This little offer dropped into my inbox this week. If you’ve got a Skybet accounf be sure to login and see if the bet is available on your account.

Don’t Miss out on a Free £5 this weekend!
It’s a fantastic weekend of sporting action. As if that’s not enough, we want you to enjoy your weekend even more, so Skybet are offering you a completely free £5 bet to spend on any of their great events, or anything else that takes your fancy. Be quick though as the offer expires at midnight on Sunday.

How to claim your Free Bet
To claim your free bet and join the action, follow these simple instructions:

1. Login to Skybet with your user ID and PIN
2. Click on ‘My Account’ and go to the section ‘Free Bets’
3. Enter the promotional code LIONS
4. When you go to place you bet, an on-screen message will appear enabling you to use the free bet

Good luck!

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June 27th, 2009
Categories: Free Bets . Author: selectabet . Comments: No Comments

Geoffrey Riddle provides some much needed objectivity as he weighs up Ian McGeechan’s men’s chances of becoming only the third Lions side to come back from 1-0 down to win a Test series.

Betting Preview Courtesy of Betfair.com

“If you look at the first Test objectively, the Lions were massively outclassed. Any side that can take off their five best players and still be 26-7 ahead with 13 minutes to go is in complete control.”

When betting on any sporting event in a foreign land that involves a British team, it is always wise to read the local reports. The process gives you an objective view, which is crucial to betting. And if you were to believe the British press without consulting their South African counterparts in the lead up to Saturday’s Test match between the British & Irish Lions and the Springboks, you probably wouldn’t see anything wrong with backing the tourists at 3.65 to win the vital clash in Pretoria on Saturday.

That would be an enormous mistake though, because quite simply, if you look at the first Test objectively, the Lions were massively outclassed. Any side that can take off their five best players and still be 26-7 ahead with 13 minutes to go is in complete control. The Lions’ pack was demolished. They lost four scrums from 11 feeds, and Phil Vickery gave away four penalties, from which nine points were taken. In all the hullaballoo about Vickery, analysts seemed to miss the fact that the Lions lost three line-outs - from just nine throws - and one of those was a catch and drive which resulted in a touchdown. The 30-metre steamrollering in the maul was painful to watch, too.

A Lions fightback to take the scoreline to 26-21 it may have been, but consider actually what you saw up front on Saturday in that final quarter. There were just three scrums once all of the front-row changes had been made - a flimsy formguide for those who believe that forwards coach Graham Rowntree can somehow work the oracle in just seven days.

What’s more, the Lions have been encamped in Cape Town ever since that loss. Anyone who tuned in to watch the Emerging Springboks salvage a draw on Tuesday will have seen what the weather was like. Driving rain, squalls and cold temperatures have beset the Cape all week. A wet and windy training ground at sea level is no preparation for a crunch Test match in sunny Pretoria, 1,753 meters at altitude.

The British press have tried to dismiss the altitude factor by saying that only half the Springbok squad ply their regular trade on the high veld, but they ignore the fact that the squad were camped in Johannesburg when they met up, and they play there regularly during the Super 14 season. Line-outs are more of a feature in games at altitude, because the ball flies further, encouraging a territorial kicking game. The Lions have ignored this by keeping Stephen Jones at fly-half at the expense of Ronan O’Gara, who likes nothing more than kicking to the corners. If Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha can dominate the throw-in once more, it could be curtains for the tourists.

The current price of 1.41 about the world champions indicates a handicap line of between six and seven points, something which is echoed by most high street bookmakers, although some are offering a more realistic nine-point start. Rugby betting expert and former Bath lock Brian Cusack believes that it will be harder for the Lions to rectify their weaknesses.

“On the one hand you can say that South Africa will shore up their centres, and will go on and win comfortably. On the other, you could say the Lions will make their pack meatier and will be competitive. I think the former is easier to achieve and much more likely.”

That outlook is shared by the Springboks assistant coach, Gary Gold. “The Lions know where they went wrong in Durban and we are expecting a much more intense forward onslaught from them,” Gold said. “But if they feel more confident because of the way it went for them in the last 20 minutes, and feel they now have the answers to where they went wrong, then we are happy for them to think that.

“They will be thinking that they just need parity to beat us. We are working hard on our defence this week, but we would still like to prevent them from getting too much ball through their pack, which is one of the reasons we have included five forwards on our bench.”

The Lions face a massive task on the high veld. They will look to press home their advantage in midfield where Brian O’Driscoll and the admirable Jamie Roberts have a significant edge over the injured Adrian Jacobs. They will hope that Matthew Rees and Adam Jones will shore up a faulty scrum and that Simon Shaw, who is the tallest, and by far the heaviest lock on tour, will beef up the pack. And even if Luke Fitzgerald does finish better than the hapless Ugo Monye, all this is still unlikely to be enough. South Africa will be better.

Only twice in Lions history have the tourists come back from 1-0 down to win a series. A lot has been written about Ian McGeechan’s impressive coaching performance in 1989 when a Finlay Calder-inspired Lions roared back against Australia. But it was 90 years earlier when the Lions managed it the first time. Reverend Matthew Mullineux led the Lions to a 3-1 series victory over Australia, having lost 13-3 in the first Test in Sydney. God, it seemed, was on their side, and he may have to be again if the Lions are to salvage anything in the Rainbow Nation this time around.

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June 27th, 2009
Categories: Rugby, betting . Author: selectabet . Comments: 2 Comments

Ed Hawkins (Betfair) analyses the top bat and top bowler markets for England as they prepare to take on Australia in the five-Test series

Article courtesy of Betfair.com

“Pietersen has failed to top score in four of England’s last five Test series. It is hardly a great record for such a short-priced favourite”

There are many questions punters must ask themselves when preparing to bet on an eagerly-anticipated Ashes series. Which side is more likely to take 20 wickets? Do Australia really have a weakness against spin? Have England been flattered by their recent series victory over West Indies? No doubt they will be discussed and debated with fervour. So too should this one: is Kevin Pietersen a bad favourite to be top England runscorer?

KP is currently trading at 3.80 to outscore his teammates over five Tests. It is a price which is short enough on reputation alone. Pietersen bestrides the biggest of stages with hips swinging in a cocky swagger that would knock off friend and foe alike from the apron had his cumbersome ego not got there first. It can be a hypnotic sight and trance-like, one can often place your hard-earned on him to do the business.

The problem with Pietersen too often recently that cash that you felt was in the safest possible of switch-hit hands has gone down the drain. Pietersen has failed to top score in four of England’s last five Test series. He didn’t even make the top three earlier this summer against West Indies.

It is hardly a great record for such a short-priced favourite and one cannot but feel that instead of Pietersen charging bull-like out to the crease as if he is the second coming, he would be better placed treading more carefully.
The worry we have with Pietersen’s price, however, is the very thing that makes it so appealing. It is the ego which has got him in to trouble in the past (remember him throwing his wicket away when a century was there for the taking in Kingston in February) and it is his ego which could steer him clear in the Ashes.

When it counts, Pietersen is the man. In his first series, the 2005 Ashes, he memorably top scored. He repeated the trick Down Under when all around him batsmen were losing their heads. And against South Africa last summer, he didn’t disappoint notching nearly 100 runs more than any other Englishman.

The conclusion you should be drawing is that to back Pietersen would be doing so on emotional grounds - never the shrewdest of moves. For that reason Ravi Bopara could be the value at 5.10. He has that all-important braggadocio but more importantly he might just have the composure that Pietersen can crucially lack.

Bopara top-scored against West Indies last time and if you cast your mind back farther you should recall him scoring a precocious 135 against the Australians at Chelmsford in 2005.

Andrew Strauss, with three first-place finishes in England’s last five series deserves respect at 4.80 while those wanting a batsman to trade should seriously consider Matt Prior at a whopping 18.50.

If Pietersen is a dubious jolly for top batsman, there are no such question marks over James Anderson who heads this market at 3.55. His ability to swing the ball both ways at 90mph is absolutely crucial to the home side’s chances in the series because of Australia’s weakness against swing. This is not perceived. They struggled with it in 2005 and there are enough survivors from that batting order (Katich, Clarke, Ponting) to give Anderson optimism.

Stuart Broad, third favourite at 4.90, would be next best for the simple reason that over the last 12 months his strike of 66.3 is actually superior to Anderson’s (67.6). Broad, a smart bowler, has made the top three England wicket-takers in the last two series.

Bad value comes in the form of Graeme Swann at 4.50. Yes he could trouble a potential Aussie top order of four left-handers (Hughes, Katich, M Hussey, North) but there is precious little evidence they have a weakness against orthodox spin. Awful value is Andrew Flintoff at 5.60. It would be a major surprise if he is fit enough to play all five Tests. And on that note, you do know that KP is having trouble with his Achilles don’t you?

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June 27th, 2009
Categories: Free Bets, betting, fixed odds . Author: selectabet . Comments: No Comments

The much-anticipated Wimbledon 2009 gets under way on Monday at SW19 but a new investigation by The Independent suggests that the integrity of the competition is being closely scrutinised after a series of investigations into alleged match-fixing earlier in the season.

The Independent claims that up to 12 players competing in the Men’s Championship are on a ‘watch-list’. But most worringly is the claim that the sports governing body, the ATP, “failed to provide records that might have helped the prosecution” when the allegations of corruption were brought to court.

The news follows hard on the heels of some bookmakers suggesting that they’ll stop taking bets on meaningless end of season football matches. Are tennis matches next?

The good news is that with the authorities on such high alert over the Wimbledon fortnight we can surely expect the results to be whiter than white. Can’t we?

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June 19th, 2009
Categories: betting . Author: selectabet . Comments: No Comments

The footy season may be well and truly over (it feels like it’s just about to begin againt though!) but there’s plenty of betting action in a bumper sporting weekend coming up.

Today sees the start of the 109th US Open at Bethpage Black where defending champion Tiger Woods is aiming for a 15th major title. There’s a strong British contingent, led by Paul Casey but Tiger is the one they’ve all got to beat. He won the trophy on one leg last year and a fully fit Woods will take some stopping. The bookies just can’t see past him. You can get around 2/1 on the exchanges at Betfair, but the best price at the bookies is the 15/8 on offer at BetInternet and Sportingbet.

The ICC World Twenty20 has captured the imagination of many new fans in the past few weeks and it’s at the semi-final stages over today and tomorrow. South Africa have won all 5 of their matches so far and look worthy tournament favourites at 6/4 (Bet365, Boylesports, Sportingbet, Stan James). They square up with Pakistan today for a place in the final and should be too strong for their somewhat erratic opponents. In the other semi final, Sri Lanka could be on the end of a small upset with the West Indies looking a decent price at 11/8 (Bet365, Blue Sq, Coral, Skybet, William Hill) to make the final.

In football, the Confederations Cup in South Africa continues over the weekend with the pick of the games likely to be Italy v Brazil on Sunday evening. Spain are favourites to win the tourney at 5/4 (Expekt), with Brazil 2nd faves at 2/1 ith Bet365. I’ve managed to avoid betting on this but as it reaches the business end  of the tournamnet I might have a wee dabble.

Who can stop Jensen Button in the Formula 1 World Championship? The Brit holds a 26 point lead and with a fanatical home crowd cheering him on at Silverstone on Sunday he looks likely to secure yet another chequered flag and move further in front of the chasing pack in the Championship race. Even before qualifying begins, Button is as short as 10/11 (Betfred).

The British & Irish Lions test against South Africa kicks-off proper on Saturday afternoon in what looks certain to be a bruising encounter. The South Africans hit hard and if the Lions can match their strength in the pack and find some flair to create some space then they can upset the odds and get the test off to flier. It’s difficult to call how this will go with no true form to rely on but the Lions have been fairly impressive in the warm-ups whilst the Sprngboks haven’t played in weeks, preferring instead to be locked away at trainign camp. Sportingbet’s 5/2 on a Lions victory in the first test looks generous and will be ploughed into by the patriotic home support.

So there planty of opportunity to get stuck into the bookies this weekend and I haven’t even mentioned the last few days of Royal Ascot, The European Under 21 Football Championships and the pending Wimbledon Championship that begins on Monday. My picks for the weekend are Tiger Woods, South Africa to win the the Twenty20 and Jensen Button to take the British Grand Prix.

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June 18th, 2009
Categories: betting . Author: selectabet . Comments: 2 Comments

The media circus that’s surrounding the pending appointment of the new Celtic manager would be enough make P.T. Barnum jealous.

Yesterday saw managerial flop Tony Adams claim he was in the frame should former Hoops manager, Wim Jansen return to paradise as Football Director. A claim that was quickly rubbished by Celtic and led a few to question whether big Tone was back on the sauce. But that didn’t stop the bookies dramatically cutting the odds on the former Arsenal stopper taking up the hotseat. William Hill have him as short as 7/1, but Blue Sq go a more realistic 16s.

But all the money recently has come for Swansea’s Roberto Martinez after Celtic reportedly asked for permission to speak to the Spaniard. News of the approach has receive a lukewarm reception from the Hoops faithful, after all shouldn’t a club like Celtic be aiming higher than plucking their next boss from the middle of the Coca-Cola Championship?

Martinez is reportedly keen on the role but with the imminent move by Steve Bruce to Sunderland, Wigan may provide some stiff competition to Celtic to land their man. Further credence and a bit of 2 plus 2 equalling 5 is added to the Martinez debate by the fact that his wife is a Glaswegian and a spell back in Scotland would be a very welcome family move. Martinez can be backed at 15/8 with Blue Sq and I think he fits the profile of the Celtic board.

Despite the rebuttals, Owen Coyle still remains in the frame according to the bookies and is currently joint second favourite alongside Tony Mowbray at 3/1 (Paddy Power, William Hill).

Other outsiders worth keeping an eye on are Roy Keane (28/1 Paddy Power), Steve Clarke (33/1 Paddy Power) and Glenn Hoddle (33/1 Paddy Power).

But who know what today will bring. Who’s your money on?

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June 3rd, 2009
Categories: Free Bets, UK Bookmakers, fixed odds, football . Author: selectabet . Comments: No Comments

Preview courtesy of Betfair

SO what do we make of the British and Irish Lions tour opener against a less than star-studded Royal XV on Saturday?

The positives were that they scored 24 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes to win 37-25 – they had drifted from 1.01 to 4.1 on Betfair before their late show – but in the previous 65 their play looked laboured, their ball skills and handling were woeful, and most of the players looked way off the pace in their first run-out.

In the set-pieces, they may have had the upper hand in the scrum, which to be perfectly honest you would expect against a second-tier side like the Royal XV, but they got little or no joy from the opposition throws at the line-out.

So the tourists will have to significantly up their game against Super opposition in the shape of the Golden Lions on Wednesday night.

Granted, when it comes to Super 14 opposition, the Lions are certainly no Blue Bulls. They finished 12th in the competition and conceded the most points of any of the sides, shipping 414 points in 13 games at an average of 31.8 a game.

And tie in the fact that they are missing several key players, and having left some first-choice personnel on the bench, and the game looks to be far less daunting for the Lions than it could have been.

The Super 12 side without three former Springboks in lock Jannes Labuschagne (lock), prop Heinke van der Merwe (prop) and wing Henno Mentz.

And they are without six other squad players, notably two other locks, and have decided to leave Earl Rose and Todd Clever on the bench, so the tourists will be relieved that they are not facing a full-strength side.

And, crucially, probably their most influential player, current international centre Jaque Fourie, was not even considered for the game as he has to join up with the Springbok squad on Monday.

But even so, the South African side is a very big unit indeed, will be buoyed by the return of their influential captain and blindside flanker Cobus Grobbelar and played their better rugby towards the end of the campaign when they signed off with a 27-22 defeat of the Highlanders and just a five-point loss to the Tahs.

And in Andre Pretorius they have an experienced hand at fly-half and a reliable goalkicker. So the Lions may have their work cut-out to overcome the 13.5 point handicap on Betfair and match odds of 1.24 are only for the brave.

But it has to be said that Ian McGeechan has put out a far more menacing side here than he sent on to the field at the weekend.

One would have to expect that his scrum will be dominant again on Wednesday night – especially as the home side are without van der Merwe in the front row and their top three players in the engine room are all missing – and the back five of the Lions looks a more balanced and effective unit.

If they can supply some decent ball (and the problem on Saturday is that the Lions failed to hold on to the ball, thus denying any continuity), the back-line captained by Brian O’Driscoll and steered by Welsh pairing Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones should see a far more polished performance.

Whether or not that will be enough to cover the 13.5 point against far better opposition is a tough call, though.

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June 2nd, 2009
Categories: Free Bets, Rugby, betting, fixed odds . Author: selectabet . Comments: No Comments

Chelsea v Everton
FA Cup Final - Kick off 3pm Saturday

Season 2009-09 reaches it’s climax today with the FA Cup Final at Wembley between Chelsea and Everton. It’s the showpiece match of the season but don’t hold your breath on it being an all-time classic.

Meetings between the two sedom throw up too many goals and Everton have built their season on a mean defence. So mean in fact that ‘keeper Tim Howard has surspussed Neville Southall’s club record for clean sheets in a season. Don’t forget either that the two meetings between the sides have finished goalless already this season.

It’s Everton’s style to try to stifle better opposite and then to take their chance when they get it, occassionally from a set-piece. Chelsea are no strangers to playing the waiting game either. Over in Barcelona they showed that have patience and can be stubborn at the back to record a 0-0 at the Nou Camp.

Unsurprisingly then, I’m going with the game to finish Under 2.5 goals (8/13 Coral, Stan James).

This looks an easie call than trying to pick a winner between the two. My heart says Everton, who look massively over-priced at 5/1 (Bet365, Ladbrokes, William Hill) but my head says Chelsea (3/4 Blue Sq, William Hill). The Toffees are without Phil Jagielka at the back and he’ll be a big miss, especially when they may have Drogba and Anelka to contend with but if pushed I’d be taking David Moyes side to force extra-time in what could be a stamina-sapping day at Wembley. The draw is available at 13/5 (Bet365, Skybet) and that looks a good shout to me.

Good luck if you’re having a bet on the final today. Let’s hope its a good one!

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May 30th, 2009
Categories: betting . Author: selectabet . Comments: No Comments

Three days on and there are still a few nervous chairmen up and down the land. Despite what has been spouted in the media it appears Celtic will take their time to get the right man to succeed Gordon Strachan. That has prompted several Clubs to move to distance themselves from the speculative musings of the press.

Owen Coyle has been all the rage in the last few days, and at one point was backed into just 2/7 with Paddy Power for the Parkhead hotseat. But now that he’s apparently said ‘No’ to the role and Burnley have denied any approach by the Glasgow club, it’s West Brom’s Tony Mowbray that leads the betting at odds of 7/4 (Ladbrokes, Paddy Power), leaving Coyle 2nd on the list and drifting. He can now be backed at 2/1 (VCBet).

Mowbray wouldn’t be every Celtic fan’s first pick and I think the Celtic board will be casting their net wider than the Coca-Cola Championship. The Baggies have also denied any approach for Mogga and the man-in-the-know over at Celtic Quick News has also confirmed Celtic’s extensive recruitment process will not be rushed.

But the big mover yesterday was undoubtedly Slaven Bilic. The Croatian boss invited interest from Celtic yesterday morning and as you can see from the chart below it prompted the bookies run scared.

Bilic is an interesting one. Whilst he has a high reputation here in the UK, he’s never actually managed in club football so would still be considered a bit risky by some. The guys over at Etims certainly seem to think he’s already on the board’s radar. Interestingly, he’s as short as 5/1 with William Hill, but can still be backed at 10s with Ladbrokes.

As you can see from the chart, some of the early contenders are starting to drift; McGhee (12/1 Betfred, Boylesports, Paddy Power, VCBet, William Hill), Levein (16/1 Boylesports), Curbishley (20/1 Blue Sq, Boylesports, Paddy Power).

But there are a few new contenders that have emerged; Glenn Hoddle may have been out of the game for a number of years but he’s been included in VCBet’s market at 22/1. Odds are also available on Copenhagen boss Ståle Solbakken, no doubt after his credentials were highlighted by Paul67 at CQN. Ladbrokes go 33/1 on the Norwegian.

Other names that continue to be linked include Keane (28/1 Paddy Power), O’Leary (20/1 Blue Sq, Paddy Power), Collins (22/1 Boylesports, Paddy Power), Martinez (40/1 Paddy Power), Moyes (50/1 Boylesports)  and McCarthy (50/1 Boylesports).

This looks like a market that’s still got some legs. For what it’s worth I don’t think the new manager at Celtic Park will be amongst the first five the betting at the moment but then what do I know?

Who do you think will / should be the new boss?

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May 28th, 2009
Categories: betting . Author: selectabet . Comments: No Comments

It might be just over 24 hours since the position became vacant but the race to fill the Celtic hotseat is beginning to hot up. Gordon Strachan’s departure may not have been that unexpected but there doesn’t appear to be any outstanding candidate for the role which makes the betting market very interesting to watch. Here’s a run down of the runners and riders.

At the moment it looks like the bookies are about to close the book as a rush of money, or some inside info must have forced them to slash the odds on Burnley boss Owen Coyle being named the new boss at Celtic Park. The life-long hoops fan leads the betting at just 1/2 (VCBet, William Hill) despite the fact that he’s just led his side into the Premier League for the first time in 33 years. Will he relinquish the chance to rub shoulders with Sir Alex and Arsene in favour of a return to Glasgow to his bhoyhood heroes?

The other name on everyone’s lips is former Celtic centre-half, Tony Mowbray. The instigator of the famous ‘Huddle’ has a solid reputation of playing football the right way, the Celtic way, but his lack of silverware is a huge concern for some of the Hoops support. Even so, he’s second favourite at 9/4 (Paddy Power) despite the fact that West Brom have moved to rubbish any links with their man.

It looks likely that Motherwell gaffer Mark McGhee will be the new Aberdeen boss, but for the time being he’s third in line for the Celtic gig apparently. McGhee was an instrumental striker in Celtic’s centenary season back in ‘88 and since returning north of the border to boss Motherwell he’s come across as the type of measured, calm and articulate manager who could handle the mantle of top dog at Parkhead but his CV sadly doesn’t match his likeable persona. He’s 7/1 (William Hill) but should Celtic really be competing with the Dons for their new man?

Another SPL manager who’s name continues to crop up is that of Dundee United’s Craig Levein. His star has dimmed somewhat recently though and losing out on a Europa League place this season is hardly the kind of season you want on your CV. Levein is on the drift at 10/1 (VCBet).

Four contenders so far. Not a trophy between them. Surely Celtic will show more ambition than this?

Well, maybe not. Next in line is the experienced Alan Curbishley. One thing he has in his favour is that he’s currently out of work. He did a solid job at Charlton but couldn’t repeat the success at West ham. One Celtic site is reporting that discussion with Curbs have already begun so if you fancy a bit of it grab the 16/1 at Paddy Power now.

The final ‘usual suspect’ is Roy Keane. Keano finished his career at Celtic and despite just recently taking over the helm at Ipswich the bookies still rate him as a 16/1 (Paddy Power, William Hill) shot to return to Celtic Park as boss. I can’t see it myself.

6 CVs and still no meaningful trophy on show.

But then it starts to get interesting. Names such as Gullit (20/1 William Hill), Laudrup - that’s Michael, not former Rangers star Brian - (20/1 VCBet), Koeman (33/1 William Hill) and Zico (33/1 William Hill) would certainly shift a few season tickets but would any of them fancy a stint in the dreary SPL?

Of the old bhoys listed take your pick from Lubo Moravcik (20/1 William Hill), John Collins (25/1 VCBet), Paul Lambert (25/1 Paddy Power, VCBet), current youth team boss Willie McStay (25/1 Paddy Power), the ‘Bear’, Roy Aitken (33/1 VCBet) - whom Sky Sports reported this evening that Celtic have approached his club to speak to - or how about the man at the top of most Celtic fan’s list, David Moyes (33/1 VCBet)?

From the sublime to the ridiculous, how about former ‘Gers boss Paul Le Guen (20/1 VCBet), or a return of the sainted Martin O’Neill (25/1 William Hill)? Or even more ridiculous is the notion that Graeme Souness could boss the hoops at just 28/1 (VCBet)? But spare a thought for poor John Barnes. He endured a brief if infamous spell as Celtic Manager prior to the O’Neill era and his reputation is so low that he’s available at odds of 250/1 (Paddy Power). That’s bad enough but when you consider that the Irish book has Pope Benedict XVI at shorter odds of 200/1 it’s highly unlikely we’ll see the Anfield rapper back in Glasgow.

Who do you think will fill the Parkhead hotseat?

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May 26th, 2009
Categories: betting . Author: selectabet . Comments: 3 Comments