Another near-miss last week but if it is any consolation, we’re getting closer…
We landed two-and-a-half legs of our treble last week. The Green Bay Packers did the business by the requisite points against the Vikings while the English rugby team really didn’t need the 16 points the bookies were giving them against New Zealand now, did they.
So it was dear old Arsenal who failed us. Swansea scored twice but the Gunners couldn’t do likewise so our four or more goals bet, and the treble, was sunk.
This week we look to the horses, the Manchester derby and the Heineken Cup to try and make our Christmas brighter and the bookies’ one a bit darker. This treble will get you just over €100 back for your tenner.
Sprinter Sacre to win the Tingle Creek, 4/9
The Sandown showdown between Sprinter Sacre and Sanctuaire could be the highlight of the racing weekend.
Nicky Henderson’s charge goes in as favourite and after a sparkling novice season last year, we can’t go against the six-year-old. Barry Geraghty loves this horse and while he is a little worried about the ground conditions, which may be a bit softer than anything Sprinter Sacre has ever run on before, the Meath man reckons it won’t be a problem.
Paul Nicholls’ Sanctuaire has a good track record at Sandown but we just can’t see the favourite beaten.
A sub to score in the Manchester derby, 11/4
We like this bet for a number of reasons, mainly because we have no idea how the game will pan out. We were tempted by odds of 12/5 for a penalty to be scored but with such a wealth of talent on both sets of benches, this bet is even better value.
Whichever two of Aguero, Tevez, Dzeko and Balotelli don’t get the nod from Roberto Mancini will surely come in, maybe quite early if the game is slipping away. And Javier Hernandez could do a similar job for Fergie’s lot. With a history of late goals in this fixture, we really fancy this one.
Clermont (-6) to beat Leinster, 10/11
We’re not big fans of going against Irish teams in the Heineken Cup here but we do think the European champs have a massive mountain to climb here. Clermont haven’t lost at home in an age and without the likes of Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney, Leinster may be missing that little bit of magic required to get something from this one.
We expect the French side to win, and while six points is a lot to give away, we reckon they will just about manage it.
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