Jamie Reid's sports betting blog - 30/10/09

Arsenal's young pretenders produced another assured display in their mid-week Carling Cup tie against Liverpool and Gunners fans will be fervently hoping that the first team engineer a similar outcome against Spurs in tomorrow's big London Derby at the Emirates.

Arsenal's failure to close out last weekend's match against West Ham, in spite of going 2 nil up, was a criminal waste especially in the light of Manchester United's unexpected loss to Liverpool at Anfield the following day. But I think Arsene Wenger's men will make amends tomorrow and I fancy them to take all three points at 4-7 with Betfred and to be bossing the game at both half and full time at 5-4. Doubters can get 5-1 about Tottenham and 14-5 the draw.

Stoke have proved a real handful at home this season and they should beat Midlands rivals Wolves at the Britannia Stadium at 5-6 with Betfred while Fulham, who held Man City to a draw at Craven Cottage last Sunday, could enjoy a repeat result against Liverpool at 5-2. The Merseysiders are a skinny 10-11 to win the game while a clear victory for the Cottagers is on offer at 3-1 with Betfred.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been eased to 6-1 in the sack race market behind Portsmouth's Paul Hart at 7-2 and Hull's embattled gaffer Phil Brown at 10-11. I tipped Brown at bigger odds in Money Observer back in the summer and, with boardroom changes under way, the Tigers' conspicuous figurehead appears to have one foot in the departure lounge unless results improve immediately.

Last Monday I urged punters to keep a close eye on runners from the in-form Barry Hills stable between now and the end of the Turf flat racing season and that very afternoon Hills' obliged with a 10-1 winner, House Red, at Leicester.

The veteran trainer has a number of interesting entries at Newmarket today and tomorrow including Uphold, an Oasis Dream colt owned by Khalid Abdullah and trading at 10-1 with Betfred for today's 1.15 race for two year olds over seven furlongs. But I will be surprised if the newcomer is good enough to beat Godolphin's Quick Wit who chased home Tamaathul - also trained by Hills - at Doncaster last Friday and should be another winner for Frankie Dettori at 11-10 with Betfred.

On the jumping front Sweeps Hill and Some Present, two of Ireland's most promising novice hurdlers, finished first and second in a tactical affair over two miles at Punchestown on Wednesday. The duo were paying yet another compliment to Dunguib who beat them easily in the Punchestown and Cheltenham Champion Bumpers last Spring and Shinrock Paddy, who won later on the same card, has also franked the Festival form.

As I've said before Dunguib looks exceptional but Sweeps Hill, who is a son of ace flat stallion Montjeu, is not short of speed and represents formidable Cheltenham connections in the shape of owner JP McManus and astute trainer John Kiely who is also one of the Coolmore vets. Odds of 16-1 about Sweeps Hill for the Supreme Novices Hurdle look good each way value in a market where Dunguib is already a very short priced favourite. 

Brett Favre returns to Lambeau Field on Sunday when his new team the Minnesota Vikings take on his old buddies the Green Bay Packers. The Vikes have beaten the Packs at home this season and can complete the double at 8-11 with a 3.5 point start. I also like the look of the Arizona Cardinals to beat Carolina at home at 4-5 giving up a 9.5 point start.