» February 8th, 2006

RED DEVILS 4/6 JOLLIES TO FOLLOW HOME BLUES

bet365 latest 'Without Chelsea' prices...
Man Utd 4/6, Liverpool 5/4, Arsenal 12/1, Tottenham 40/1, Bolton 125/1

Liverpool have been replaced by Manchester United at the head of the bet365 Premiership 'Without Chelsea' market after losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last weekend. United, who are 4/6 to finish second, have spent most of the season hoping for the leaders to slip up but, with just 13 matches to go, it's only a question of time before Chelsea wrap things up mathematically, and reward those bet365 punters who backed them at 10/11!

CHELSEA TO HAVE A FIELD DAY AT 2.10

Boro may have taken the scalps of Arsenal and Man United at the Riverside, but they have managed just one other win there this season, and have now gone six league games without victory, conceding on average more than two goals a game. Expect Chelsea to have a field day here, and they should be the cornerstone of any bet365 Premiership Accumulator this weekend. They can also be backed with confidence on our Asian Handicap, giving up a goal and a quarter start (currently 2.10). Here at bet365 we bet this market to just 102%, so it's easy to see where the value lies, compared to the fixed price of 2/5.

Asian Handicap Pick: Chelsea (-1.25 goals @ 2.10)

bet365 Premiership Relegation prices...
Portsmouth 2/7, Birmingham 4/6, West Brom 5/4, Middlesbrough 11/4, Fulham, Charlton 12/1, others on bet365 website

The anticipated loss for Boro would see them drop into the bottom three, and the 11/4 currently on offer for them to be relegated will look decent value come next week (especially if Birmingham beat West Ham on Monday night). bet365 also go 5-2 that Steve McClaren is removed from his Middlesbrough post before the season is over, following their 4-0 loss to Aston Villa at the Riverside.

13/10 UNITED FOR THE DOUBLE

No prizes for picking Man United to beat Portsmouth this weekend at 8/15 but, bearing in mind that Pompey have conceded almost as many goals in the first half as in the second, there's grounds for taking the bet365 price of 13/10 for United to have this sewn up by half time. Man City are a much better team at home, where only one team outside the top four has beaten them, and they should be backed at 10/11 to beat Charlton on Sunday. The Addicks started the season as the Premiership's most impressive away team, but have now gone six away games without a win, and it's hard to imagine them reversing that form here.

At Craven Cottage, Fulham ought to be able to improve on their decent home record against a Baggies outfit that is poor on the road, and they complete our weekend at accumulator at bet365 odds of 5/6. A £50 four-fold on our four outright selections this weekend will return you £394.45 at the current prices, and that includes a bet365 bonus of 5% (up to 60% more every weekend here at bet365).

Weekend Premiership Picks:
Man United to beat Portsmouth @ 8/15 (United / United @ 13/10)
Man City to beat Charlton @ 10/11
Fulham to beat West Brom @ 5/6
4-fold on Chelsea (2/5); Man Utd; Man City; Fulham – pays £394.45 (£50 stake)

GOALS A SAFE BET AT 21/20

West Ham v Birmingham

Mo Feb 13 - 20.00 BST ko (SS1)

Monday's live encounter (up to 14 bet365 'In-Play' markets available) looks closer to call, with slight preference for West Ham at 10/11, who are on a six-game winning streak. However, with Birmingham on the rise too, the better bet looks to be on the 'Over' goals market. If you ignore an end-of-year two-game blip, the Hammers have scored in all of their last 15 games, with 15 goals in the last six. Unfortunately for them, they've also been conceding plenty too! Since drawing 0-0 with Arsenal back in December, they've managed just two clean sheets in all competitions.

Live Game Pick: Over 2.5 Goals @ 21/20

CHIEF TO TRIUMPH AT 10/1

Should racing go ahead, the highlight of Saturday's card from Newbury will be the fiercely competitive Totesport Trophy (3.10), for which the Alan King-trained Penzance has been installed as the bet365 6/1 joint-favourite. His finest hour came when winning the 2005 Triumph Hurdle at The Festival, but he's been below that form in his two runs this season. However, a left-handed track and decent ground are Penzance's' requirements and he should get that on Saturday, while his Cheltenham heroics prove he'll be able to live with what's likely to be a furious pace. Connections are confident of a big run, but preference is for Chief Yeoman, who looks to have been laid out for the race, and is currently at double-figure odds (10/1).

He's another who has run with credit in the Triumph Hurdle (second in 2004), and he looked on the way back to his best when chasing home the useful Acambo (getting 17lb!) at Windsor before Christmas. Since then the selection was far from disgraced in an ultra-competitive race at Sandown, and he'll be much more suited to Newbury's track. The fact that he's been given a Champion Hurdle entry tells its own story. If you're looking for one at a decent price, then Admiral has plenty going for him at a tasty 25/1. He needs to improve on his run on very soft ground last time, but his early season handicap form brings him right into the reckoning. If you're having a forecast bet, remember to take the bet365 'Showcast' price on the day, as we'll pay you the starting price (CSF) is it's bigger!

bet365 customers can also take advantage of our Channel 4 Offer on this race (and the other six live races from Newbury and Warwick on Saturday). Back a winner at 4/1 or bigger to get a free bet to the same stake on the next live race.

Totesport Trophy Picks: Chief Yeoman @ 10/1 / Admiral @ 25/1 (Each-way)

bet365's BEEF OR SALMON TV DINNER

bet365 latest Cheltenham Gold Cup prices...
Beef Or Salmon 5/1, Monkerhostin 11/2, Kingscliff 7/1, Celestial Gold 10/1, War Of Attrition, Take The Stand 12/1, others on bet365 website

Other highlights from Newbury will include the reappearance of current Champion Chase 2/1 favourite Kauto Star (3.45), and the running of the Aon Chase (2.35), which should be an informative guide to this season's Gold Cup. Martin Pipe has a strong hand here with five possible runners, the best of which would be Celestial Gold, but he could be thwarted by Take The Stand. This one will be ridden by Tony McCoy, and is reported to be in 'excellent shape' by his trainer Peter Bowen. Current Gold Cup favourite, Beef Or Salmon, will be a warm order when he lines up for Sunday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown. The race is not live on terrestrial TV, but bet365 customers can still watch the race live by betting £5 and clicking on the live stream next to the race.

CLARK IS A REGULATION BET AT A STAND-OUT 25/1

AT&T Pebble Beach

Th Feb 9 – 20.00 BST (SS2)

Fr Feb 10 – 20.00 BST (SSX)

Sa Feb 11 – 20.00 BST (SS2)

Su Feb 12 – 20.30 BST (SS2)

Another pro-am lies in wait over the weekend on the US Tour, played over three courses (two at Pebble Beach), where the small greens are particularly influential and place a great emphasis on greens in regulation (live 'In Play' betting available at bet365).

This week's defending champion, Phil Mickelson, is difficult to leave out of calculations, despite some indifferent play in the last couple of weeks. His record here speaks for itself – twice a winner and twice third in his last eight visits – and his record at this time of year (the West Coast Swing) is superb, so I expect him to win one soon. However, at 5/1 (21/4 Enhanced Win Only) he hardly screams value, and better value can be had by backing Tim Clark at a standout bet365 price of 25/1. After making the cut at the Bob Hope, he showed his true abilities by finishing only three shots out of the playoff at the Buick Invitational. More importantly, he ranked 1st in driving accuracy and greens in regulation that week.

Also worth an interest this week is Arron Oberholser, who is a regular contender on the West Coast, and rates solid each-way value at the bet365 price of 28/1. He's finished fourth and sixth at Pebble the last two years, and has opened 2006 in great style, improving with every tournament he's played, culminating with four sub-70 rounds to finish tenth to last week's shock winner, John B. Holmes.

If there was going to be another J.B. Holmes-type result again this week, then one of the more likely candidates would be Bubba Watson at 66/1. So far on the Tour this year, he's the only player to outrank JB in driving distance, and has come pretty close to winning too, with finishes of 2nd and 4th. So long as his driving holds up this week, these courses will set up well for him, and he looks a big price at 66/1 here at bet365.

AT&T Pebble Beach Three Off the Tee... Tim Clark 25/1, Arron Oberholser 28/1, Bubba Watson 66/1. Each-way 1/4 odds 1.2.3.4.5

Please be aware that prices are subject to change. All times are subject to change. Check local listings for TV coverage on these event.