Monday's market moves

Sir Alex: Starts against Magpies

Domestic champions Manchester United will face Newcastle on the opening day of the Premier League and are 2/7 with Sky Bet to begin their title defence with a home victory.

Luiz Felipe Scolari is 2/7 to achieve a win against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge in his first game in charge of Chelsea while newly-promoted West Brom face a tough trip to Arsenal and are 11/1 to take home three points,

As for the other promoted pair, Stoke are 11/4 to win at Bolton and Hull City are 11/8 to beat Fulham at home.

In the Championship, relegated Reading face newly-promoted Nottingham Forest and are 6/4 to start their campaign with a win.

Leicester entertain Milton Keynes Dons in their first game in League One and are 5/6 to collect three points, while play-off losers Leeds United are 5/4 to get a win at Scunthorpe.

In League Two, newcomers Aldershot and Exeter travel north on the opening day of the season and are 13/8 and 7/2 respectively to beat Accrington Stanley and Darlington.

Celtic begin their Scottish Premier League defence with a home game against St Mirren for which they are 1/6 favourites, while Rangers (4/11) face a trip to Falkirk (13/2, draw 3/1).

Ascot Specials!

With Henrythenavigator a short priced favourite at 4/7 to win the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, Sky Bet have spiced up the betting by offering odds on how far he will win by and quote 7/1 for an emphatic winning distance of over four lengths.

Sky Bet are also offering odds on what will happen first in the festival and quote 9/4 for Jeremy Noseda's Fleeting Spirit to win the King's Stand Stakes before any of the other horses listed romp to victory. It's 5/1 for none of the five hotpots quoted to win their respective races.

Yellow (5/1) heads the betting on the colour of the Queen's hat on Ladies' Day, with pink, which the Queen sported recently at Epsom, quoted at 10/1 and turquoise, which she wore for her 82nd birthday celebrations last week, also listed at 10/1.

Sky Bet Royal Ascot Specials:

How far will Henrythenavigator win by? Up to and including 1 length 7/2, Over 1 length to 2 lengths 9/2, Over 2 lengths to 3 lengths 6/1, Over 3 lengths to 4 lengths 7/1, Over 4 lengths 7/1. Note: If Henrtythenavigator fails to win all bets will be settled as losers.

What Will Happen First? Fleeting Spirit wins the King Stand 9/4, Duke Of Marmalade wins the Prince Of Wales 9/4, Bankable wins the Hunt Cup 4/1, Yeats wins the Ascot Gold Cup 5/1, Sakhee's Secret wins the Golden Jubilee 16/1, All of these horses fail to win 5/1.

Colour of Queen's Hat on Ladies' Day? Yellow 5/1, Light Blue 6/1, Cream/Beige 6/1, Purple/Lilac 7/1, White 8/1, Pink 10/1, Peach/Apricot 10/1, Green 10/1, Turquoise 10/1, Navy 12/1, Brown 12/1, Red 16/1, Royal Blue 16/1, Grey 16/1, Black 20/1, Orange 25/1, Gold 33/1, Leopard Skin 100/1, Burberry 100/1. Note: Applies only to dominant colour of Queen's hat on Ladies' Day - Thurs June 19th.

Mac Backed!

Sky Bet have slashed Steve McClaren's odds of succeeding Mark Hughes as Blackburn manager from 12/1 to 5/2, following significant support for the former England boss who has been interviewed for the role.

Paul Ince's odds have consequently lengthened from 1/4 to 5/4. Former Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers manager, Sam Allardyce, is quoted at 5/2.

Sky Bet's PR Director, Dale Tempest, said: "Next manager markets are notoriously difficult but one thing seems certain with the Blackburn job; McClaren, Allardyce and Ince are all desperate to be appointed."

* Having informed Rovers that he wishes to leave Ewood Park for a new challenge, David Bentley is 6/4 to follow Mark Hughes to Manchester City next season.

A return to Arsenal for the England midfielder is quoted at 33/1 and it's 3/1 for him to sign for Liverpool.

Ascot Offers!

Royal Ascot, the centrepiece of the Flat racing calendar, gets under way on Tuesday and to celebrate what can only be described as the best five days racing in the world, Sky Bet will be offering a 110% market on one race a day from the Royal meeting.

This means that Sky Bet's prices offer better value than other bookmakers betting to a higher percentage.

For this year's Epsom Derby, Sky Bet offered their 110% market and were an amazing top price 14 out of the 16 runners.

Sky Bet's PR Director, Dale Tempest, said: "With sixteen Group races on offer and with at least one Group One race on each of the five days, Sky Bet's 110% markets will mean we'll be offering some of the most competitive prices in the industry."

Sky Bet will also guarantee to hold any Racing Post Pricewise Odds throughout Royal Ascot for 15 minutes from 9:00am.

Other Royal Ascot Offers

Enhanced Place Terms

Sky Bet will be paying ¼ the odds a place on all races from the Royal meeting.

Totepool Cashback

Sky Bet will be offering 15% off all multi-leg totepool bets.

(Cashback applies to bets placed from 9am on Monday 16th June to midnight Saturday 21st June 2008 and will be paid into customers accounts by 5:30pm on Wednesday 25th June 2008).

£50,000 Free Bet Giveaway

Every day of Royal Ascot, Sky Bet will be giving away £10,000 in free bets. On the hour, every hour from noon until 4pm Sky Bet will credit a single account with a £1,000 free bet and 10 other accounts £100 free bets. The customers have one hour to claim their free bet.

(To qualify customers will need to place a £10 bet on any Royal Ascot market by noon each day and then keep an eye on their account to see if they are one of the lucky winners).