Our first cross sport double of 2022 paid out at 17/1 each-way two weeks ago when both Will Zalatoris and Any Second Now placed in the Masters and Grand National respectively.
This week, we target the Premier League alongside Sandown’s Grade 1 Celebration Chase.
Liverpool + Both Teams To Score & Brentford To Beat Tottenham
There is very little getting away from Liverpool winning the Merseyside Derby, such is the form they are in. Their most recent match-up was a rivalry of equal significance, but that proved a stroll, as they dismantled Manchester United at Anfield on Tuesday.
As one would expect. There is precious little juice in their price for this game, with no firms offering greater than 1/5 about them continuing their unbeaten stretch. However, there is value to be had in the specials markets.
At 7/4 with SkyBet, LIVERPOOL TO WIN + BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE looks a good bet for Sunday’s contest. At 25 games unbeaten (if ignoring the 1-0 home defeat to Inter Milan in which they progressed on aggregate) and with Everton dragged right back into a relegation battle after Burney’s win over Southampton, there is no wriggling away from the hosts coming out on top.
However, while they have been very impressive on the road, the Reds have not been quite as strong on their own turf in terms of their performances. Their recent results at Anfield, while victorious ones, have included a 2-1 vs Norwich, 1-0 vs West Ham and 2-0 vs Watford in which they only got their second in the 89th minute. Moreover, there was that 90-minute defeat by Inter Milan and a 3-3 vs Benfica in the Champions League.
Manchester United were a soft touch earlier this week, but even then, the visitors had chances to get back in the game at 2-0. While Everton’s defence is likely to prove far too leaky to contain Liverpool. They may well have openings of their own.
Combine that with the gradual fatigue setting in as Liverpool seek trophies in three more competitions and the Toffees can make a fight of it, albeit one likely to be in vain.
Arsenal vs Manchester United might be the headline game on Saturday, but neither team is anywhere near reliable enough to confidently side with. Instead, the form team of the moment in BRENTFORD are backed to come out on top again against Tottenham.
Thomas Frank’s side have won all three games so far in April. Beginning with an extraordinary 4-1 victory at Stamford bridge, they have since beaten another top-half side in West Ham before snatching a dramatic 95th-minute winner at Watford.
Prior to that, the Bees were two from three in March as well, ensuring that only Liverpool have accrued more points in their last six games. Top scorer Ivan Toney has six goals in that period, taking him to 14 for the season.
Their guests on Saturday evening will be Tottenham, whose form had been equally productive. With four wins from five in the league before last weekend, they had become favourites to take the final Champions League spot.
Brighton put a dent in that challenge though, when Leandro Trossard popped up with a 90th-minute winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday. Though Spurs will still be favourites to claim 4th spot, that performance was worryingly uninspiring given their recent form: they failed to register a single shot on target.
With Brentford flying and all but safe from relegation, the freedom with which they are playing, inspired by Spurs old boy Christian Eriksen, ensures they are particularly good value for the win.
Nube Negra can deliver the final Grade 1 of the jumps season for Dan Skelton.
Nube Negra To Win The Celebration Chase
Paul Nicholls’ record across the card on Jumps Finale day at Sandown is outstanding, including six successes in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase since it was introduced in 2001.
Greaneteen took the race for Nicholls a year ago and his record over course and distance is excellent. However, the best horse in the race in terms of raw ability is NUBE NEGRA, who can claim a belated Grade 1 success.
He was probably unlucky not to win the 2021 Queen Mother Champion Chase, while his timing in terms of running fresh has always coincided with Grade 2 company since his novice days. That has seen him win the Desert Orchid and Shloer Chases just below the top level, but fall short otherwise.
He can be forgiven his run when fourth in the Tingle Creek to Greaneteen, as that was off a break of fewer than three weeks; he clearly needs longer than that to operate at his best.
There are no obvious issues regarding the track and he should be ready to show his absolute best once again.