Get in the Game!

GOLF
****
CHARLIE'S A CLASSIC BET AT 40/1
84 Lumber Classic, Live on Sky Sports
  Thur Sep 15 - 21.00 BST (SS2)
  Fri Sep 16 - 21.00 BST (SSX)
  Sat Sep 17 - 21.00 BST (SS2)
  Sun Sep 18 - 20.00 BST (SS2)
This week's US Tour event is played at the monster Mystic Rock course,
which measures in at around 7,500 yards (live In-Play betting throughout).
That suggests we should be looking for a big hitter, and I've no hesitation
in playing up my each-way winnings from Charles Howell to find the frame
again this week at 40/1. Last time out in Boston, the lanky American
finished fourth (tipped up at 50/1), following on from a 5th place in the
International and a respectable 15th in the USPGA. His first look at Mystic
Rock resulted in a 25th finish, and he should be able to improve on that
this week.

Jesper Parnevik also found the frame last time out (tipped at 80/1) and, as
he was 5th on this track a couple of years ago, he too can make the frame
at a stand-out 66/1. The final pick goes to Frank Lickliter at a massive
each-way price of 125/1. Ok, so you have to go back a way to find his best
form, but his last three starts here read 2nd, 10th and 9th so there must
be a chance he'll turn it on again this week. Our favourite is Vijay Singh
at 5/1 (11/2 enhanced win only market), but his recent final round
performances have been weak by his standards, while Mickelson (9/1) may
well be just lumbering up for next week's Presidents Cup by playing here.

84 Lumber Classic Three Off The Tee: Charles Howell @ 40/1; Jesper Parnevik
@ 66/1; Frank Lickliter @ 125/1 (Each-way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5.)


GREYHOUNDS
***********
MARCO'S VALUE AT 4/1 TO LIFT IRISH PRIZE
Irish Greyhound Derby
  Sa Sep 17 - 9.45 pm, live on (SS3)
What an epic final we have in store for the Irish Greyhound Derby! Not only
do we have the winners of the English (Westmead Hawk) and Scottish Derbys
(Droops Marco) in the field for the first time ever, but also last year's
Irish derby runner-up Droopys Maldini. And the betting suggests that it's
going to be close, but Maldini is favoured on the back of some awesome runs
in the competition, including a best of the competition 29.47 seconds in
his semi when beating Westmead Hawk into second.

However, that's reflected in his current price of Evens, so the value could
lie elsewhere. On the their semi final-running there's no reason why the
Hawk (9/4) can beat the favourite now, but there must still be a chance
that he can reproduce his brilliant Wimbledon form on the track. As he's
already been recommended ante post we're not going to desert him now, but
if you're still to have a bet, the value could lie with Droopys Marco at
4/1. Marco comes into the final as the only unbeaten qualifier and was
unlucky not to reach the English final after finding all sorts of trouble
in his semi. As an Irish dog he's almost certainly going to be shorter on
the night.

Irish Greyhound Derby Pick: Droopys Marco @ 4/1 (already advised: Westmead
Hawk @ 5/2)

2/1 Offer - back the winner of the big race (or any of the other 6 live sky
races on Saturday night) at 2/1 or bigger, and you can look forward to a
free bet on the next live Sky dog race! See site for full details


HORSE RACING
************
PARTNERS CAN BE MUSIC AT 20/1.
Ayr Gold Cup
  Sa Sep 17 - 3.40 pm, live on Channel 4
The Ayr Gold Cup (6f) looks to be a bit of a puzzle to solve at this stage
with the final field not known until after the ballot on Thursday. The
current going is good-to-firm with little rain forecast, which could
scupper the chances of the well-backed current 9/1 co-favourites Continent,
Intrepid Jack and Out After Dark. You've also got the draw to factor in, so
the best bet could be to a) wait for the outcome of the Silver Cup, run a
day earlier on Friday (the winner of both races has been drawn in the same
third of the course in eight of the last ten years), and then b) make a bee
line for bet365 straight away for the best price.

Providing they get a good draw, my two against the field are Partners in
Jazz and Philharmonic, both currently cracking 20/1 shots. Partners in Jazz
finished third in the Totesport International (7f) in June, and the
runner-up, Goodricke, has since come out and won the Group 1 Sprint Cup. As
all his best form has been over 6f, he must have a great shout, while
Philarmonic comes into this on his head second to stablemate Fonthill Road
(12/1) in May. That form reads well now (he's a stone better off), and he
too will appreciate the return to 6f.

Ayr Gold Cup Picks: Partners in Jazz & Philarmonic (currently both 20/1)

Channel 4 Offer - back the winner of the big race (or any of the other live
Channel 4 races on Saturday) at 4/1 or bigger, and you can look forward to
a free bet on the next live Channel 4 race! See site for full details


NFL
***
PATRIOTS 5/1 FOR RECORD TITLE CHASE
The new American football season got underway last weekend, and current
title holders New England were one of nine favourites to win and cover the
spread (handicap). The Patriots are going for their fourth Super Bowl in
five years, and their third in a row, a feat that's never been achieved.
They now share favouritism with the Indianapolis Colts at 5/1, who beat the
Baltimore Ravens on the road (away from home).

Each year there seems to be one team that improves dramatically to go on to
reach the play-offs. Last year it was San Diego, and last weekend was
notable in that four of the eight teams that propped up their divisions
last year made a winning start. In particular, Miami and Tampa Bay gained
confidence-boosting wins over Denver and Minnesota respectively, and they
could both be worth following again this weekend. The Dolphins are
currently 6-point underdogs (+6) to beat the New York Jets, which means
that they have to win by more than 6 points to cover the spread, while
Tampa Bay are 2-5 point favourites (-2.5) at home to the Buffalo Bills.

Of course, betting the spread is not the only way of having an interest on
the game. We've also got match betting (money line) and game totals (over /
under the total points scored in the game), but the real excitement is
provided by our in-play service which is available straight after kick off
(two live Sky games this Sunday).

One of the most popular bets on the NFL is the parlay (accumulator),
whereby you combine two or more teams to win. Each week, we offer a bonus
on this form of betting of up to 50% (winning 12, 13 and 14 team parlays),
which means you're getting more value for money. This weeks' suggested
parlay is on the following spreads:

Philadelphia Eagles (-13.5); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5); Miami Dolphins
(+6.0); San Diego Chargers (+3.0); New York Giants (-3.0). All teams are
currently priced at 10/11, and a £25 parlay pays out £381.89 - which
includes a bet365 bonus of 15%


FOOTBALL
********
UNITED TO NICK IT AT 8/5
Liverpool v Man Utd
  Su Sep 18 -  Noon, live on (SS1)
There's some tasty Premiership action to get stuck into this weekend, and
the big game between Liverpool and Man United is no exception (14 live
in-play markets),  We've got United down as marginal 8/5 favourites, but
the best bet has to be on the total goals market, with under 2.5 the
recommendation at 10/11. It's surprising how many times the goals go under
when two of the bigger teams play each other and, judging on Liverpool's
start to the season, they will set out to contain United. In their three
league games so far, they've conceded only one goal, and their two 0-0 away
draws mean that they have already achieved more clean sheets in away games
than they did for the whole of last season. United did the double over
Liverpool last season with a pair of one-goal wins, and a similar scoreline
looks on the cards.


CHELSEA IN THE SECOND HALF AT 3/1
Charlton did us a favour last week by beating Birmingham (15/8), but they
have it all to do to maintain their unbeaten run against Chelsea on
Saturday (will they ever lose a game?). Chelsea are 4/7 to win but, as they
don't tend to kill-off opponents until the second half, it might be worth
waiting till half-time (or In-Play) to back them, when they will likely be
a bigger price. For the same reason, a bet on the Draw / Chelsea double
result is also worth a punt at 3/1. There is also a strong reason to back
them to win to nil at 6/4. Chelsea are yet to concede in the league, and
have won their last three against Charlton 1-0, 4-0 and 1-0.


SUNDERLAND TO SEE THE LIGHTS AT 11/8
The rest of this weekend's games look tricky to predict. Only Chelsea and
Arsenal (2/5) are odds on to win, but Sunderland are fancied to get their
first win of the season at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats did well to
contain Chelsea for the best part of an hour last week, and look
over-priced at 11/8 to beat a struggling West Brom side. With Arsenal
looking home bankers against Everton, a £25 acca on all four selections
this weekend pays out £356.61 for a £25 stake - that includes a bet365
bonus of 5% (up to 60% on offer every weekend in the Premiership).

Weekend Premiership Picks:

United to bt Liverpool @ 8/5; United to win 1-0 @ 13/2
Chelsea to bt Charlton @ Half Time or In-Play price; Draw / Chelsea @ 3/1;
Chelsea to win to nil @ 6/4
Sunderland to bt West Brom @ 11/8
4-fold on United (8/5), Chelsea (4/7), Arsenal (2/5), Sunderland (11/8)

Get in the game and be lucky!

Nigel



NIGEL RIDGWAY, an experienced punter and betting shop owner of many years,
believes that "The key to successful gambling is getting value for money."
Nigel was once forced by local bookmakers, to stop writing a tipping column
in a UK newspaper, because he was costing them a fortune. Find out what
offers and lines are hot at bet365.com

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