Author: Online Betting Pro

I am a punter that loves to follow the horse both in Australia and the United Kingdom. I enjoy writing about sports betting and also casino, poker and bingo. In my spare time I like to keep fit by playing football and going for long bike rides. I also like to travel the world and see amazing place s and meet wonderful people along the way.

Cricket World Cup: Day 19 Recap

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Even the associates are beginning to get amongst the runs at the Cricket World Cup, after Scotland and Bangladesh both mustered well over 300 today.  In a World Cup full of runs, and thus subsequent grumbles about the size of the bats, two of the lesser nations treated the Saxton Oval faithful to their share of the runs.

Read more on the solitary game played between Bangladesh and Scotland on day 19, below:

Day 19 Results

Scotland v Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s senior statesman delivered a win for their team against a fighting Scotland effort in Nelson today.  The dominant names of Bangladesh cricket all got on the shortened scoreboard, to see off a Scotland side that were brilliantly led by Kyle Coetzer who made his nations first ever World Cup hundred.

Coetzer didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.  His 156 was an exceptional piece of batting, and more than a hundred more than any of his team mates scored.  He swatted 17 fours and 4 maximums to guide his side to their third-highest ODI total.  While not enough to get them a first win, it was significant enough to earn Coetzer the man of the match award.  Useful contributions came via Macham (35), Mommsen (39) and Berrington (26), unfortunately none of them kicked on, nor were any at the speed required to threaten 350+.

Bangladesh timed their chase nicely; the bulk of it coming from a 139 run second wicket stand between Tamin Iqbal  and Mahmudullah.  Tamin was patient, disciplined and seemed to enjoy batting with the more free scoring Mahmudullah who also earned praise for batting so competently after a late promotion.  Musfiqur, Shakib and Sabbir Rahman then polished off the total with two overs to go.  They made 72 from 72 to win look easy.

The win is important confidence boost for Bangladesh.  The belief that they can chase big targets is a big advantage going into their next match against England, which shapes as a quarterfinal showdown.

Bangladesh 322 for 4 (Tamim 95, Mahmudullah 65, Mushfiqur 60, Shakib 52*) beat Scotland 318 for 8 (Coetzer 156, Taskin 3-41) by six wickets

Get 5/1 on Ruby Walsh to ride a winner at Cheltenham

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Super Ruby – Ruby Walsh To Win ANY Race – 5/1

 

Legendary Irish Jockey Ruby Walsh is as much a part of the Cheltenham Festival as the famous Cheltenham Roar.   Taking the top rides of trainers such as Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins means that Ruby will be a firm favourite in the hearts and minds of punters every time he races.

Our partners Coral are offering a mouthwatering 5/1 on Ruby to ride a winner. This is usually 1/20, but it’s now 5/1 for new customers! Below is more details on this amazing offer:

 

  • Ruby Walsh To Win ANY Race – 5/1
  • New Customer Only
  • Max Bet £5
  • Winnings Paid As Cash

Fancy £25 for free? Get yourselves signed up here. If you don’t sign up through our link this offer will not be credited to your account, so be sure to click it!

 

PGA Tour: WGC Cadillac Championship Preview

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The exclusive World Golf Championship events limit the field to just the top 5o golfers in the World.  In prior years they could have gotten away with just inviting Tiger Woods.  He won 16 of the first 32 WGC events.  However, without Tiger, or even with Tiger in current form, the others are needed.  Especially when the others include Rory McIlroy.

The first WGC event of the year is the Cadillac Championship, hosted by Donal Trump, at Blue Monster, Doral.

Check out our preview of the event, and the best picks to win, below:

The Course

Trump Week on the Tour gets bigger with the WGC event at National Doral.   The gorgeous South Florida layout is a 7,528 yard, par 72 course, and is a recent recipient of a $200 million upgrade, as the Don adds to his golfing portfolio.  The upgrade has made the course incredibly challenging; it played 3rd toughest on the Tour last year.  The course is nicknamed “Monster” due to its demanding 18th hole.  Water all down the left off the tee and on approach.  Expect some big scores on 18 and generally.

The Sound Bites

“It’s not that big a deal. I did it for a long time, too, that way. I’m just going to do it and see what happens. I think the important thing for me will be to just stay patient with it for a little bit” – Adam Scott’s move to a shorter putter starts this week.

“If I was going to miss a weekend, it wasn’t a bad one to miss, being at home and with all the delays and everything” – Rory McIlroy saw a silver lining to missing the cut last week.  Punters didn’t.

The Defending Champion

Patrick Reed became the youngest winner of a WGC title last year by going coast to coast over Bubba Watson and Jamie Donaldson.  Reed managed a 4-under total on the newly designed course, the highest winning total since 1985.  Reed comes in at $26.00 to defend his title.

The Contenders*

Rory McIlroy – $6.50

Bubba Watson – $15.00

Jason Day – $17.00

Dustin Johnson – $21.00

Adam Scott – $23.00

Paul Casey – $34.00

Jamie Donaldson – $41.00

*WGC Cadillac Championship odds courtesy of Sportsbet.

The Winner

Casey’s had a third and a playoff loss in his last tow starts; Donaldson was a narrow loser here last year; Johnson was fourth here last year on the new course and had top 5’s the last two weeks; Watson has been solid all year without getting a win, he’s due. We like Johnson the best

Cricket World Cup: Day 18 Recap

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Australia made it three scores of over 400 in just five days as they heaped all sorts of misery on a powerless Afghanistan side on day 18 of the Cricket World Cup.  In the day’s other match, Pakistan boosted their chances are quarterfinal qualification with  comfortable win over UAE in Napier.

Read on for more on the two games.

Day 18 Results

1. Pakistan v UAE

Pakistan’s batsman were under about as much pressure as naughty selector Moin Khan in the lead up to this match.  The under-performing batsman had failed to score over 240 in any of their matches prior to batting on the road that is McLean Park – a disappointing return given the ease at which sides have put big scores on the board in this World Cup.  Yesterday was different story however, as Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail and Misha-ul-Haq combined to see them through to a much more respectable, and eventually game winning 339.

The total was always going to be too much for the UAE side, even though they have the tournaments leading runscorer in the midsts.  Shaiman Anwar scored 62 to take his World Cup tally to 270, but found little support from his colleagues.  A cautious approach was taken with emphasis on batting the 50 overs rather than threatening the target.

The win may well ease the tension amongst Pakistan fans, but could also set them up for heartache if they can not carry the form on to the knockout stages. Mohammad Irfan is a concern, he  bowled just three overs  before leaving the field.

Pakistan 339 for 6 (Shehzad 93, Sohail 70, Misbah 65, Guruge 4-56) beat UAE 210 for 8 (Anwar 62, Afridi 2-35) by 129 runs

2. Australia v Afghanistan

Australia set the record for the highest ever World Cup total in their huge win over Afghanistan in Perth in the day’s second game.  Led by breathtaking efforts from David Warner and Glenn Maxwell, the Australians  reached new levels of freakishness, and after a stop start campaign thus far, built some important World Cup momentum.  With Warner at the crease a team total of 500 was looking possible, and an individual 250 on offer, even with some useful yorkers being fired in at times by the inexperienced Afghanistan bowlers.  Warner departed f0r 178, but that just brought Maxwell to the crease who smashed and reversed his way to a brutal 88.  Much like AB de Villiers, the Big Show can score all round the park and outlined his credentials as a quality one day international finisher.

He was aptly supported by Steven Smith, who made the most of his promotion to 3 at the expense of Shane Watson with a composed 95.

Starc, Johnson and Hazlewood then took most of the wickets as Australia skittles out their opponents for just 142.  A 275 run winning margin – the second biggest winning margin in the history of ODI cricket.

Australia 417 for 6 (Warner 178, Smith 95, Maxwell 88) beat Afghanistan 142 (Mangal 33, Johnson 4-22) by 275 runs

Triumph Hurdle Preview

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The Triumph Hurdle used to be something of a lottery but winners have been easier to find in recent years. The classy Zarkandar won this in great style while the ill-fated Our Conor was one of the easiest winners in the history of the race.

There could well be something of his class on show again this season with Nicky Henderson set to run three, all of which have sound claims. The market has been dominated by Peace And Co since he sauntered to victory on his debut at Doncaster. Henderson has wisely avoided listing his runners in order of preference as both Hargam and Top Notch have top class form.

I dipped my toes in the ante-post market at 16-1 for Top Notch before his Haydock win and I’m pleased to see that connections still plan on running him. He is in the same ownership as the favourite and it must have been tempting to save him for Liverpool. Although it was a very poor field for the Victor Ludorum, he won like an improving juvenile and I’m hopeful of him making the frame.

Alan King has got fond memories of this race, both as a trainer and as assistant to the late David Nicholson. Mysilv was a very popular winner and Katchit went on to win the Champion Hurdle, the only five-year-old to do so in recent times. King runs Pain Au Chocolat here, a winner at Plumpton and Sandown on his last two starts. His latest victory is hard to assess as they crawled for the first half mile but he certainly has an each-way chance.

Punters were tripping over themselves to get on Beltor after he bolted up at Kempton in the Adonis Hurdle. He was no great shakes on the flat but horses can improve stones for a few flights of hurdles. He did race very keenly and you would have to worry about him settling in this big field. At first glance he looks more of an Aintree type but connections are having a tilt at the big one.

You cannot rule out the Willie Mullins runners and he looks set to saddle his Leopardstown first and second, Petite Parisienne and Kalkir. There did not really seem to be any excuses for the runner-up but there are no obvious lines linking the English and Irish form.

Top Notch @16-1 William Hill*

Pain Au Chocolat @20-1 BetVictor

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3 (Non-runner – no bet)

*Ante-post

Arkle Challenge Trophy Preview

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If you are betting on the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham next week, it is well worth considering the special offer by Paddy Power. They are refunding all bets on losers if the favourite Un De Sceaux wins the race for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. This offer also applies to each-way bets and on the favourite Douvan in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The favourite suffered his first defeat when falling three out at Thurles in November with the race at his mercy. A year ago, the media were speculating whether or not Mullins would risk Un De Sceaux in the Champion Hurdle but the trainer decided to take him to France instead.

That proved to be very lucrative with Grade 3 and Grade 2 hurdle race victories at Auteuil before being put over fences this winter. Following his fall at Thurles, Un De Sceaux recorded easy victories at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown including a fifteen lengths win over Clarcam in the Irish Arkle Chase in January. He is yet to be truly tested over fences but could face a large field here and his jumping will have to spot on.

His  main market rival is Vibrato Valtat who would probably be favourite in a normal year for Paul Nicholls. The grey was a fair handicapper over hurdles but he looks very classy over fences. Prior to his latest victory at Warwick, I wondered whether he would always keep a bit to himself on the run-in. He does not always seem to find as much off the bridle as appears likely but he quickened four and a half lengths clear of Top Gamble at the midlands track. Odds of around 5-1 with a free bet refund if the favourite wins looks a tempting offer.

Josses Hill would have been on many short-lists at the start of the season but he has not lived up to expectations over fences so far. He has only a workmanlike Doncaster victory to his credit so far, although jockey Barry Geraghty insists that a fast pace will see him in a much better light. It may be that he has been slow to come to himself this season. Henderson’s last four runners have all won including Hurricane Higgins at Lingfield on the flat so the yard could be hitting form at the right time.

Vibrato Valtat @5-1 Paddy Power*

*Money back as a free bet (up to a maximum of £50) if Un De Sceaux wins