Standby for a sensational weekend on Sky Sports with Chelsea v Liverpool, the start of the Rugby League World Cup and Stanford Super Series.
Premier League
Manchester United have eased into fourth gear and should get punters off to a flyer on Saturday. They've won more points (79) and scored more goals (67) against Everton than any other Premier League side and won more points (40) and scored more goals (33) at Goodison Park than any other Premier League ground. They've won on their last three visits and 13 of the 16 Premier League games at Goodison.
Middlesex: can they upset England?
Newcastle looked like they might be turning a corner under Joe Kinnear on Monday and they go to the Stadium of Light, where they've never lost in the Premier League. Sunderland's last home win against Newcastle was at Roker Park in 1980 when The Jam were number one in the charts with 'Going Underground'! Newcastle are unbeaten in the last nine Tyne-Wear derbies and backing them on the Asian Handicap (0.5, 0.0) at even money looks a stand-out bet.
Sunday is D-Day for our ante-post bet on Chelsea to top the league after ten games. They host second-placed Liverpool on what will be a super Sunday on Sky Bet Live. Chelsea stuttered against Roma but have been on fire in the Premier League and enjoy playing against Liverpool at the Bridge, having taken 37pts off them (they only have a better record against Tottenham - 39pts). I fancy Chelsea's wide men, especially Jose Bosingwa, to have a field day against Liverpool's suspect full-backs so get on Chelsea's corner supremacy on Sky Bet Live. The Blues have also conceded just six goals in 16 Premier League meetings at Stamford Bridge, keeping 11 clean sheets, and with Liverpool's lack of striking options, Chelsea to win to nil has to be the bet.
Can things get any worse for Tottenham? Worryingly for Spurs fans they face Bolton on Sunday, who surprisingly have won more points (26) and scored more goals (24) against Tottenham than any other Premier League side. Bolton have also won seven of their last 11 Premier League meetings.
Cricket
The eagerly anticipated Stanford Super Series starts on Saturday, with all six matches live on Sky Sports 1.
I reckon there's money to be made backing Middlesex in their matches. They look good things to beat a moderate Trinidad and Tobago outfit on Monday 27th and they are capable of pulling off a shock against England the day before.
A county would have no chance of beating the national side in a Test match, and it would be unlikely in a 50-over game but Twenty20 cricket is a different ball game and all about team work and experience.
The Middlesex players have played far more Tewnty20 cricket than the England boys, they've had all season to gel as a unit, and look good value at 6/4 with Sky Bet to catch England cold on Sunday.
Rugby League
The 13th Rugby League World Cup also kicks off on Saturday, with England up against Papua New Guinea.
Sky Bet give Papua New Guinea a 32pt head start but this won't be easy for England as they are sure to be rusty and any World Cup opener is bound to be a nervy affair. I do however expect Jamie Peacock's men to have a good tournament. I'm convinced Australia and New Zealand aren't as good as they were a few years ago, though the Aussies should still be good enough to win on home turf.
However, England look a better side than New Zealand and I fancy them to get to the World Cup Final on Saturday 22nd November. Therefore an Australia-England straight forecast looks the best call at 11/8 with Sky Bet.
Rugby Union
The best rugby betting opportunity is in Saturday's Currie Cup Final - live on Sky Sports 3. This should be an absolute thriller.
I'm siding with the Sharks on their own patch in Durban as they'll be determined to gain revenge for the defeat to the Bulls in last year's Super 14 final. The Sharks have peaked at the right time and have a balanced side with enough big match players to triumph, notably Kankowski, Pienaar and Steyn.
The Shark possess all the flair and the Bulls will try to kill the ball and not let it get to their opponents' backs, but I don't think they will be able to dominate the Sharks' pack to make that happen. The Sharks to win by 10pts.
Horse Racing
Saturday night represents one of THE great spectacles in thoroughbred racing, and the unique twists and turns of Santa Anita make for a mouth-watering betting experience.
Betting against Aidan O'Brien this summer would have rapidly resulted in financial ruin but I believe the time has now come to take on the master of Ballydoyle. I'm prepared to risk ridicule but feel many of his horses are feeling the effects of a hard campaign and I'll be surprised if he registers a single winner over the two days.
We've already tipped up Zenyatta at 4/6 to win the Ladies' Classic on Friday night in this blog and I'm encouraged to see her now trading at 8/11. Godolphin look to be the only threat there but I'm convinced Zenyatta is the real deal and she ought to help us head into Saturday on the front foot.
At 9/1, Folk Opera looks a knocking each-way bet for Sheikh Mohammed in the Filly & Mare Turf, also on Friday. Frankie will try to lead from the front as he did with her at Woodbine and will look to steal the race from the likes of Halfway To Heaven who is too short for me at half the price of Godolphin's charge.
On Saturday, Midnight Lute is the one to be with in the Sprint. There's speed and then there's American speed, and this out-and-out speedster can defend his crown at 6/1 against the well-fancied Street Boss. Midnight Lute turned in a scintillating piece of work last weekend that seems to have gone largely unnoticed by the odds-compilers and is worth siding with again.
The Turf ought to come back to Europe, and if Eagle Mountain were an easier horse to train I'd fancy him for Mike de Kock. I'm surprised St Leger winner Conduit isn't favourite for this race. His Doncaster win oozed class and he'll have the beating of Soldier Of Fortune et al at a price.
I also fancy Well Armed and Goldikova to pull off a dirt and turf Mile double. The Classic looks ripe for an upset. Curlin is without a doubt sensational, but has been on the go for a year now and I can see him being collared by a fresher dirt horse. Resist the temptation to side with a European money-spinner and look to Colonel John to steal it in the straight to crown a fantastic night in California.
