Gaelic Football, Horse Racing at Galway and Goodwood, Rugby and Formula One all get a look in the August bank holiday edition of the weekend fancies.
By Conor Heneghan and William Nestor
Weekend Patent
After what has been an action packed summer in Gaelic Football, the championship has finally boiled down to the last eight contenders, all of whom will get a chance to showcase their credentials at headquarters this weekend.
Of the four ties, the meeting of Dublin and Tyrone is probably the most mouth-watering with pundits and fans alike expecting an exciting, closely fought encounter. What short memories they have. Dublin have been blown away by Kerry and Tyrone at the quarter-final stage in the last two years and frankly, we expect something similar to happen to Pat Gilroy’s side on Saturday.
The Red Handers have been in imperious form so far this season and look like nigh on unstoppable in their pursuit of their fourth All-Ireland title. Tyrone to win by 7-9 points can be backed at 11/2.
Read JOE’s preview of all the quarter-final action here.
Saturday’s first race in Glorious or Graveyard Goodwood (whichever way it’s been working out for you this week) includes an unbeaten Luca Cumani runner that catches the eye.
Kieren Fallon takes the mount for the first time on Rock n Roll Ransom and that says it all for us in this 1m 3f event at 1.55. He’s on the upgrade after wins at Salisbury and Nottingham but he looks the type to continue to improve. Take the 4/1 about Fallon’s ride that’s looking for three-in-a-row.
It’s not often that Formula One is the subject of one of our weekend punts but after tipping Sebastian Vettel to win the German Grand Prix last Sunday, we’re eager to atone for our error this weekend. The Hungarian Grand Prix takes place this Sunday and by all accounts, the Red Bulls are flying as usual in practise. This week, we’re going to put our faith in Vettel’s Aussie team-mate Mark Webber.
Despite playing second fiddle to Vettel this season, Webber is level on points and tied for third place with the German in the driver’s standings and has notched up three victories already this season. Webber to win Sunday’s Grand Prix is available at 7/2.
A €3 patent (total outlay €21) could return more than €1,200.
Break the Bookie
Australia host New Zealand in the latest instalment of the 2010 Tri-Nations on Saturday morning and despite the All Blacks’ tactics being shown to the world thanks to an eagle-eyed (and since sacked) photographer, we think Graham Henry’s side will come away with a victory.
Both sides have already shown their try scoring capabilities when defeating the Springboks and we think that skilful centre Conrad Smith is a good bet to add to the magnificent try (see below) he landed in the 32-12 defeat of South Africa three weeks ago. Smith to score the first try in Melbourne is available at 14/1.
The Galway races draw to a conclusion this weekend and although JOE’s team of tipsters has had some rotten luck with our Galway selections this week, it hasn’t stopped us in our pursuit of landing at least one winner at the famed Ballybrit track.
The penultimate day at the Galway Festival is known for winners at a price. PJ Gilligan obviously thinks very highly of Sunwake after a credible third to Hoopy here on Wednesday so he has thrown him back in on Saturday for the 2.55 Freshways Handicap Hurdle.
Andrew Lynch deserves a stroke of good fortune after taking a heavy fall aboard Paco Jack on Wednesday and we think Sunwake can do the trick at a whopping 25/1.
Check out our Galway races gallery here.
Our third hopeful flutter of the weekend simply couldn’t be ignored. Even if Roscommon are massive underdogs this weekend when they face up against Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final, a price of 8/1 just to win the game is surely a little too far-fetched and to be honest, slightly disrespectful to Fergal O’Donnell’s side.
Cork have looked lethargic since losing to Kerry in Munster and Roscommon have already upset the odds when defeating Sligo in the Connacht Final. The Rossies’ to come out on top on Sunday can be backed at 8/1.
Put on a tenner on those three and you could be singing to the tune of €35,100 on Sunday evening.
