerry Kelly stand out at 40/1 and 50/1 respectively. Lehman has an outstanding record here, including tied for second last year and, arguably, he’s in better form this time around. Kelly is another course specialist with three top-11 finishes in five years, so they must both be worth an interest this week.
Players Championship Three Off The Tee…Luke Donald @ 20/1, Padraig Harrington 33/1, Robert Allenby 50/1. Each-way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5
Premiership Weekend Picks
EVERTON TO MAKE A POINT AT 13/5
Liverpool v Everton
Sa Mar 25 – 12.45 pm ko (PremPlus)
The pick of this weekend’s Premiership football has to be the Merseyside derby, especially as both teams are playing so well right now. Liverpool’s strikers have certainly found their scoring boots of late, but they could find Everton an altogether different proposition to the likes of Fulham and Birmingham. Everton have also hit form of late, having scored nine goals in the last three games, and they’ll fancy their chances of nicking a goal or two. A win at 5/1 might be too much to ask from David Moye’s side, but they can certainly come away with the point at 13/5 (Liverpool can be backed at 4/7). Three of the last four meetings between these two have seen them share the spoils, which is further encouragement for the bet.
Live Game Pick: Draw @ 13/5
TITLE CHASE BACK ON FOR 12/1 UNITED?
A few weeks ago, it would have been inconceivable to think that Chelsea were not going to be champions again, but the signs are there that the Blues have hit the wall, having dropped 10 points from 24. On the other hand, United have won their last five to reduce the gap to 12 points and, perhaps crucially, they have a game in hand on the champions, whom they play in the penultimate game of the season. In fact, Newcastle fans will not have to be reminded that United have overhauled a 12-point deficit to win the title before, and a visit from 16/1 Birmingham this weekend is perfect for them.
Birmingham have managed just two away wins all season, and they were against West Brom and Sunderland. The Red Devils have done even better against teams now in the bottom eight and, more interestingly for betting purposes, have nailed the win / win double result on four occasions. They’ve also scored at least two in each of their last five games, so a punt on a scoreline of 2-0 or 3-0 looks about right.
United / United Double Result @ 2/5 & United to win 2-0 or 3-0 @ 5/1 or 6/1
bet365’s latest Premiership betting … Chelsea 1/66, Man United 12/1 (2/9 ‘Without Chelsea’)
SAHA SO GOOD AT 3/1
Ruud van Nistelrooy heads our First Goalscorer market on the game at 11/4, but his future at the club has come under scrutiny in recent weeks. Here at bet365, he’s been well-backed to start next season at AC Milan (5/2 from 7/2), and he’s not even favourite to be the top goalscorer at the club next season. That honour goes to Wayne Rooney at 5/4, closely followed by Louis Saha at 11/8, with the Dutchman at 3/1. Saha’s well-taken double against Birmingham took the Frenchman’s tally for a season that only started in November to 13 and, in light of that, he’s a 3/1 shot to net first this weekend – money back if he scores the last goal in the game instead!
Lincoln Handicap Tips
HAIL CESARE AT 7/1
The flat turf season gets under way this week and, for punters, that can only mean one thing – the annual cavalry charge that is the Lincoln Handicap. This year’s race has been transferred from its usual Doncaster home to Redcar, and that might be a blessing as the effect of the draw is likely to be less pronounced here, with the majority of the field likely to tank it up the centre of the course.
With the draw out of the equation, one of the best-backed horses in recent days has been the Michael Stoute-trained King’s Majesty, who is now bet365’s 5/1 favourite. That’s not surprising as this one looks well-handicapped and progressive and, as he needs a strong pace, should have the race run to suit. He must go well, but I just prefer the chances of Cesare who can still be backed at 7/1 with bet365. There’s no doubt he’s been laid out for this race, and we should not be concerned that he’s not run since finishing third in a hot handicap at ‘Glorious’ Goodwood from a terrible draw, as he has run well after a long absence before.
GIFT IS DIVINE EACH WAY AT 16/1
The only problem with backing him now is that his trainer, James Fanshawe, also has him entered in the Doncaster Mile on Friday. That race looks less competitive than the Lincoln and, should he run there instead, we should take the hint. However, in is absence, Divine Gift looks a solid each-way alternative at a juicy 16/1 with bet365. This one was eighth in the race last year and, now under the care of Kevin Ryan, ran an excellent race to be second in the recent Lincoln ‘trial’ at Lingfield earlier this month.
The race is live on Channel 4, but don’t worry If you can’t get to the TV as you can always watch the race live here at bet365. Just bet £5 and click on the ‘Live Stream’ next to the race.
Lincoln Handicap Picks: Cesare @ 7/1 & Divine Gift @ 16/1 (Each-way)
FREE BETS ON CHANNEL 4
Check back next week for news of a brand new racing offer from bet365, which includes free bets every day of the week, even when there’s no racing on TV. However, you don’t have to wait until then to win some free bets with our generous Channel 4/1 Offer. For example, the Lincoln is due off at 3.10 and, with the winner almost certain to go off at 4/1 or bigger, bet365 customers can back the winner and take advantage of a free bet to the same stake (up to £50) on the next live Channel 4 race – the 3.25 race from Newbury.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Premiership Weekend Picks
15/8 TOON TO MAKE POOL PAY FOR LONG SEASON
Newcastle v Liverpool
Su Mar 19 – 1:30 pm ko (SS1)
Last week we cashed in by backing the ‘under’ goals in the Man United v Newcastle encounter at 10/11, and goals may again be hard to come by when Newcastle take on Liverpool at St James’ Park. Ok, the Magpies may have been flattered last week, but they’ve always been strongest at home and, this time, they face an attack which has managed only six strikes in its last ten games. That will hardly strike fear into the Newcastle defence who, up until last weekend, had conceded just two goals in six matches.
For Liverpool, the signs are that their mammoth season is finally catching up with them (this will be the 53rd game of their campaign), which makes Newcastle look over-priced at 15/8 in our 90 minute market (Liverpool 11/8, Draw 9/4). In our First Goalscorer market, Nolberto Solano could be the value pick at 11/1. He’s opened the scoring in the last two Newcastle home games, and scored twice against Everton to take his tally for the season to six. If he scores the last goal in the game instead, we’ll give you your money back here at bet365.
Interestingly, neither team has lost after taking the lead or won after going behind in the league, so don’t be afraid to go in again on our live ‘In-Play Console (up to 14 markets available), should the opportunity arise.
Live Game Picks:
Newcastle @ 15/8 / ‘Under’ 2.5 Goals @ 8/11
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN CITY AT EVENS
In the other Premiership games this weekend, Arsenal (3/10), Chelsea (2/5) and Bolton (1/3) look serious Premiership acca material against Charlton, Fulham and Sunderland respectively. Meanwhile, it’s difficult to see Man City (Evens) or West Ham (4/5) slipping up either. City are full of confidence in front of their home fans (not lost at home this season to a side outside the top seven), while West Ham have helped themselves to ten points from their last four games at Upton Park. A four-fold on our four main fancies this weekend pays out £384.59 for a £50 stake, which includes a bet365 bonus of 5% - up to 60% available every weekend.
Premiership Picks:
Man City to beat Wigan @ Evens
West Ham to beat Portsmouth @ 4/5
4-fold on Newcastle (15/8), Arsenal (3/10), Chelsea (2/5) and Bolton
(1/3)
- pays £242.55 (£25 stake) – which includes a bet365 bonus of 5%
Cheltenham Ante Post Double
KASBAH CAN ROCK AT 6/1
Last week, I put up L’Ami at 12/1 for the Gold Cup, and Kasbah Bliss at 9/1 for the Triumph Hurdle. Since then, nothing has happened to change my mind, and they’re now trading at 10/1 and 6/1 respectively – hope you are on! The duo are both trained in France by Francois Doumen, who has been saying all along that his horses have been held up by frozen gallops, so it was a slight surprise to see them run so well at Sandown last time out.
It was a fine weight-carrying performance by L’Ami in the Racing Post Chase, and it’s worth remembering that he was also a fine second to Trabolgan in the Hennessy, and that one would have gone off a clear favourite for the Gold Cup had he not succumbed to injury. He’ll be staying on when others have cried enough, as will Kasbah Bliss, who powered home up the Sandown hill to win the Adonis Hurdle, a race that has thrown up the winner of the Triumph Hurdle on more than one occasion. The Gallic double still pays out at a massive 76/1 for the win here at bet365!
Plus, there’s no need to worry if you’re stuck in the office or can’t get to a TV, you can watch the progress of your free bets (and all your Festival bets) live here at bet365. Just bet £5 and click on the live stream next to the race.
Cheltenham Ante Post Double (already advised): L’Ami @ 12/1 (Gold Cup) & Kasbah Bliss @ 9/1 (Triumph Hurdle)
FREE CHELTENHAM BETS ALL WEEK
The winner of this year’s Gold Cup looks likely to go off at 4/1 or bigger, so bet365 customers smart enough to find the winner can take advantage of a free bet on the next live Channel 4 race – the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase (4.00pm). Simply back a 4/1 or bigger winner of any live Channel 4 race at the Festival (there are 16 in total!), and we’ll give you a free bet to the same stake (up to £50) on the next live Channel 4 race.
Make the most of your Cheltenham betting by visiting us all week.
Money For Nothing...
VC Bet's weekend football offering:
Money For Nothing...
ALL Weekend Premiership Matches
If any match finishes 0-0 we will refund all losing First Goalscorer and Correct Score bets on that particular match.
Money For Nothing...
ALL Weekend Premiership Matches
If any match finishes 0-0 we will refund all losing First Goalscorer and Correct Score bets on that particular match.
Singles only. Maximum refund £200 per person per match. Refunds within 48 hours.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
£5,000 in free bets up for grabs
The horses are in for Wednesday's VC Bet 2006 Cheltenham Tipster Competition, with £5,000 in free bets up for grabs.
The Cheltenham Festival is the racing world’s biggest week. To celebrate this, VC Bet is offering you the chance to win a share of £5000 worth of free bets without staking a fortune or relying on rank outsiders to win you money – this really is the perfect opportunity for novices and experts alike to win big on the Cheltenham Festival!
On top of our astounding £60 Free Bet offer in place during the Festival to celebrate our 60th year in business, why not give our Cheltenham Tipster Competition a go!
VC Bet - Your One-Stop Betting Solution!
The Cheltenham Festival is the racing world’s biggest week. To celebrate this, VC Bet is offering you the chance to win a share of £5000 worth of free bets without staking a fortune or relying on rank outsiders to win you money – this really is the perfect opportunity for novices and experts alike to win big on the Cheltenham Festival!
On top of our astounding £60 Free Bet offer in place during the Festival to celebrate our 60th year in business, why not give our Cheltenham Tipster Competition a go!
VC Bet - Your One-Stop Betting Solution!
Cheltenham Cashback
Cheltenham Cashback - up to 10% cashback on your losses every day! The amount of cashback depends on your number of bets...
* Bet on 4 out of 6 cheltenham races and get 5% CASHBACK
* Bet on 5 out of 6 cheltenham races and get 7.5% CASHBACK
* Bet on 6 out of 6 cheltenham races and get 10% CASHBACK
* Bet on 4 out of 6 cheltenham races and get 5% CASHBACK
* Bet on 5 out of 6 cheltenham races and get 7.5% CASHBACK
* Bet on 6 out of 6 cheltenham races and get 10% CASHBACK
Price booster - From 11am to the first show every day of the Festival we will be betting to 1% a runner on a specified race, meaning enhanced value odds. Tuesday's great value race is the 2.00pm - Anglo Irish Bank supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Evening prices - From 6pm every evening of the Festival you can bet early on the next day's major action, before it's a tip in the Racing Post!
Specials:
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Top Festival Jockey*
9/4 R Walsh 9/4 AP McCoy 11/2 P Carberry
6/1 T Murphy 10/1 B Geraghty 12/1 R Johnson
20/1 M Fitzgerald 20/1 G Lee 25/1 A Dobbin
25/1 R Thornton 33/1 D Casey 50/1 P Brennan
50/1 C O'Dwyer 50/1 A Thornton 50/1 C Williams
66/1 S Thomas
Win only. Others on request
Top Festival Trainer*
13/8 P Nicholls 2/1 M Pipe 8/1 W Mullins
10/1 N Henderson 12/1 P Hobbs 12/1 N Meade
12/1 Jonjo O'Neill 16/1 F Doumen 20/1 H Johnson
25/1 H Daly 33/1 Mrs J Harrington 33/1 A King
50/1 R Alner 50/1 H Knight 50/1 NT Davies
Win only. Others on request
Number of Irish Trained winners*
66/1 No Winner 40/1 One Winner 25/1 Two Winners
14/1 Three winners 7/1 Four Winners 9/2 Five Winners
4/1 Six Winners 7/2 Seven Winners 9/2 Eight Winners
4/1 Nine Or More Winners
Macs Hammer - 14/1*
Macs Joy to win the Champion Hurdle and West Ham to beat Bolton in 90 minutes
Cheltenham specials from totesport.com
* Prices subject to fluctuation
totepool update:
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totejackpot
- £100,000 minimum guaranteed daily at the Festival
- Biggest totejackpot dividend was £288,045 to a £1 stake on Gold Cup Day in 2004
toteplacepot
- £600,000+ pools expected daily
- Champion Hurdle day last year paid £7,489 to a £1 stake
totequadpot
- £20,000+ pools expected daily
- Champion Hurdle day last year paid £288 to a £1 stake
toteexacta
- Beat CSF on 19 out of 24 races in 2005
- In the Champion Hurdle last year, toteexacta paid £24 vs £26 straight forecast
totetrifecta
- Available on every race at the 2006 Festival
- £10,000 guaranteed pool on a selected race daily
totewin
- A £10 totewin bet on all 24 winners in 2005 paid £664 more than SP
totedistance
- Available every day of the Festival on race 3 at 3.15
Bet into totepool now!
Cheltenham Free Bet Specials
Struggling to find some value at Cheltenham?
Check out the spread betting markets on offer from Sporting Index. As well as backing a horse to win, you can bet against those you think will not perform. Alternatively, their Match Bets offer something a bit different. Sporting Index pick 2 horses and predict the distance, in lengths, between them when they cross the line. It doesn't even matter where they finish in the context of the race!
If you haven't got a Sporting Index account yet, it's a good time to take advantage of the free cash or bet on offer to new clients:
Free £25 per length Match Bet - Open a Sporting Index account* and place ten sports bets, (each with the potential to win and lose £20), and you can claim a free £25 per length racing match bet**.
OR
£100 Cash - Open a Sporting Index account* and place ten sports bets, (each with the potential to win and lose £20), and you can claim a free £100 straight into your account**.
*Credit and suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with Sporting Index. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
On top of the above, all clients (new and existing) can claim a free bet on every day of the Festival.
4 Free Festival Bets for all clients
Day 1:
Place 5 or more Race Index bets on Cheltenham today before 3pm (each risking £20) and Sporting Index will give you free £5 per point Buy of any horse in the Sporting Index Cross Country Chase at 4.40pm.**
Day 2:
Place 5 or more Race Index bets on Cheltenham today before 3pm (each risking £20) and Sporting Index will give you free £5 per point Buy of any horse in the Coral Cup at 4pm.**
Day 3:
Place 5 or more Race Index bets on Cheltenham today before 3pm (each risking £20) and Sporting Index will give you free £5 per point Buy of any horse in the Racing Post Plate at 4pm.**
Day 4:
Place 5 or more Race Index bets on Cheltenham today before 3pm (each risking £20) and Sporting Index will give you free £5 per point Buy of any horse in the Gold Cup at 3.15pm.**
For all the latest prices and to apply for your Sporting Index account, click on the banner
The information contained herein is for your general information and use. In particular, it does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by Sporting Index Ltd and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining to make) any specific decisions.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Latest Sports News
The Betting Directory now has a Sports Headlines service, giving up to the minute sports news from around the world!
Check it out here - http://www.betting-directory.org.uk/USSportsNews.htm
Check it out here - http://www.betting-directory.org.uk/USSportsNews.htm
Saturday, March 11, 2006
NASCAR - UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400
STEWART SEEKS JACKPOT IN VEGAS AT 11/2
Su Mar 12 – 4:00 pm ET (FOX)
The drivers head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday for the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400, and the smart money at bet365 is going on Roush Racing’s five current drivers. That’s no surprise, since the team have won five of the eight races at the track, and they’re in better shape now than they’ve ever been.
The quintet is headed by Tony Stewart at 11/2 in bet365’s outright betting. Stewart has made a relatively poor start to the year, but we’re only two races in, and he was one of the strongest drivers in California until coming to grief with engine trouble inside the final 35 laps of the 250 lap race. He may have never won in Vegas, but he’s come close (2nd in 2000, and three other top-5 finishes), and will be bringing with him the same chassis that dominated the California race.
Greg Biffle (8/1) was also going well in that California race until succumbing to engine trouble, and his team is likely to run similar this week, along with fellow Roush drivers, Carl Edwards (8/1), Mark Martin (10/1) and new-boy Jamie McMurray (12/1). In fact, expect to see all five finish in the top-10 this week, along with the Busch brothers, Kyle (12/1) and Kurt (18/1), who both finished in the top here last year. The best of the rest looks to be Jimmie Johnson (13/2). Johnson’s No.48 Chevrolet has thrived recently, pulling off an amazing win in Daytona and a second-place finish in California. That’s three wins among nine top-10’s in his last dozen starts!
Nigel’s Checkered Flag … Tony Stewart @ 11/2
bet365 latest UAW Daimler Chrysler 400 prices … Tony Stewart 11/2, Jimmie Johnson 13/2, Matt Kenseth 7/1, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle 8/1, Kasey Kahne 10/1, others on bet365 website (Each-way 1/4 odds, 1.2.3.4)
Su Mar 12 – 4:00 pm ET (FOX)
The drivers head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday for the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400, and the smart money at bet365 is going on Roush Racing’s five current drivers. That’s no surprise, since the team have won five of the eight races at the track, and they’re in better shape now than they’ve ever been.
The quintet is headed by Tony Stewart at 11/2 in bet365’s outright betting. Stewart has made a relatively poor start to the year, but we’re only two races in, and he was one of the strongest drivers in California until coming to grief with engine trouble inside the final 35 laps of the 250 lap race. He may have never won in Vegas, but he’s come close (2nd in 2000, and three other top-5 finishes), and will be bringing with him the same chassis that dominated the California race.
Greg Biffle (8/1) was also going well in that California race until succumbing to engine trouble, and his team is likely to run similar this week, along with fellow Roush drivers, Carl Edwards (8/1), Mark Martin (10/1) and new-boy Jamie McMurray (12/1). In fact, expect to see all five finish in the top-10 this week, along with the Busch brothers, Kyle (12/1) and Kurt (18/1), who both finished in the top here last year. The best of the rest looks to be Jimmie Johnson (13/2). Johnson’s No.48 Chevrolet has thrived recently, pulling off an amazing win in Daytona and a second-place finish in California. That’s three wins among nine top-10’s in his last dozen starts!
Nigel’s Checkered Flag … Tony Stewart @ 11/2
bet365 latest UAW Daimler Chrysler 400 prices … Tony Stewart 11/2, Jimmie Johnson 13/2, Matt Kenseth 7/1, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle 8/1, Kasey Kahne 10/1, others on bet365 website (Each-way 1/4 odds, 1.2.3.4)
NCAA preview and odds
BEAT THE BUZZER WITH bet365
March Madness is finally here, and it’s sure to be a four-week orgy of buzzer beaters and bracket busters, culminating in the NCAA men's basketball championship game on Monday, April 3. Follow (and bet) on all the live action via bet365’s ‘In-Play Console’, where the odds are constantly updating in real time. Of course, serious bettors at bet365 will be getting excited at the prospect of picking pointspread winners, and we’ve already highlighted the fact that following the bigger teams blind could be the quick way to the ‘poor house’ (and madness!). Public teams, like Duke, are always going to get heavily backed, and that will be factored into the pointspread. Hence, the other team is going to be a bigger price, in order to attract equal money on both sides, so the bet365 underdog could be worth a second glance when making your picks in the coming weeks.
DEFENCE, DEFENCE, DEFENCE
Another factor for bet365 customers to consider over the coming weeks is defence. That is, teams are far more likely to display all-out defence for 40-minutes (compared to the regular season), as games are far more likely to be close and meaningful, especially as the tourney gets close to the championship game. Taking Duke as an example from last season, the Blue Devils fell below their regular season scoring average (78ppg) in all three of their ACC tourney games, and all but one game went under the total. In fact, they went under the total in four of six games in the ACC and NCAA tournaments…get the drift?
CONNECTICUT FAVORITE AT 5/2
Connecticut have been chalked up as 5/2 favorites in bet365’s NCAA Men’s championship betting, followed by Duke at 16/5. The fact that these two top the betting is a no-brainer, but what of the challengers? The tough-minded Villanova Wildcats (7/1) and Texas Longhorns (9/1) are next best. However, both North Carolina and Kansas are two very young teams who have made great strides since the beginning of the campaign, and could be worth backing at bet365’s 10/1 and 40/1 respectively. Good luck and enjoy the madness.
bet365’s NCAA Men’s Championship prices … Connecticut 5/2, Duke 16/5,, Villanova 7/1, Texas 9/1, North Carolina 10/1, Memphis 12/1, Ohio St 14/1, Michigan St 18/1, Illinois 20/1, others on bet365 website.
AVOID MARCH SADNESS – PLACE YOUR PARLAYS WITH bet365!
While we’ll be backing our NCAA tourney picks in singles (as every serious bettor should), it will be hard to resist a speculative parlay wager along the way, especially as we’re assured of getting more back with the bet365 Parlay Bonus. Each week, we pay out up to 50% more on successful NBA & NCAAB parlays on the following 6 markets:-
Point Spread, Game Total, First Half Point Spread, Second Half Point Spread, First Half Total, Second Half Total.
Free £60 Bet
VC has been in the betting and gaming business since the days of Churchill and rations – in fact they celebrate their 60th Anniversary in 2006!
So they thought – what better way to let their customers celebrate with them than to offer them an exclusive, Free £60 Bet during the Cheltenham Festival, the racing world’s biggest week!!!
Customers must open an account with VC Bet from March 13th –17th 2006, have their first bet with them at Evens or better and they will receive up to £60 Free.
This offer is only available to UK & Ireland Customers. Please vcbet to find out more about this and their other Cheltenham offers.