BET DEC V CARDIFF BLUES (14 FEB)
Could Thierry Henry be any more of an Arsenal legend? Until about a week ago I’d have said not, but then he comes off the bench to net the winner against Leeds in the FA Cup with one of just five touches of the ball.
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face all night and it was only made wider by the fact that Henry’s 22-minute cameo made my last bet a winner, boosting the Prince’s Trust total by another £137.50!
Love him or loathe him, you have to feel at least a little sorry for Andy Murray. In any other era his name would almost certainly be among the list of Grand Slam men’s champions, so how unfortunate to have been born around the same time as not just Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – two of the best tennis players ever – but also Novak Djokovic, who is, without question, the current world number one.
This season could be make or break if Murray’s ever going to win an Open title and I think it might be the year he joins the elite after losing his three previous finals on the biggest stage. The Australian Open begins Monday and I’m backing the Scot to go one better than his runner-up finishes of the last two years.
Don’t get me wrong, Djokovic is rightly favourite, but he’s too short to back at 2.62. He is the main danger to Murray’s chances, but Murray has shown good form by winning the Brisbane International warm-up event last week and his appointment of Ivan Lendl – an eight-time Slam title winner – as coach could prove inspired. I’m putting £20 from my BETDAQ budget on Murray at 6.0.
It’s hard to look outside of the so called ‘big four’ for a winner in Australia, but if anyone has an outside chance it’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Frenchman had a strong 2011, which he ended by reaching the ATP World Tour Finals in London, before losing to Federer. He also has a decent track record in Melbourne having been a finalist in 2008.
Furthermore, Tsonga has a winning record against Djokovic and has previously beaten Nadal, Federer and Murray, so my remaining fiver goes on him at 16.0.
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: Australian Open outright: Andy Murray to win @ 6.0 (£20) AND Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win @ 16.0 on BETDAQ (£5)
Dec’s last bet: Arsenal v Leeds, draw HT/Arsenal FT @ 5.5 (£25) on BETDAQ returned £137.50 |Dec’s winnings: £390.00
