Betfred

England take on Pakistan in a Test Match series and you can enhance your cricket betting options with a couple of good promotions which are around at the moment. England have received a boost with the news that some of their injury concerns have been lifted, with Stuart Broad and Ian Bell both getting the green light for action. England may well go with a couple of spinners to try and take the bold approach to making things happen on the slow and lifeless tracks which are forecast, and that puts Monty Panesar, who has been impressive in the warm up to the Test Series, fully in contention to get back in the Test side for the first time since 2009. Pakistan’s conduct in the Test Series is as much on the line as their cricketing reputations. Pakistan have been at the centre of the cricket spot-fixing scandal of course, against England back in 2010. It resulted in Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif all being thrown in prison, and now the Pakistan cricket authorities are talking of zero tolerance policy and a positive change coming from them. This Test series, which is being played out in the United Arab Emirates is a change for them to be positive about their image for the future. Hopefully the past actions of the few won’t throw too much of a negative on this Test Series, and after coming in on the back of trips to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Pakistan were praised for their conduct. But naturally there is going to be more spice against England, one of the best Test sides in the world. England sound pretty focus, with captain Andrew Strauss saying that there is not going to be any distractions, and that they are going to be competitively aggressive. Good to hear and here is hoping that a good contest is to follow. If you are looking for some Pakistan v England cricket betting options, then here are some good promotions offering some insurance on your betting.

Online bookmaker BetFred are running a Batsmen Bonus for cricket betting. If Imran Far hut (from Pakistan) or Ian Bell (England) finish as top scorer for their respective sides, then popular online bookmaker BetFred will generously refund any losing bets placed on their side’s top batsmen markets. So a nice bit of coverage from BetFred on the market, and what are we looking at in there as way of prices? Top England batsmen has Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen at 9/2 for example, while on the Pakistan side Younis Khan can be taken at 3/1. Online bookmaker BetFred offer a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account with them. The bookie will match the first bet on a new account (of £5 or greater) with a free bet up to the maximum value of £50. So a great way to get started with some free betting cash on your new BetFred Account.

Ladbrokes are also running a batsman promotion for their Pakistan v England cricket betting coverage. The popular bookie are going with Andrew Strauss as their target man in this promotion, and if the England captain is the top scorer for his country during their first innings, then Ladbrokes will refund any losing First Test match bets. So pretty good coverage riding on this Ladbrokes cricket betting promotion where England are 7/4 to take the First Test, while Pakistan are at 3/1 and the favourite market option is the draw at 6/5. Ladbrokes offer new customers registering an account the chance to get up to £50 in free bets on their new account. The bookie will match the value of your first bet on a new account with a free bet up to the maximum value of £50. So with their cricket betting promotion for England taking on Pakistan, Ladbrokes are offering great coverage.

Online bookmaker Victor Chandler are going with a batsman betting special for the Test Series of Pakistan v England as well. The route VC Bet are going down, is if the Captain of either side if their top scorer for their respective side, then the bookie will generously refund any pre match Top Batsmen bets placed on the game. So there is good coverage here also for your cricket betting with the highly rated Victor Chandler who are recommended for their money back specials throughout their sports book. In England Top Batsmen odds, there is Alastair Cook at 3/1, and Jonathan Trott at 4/1. For Pakistan Top Batsmen, Misbah-ul-Hay and Imran Farhat are both trading at 9/2. Victor Chandler offer a free £25 bet for new customers who register a new account for their services. A free bet up to the maximum value of £25 will be paid out in a matched first bet welcome bonus, where the bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new VC Bet account.

This year’s Masters Snooker gets off to an explosive start this coming weekend at its new home, the Alexandra Palace, when defending champion, China’s Ding Junhui, takes on former title-holder Ronnie O’ Sullivan in the opening round. ‘The Rocket’ beat Ding in the 2007 final but is increasingly looking a light of former days. O’Sullivan had a poor 2011 and hasn’t won a ranking tournament since the start of the 2009/10 season. The demons he faces on a daily basis away from the table will always make him a risky proposition in ante-post lists, but those willing to take a chance on the hugely talented Essex native at ‘Ally Pally’ can get 6/1 at Boylesports and Ladbrokes. Ding Junhui is 133/10 on betfair for a second win in this prestigious invitational tournament and can’t be ruled out. Asia’s most successful-ever player knocked out Mark Williams and Graeme Dott among others en route to his defeat of Marco Fu in the final at Wembley12 months ago but has frozen on the big stages since and is worth taking on in The Masters with Mark Selby.

It was a case of so near but yet so far last season for the 28-year-old from Leicester after he was beaten in the final of both the German Masters and the China Open. But he’s already gone some way towards making amends by winning this year’s Shanghai Masters and The Masters is his favourite tournament and one in which he’s already been successful twice. The bottom half of the draw appears the weaker and gives Selby a great chance of making it to the final again, with veteran John Higgins (a general 7/1) apparently the biggest obstacle lying in his path. But Selby has a decent record against the former world champion and ended 2012 in decent form whereas the Scot had some indifferent results towards the end of last year. Betfred and totesport offer 7/1 against current world number one Mark Selby winning at Alexandra Palace and that will do for me.

As I’ve said, the top half of the draw looks much tougher than the bottom half but the redoubtable Mark Williams will probably make a bold bid to emerge unscathed and can be backed at 12/1 with Ladbrokes and sportingbet. The Welshman still maintains he was robbed in the final of the Shangai Masters and will be out for revenge on Selby but a tricky quarter-final against world champion Neil Robertson (a general 10/1) awaits if the seedings pan out and he could than face Ding Junhui in the semis.

Since 1999, only two teams outside of the Old Firm have won the Scottish Cup. Dundee United, two years ago, and Hearts, in 2006, are the only clubs who have managed to break the Glasgow monopoly so it’s no surprise that bookmakers aren’t looking outside the big two as the SPL clubs join the competition.

Holders Celtic have won the Scottish Cup four times in the last eight years and are 9/4 with Stan James and William Hill to retain their trophy. The Hoops started the season slowly but a 10-match winning run, combined with Rangers‘ loss of form, has propelled them to the top of the SPL and manager Neil Lennon will now be eyeing a double that seemed most unlikely just a few weeks ago when the Gers had a big lead in the title race. Given their history in the competition and current form it’s difficult to put anyone off backing Celtic, who have reached the final 19 times alongside their record 35 wins, though their arch-rivals can also be backed at the same 9/4 with the same two firms. Big hitters might consider backing both, which would give you combined odds of 5/8, as the Old Firm are a class above the other teams in Scotland, though it’s 10 years since Rangers and Celtic met in the final itself in Hampden.

Hearts are next best in most lists and are available at 12/1 with bet365 and William Hill. Paulo Sergio‘s team look to have a straightforward task against part-timers Auchinleck Talbot in the fourth round but the Edinburgh club’s financial woes may lead to several of their first-team squad departing before the end of the transfer window with their places being taken by members of the youth team. With potential disaster looming, there is surely better value elsewhere if looking for a team to challenge the domination of the Old Firm or profit from them being drawn against each other before the final. Of course, you will need luck in-running but how about a speculative each-way bet on Dundee United?

Outside of the top two, the Terrors (a general 14/1) have the best recent record in the competition and traditionally do better in the second of the season than the first. Admittedly, they’ve hardly set the SPL alight this term but always look as though they have a goal or two in them which is more than be said about the likes of Aberdeen (20/1 with bet365, Stan James and William Hill) or Hibernian (a general 25/1). Kilmarnock (a general 33/1) look to be on a downward curve and Motherwell (14/1 in most places) have also hit the buffers but Dunfermline Athletic have a proud recent record in the Scottish Cup having reached the final twice since the turn of the century. Jim McIntyre‘s side currently prop up the SPL but the cup may bring some relief from their woes and the Pars can be backed at 66/1 with Betfred, Coral and William Hill, which means you are getting 33/1 about them reaching the final again in the place part of an each-way bet. Providing they get through a tricky opener at Inverness CT and the draw is kind thereafter, those odds will start to look attractive.

Plenty of usual suspects face the starter in the latest of what is fast becoming a pre-requisite handicap chase over 2m5f at every Cheltenham meeting. This one is sponsored by Victor Chandler and champion trainer Paul Nicholls once again provides the top weight in The Nightingale (a general 14/1) and a fancied runner further down the weights in the shape of Ghizao.

Ruby Walsh rides the latter so it’s fair to presume he is the stable selection. Bookmakers and punters certainly think so and the eight-year-old, who beat subsequent Arkle Chase winner Captain Chris twice as a novice, is only a general 6/1. He hasn’t run badly in either start this season but never really jumped with any fluency behind Quantitiveeasing over C&D last time and has ground to make up on Calgary Bay on that run.

Henrietta Knight‘s gelding usually runs well at Cheltenham but hasn’t won for a while. But that could all change in this New Year feature if he can lie up with the pace as he’ll be reeling in the front-runners up the hill. At 8/1 with most layers, Calgary Bay looks a cast-iron each-way bet and Duke Of Lucca should also be in the firing-line. Novices don’t have a great recent record in this contest but Philip Hobbs’ charge could be the exception that proves the rule. A very decent hurdler over this sort of distance, he spread-eagled an ordinary field at Wincanton after a couple of sighters and, though his jumping will be put under pressure by these experienced handicappers, it would be no surprise to see him go close at Boylesports and Stan James‘ 6/1.

Crescent Island (14/1 with Boylesports) and Hector’s Choice (20/1 with Victor Chandler) look closely matched on Newbury running behind Chance Du Roy and are capable of making their presence felt but it would need a giant leap of faith to support Cape Tribulation (21/1 on betfair) after he was pulled up early on at Haydock two weeks ago and the bottom six on the racecard are all carrying more than their allotted weight. The best of those may be Havingotascoobydo, who has been placed twice over shorter trips at Cheltenham recently. He can be backed at 7/1 with Skybet and William Hill, though his jumping can still be a little novicey at times. Hell’s Bay won a big prize last season but was pulled up when favourite on his reappearance at Ascot, hence his 14/1 quote from Betfred, Boylesports and totesport. Calgary Bay is taken to land the spoils with Duke Of Lucca to chase him home.

• Calgary Bay to win the Bet With Your Mobile at Victor Chandler Chase at a general 8/1
• Duke Of Lucca to win the Bet With Your Mobile at Victor Chandler Chase at 6/1 with Boylesports and Stan James

A big weight isn’t necessarily a barrier to success in the Coral Welsh National. Many will remember the brilliant-but-flawed Carvill’s Hill blundering and bunny-hopping his way around Chepstow under a welter burden in 1991. Indeed Synchronised, under an inspired A P McCoy, defied 11st6lb 12 months ago and the six-year-old Halcon Genelardais carried 11st3lb to victory in 2006. But, generally speaking, it’s those with less than 11st to shoulder who have held the upper hand in this traditional stamina test in recent times and ante-post punters this year have latched on to Victor Dartnall‘s Giles Cross.

Available at a general 6/1, the nine-year-old undoubtedly has impeccable credentials. A dual course winner, he was just beaten by Synchronised in the race 12 months ago and comes here at the top of his game having ended a frustrating sequence of placed efforts with victory in the Southern National at Fontwell on his reappearance. Viking Blond is only 8/1 with most layers but doesn’t appear that well handicapped on his form over fences so far and more interesting is Le Beau Bai (10/1 with Betfred). Third in the Welsh National two years ago, he came back to form at the track earlier this month. Though he seems to have been around forever, Richard Lee‘s gelding is still only an eight-year-old though was pulled up behind Giles Cross at Fontwell.

Another interesting contender is Galaxy Rock, who represents last year’s successful trainer. Ahead of Ballyfitz (25/1 with Betfred and Coral), subsequent Newbury Hennessy victor Carruthers (10/1 with Boylesports, Victor Chandler and Coral) and recent Newcastle winner Hey Big Spender (18/1 with Victor Chandler) at Cheltenham on his latest start, Jonjo O’Neill‘s stayer still appears to be improving and should give supporters a run for their money at the general 10/1.

The penalised Cannington Brook (16/1 with Boylesports) isn’t certain to confirm Haydock running with runner-up Our Island, however, and Tim Vaughan‘s lightly-weighted novice could be a decent each-way bet here at Boylesports and Paddy Power‘s 25/1 but I’ll put up David Pipe‘s Master Overseer as the value bet. Very lightly-raced, he didn’t do himself justice behind Le Beau Bai at the track earlier this month but this slog through the mud will be right up his street and he normally jumps better than he did last time. At William Hill‘s 20/1, Master Overseer is probably a few points too big and makes more appeal than As De Fer (12/1 with bet365, Ladbrokes and Boylesports) in this grade.

• Master Overseer (Each-Way) in the Welsh National at 20/1 with William Hill
• Our Island (Each-Way) in the Welsh National at 25/1 with Boylesports and Paddy Power

There are eight runners due to face the starter in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but, despite the prospect of a decent each-way bet, most racegoers and punters will only be concentrating on the first two in the betting.

Kauto Star has won already won the Grade 1 mid-season championship race four times, so why is he available at 7/2 with Betfred and totesport? He did, after all, beat favourite Long Run (a general 5/4) by eight lengths in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month when Diamond Harry was back in fourth. Not a bad performance considering the gelding is now rising 12 and has been jumping fences since he was a four-year-old. Kauto Star has won almost £2million in prize money in his career and it’s a credit to how shrewdly he’s been managed over the years that he is still towards the top of the chasing tree. However, as he’s got older he’s also become more difficult to predict. There were a lot of calls for him to be retired after he showed little interest and was pulled up at Punchestown in May, just weeks after he was firmly put in his place by Long Run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Even his trainer has admitted that he is probably just one poor run from being allowed to spend the rest of his days in a field but a possible fifth win in this prestigious chase is just too much of a temptation to resist, especially after his Haydock heroics.

Nicky Henderson admitted that Long Run wasn’t quite ready at Haydock but he’ll be tuned to the minute in his attempt to win the King George for a second time and, only a six-year-old, has plenty of scope for further improvement. I’d expect him to confirm last season’s dominance over Kauto Star and repeat last year’s triumph but it will be fascinating to see how Master Minded (13/2 in several places) and Captain Chris (8/1 with Ladbrokes) fare tackling 3m for the first time. Both are brilliant two-milers and the former won a Grade 1 contest over 2m4f at Aintree in the spring. His accurate jumping may be good enough to keep him in contention  for a long way in this but there’s just a worry that with normal pace-setters Nacarat (66/1 with Paddy Power) and Golan Way (85/1 on betfair) likely to take each other on for the lead, the gallop may be suicidal and play to the strength of the proven stayers. That would suit Diamond Harry (a general 16/1) but not Somersby (a general 12/1) who finished behind Master Minded over 2m3f at Ascot last month and is another trying 3m for the first time.

• Long Run to win William Hill King George VI Chase at a general 5/4
• Diamond Harry to be placed at the general 16/1

When I was a mere sapling and it was still safe for small children to walk through woods to the park unescorted, my friends and I would sit for hours on slides and swings (usually until one of our number fell off and broke some underdeveloped bone). Despite the absence of Playstations or an Xbox, we never got bored because if you sat high enough on the play apparatus or climbed above the nearby flowerbeds you could see across the hedge that enclosed the bowling green.

In the good old days, every British park had a bowling green and it was always dotted with old men in white caps and flannels and blue-rinsed ladies in long skirts and pumps. I must admit, we used to find it hilarious. Especially, the meticulous placing of the little rubber mat and the vigorous polishing of the woods which were all carefully placed back in their lacquered carry cases at game end.  I vowed then that I would never get to the stage where a game of bowls would be the highlight of my week. However, now enveloped by middle age, I may just be having a change of heart.

I must admit I never realised how much money is involved in the modern game. Gone are the days of the gentle amateur epitomised by pipe-smoking David Bryant. There are unlikely to be any fists flying but next month’s World Indoor Championships, for example, has £100,000 up for grabs. The Potter’s Leisure Resort at Hopton-on-sea in Norfolk is the centre of the universe as far as indoor bowls is concerned and the upcoming World Championships is expected to attract record spectator levels, who can combine a couple of nights of bowls with old-time dancing or a night in the theatre. Push aside those mobility scooters, I’m on my way!

The 32 qualifiers for the men’s singles include players from Australia and South Africa but the vast majority of the draw is made up by bowlers from the British Isles. Scots dominate the early betting with current world number one and defending champion Paul Foster favourite at 8/1 with Betfred and Skybet. Fellow countrymen Alex Marshall (10/1 with the same two firms) and David Gourlay (also 10/1 with Betfred) should also be to the fore and are the same odds as England’s Greg Harlow, poised to usurp Foster as world number one next season, and Mervyn King. It all gets underway on January 13th, don’t say you haven’t been forewarned.

Nicky Henderson‘s stable did this column a favour at Cheltenham last weekend and we’re going to nail our colours to the Upper Lambourn mast again this week in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.

Gibb River never managed a win on the Flat but has really found his niche over hurdles and the five-year-old looks the value bet at a general 8/1 in Saturday’s feature. The gelding’s only comparative failure so far under NH Rules came in last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, where he found the going too quick. His record on this week’s good to soft ground is examplary, however, and includes wins at Huntingdon, Plumpton and Wincanton. He made an eye-catching reappearance when third in a Listed event at Sandown, his first run in a handicap, earlier this month and there’s every reason to believe he’ll overturn that form here with runner-up Via Galilei with Barry Geraghty taking over the reins. Gary Moore‘s charge, a general 14/1, is talented but is a hard horse to catch right as he has to held up for a late run. I’d much rather be on the side of the more straightforward Gibb River.

Henderson also runs Rajdhani Express, fifth in that Sandown race but undoubtedly better on soft ground. He’s available at a general 16/1 but all of the money this week has been for Prospect Wells. A decent sort on the level, he’s done well since arriving at Paul Nicholls‘ yard this summer, winning novice hurdles at Chepstow and Newbury and finishing second in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in between. There’s just a chance that the handicapper has let him in lightly here but it’s unusual for the trainer to go down the handicap route so soon with a novice that may have Cheltenham pretensions and, at the general 7/2, he’s too short in the market now though Nicholls has left last week’s International Hurdle third Brampour (11/1 with Betfred, Stan James and totesport) in the race to ensure the weights don’t rise.

The latter is a four-year-old, as is Haydock second Marsh Warbler (a general 16/1), Irish challenger Sailors Warn (a general 10/1) and the prolific Abergavenny, who can be backed at 11/1 with Coral and Skybet. But that age group has a terrible record in this race having failed to provide a winner since the turn of the century. More interesting are Desert Cry (14/1 in most places), who made giant strides last season and defied a big weight on his reappearance at Haydock, and Act Of Kalanisi.

Richard Newland‘s representative can sometimes be left down by his jumping but he’s a decent performer when everything falls into place and ran a lot better than the final result suggests when third in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton. He has a decent chance at the weights in this and, at the general 16/1, makes plenty of each-way appeal behind likely winner Gibb River.

Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Great Endeavour certainly isn’t being allowed to rest on his laurels and the grey will line up for the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup at Cheltenham this weekend just two weeks after another brave run in the Hennessy at Newbury.

The grey will no doubt appreciate the drop back in distance as 3m2f clearly taxed his stamina in the Hennessy but he’s gone up a further 6lb in the weights recently and may be worth opposing now at the general 8/1 as there is every chance that both Quantitiveeasing and Divers, second and third in the Paddy Power, can now turn the tables. The pair are old rivals having finished second and first respectively in a valuable novices’ handicap at The Festival in March. Just under three lengths separated them that day and Nicky Henderson’s charge is now 3lb better off. Available at 7/1 with Boylesports, Coral and William Hill, Quantitiveeasing may just be the more progressive and can finally get his head in front over C&D though Divers certainly shouldn’t be ignored at the general 8/1 as Ferdy Murphy‘s stable is beginning to show signs of a revival after a low-key start to the season.

Great Endeavour is undoubtedly David Pipe’s first choice but the Nicholshayne trainer has four entries in total including the consistent I’msingingtheblues (19/1 on betfair), Matuhi (33/1 0n betfair) and Salut Flo. The latter could be a real fly in the ointment as he looked a very smart prospect early last year before being sidelined by injury. Still only a six-year-old, he may well be capable of landing a nice prize off his current mark and Conor O’Farrell’s claim is worth a further 3lb this weekend. Salut Flo is 16/1 with most layers.

Woolcombe Folly (a general 25/1) looks to have too much weight and is better over 2m but stablemate Ghizao (a general 7/1) deserves another chance as he looked as though the outing would do him good when fourth to Medermit (12/1 with betfred, Boylesports and totesport) at Exeter. Paul Nicholls‘ seven-year-old is 4lb better off in this. Sunnyhillboy, one of three running in the colours of JP McManus, could also be a threat as he was third behind Poquelin and Great Endeavour in the race last year. AP McCoy‘s mount (15/2 with sportingbet) is now 12lb better off with the latter so has every chance of turning the tables as he had a pipe-opener over hurdles at Haydock last month. Sandown winner Roudoudou Ville is improving but this represents a big staep up in class for bet365 and Skybet‘s 14/1 chance, while Irish raiders Roberto Goldback and Finger Onthe Pulse (33/1 and 80/1 respectively on betfair) no longer look good enough at this level.

A massive match at the Sports Direct Arena on Saturday, as we look at Newcastle v Chelsea betting in the Premier League. It will be a highly emotional day with tributes to the departed Gary Speed rolling in, but getting down to business there are a big three points at stake. The Magpies, after a superb unbeaten run to the start of the season, suffered their first taste of defeat on a trip to Manchester City, but recovered with a point at Old Trafford last weekend. While they have been good in defence, up front, they have the scoring prowess of Demba Ba who has fired in nine league goals this season. The Magpies striker is on a great run of form, and will be hungry to get at the leaky Chelsea defence. Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas is a man under pressure after a string of defeats has really seen Chelsea’s form dip after a solid start to the season. Chelsea are lacking confidence, but the young Portuguese manager needs to start turning things around quickly. It will be a difficult trip to the North East for them on Saturday with all the emotions going on up there, but it may be a good escape for them away from the extra pressures of playing at Stamford Bridge. This is fourth v fifth in the Premier League, with the Magpies in ascendancy over the Londoners by one point. So a big match ahead on Saturday, and Newcastle will be looking to that man Demba Ba to fire them to success on an emotional day.

For your Newcastle v Chelsea betting, online bookmaker BetFred are running a great promotion for it. If Demba Ba scores the final goal of the match on Saturday, then the bookie will refund lost stake refunds on all First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast bets placed on the match. This means that you have some great coverage for your Newcastle v Chelsea betting, and with three draws between them in the last four meetings, a 1-1 Correct Score fetches a handsome 6/1 with BetFred, while Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge is favourite to open the scoring at 11/2 in the First Goalscorer market. So there are great options for your football betting, all covered by this great BetFred promotion. The highly popular bookie offers a free £50 bet for new customers registering an account, courtesy of their welcome bonus. BetFred will match the value of your first stake on a new account, up to the maximum value of £50, giving you the opportunity for some great free betting cash, and the chance of risk free profit to be made with it!

Newcastle v Chelsea Outright Odds at BetFred
Newcastle 11/4, Draw 12/5, Chelsea 21/20