With no Premier League, Heineken Cup or NFL action this weekend, it was a bit tricky but we think we have found a way for you to make a few quid after all with this week’s four-timer.
By Sean Nolan and Conor Heneghan
Derby to beat Stoke, FA Cup Round 4, 23/10
Derby may be a division below the visitors to Pride Park but they are playing much better. Just one defeat in their last eight games has them second in the Championship form table and while they don’t score too many, they concede hardly any at all thanks to the sensational form of ‘keeper Frank Fielding.
Stoke have only won three of their last eight in the league and they have only managed eight goals in 11 away games in the Premier League this season. With the Europa League on their minds and their inability to click into gear away from the breezy confines of the Britannia, we see Stoke exiting here and the Rams marching into the next round.
Tyrone to beat Derry, McKenna Cup Final, 8/11
Tyrone are not a side that require much in the way of motivation, but talk that they are in decline has been doing the rounds for some time and Mickey Harte will be determined to prove a point.
His young charges, led by the impressive Ronan O’Neill, have acquitted themselves well in the McKenna Cup so far and needing some momentum heading into the National League, we think they’ll have enough about them to overturn Derry at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.
Rafael Nadal to defeat Novak Djokovic, Australian Open Final, 6/5
Djokovic may have had his way with Nadal in the last two Grand Slam Finals the pair have contested, but you have to consider that Nadal will have had an extra day-off while the Serb recovers from his five-hour marathon semi-final with Andy Murray.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Rafa of late, but he was back to something resembling his best against Federer in the semis and odds of 6/5 sound pretty generous to us.
Blackstairmountain to win Arkle Novice Chase on Sunday, 13/8
For a start, it’s a Willie Mullins horse so it has to be considered a potential winner. Secondly, the seven-year-old is two-from-two this season. Thirdly, he won over course and distance on St Stephen’s Day and fourthly, he beat most of his competitors tomorrow in that very race. Add in the wise old head of Ruby Walsh in the saddle and we think this fits very snugly into our four-timer.
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