Monday, December 5, 2011
Sports World |
- Denman in top shape ahead of Lexus return
- Euro 2012 Draw Throws Up Mouth Watering Clashes Ahead of Group Stage
- Impressive Sivola on the up-and-up
- Wenger needs RVP backing
- Dalglish set to utilise squad
- AVB needs cup relief
- Charlton set for Carlisle test
| Denman in top shape ahead of Lexus return Posted: 05 Dec 2011 08:18 AM PST Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has been at pains to remind punters not to forget the great Denman ahead of the veteran's return to action this season in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28, writes Elliot Slater. Nicholls believes that many people in horse racing betting circles have written off the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner as being 'over the hill' on the evidence of his final outing of the term when he ran poorly at Aintree, but believes he should be better judged on his outstanding effort in the Gold Cup a few weeks earlier when running a blinder to finish second to Long Run, just edging out stable companion and fellow racing legend Kauto Star to take the minor honour. Nicholls has already proved with the stunning seasonal debut effort of Kauto Star in routing Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month, that he can have his veteran horses cherry ripe for their first run of the term and reports that Denman is doing everything right at home and is showing no signs just yet of age catching up with him and ruling him out of competing at the very highest level of the sport. As short as 16/1 with some firms but some horse racing tips have him available at up to 25/1 for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, those odds will certainly tumble if, (as Nicholls appears to expect), Denman runs a big race in Ireland at the end of the month. It shouldn't be forgotten that the veteran is still one of the highest rated chasers in training (177) and those that recall his 14 wins from 24 career starts, including two Hennessy Gold Cups, the Lexus Chase, Cheltenham Gold Cup and RSA Chase, will not be too quick to sign owner Paul Barber's great racehorse off to the history books just yet  |
| Euro 2012 Draw Throws Up Mouth Watering Clashes Ahead of Group Stage Posted: 05 Dec 2011 06:47 AM PST The draw for the group stage of Euro 2012 has been made and has thrown up a host of imponderables, with many fixtures capturing the imagination of football fans ahead of the tournament which gets underway next June. The Bookmakers have been very busy calculating impact the draw has had on the Euro odds but in all cases that have made defending European and world cup champions, Spain, as the favourites to win at around the 5/2 mark with Germany next best at 3/1. Both teams however, although separated in the initial stages, have been drawn in the two most difficult groups, Germany in Group B alongside Holland, Denmark and Portugal whilst Spain has been drawn in Group C with Italy, Republic of Ireland and Croatia. Euro 2012 promises to be one of the most competitive European Championships for sometime and all 16 teams will fancy their chances of progressing beyond the group stage. Equally, the full Euro draw ensures that every team will have its work cut out but as Greece proved when winning the competition in 2004, anything is possible. Group A Poland Greece Russia Czech Republic There is very little to choose between any of these teams as the two most likely qualifiers. Obviously co-hosts Poland will be playing in front of a very partisan crowd, while Russia at number 12 and Greece at 14 are the two highest ranked teams. The Czech Republic could easily be the 'dark horses' however, if their recent form is anything to go by. Four wins in their last five games suggest that they are improving all the time, although admittedly two of those wins came in the Euro 2012 Play-Off qualifiers against Montenegro. The opening games in this group of Poland v Greece which opens the tournament on June 8th and Russia v Czech republic, should go a long way into deciding of who and who does not go through to the knock out stages. Prediction: Russia and Czech Republic Group B Holland Denmark Germany Portugal Germany has been made the favourites to win the group with odds of 5/4, while Holland who are ranked at number two behind Spain in the FIFA World Rankings are a best price of 2/1 to beat them to it. Portugal come next with odds of 4/1 while Denmark who are ranked 11 in the world are the outsiders with odds of anything between 12 and 20/1. Holland open their account against Denmark which is immediately followed by Germany v Portugal. These are games that are extremely hard to call, but whatever can grab an early win in this group will give themselves a huge advantage. Traditionally groups as tight as this one usually start with two draws, with no team wanting to take any chances so early on in the competition. Prediction: Holland and Germany Group C Spain Italy Croatia Republic of Ireland It might be a slight exaggeration to have suggested that this is also a 'group of death' but it is quite obvious that Italy will not relish having to play the Rep of Ireland especially after having had such a torrid time against them during the qualifying phase. Spain however should have no such fears about Ireland but will not be too enamoured by having to play Italy in their first match on 10th June. It should be noted that Italy managed to beat Spain in a friendly in the summer by 2-1. Croatia have been a good team for a long time and should be regarded as the 'dark horses'. However it will essential for them to deprive Ireland of a point when the two meet in their opening game an that is no easy task as Ireland come to the tournament as one of the hardest teams to beat in Europe. Prediction: Spain and Italy Group D Ukraine Sweden France England Despite having co-hosts in the group, the English and French teams will only have themselves to blame should they not make it through to the last eight. England who have been in very consistent form since returning from the World Cup in S Africa, will be wary of the threat that France will set and will not want to be losing to them in the opening game of the group on June 11th. England have already shown that they have the measure of Sweden in their recent 'friendly' and should prove too good for the likes of Ukraine who will co-host the tournament without having to play any competitive matches recently. Both Fabio Capello and French boss, Laurent Blanc will be aware that whoever loses in their head to head will almost certainly face Spain in the last eight. Prediction: England and France  |
| Impressive Sivola on the up-and-up Posted: 05 Dec 2011 05:26 AM PST Tom George looks to have an exciting handicap hurdler in the shape of the rapidly progressive Sivola de Sivola who put up an eye-catching performance at Newbury last month when easily accounting for useful opposition in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (qualifier) to catapult himself into the frame for honours in the final of the staying handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, writes Elliot Slater. George's five-year-old came up against very smart rivals on each of his first three races over timber, but showed on his second outing when finishing a good runner-up to subsequent Supreme Novices Hurdle runner-up and Aintree Festival winner Spirit Son, that he is a horse of some latent ability. Getting off the mark at the fourth time of asking in a Perth maiden hurdle in April, Sivola de Sivola was then roughed off for the summer but has returned in tremendous form this season. People looking for tips for Cheltenham betting should remember this. After justifying favouritism at Carlisle on October on his first outing of the campaign the son of Martaline then ran with credit when a staying-on fifth to Fingal Bay in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham in early November. Stepped up to three miles for his most recent race at Newbury and well supported down to 7/2 favouritism, Sivola de Sivola was always travelling well behind the leaders before being sent on at the second last, from where he stayed-on well to beat Kasbadali by five-lengths. People following the Cheltenham betting tips should bear this in mind. That effort convinced George that his youngster is definitely on the upgrade and he is looking forward to taking him to Cheltenham in March where he could contest either the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final or, if he improves further between now and then, might have a crack at the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle. Wherever he goes there is little doubt that the progressive grey gelding is definitely worth following for the time being.  |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:49 AM PST Someone in the Arsenal squad needs to step up and back their in-form striker Robin Van Persie, after the Dutchman proved he can't do it alone every week following their draw with Fulham on Saturday. The Holland international has been in the form of his career this season but he could not do enough to secure a victory at the Emirates on Saturday against the Cottagers. Van Persie has singlehandedly turned Arsenal's season around, after they made one of the worst starts to a Premier League campaign for a number of years. People looking at the football betting should remember this. But as Saturday proved, the striker needs his fellow front men with the likes of Gervinho and Theo Walcott to chip in with more goals to take the pressure off the skipper. Arsenal have had a busy schedule in recent weeks and it does not get any easier, as they prepare to take on high flying Manchester City in the Carling Cup on Tuesday. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger put the draw against Fulham down to fatigue and the Frenchman is likely to rest a number of key players, with Van Persie probably included. Anyone placing a Carling Cup bet should bear this in mind. Wenger said: "You could see many players were on the fringe, and that we had not completely digested the Champions League game on Wednesday night. "We needed to dig deep, the circumstances in the game went against us because the moment when Fulham scored they were not crossing halfway a lot." It's guaranteed that City will pose far more attacking threats when they make the trip to the capital on Tuesday and it will be a test to fill the void left by Van Persie, if the striker is given his much needed rest for the Carling Cup clash.  |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:10 AM PST Liverpool have already tasted success at Stamford Bridge this season but their Carling Cup encounter with Chelsea on Tuesday will give the Reds a chance to give some of their current bench warmers a decent run. Under manager Kenny Dalglish and with the backing of their American owners, the Merseyside club have been able to add more strength in depth to the squad, which has been found wanting in the past. Fans of Carling Cup betting should remember this. Plenty of money has been spent to try to bolster the squad into a Premier League title challenging outfit. That might not come about this season but with no European football causing a distraction, Dalglish can afford to put more emphasis into the domestic cups this term, as the club hope to give their fans some much anticipated silverware. Whilst Chelsea's Champions League campaign rests on a knife edge, Liverpool will be keen to book their place in the Carling Cup semi-final but they are likely to make changes from the side that won at The Bridge earlier this month. Anyone betting on football should bear this in mind. Striker Andy Carroll is in desperate need of game time and he could feature from the off on Tuesday, as the former Newcastle United front-man hopes to live up to his heavy price-tag. Summer signing Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson could also do with a decent performance, with neither player really setting Anfield alight since joining the club. Liverpool will be determined to finish in the top four in the Premier League this season but Dalglish will have the Carling Cup in his mind as a big chance for silverware in his first full campaign back in the Reds hot-seat.  |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:04 AM PST Andre Villas-Boas is starting to learn what managing a Premier League giant is all about and the Chelsea boss may be able to relieve some of the pressure with a big win in the Carling Cup. The Blues are well off the pace in terms of the title race and their campaign in Europe hangs in the balance, after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League in midweek. Chelsea will be looking for revenge against Liverpool in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, after they were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline when the two sides met in the Premier League earlier this month. Those looking at the football predictions should remember this. A place in the semi-final of the competition would be a welcome distraction for the Blues faithful, who have seen their side leak far too many goals this season and fall well off the pace of the two Manchester clubs City and United. With pressure mounting on AVB, the 34-year-old has been forced to defend his position at Stamford Bridge and the Portuguese tactician is confident of turning thing around, which could start with a win over Liverpool. Those looking at the odds Carling Cup should remember this. He said: "To handle a situation like this is nothing new. "It is nothing new when you go into a run of bad results. In a period of every three days you play a game, and every game gives you an opportunity to get back on track. That's exactly our focus. "The decisive key is to transfer what we do in training onto the pitch. Hopefully that will bring us to a good result, but it might not be sufficient."  |
| Charlton set for Carlisle test Posted: 05 Dec 2011 04:08 AM PST Charlton are flying high in League One as they hope to make a swift return to the Championship and now they can take that confidence into their FA Cup encounter with Carlisle United at The Valley. The in-form London outfit are five points clear at the top of the league table ahead of the unbeaten second placed Huddersfield Town and the squad can soon turn their attentions to domestic cup duties. Charlton managed to come through a potential banana skin in the last round as they dispatched FC Halifax 4-0 in the feisty atmosphere of The Shay. People looking at the football odds should remember this. In wet a cold conditions in West Yorkshire, manager Chris Powell and his players were able to withstand some heavy pressure to produce a very professional performance and eventually run out comfortable winners. Charlton ran riot against Carlisle in their last encounter in League One, as they romped home with a 4-0 victory at The Valley. The Cambrians will have to make the tough trip to the capital once again looking for a much improved performance against Powell's men. Those looking at promotions FA Cup should remember this. Carlisle enjoyed a comfortable away win of their own in the FA Cup first round, with a 4-0 victory over Alfreton Town. Like their opponents on December 3, Carlisle avoided the banana skin and have gained some cup confidence from the away win. The Valley will undoubtedly be a very different prospect and all signs are pointing to a Charlton victory but with the FA Cup you never know.  |
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