For one of the few times in my life I actually stuck to my new rules with regard to my BETDAQ account last week and for once I had a mini success story, the first of 2012. Most of my bets went astray with the exception of a non-runner on the horses (so not a weekend to exactly crow about), but I did back Aston Villa to beat Everton and got out at a much shorter price once the home team went 1-0. Backing at 2.6 once Darren Bent scored I jumped in to lay my bet at odds of 1.5 which seemed an over reaction to a single goal, making a profit on the match though sadly not on the day by any stretch of the imagination.
Sulking with the lack of quality televised soccer action Saturday I did manage to force myself to have a bet on Sunday when Newcastle seemed overpriced to see off Queens Park Rangers at BETDAQ odds of 1.85 and I snapped that up as I feel the barcodes are seriously underrated by everyone for reasons unknown as Alan Pardew has done a fabulous job. Like them or loathe them, I only look at results (plus a few other stats) and as the odds did not shrink anywhere near as much as I hoped after Leon Best scored in the first half, I was pretty much forced to sweat for the second half and let the bet ride. Watching sports on the tv/i-pad/i-phone helps me with future selections (for example, QPR were perhaps unlucky on the day and seem even more up for the battle under new manager Mark Hughes, and I firmly believe the more I watch and the more effort I put in, the better y results will become.
Switching sports to the old horse racing and it amused me to see that those taking bets had it all their own way after Grumeti fell when looking sure to win at Newbury on Wednesday afternoon. Alan King trains this four year old who carried way more of my money than is sensible at odds of 1.65 with BETDAQ (how could I resist getting one over on starting price punters) before he fell (well more of a slip to be honest) when looking a good thing to score. Not only did they keep their money on that day by not having to pay out for the odds on jolly there but they actually shortened him in the betting for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival down to 9.0 with BETDAQ so are looking at a double whammy – laying off at shorter prices without the expected payout to go with it, shame on you lol?
This weekend sees a cracking meeting over jumps from Ascot and one that really ought to tell us plenty about the Champion Chase ahead of next March. Watching an old video from last autumn it was glaringly obvious that trainer Nicky Henderson was STILL steaming about the 2011 Arkle Chase all those months later. Finian’s Rainbow came second that day after clouting the last but his handler clearly thought he would have own otherwise and it seems this seven year old is the apple of his eye. He did make a horrendous mistake four out on his return to action at Kempton last month but should have learnt from that and will certainly improve for his first run of the season. Al Ferof is an interesting rival but at level weights it really is asking a lot for a novice chaser to beat his more experienced rivals though all things are possible in this game, and I am happy to back the Henderson beast at 2.77 with BETDAQ (thank you layers), as he ticks all the right boxes – if he can be got round with out his now customary mistake that is.
Famous last words I know but the football looks promising this weekend and although for the purists the marches to watch are on Sunday (Manchester City v Tottenham and Arsenal v Manchester United), I am hopeful of topping up my account on the Saturday instead. Starting with a silly bet. 6.2 for Norwich to see off Chelsea at Carrow Road is a touch too big to be ignored, and has to be worth a point if nothing else? The Canaries are confounding their critics this season up in ninth place and with home advantage and a striker in form in Grant Holt, anything is possible.
Wigan play some lovely football at times but need to knuckle down and scrap it out if they are to remain in the top division and a trip to Queens Park Rangers is the last thing they need right now with the home team fired up to appease their new manager. Home victory looks pretty much assured in my mind (if not on the pitch?), and at 2.15 with BETDAQ they may well be my lumpiest bet of the weekend though I admit, I may still chicken out if the home team score early.
Lastly, and dropping down to the Championship, I am quite a fan of Chris Hughton and think his job at Birmingham is going smoothly without the press cottoning on to just how well he has been doing. A European campaign caused all sorts of early problems and they have already played 36 games this season but they sit just off the play off places and are worth a small bet for promotion at BETDAQ odds of 6.0 or thereabouts but before that, they ought to see off Watford this Saturday and are 1.75 to do so, and I am happy to have a piece of that!
This week’s suggested bets (odds correct at the time of writing):
Horse Racing:
3pts Win FINIAN”S RAINBOW 3.10 Ascot Saturday – BETDAQ odds of 2.77
Football:
1pt NORWICH to beat Chelsea Saturday – BETDAQ odds of 6.2
2pts Win QUEENS PARK RANGERS to beat Wigan Saturday – BETDAQ odds of 2.15
2pts Win BIRMINGHAM to beat Watford Saturday – BETDAQ Odds of 1.75
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
