Author: Online Betting Pro

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2015 F1 Spanish Grand Prix Preview

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Nico Rosberg broke Lewis Hamilton’s monopoly on pole position in qualifying in Barcelona, and will start the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona at the front of the grid, with his Mercedes teammate just behind.

With Lewis Hamilton pulling away with a significant 27-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship, Rosberg will need to ensure that he maintains his position at the front and beat the Brit in order to start closing him down before it’s too late.

Rosberg moved ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the standings following a disappointing result for his fellow German at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Vettel finishing in fifth behind third-place Rosberg and regular victor, Hamilton.

The Spanish crowd will be hoping Fernando Alonso  -who won here in 2013 – can put in a good performance in what has been a poor season for him so far. But their hopes may be better placed in 20-year-old Spaniard Carlo Sainz – son of the double World Rally Champion of the same name – who impressed for Torro Rosso in qualifying to secure fifth-place in the grid. There was another impressive showing from 17-year-old Dutchman, Max Verstappen, also of Toro Rosso, who will line-up in sixth position.

2015 Spanish Grand Prix Grid

  1. Nico Rosberg – Mercedes
  2. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
  3. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari
  4. Valtteri Bottas – Williams
  5. Carlos Sainz – Torro Rosso
  6. Max Verstappen – Toro Rosso

Prediction

It looks set to be another battle between the three usual suspects: Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel. Of course, based on his supreme form this season, you’d back Hamilton (Evens at BetVictor) to do it again in Barcelona.

However, still without a title this season, you can be sure that Nico Rosberg will be desperate to get one over his teammate and force himself back into the reckoning for the Drivers’ Championship. The German will be itching for success here, but will he have the stubbornness and skill to hold off Hamilton?

If you like a fairy tale story, it may also be worth having a couple of quid on young Carlos Sainz securing a podium finish in his homeland at 33/1 (bet365).

Tip:

Nico Rosberg to win – 11/10 at SkyBet

Spanish F1 Race Details:

Track: Circuit de Catalunya

Start Time: 13:00 BST (14:00 local)

Laps: 66

Track Length: 4.6555km

Tyre Allocation: Hard (orange) and Medium (white)

Lap Record: Kimi Raikkonen – 1:21.670 (Ferrari; 2008)

Internazionali BNL d’Italia – Preview

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There’s no pause for breath in tennis at the moment, with the men’s Madrid Masters final still to play, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia starts in Rome.

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray (my 20/1 e/w tip at the start of the Madrid Open) will battle it out in the final in Madrid, with Nadal (4/11 at Coral) expected to dispose of the Brit (5/2 at bet365) on his favoured clay surface. In the women’s tournament, a series of shocks saw Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova dumped out in the semi-finals, with Simona Halep also knocked out in the second round. That left Petra Kvitova to clear up in the final against the unseeded 29-year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova – dropping just three games in the process.

ATP Preview

Regardless of the outcome in Madrid, there’s one clear favourite in Rome for the men’s title, and that is the returning Novak Djokovic (11/10 at bet365) – who opted out of the Madrid Masters in order to rest.

The Serbian appears unbeatable at the moment, winning every tournament he has entered this year. However, if Rafael Nadal (5/2 at BetVictor) can build on his improving form, he provides the biggest threat to Djokovic on clay.

Nadal holds the records for the most titles at the Italian Open, winning the tournament seven times since 2005. The only other player to have won in that period is, of course, Djokovic, who has won here three times – including last year’s edition in which he defeated the Spaniard in the final.

This year’s tournament could be a repeat of the 2014 final too, with Djokovic and Nadal on opposite sides of the draw. Standing in Djokovic’s way to the final is a tough potential quarter-final clash with Kei Nishikori (10/1 at Betfred), while Andy Murray (16/1 at Betfred) could meet him in the semis. In the bottom half of the draw, Nadal could meet Federer (14/1 at 888sport) in the last four – if all goes expected and they see off Stanislas Wawrinka (40/1 at 888sport) and Tomas Berdych (24/1 at 888sport) respectively in the quarters.

Best Bet: Rafael Nadal to win – 5/2 at BetVictor

WTA Preview

Serena Williams (5/2 at Betfred) has won back-to-back titles in Rome and, after losing her first match in 2015 in Madrid, she’ll be eager to bounce back ahead of the French Open and secure a title here.

Williams is lined-up for a potential semi-final clash with either Sharapova (6/1 at BetVictor) or Caroline Wozniacki (33/1 at SkyBet) but, given the unpredictably of the women’s game this year, that could easily change. On the other side of the draw, other likely finalist candidates are Simona Halep (5/1 at bet365), Eugiene Bouchard (80/1 at 888sport), or Madrid winner, Petra Kvitova (12/1 at BetVictor).

Outsider Tip: Eugiene Bouchard to win (E/W) – 80/1 at 888sport)

French 1000 Guineas Preview

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Ervedya had originally been aimed at the Newmarket 1000 Guineas but the Aga Khan’s filly was re-routed to Longchamp in search of softer ground. The move looks likely to pay off with good to soft conditions prevailing on Sunday as she bids to win the French equivalent for His Highness The Aga Khan.

The daughter of Siyouni has won four of her six starts and was a top class two-year-old.  She won her first three races including a Group 3 at Deauville before finishing third to The Wow Signal in the Group 1 Prix Morny.

She then finished runner-up to Found in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac but connections are convinced that she would have been closer but for her wide draw. She was on the outside of the twelve-runner field and had to be chased up by Christophe Soumillon to get a good position. The effort may have taken its toll in the closing stages as she finished two and a half lengths adrift of the O’Brien filly.

Ironically, she has drawn exactly the same stall on Sunday although she does have two horses on her outside. She made her seasonal debut in very soft ground at Maisons-Laffitte in April where she beat Ameenah by a length and three-quarters. The runner-up is well drawn in stall five so has place claims but it is difficult to see her reversing the form with the favourite.

Andre Fabre is represented by Mexican Gold and Soft Drink. The former looks much the more dangerous of the pair and is a by Medaglia d’Oro out of a Gone West mare. She is unbeaten after two races including a Group 3 at Longchamp and breaks from stall nine.

Sainte Amarante has won her last two starts including a Listed race at Saint-cloud while Fontanelice was seven lengths behind Ervedya in April. She was also behind Mexican Gold when fourth last time out, doing all of her best work in the closing stages. Connections of the favourite would obviously feel happier if she were drawn in a single figure barrier but Soumillon’s experience should hold him in good stead.

The British and Irish challenge has surprisingly evaporated with Irish Rookie and Royal Razalma looking unlikely to feature here.

Ervedya @15-8 William Hill

Aviva Premiership – Saracens v Chiefs – Preview

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In the final fixture of the weekend, fourth-place Saracens welcome a Chiefs’ side, who are just one position and three points beneath them, to Allianz Park at 14:00 (BST) in what should be an all-out battle for a Premiership semi-final spot.

A win for Saracens would secure their semi-final place, while, on the other hand, a Chiefs’ win would put them in pole position for a first ever taste of the play-offs and set up an epic finale to the Premiership season next week. It really is all to play for.

Tigers’ victory over Wasps on Saturday all-but secured their own place in the top four, and now Saracens have the chance to do the same on home turf.

However, if Exeter Chiefs are to secure a surprise victory, they would go into the final week of fixtures needing to simply match Saracens final result – although they do face bottom-of-the-table Welsh – meaning Chiefs would still probably have to beat the Sharks in their own tie.

The Chiefs did manage to beat Saracens in their last league encounter in November, but subsequently lost their two more recent meetings in the LV= Cup.

Neither side enter this fixture in good form, with the pair both losing their last two matches. But with Saracens’ two victories over the Chiefs in the LV= Cup already this year, they should be the more confident side.

Best Bet: Exeter Chiefs +10 Handicap – Evens at Stan James

Team News

Saracens will be without Billy Vunipola and Brad Barritt for this vital contest, with the pair both out with knocks. Jackson Wray and Chris Wyles will deputise.

For Exeter Chiefs, Henry Slade will move in to centre to replace Jack Nowell, while Gareth Steenson will start at fly-half. Ben White returns from injury and will take his place in the back-row, and Luke Cowan-Dickie will be given the nod as hooker. There’s also a place for academy graduate Max Bodilly, who is included in a Premiership squad for the first-time.

Saracens: Goode, Ashton, Bosch, Wyles, Strettle, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, M. Vunipola, George, Du Plessis, Kruis, Itoje, Brown, Burger, Wray.

Replacements: Brits, Gill, Johnston, Hargreaves, Joubert, De Kock, Farrell, Tompkins.

Chiefs: McGuigan, Whitten, Slade, Hill, Jess, Steenson, Chudley; Moon, Cowan-Dickie, Francis, Mumm, Lees, Ewers, White, Waldrom.

Replacements: Yeandle, Rimmer, Brown, Welch, Horstmann, Lewis, Vainikolo, Bodilly.

French 2000 Guineas Preview

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Aidan O’Brien saddled Gleneagles to win the English 2000 Guineas and attempts to add the French equivalent on Sunday at Longchamp with Highland Reel.

Highland Reel was a late switch to Paris having been as short as 8-1 in the ante-post betting at Newmarket. He won his maiden by 12 lengths at Gowran Park to earn a tilt at the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Joseph O’Brien was in the saddle that day and he beat Tupi convincingly despite pulling hard in the early stages of the race. Ryan Moore takes over on Sunday and looks sure to play a leading role from stall 7.

Stable companion War Envoy would not be out of it if he can reproduce his fine run in the Grand Criterium in October. He was only a length behind Gleneagles that day in fifth place and the race also included Guineas runner-up Territories. However, he has not shown that level of form since and was soundly beaten behind Kool Kompany in a modest looking renewal of the Craven Stakes.

Charles Hills will have been left frustrated after Greenham Stakes winner Muhaarar was drawn in stall 18. He beat subsequent Guineas flop Estidhkaar at Newbury, although third home Ivawood ran creditably to sneak into the frame in the colts’ classic.

Frankie Dettori partners Karar in the colours of Al Shaqab racing, a six lengths maiden winner before finishing second to Territories here last month. That form has been boosted by the winner’s subsequent run at Newmarket and Karar has plenty of scope for improvement.

Andre Fabre is responsible for Territories and he saddles Make Believe and New Bay here. The latter is lightly raced but looks to have been given a tough task from stall 16.  Make Believe is by 2000 Guineas winner Mafki out of a mare by Suave Dancer and ran a sound race on his reappearance in the Prix Djebel.

He travelled comfortably just behind the lead for most of the race and was just beaten on the nod by Ride Like The Wind. That horse disappointed at Newmarket but Make Believe left the clear impression that he would come on a lot for the race. Olivier Peslier is ideally situated in stall four and should be able to get a nice lead before going for home at the furlong pole.

Make Believe @9-2 Betfair

Premiership Preview 10th May

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Sunday’s Premiership fixtures were expected to have a say in the outcome of the title race but Chelsea secured the title last weekend against Crystal Palace. That has left City battling to secure second spot and they ought to collect a fourth consecutive victory at home to QPR.

Rangers are set to pay the price for their terrible away record which just one victory in seventeen including fourteen defeats. The gap between QPR and safety is already a yawning nine points and this is probably the last place they would want to be going. Sergio Aguero scored his memorable title-winning goal in this fixture in 2011-12 and has hit the target in his last four games.

The Argentinian striker will have one eye on the Premiership Golden Boot prize and this fixture looks set up for him to add to his tally. QPR know that the game is virtually up and anything less than a shock victory will not be good enough. Charlie Austin poses a threat and it may be worth looking at 4-1 and 5-1 to City in the score markets.

Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace means that they are champions so you could forgive them if they suffered a slight dip in form. They welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge in the late kick-off and the Reds will be forming a guard of honour for the home side. I remember Manchester United having to do the same thing some years ago and we can only hope that Liverpool are more gracious than one or two of the United players that day.

Jose Mourinho has paved the way for a friendly occasion with his kind words about Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard. The absence of Diego Costa takes out another potential flash-point after his clashes with Liverpool in the League Cup. The way to go here may be a draw and it could be worth supporting Branislav Ivanovic to get on the score-sheet. He has scored against the Reds in the past and will always be a threat from set-pieces.

Sergio Aguero to score and Man City to win @3-4 Ladbrokes

Sergio Aguero to score 2 or more goals @3-1 Skybet

Man City 4 QPR 1 @15-1 BetVictor

Man City 5 QPR 1 @25-1 BetVictor

Chelsea v Liverpool DRAW @5-2 Bet365

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 @13-2 BetVictor

Branislav Ivanovic to score first @20-1 Paddy Power

Branislav Ivanovic to score at any time @17-2 Unibet