Last time out we backed Manchester United to be beating Fulham at half-time and full-time and, although they only won 1-0, thanks to Wayne Rooney’s goal, the Red Devils duly obliged. So we are now just £6 away from making £500 for the season, with the end of the 2011/12 campaign just around the corner.

This week I’m looking for a winner at the Grand National. The race is an institution of British sport, up there with the FA Cup and Wimbledon finals, and is something that everyone has their own memories of.

One of mine is of Miinnehoma in 1994. Growing up, we used to watch the National as a family after my dad had put a few quid on at the bookies and we cheered as the horse owned by Freddie Starr and ridden by Richard Dunwoody won that day.

Just like millions of people up and down the country, we’ll have a National sweepstake in operation, which will no doubt be run by Colm Fuller, one of our physios, after he did one for the Masters last week.

The boys often ask me for my tips for the Grand National, but with as many as 40 entrants at Aintree in the four-and-a-half mile, 30-fence steeplechase – and a high number of long odds winners, like Mon Mome at 100/1 in 2009 – the best strategy for this race can really be to go with a name that you like.

One that comes under that category for me is Shakalakaboomboom, a good horse that has done well for Nicky Henderson, while the other is Weird Al, as my brother’s name is Alan. I’ll have a flutter on those two to be placed, the equivalent on BETDAQ of backing them each way, but the one I really like is Seabass.

This Irish nine-year-old is trained by Ted Walsh and will be ridden by his daughter Katie, the sister of one of my favourite jockeys, Ruby.

Seabass has been targeted at this race and is my main selection, although he must beat the favourites, Junior and Synchronised, with the latter trying to become the second horse to win the Gold Cup and the National in the same year.

Dec’s best bet on BETDAQ
Our betting and gaming partner, BETDAQ, is giving Dec a £25 bet each home game. All winnings will go to the Prince’s Trust at the end of the season

Tip of the week: Seabass to win @ 22 (£10), Shakalakaboomboom to be placed @ 6/1 (£10) and Weird Al to be placed @ 12/1 (£5)

Dec’s last bet: Man United half-time/Man United full-time v Fulham @ 1.8 (£25) returned £45.00 |Dec’s winnings: £494.00