Barkley: Gloucester boost

Sky Sports News' Ed Chamberlin brings you his weekly betting guide and offers his top tips for the weekend's sporting action.

World Cup qualifiers

What an incredible week it has been on Sky Sports News!

After transfer deadline day, the Manchester City takeover, Alan Curbishley's resignation and all the goings on at Newcastle, the weekend of international football feels like a 'breather'!

Andorra against England has little betting appeal, though keep on eye on how much Barcelona's Olympic stadium has decayed since 1992: London be warned! Of more interest is next Wednesday's game in Zagreb.

I'll be backing a 0-0 scoreline as I'm convinced Fabio Capello will set England up in a defensive formation and be delighted to leave Croatia with a point.

Also that night Russia look good things to beat Wales, while Denmark can cause an upset in Carlos Quieroz's first home game in charge of Portugal.

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Horse Racing

Some great action to look forward to this weekend with Haydock's Sprint Cup and the Irish Champions Stakes taking centre stage. Picking the winner of the former looks a difficult task. The current crop of sprinters are a moderate bunch and any one of ten horses could win.

In contrast, Saturday's feature at Leopardstown could see another head-to-head between Duke Of Marmalade and New Approach. If both horses turn up, I can see a reverse of the Juddmonte International result as the three-year-old did not like the ground at Newmarket but will have it back in his favour on Saturday.

New Approach also refused to settle, was ring-rusty having been absent since the Derby, and Ballydoyle's pacemaker ensured all the cards fell Duke Of Marmalade's way. Having gone to war with the Duke last time, I will be adopting a new approach on Saturday.

The horse I'm most looking forward to seeing this weekend is Listen, who makes her reappearance in the Matron Stakes on Saturday. She looked a world-beater in the Fillies' Mile this time last year before injury ruled her out of the Classics. Listen is a stunning filly and can give Lush Lashes something to think about this weekend and win a big prize before the season is over.

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Rugby Union

Football's international week means there's no Premier League action so my eyes are firmly on the Premiership's kick off for money-making opportunities. The 2008/2009 Guinness Premiership WILL be the best ever.

With rested players, record season-ticket sales, comprehensive coverage on Sky Sports and world stars like Chris Latham, Nick Evans, Greg Sommerville and Serge Betsen joining the ranks, the domestic game is thriving. Skybet have joined the party with 22 markets on the new season!

To win the title, teams will need strength in depth to deal with losing their international players for nearly half the season. I'm therefore surprised to see Wasps are the favourites to top the regular season table. Wasps have nine players in England's elite squad, five with the Saxons.

With the RFU's compensation scheme paying the clubs equally you wonder why Wasps should bother producing young English talent. Wasps picked up just 21 points (Gloucester - 34pts) whilst their internationals were away last season and their squad does not look big enough to cope this time either. They have lost key figures like Lawrence Dallaglio, have Danny Cipriani battling for fitness and I'm sure their priority will be to produce a late charge to qualify for the play-offs and not worry too much about topping the league.

In contrast, Gloucester have done just that for the last two seasons but failed to take the next step and win the Premiership Final. They are once again the team to beat in the league and have so much strength in depth they would be able to field a 2nd XV that could finish mid-table. They have bought well again in the summer with Olly Barkley able to take the heat off Ryan Lamb at 10 and Greg Somerville to add some beef to the front row.

Gloucester still have the best backs in the Premiership and ELVs will suit their open style. Dean Ryan's side may fall at the play-off hurdle again but look a great bet at 7-2 to top the regular season table.

Leicester have also recruited well and will be a danger to all for the title. In Heineke Meyer they have recruited one of the best coaches in the world and definitely the best in South Africa but I fear their big pack and excellent set-piece will not be helped by the ELVs and they, like Wasps, will be hit hard by the international matches.

For surprise packages I would look to Saracens and Sale, who both have top notch first XVs and make appeal with an eight point start on Skybet's regular season handicap betting. I also advise backing them in a double to make a winning start this weekend.

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