Super League is Back.......

It’s new, it’s here, it’s sport as it should be – welcome to Stobart Super League 2012.

Starting on Friday night, Europe’s top Rugby League clubs will play the first of 27 captivating rounds building towards a gripping play-off series and an epic title-deciding Grand Final at the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, on Saturday October 6.

The format may be familiar but 2012 will see Super League take its reputation for innovation to new levels with a wealth of new features that will enrich the experience and enjoyment of players, supporters and TV viewers alike.

From modern, state-of-the-art facilities which put the comfort of the paying spectator first, and subtle rule changes that allow the players to better express their skill and athleticism, to new clubs, new players and a new venue for the Magic Weekend, Stobart Super League 2012 promises to be a year to remember.

The 2012 Stobart Super League season kicks off on Friday night (February 3) when Widnes host Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in front of the Sky Sports cameras and champions Leeds Rhinos begin their title defence at home to Hull Kingston Rovers. Both matches kick off at 8.00pm.

On Saturday, the Sky Sports cameras move to the City of Salford Stadium where the City Reds face Castleford Tigers (6.00) and the newly-renamed London Broncos take on St Helens at the Twickenham Stoop (3.00).

Sundays sees Hull FC entertain Warrington Wolves (3.00), Wigan Warriors play host to Huddersfield Giants (3.00) and Bradford Bulls play Catalan Dragons at Odsal (3.00).

SO WHAT IS NEW FOR 2012 IN STOBART SUPER LEAGUE?

TV dealThis the first year of a record-breaking five-year broadcast contract with Sky Sports, whose investment in the sport has reached unprecedented levels.  Sky Sports will broadcast regular Monday night live action for the first time and show all the tries from each round every Sunday evening.

Title sponsorAfter eight successful years with Engage Mutual, Super League has embraced an innovative and exciting marketing-led approach with new title sponsors Stobart. The deal will see the visibility and profile of the competition scale new heights as a fleet of trailers hits the road this week.

StadiumsSuper League will be enhanced by the presence of Langtree Park, St Helens, and the City of Salford Stadium. Catalan Dragons have also completed the redevelopment of Stade Gilbert Brutus, which comes online fully for the first time in 2012.

New-look BBC Super League ShowThe BBC Super League show returns with a regular Monday slot in a new format and a new presenter in Tanya Arnold alongside Robbie Paul, Brian Noble and Super League players making guest appearances on the couch to review the weekend’s action.

Rule changesA couple of subtle but significant amendments have been introduced which are designed to improve the sport as a spectacle and enhance the enjoyment of spectators, TV viewers and players. The key changes are:
•         A player coming into contact with the corner flag in the act of scoring a try will not now be deemed to be in touch.
•         Reduction in number of interchanges from 12  to 10 – puts more emphasis on stamina and gives players increased opportunities to apply their skills.

New Super League Club
2012 sees the return to Super League of Widnes Vikings, who successfully applied for a licence from the Co-operative Championship. Widnes have been gearing up for Super League for three years and will enter the competition with big expectations.

4g pitch
Widnes have become the first professional sports club in the UK to instal a state-of-the-art 4g pitch, the most technologically advanced playing surface in the world. The ‘i-pitch’ has been scientifically shown to be safer than traditional turf and is literally ‘ground-breaking’!

Magic Weekend venueAfter previously been staged in Edinburgh and Cardiff, Magic Weekend will take place at Etihad Stadium, Manchester on May 26 and 27 when all seven Round 15 fixtures will take place at the home of Manchester City FC.

New name in LondonLondon Broncos have reverted to their previous name and have big plans to promote themselves and the sport in the city.

Waste Management Phoenix Open Tips

1pt EW Mark Wilson 35/1 (Various) Loss 2pts
1pt Ew Brendan de Jonge 66/1 (Various, but take Bodog's 6 places if you can) Loss 2pts
1pt Ew Rickie Fowler 22/1 (Various) Loss 2pts

1pt Ben crane to beat Dustin Johnson in 72 hole matchbet at 19/20 (Boylesports) W Profit 0.95pts
3pts Mark Wilson to beat Ian Poulter 72 hole matchbet at 5/6 (Sky Bet) W Profit 2.5pts
1pt Matt Kuchar to bear Snedeker and Martin Laird in 72 hole matchbet at 7/4 (SkyBet) Won Profit 1.75pts
2pts Webb Simpson to beat Bubba Watson at 4/6 (Coral) Loss 2pts

Total Loss : 2.8pts

Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Tips

Qatar Masters summary
A handsome overall profit of 57 points, thanks to an exceptional display of front running from Paul Lawrie on the final day.  Bizarrely, I actually wish all 4 rounds were possible.  I have little doubt that Lawrie's 4 shot cushion would have been enough and would have fair hopes of Bjorn and/or Finch getting in to the mix for the places with another day.

For the first time in his career, Lawrie has 5 straight top 10 finishes.  He really is in great form.  In the Dubai World Championship at the end of last season, Lawrie went to toe to toe with the best and almost beat them all.  I had no concerns about a last day collapse.  Lawrie was an obvious consideration, but as soon as it was clear that the conditions were going to be blustery, Lawrie's strong credentials got stronger.

Thomas Bjorn was a case of what might have been.  +7 after day one and completely out of it.  Or so you would think. He roared back and ended -4 after 3 days, just 3 from the places.  Another day would have certainly been interesting.  No reason to be down about the pick at all.  Bjorn just had one of those days on Thursday and is certainly one to be considered for next year's renewal.

Finch has frustrated me massively recently.  3 times in recent weeks he has failed to turn potential in to a result.  We had him at 250/1 at the Joburg and after 59 of the 72 holes, we were dreaming of a massive pay day.  He finished 24th.  On Thursday, we had him 1st round leader and he was.....for 16 holes.  Hole 18 is the course 2nd easiest hole.  So, a glorious chance to take the 1st round lead outright.  The bogey-bogey finish was hard to take.  Finch played very nicely in rounds 1 and 3, but fell asleep for 9 holes in round 2 and his chance was gone.  A further round with little pressure would have been worth watching though.

Jacquelin started poorly, but showed in round 2 that he had game to do well in those conditions.


2pts EW Thomas Bjorn at 20/1 (Various) Loss 4 points
1pt EW Paul Lawrie at 50/1 (BetVictor, Coral) W Profit 62.5 points
0.25pts EW Raphael Jacquelin at 125/1 (Bodog, 6 places, various 5 places) Loss 0.5pts
0.5pts EW Richard Finch at 150/1 (BetVictor, 125/1 Various) Loss 1pt

0.3pts EW Richard Finch 1st round leader at 100/1 (Various) Profit 0.8pts (shared place)
0.3pts EW Tom Lewis 1st round leader at 80/1 (Various) Loss 0.6 points

Total profit: 57.2pts

My headline tip this week is to again go back to Thomas Bjorn, who won the title so impressively last year.  Bjorn recovered from a poor 1st round to move through the field and eventually win by 4 shots.  There are 3 summary factors behind my picking Bjorn again this week.  First, Bjorn is in good form after a fine 3rd place last week in Abu Dhabi - a track which is less well suited to his game than Qatar this week.  Last year, Bjorn won despite an indifferent performance in Abu dhabi, so enters this week in better shape.  Also, don't be afraid to tip Bjorn to fire again - back to back wins last year dispel that concern.  Also, Bjorn won last year despite some erratic driving.  However, last week he led the field in this statistic.  With the wind blowing this week, a dialled in driver may be even more a factor and so this really encourages me.  The final point is this simple fact: Bjorn was a full 8 shots clear of 6th place last year, despite an opening 74.  Put simply, a display anywhere near Bjorn's best this week should see him strongly featuring at the head of the leaderboard.  There is quality above him in the betting, but all have more question marks than Bjorn for me, who undoubtedly represents value for me this week.

The next 3 picks represent value based upon form and an ability to play the conditions well.  Much has been made the wind being a major factor at Qatar this week.  With this in mind, I refer first to a recent pick, who, at 250-1, seriously threatened to give us a headline return in South Africa before a late collapse saw him slip down the field.  Richard Finch finished 24th at the Joburg Open, having led late in round 3 and been only a shot from the lead after 5 holes of the final round.  Also, at Abu Dhabi, he scored a creditable 30th place finish and again featured much higher up the leaderboard before slipping away over the weekend.  So, obvious concerns reside regarding his staying power, but he is striking the ball extremely well and there are some strong indicators that this may be a good week for him.  Finch's final round 69 at the Nordea Masters last year saw him grab 2nd in horrendous conditions.  This was arguably one of the best rounds on tour last year as a number of headline names failed to break 80. So, his ability to play wind and hang in there when conditions demand control rather than aggression is clear.  Add to this a 9th here last year and you have a player clearly able to challenge this week.  The 1st round leader play has genuine merits given the adverse weather forecasts as well and is worth a play.

Paul Lawrie has been in fine form since the end of last year, a year which marked a welcome return to the winners circle for a player who has always been a fine ball-striker and good player in windy conditions.  His open victory in 1999 is an obvious example of this.  Lawrie's last 3 events have featured high class fields at the Dubai World Championship, Volvo Golf Champions and Abu Championship event.  However, this has not stopped Lawrie from finishining 2nd, 10th and 8th in those events, which is a clear sign of a player at one with his game right now.  Add in that Lawrie ticks the box more than most when the wind blows and we have a real contender this week.

Raphael Jacquelin is another with some positive recent form.  A good iron player and fine scrambler when needed, Jacquelin has the game to keep the bogeys off the card this week, a trait that will surely be necessary in finding our winner.  Also, Jacquelin has demonstrated that he can play testing conditions in the past.  His affinity for links golf is an indicator of this and fine Scottish Open results combined with a top 15 at the Open last year suggest Jacquelin can course manage when needed.  125/1 is a big price for a player in good shape and fine credentials for this golf course.

Finally, a small wager on Tom Lewis in the 1st round leader market.  Tom Lewis was a noted player of links golf as an amateur, a fact confirmed by a headline grabbing performance at last year's Open.  Lewis confirmed his affinity by challenging strongly at the Alfred Dunhill later that year.  So, I have no qualms that Lewis can cope with what threatens to be a testing day 1 due to the weather.  However, it is also worth noting that Lewis tied for 1st round leader at the British Open, was 6th after round 1 of the Dunhill and at the Volvo Golf champions event, only had Branden Grace ahead of him after day 1.  In 9 events from the British open to date then, Lewis has challenged strongly 3 times for 1st round leader, cashing in two of those events.   If I factor in that the wind could help him even more if his irons fire, then Lewis represents great value at 80/1 in this market.

Racing Tips 1st Feb

Well after a few days off  we are back on the Nags ! There are a couple of abandoned races today so the focus is on a few selections at  Down Royal & Newcastle. Good Luck All

Down Royal - 3 Selections
13.05 Mister First 4/1 - 2pt Win
14.05 Hidden Presnt 3/1 - 2pt Win
15.05 Essexbridge 3/1 - 2 Pt Win

Newcastle - 3 Selections
13.20 Bourne 11/8 - 3Pt Win
13.50 Strathaird 7/1 - 1Pt e/w
14.50 Alpha One 10/3 - 2Pt Win

Sedgefield Racing Tips

Sedgefield - Abandoned
13.05 Call Back 5/2 - 2 Pt Win
13.35 Soul Bid 10/1 - 0.5Pts e/w
14.10 Oniz Tiptoes 9/2 - 1 Pt Win
14.45 Sundown Trail 2/1 - 2Pt Win
15.15 The Teerie Express 4/1 1Pt Win
15.50 Floras Pride 9/2 - 1Pt Win
16.20 Big Water 2/1 - 1Pt Win

Cheltenham & Doncaster Racing Tips

Well what a cracking day of racing with plenty of meetings and some very high quality races. All the top jockeys and trainers battling against each other, and with this in mind I have decided to just go with Cheltenham and Doncaster meetings and have provided a win and/or e/w  bet below for some of the races where there was just some great value to be had. 

Cheltenham

12.55      Hollow Tree 0.75Pts e/w @7/1 - 1.5 Pts

1.30        That'lldoboy 1Pt Win @13/2 - 1Pts & Charminster 0.5 e/w @12/1 (placed) +2Pts

2.05        Aerial 1pt Win @ 3/1 @ Araldur 0.5 Pts e/w @ 9/1 - 2Pts

2.35        Diamond Harry 1pw win@ 7/2 -1 Pts

3.10        Broadbackbob 2 Pt win @ 7/4 -1 Pts

3.40        Big Bucks & Mourad Str Fcast @ 2.48/1 - 1Pts

4.15        Hinterland 2pt Win @ 9/4 - 2Pts

-7.5Pts
Doncaster

1.15        Lifestyle 2pt Win @ 11/10  -2Pts

1.50        Kid Cassidy 2pt Win @ 9/4 Won +4.5Pts

2.20        Corkage 1pt Win @ 5/2 - 1Pts

2.50        Shakalakaboomboom 1pt Win @ 7/1 -1Pts

3.25        Gullinbursti 1Pt Win @11/4 & Rival D Estruval 0.5pt e/w @ 11/1 -2Pts 

3.55        Rilyev 0.75 Pts e/w @7/1 - 1.5Pts

4.25        Forever Present 3Pt Win @ 11/10 - 3Pts

-6Pts


Tasty Treble Big Bucks, Lifestyle & Forever Present 4.4/1 (2Pt Win)


Well this was our worst Saturday ever and we ended up with a loss of 15.5 Pts, we will be back next week to bring this back to our favour. 

28th/29th Jan Weekend Football Picks - BTS System

Dear all,

Please see latest BTS system bets below, again colour coded to signify the type of bet that is to be placed.  If you have any questions regarding the stakes or method of betting advised, please ask.  Good luck

Overall Loss : 8.2 points.  After a nice result last weekend, things have gone much less well this.  Far too many of the games above incurred a red card, which can often greatly change the dynamic of the match.  As always with bets based on statistics, a level playing field is desired as it is on that basis that perceived value is found.  

So, frustrating to see a poor set of results, but I still believe we are applying the appropriate metrics to win overall.