Best Of Bets

Day: 17 March 2023

  • Six Nations final weekend preview: Can England salvage pride vs Ireland?

    Six Nations final weekend preview: Can England salvage pride vs Ireland?

    BestOfBets previews the final weekend of the Six Nations action, as Ireland chase a Triple Crown and Grand Slam against under-seige England, with France looking to keep the pressure on in Paris.

    Scotland vs Italy, Saturday 11 March @ 12.30pm

    Scotland can surely sign off a very respectable Six Nations performance if they – as they should – cruise past Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday lunchtime. They aren’t a great price, 1/9 with many bookmakers, but as part of a treble on the final weekend of the tournament, Gregor Townsend’s side should be bankers.
    Three victories and two defeats would mark a solid return for the Scots, although they may still rue their performance against France, where chances of an unlikely championship win since 1999 (the last ever Five Nations) slipped away again. A place in the last eight of the World Cup later this year should be a minimum requirement, given their impressive form.

    France vs Wales, Saturday 11 March @ 2.45pm

    While Wales will just be thankful they beat Italy last week to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon, France will be giving their all and holding out for a miracle on Saturday. Les Bleus made key mistakes in their all-action clash with Ireland earlier in the tournament and that defeat may end up costing them the championship.
    In Antoine Dupont, France have the player of the 2023 Six Nations – and arguably the best player in world rugby right now. But they will end this tournament potless unlike England can conjour up a miracle in Dublin. Expect the French to fulfil their side of the bargain by beating Wales in Paris – they are overwhelming favourites to do so, at 1/25. A bonus point win will put some pressure on the Irish.

    Ireland vs England, Saturday 11 March @ 5pm

    A title procession at the Aviva Stadium, or can England poop the Ireland party by producing some kind of response to their drubbing by France last week? The former seems far likelier, given the respective form of the two teams. Ireland have been inspired all tournament; England looked shellshocked and shattered at Twickenham last time out.
    The bookies, just like at the Cheltenham races this week, are backing the Irish and with good reason. Andy Farrell’s side are 1/8 to complate a sensational Grand Slam and Triple Crown. It’s not often England are made such huge underdogs for any Six Nations game, but they’re way out at 6/1 for this one. The price is alluring but there’s not much going in the favour of Steve Borthwick’s men.
  • Three Premier League fixtures to bet on this weekend: Arsenal to march on?

    Three Premier League fixtures to bet on this weekend: Arsenal to march on?

    With some teams in FA Cup action and an international break on the horizon, there’s not much Premier League football around for the next few weeks. However, with a few games underway this weekend, BestOfBets previews the action and there’s some interesting games to be played.

    Southampton vs Tottenham, Saturday 15 March @ 3pm

    Whatever you’re backing when you bet on Southampton versus Spurs on Saturday afternoon, don’t back goals. Ruben Selles has certainly given the Saints a solid base since he was appointed to replace the chaotic Nathan Jones; they’ve conceded just three goals in their past five league games. But at the other end, goals have been hard to come by, scoring seven in all competitions since the middle of January.
    Antonio Conte’s Spurs are hardly known for their free-flowing football either, so it could be a tricky watch at St Mary’s this weekend. Tottenham’s Champions League exit to AC Milan prompted calls for Conte to be dismissed, although the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend lifted some of the pessure.
    Spurs are so inconsistent and Saints really need a result, so a draw might be the best bet for this one. A Tottenham win at 3/4 isn’t very generous and the home win, although appealing at 15/4, just isn’t very likely.

    Chelsea vs Everton, Saturday 15 March @ 5.30pm

    It feels like Graham Potter is finally building something promising at Chelsea. The Champions League knockout victory over Borussia Dortmund was a real shot in the arm and it was sandwiched by morale-boosting league wins over Leeds and Leicester. New signings Enzo Fernandez, Joao Felix and co are flickering into life as well.
    Who better to spoil the Potter progress, then, than Sean Dyche and his gnarly Everton team? The former Burnley boss has prompted an upturn in results at Goodison Park, but they’re still very much mired in the relegation scrap and in desperate need of results.
    An Everton win on Saturday evening is a long shot at 11/2, the draw is a chance at 7/2, but it’s probably best to play it safe and back the in-form Blues.

    Arsenal vs Crystal Palace, Sunday 16 March @ 2pm

    Arsenal can really steal a march on Manchester City in the title race this weekend, with Pep Guardiola’s side – and Manchester United – in FA Cup action.
    The Gunners have shown some real fortitude in recent weeks, battling past Bournemouth with a late winner and then producing a magical display to see off Fulham. But there’s no resting on laurels for Mikel Arteta’s side, especially after the shock sacking of former Arsenal favourite Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace, which may jolt the Eagles into life.
    Palace aren’t exactly in fluent form – they’ve drawn a blank in four successive matches, hence Vieira getting the boot – although they nearly derailed City’s title bid last Saturday before Erling Haaland’s late penalty. Arsenal are the wise bet here, mind, and should win to nil to compound a bad week for Palace.
    For more information and in-depth coverage, please head to Best of Bets’ football where you will find extensive coverage of all football games including Premier League, Champions League, Europa League and much more.
  • Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Handicaps

    Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Handicaps

    It’s the final day of the greatest show in the world and the Cheltenham Gold Cup takes centre stage in a week that has seen incredible performances, heartfelt stories, and joyous crowd affection.

    And if you still need some help with those pesky handicaps on the final day of the Festival, Ash Symonds of Bestofbets is here to help.

    FRIDAY – County Handicap Hurdle

    The County Hurdle is a race I struggle to work out sometimes – last year I couldn’t see the obvious staring me right in the face and even before that I missed the train Dan Skelton of winners.

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    Skelton has a nice hand with Pembroke this year, certainly a horse that fits the progressive style, and has course form.

    However, I’d be willing to take a different British horse with a similar profile, and that would be GIN COCO at 10/1. This is a horse I have liked since last season having finished second at the Punchestown Festival in April 2022.

    Since then, an easy novice hurdle win in October started his season well, but it’s his Greatwood Hurdle second that really took me back.

    Personally, I didn’t like his trip through the Greatwood – he was a bit too far back, was rushed along (using up plenty of energy) down the Cheltenham hill, and had to come wide around I LIKE TO MOVE IT, a horse who has since won the Kingwell Hurdle and improved 15 pounds, when trying to make his winning run.

    I think when ridden a touch more prominently on the new course, which should suit a tonne better, he could be very dangerous.

    I’ll also give a shout to another British runner in the field and that’s MILKWOOD for Neil Mulholland.

    This is simply because he is handicapped to be very competitive based on his old form.

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    Let me read you off a list: he was third in the 2021 renewal of this race off 140, won the Scottish Champion Hurdle off 142, was second in a Galway Hurdle off 147 to the very good Saldier, and was second in the most recent Welsh Champion Hurdle off 148.

    Following a fairly average run in the Elite Hurdle in November and a decent performance over the wrong trip in February off the back of a 102-day break, the handicapper has given Milkwood a chance off 141 in this year’s County Hurdle, a race that doesn’t look to have a standout performer.

    He is a fiercely good traveler into his races and Mulholland is a brilliant target trainer, so if he continues to run in this rich vein of form, he could be right there at 33/1.

    And to complete the trio of County Hurdle horses, it could be a first Festival success for trainer Richard Spender as at 20/1, WONDERWALL could cause a small upset.

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    His bumper form with Knappers Hill from December 202 reads very well and he was seven seventh in the 2021 Champion Bumper behind Sir Gerhard.

    Fast forward to January 2022 and he beat City Chief while showing plenty of speed at Doncaster and was running a very good race behind Elle Est Belle a month later at Huntington before falling.

    Following a respectable effort behind Sebastopol and Stage Star, the now Turners Novices Chase winner, at Newbury over fences, he returns back to two miles and hurdles off a mark of 134.

    He could be very dangerous if on song at a course he shouldn’t have any issues with.

     

    FRIDAY – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

    The Martin Pipe. The race that caused a mass sing-song before flag fall 12 months ago, and the final piece of the puzzle for Ireland to complete their clean sweep on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival last year.

    The horse who has been at the top of my list for a while is IMAGINE for Gordon Elliott, a trainer who loves to have a winner in this race.

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    The five-year-old Montmartre gelding has been running into nice horses all season: Hunters Yarn and Inothewayurthinkin are the main two. The former is a Supreme hope for Willie Mullins and Imagine actually reversed the form with the latter on his most recent start.

    Coming into this race off a British mark of 139, Elliott highlighted this horse as one of his main handicap fancies of the week at the recent Cheltenham Festival Handicap Weights Lunch, so at 6/1, he has all the capabilities to go close.

    His stable and owner mate FIRM FOOTINGS could be the one overpriced at 20/1 in the field.

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    Having run into Deep Cave and Grangeclare West this season, the British handicapper has left him on a mark of 134 which could be very lenient.

    He won over the wrong distance last time out and a return to 2m4f should suit well with the mustard Shane Fitzgerald on board to do the steering.

  • Cheltenham Day 4: Selections and Naps

    Cheltenham Day 4: Selections and Naps

    It’s not been the greatest week of tipping, but BestOfBet’s Oliver Holmes is giving it one last go to win big on Gold Cup day at Cheltenham.

    NAP: STATTLER – Gold Cup – 14/1 William Hill

    I love Stattler. He took the eye on New Year’s Day when he rallied, but failed to beat Minella Indo at Tramore. He finished way behind Galopin Des Champs last time out, but Leopardstown isn’t a stayers’ track, and the Irish Gold Cup fell apart. The ground will be deep at Cheltenham, and I think there’s enough doubts to Galopin’s name, and Stattler can stay on remorselessly.

    E/W BET: Magic Daze – Mares’ Chase – 10/1 Boylesports

    There’s been a lot of talk about this mare in the preview’s circuit, and with good reason. She’s been consistent this season, and has run at the track twice. She was disappointing in last year’s Arkle, but finished second in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle in 2021. She can handle soft ground fine and she’s worth a shot.

    Handicap Best: Cool Survivor – Martin Pipe – 5/1 BetUK

    Novice’s do really well in this race and Cool Survivor has been on my watchlist for a while. He brings Graded form, although they haven’t worked out great. But he seems to be chucked in here and the soft ground helps him. Sam Ewing deserves a Festival winner, and, along with Michael O’Sullivan, he’s a name to look out for in the future.

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    Selections:

    13:30 – Blood Destiny

    14:10 – Pembroke (Path D’Ouroux e/w)

    14:50 – Favori De Champdou (Sandor Clegane e/w)

    15:30 – STATTLER (NAP)

    16:10 – Vaucelet (No Bet)

    16:50 – Impervious (MAGIC DAZE E/W)

    17:30 – COOL SURVIVOR (Iroko e/w)

    The very best of luck!

    For more information and in-depth coverage, please head to Best of Bets’ Cheltenham Specials where you will find extensive coverage of all of today’s horse racing from the 4th and final day of Cheltenham.