26 Sep: Premier League And Newmarket

Premier League

The weekend starts off with Spurs hosting league leaders Man City who will be looking to bounce back from their surprise defeat at home to West Ham last Saturday. Spurs have had an up and down start to the season and currently sit mid table. They were beaten by arch rivals Arsenal in the Capital One Cup during the week and they don't look a particularly strong side.

Over the past few seasons City have given Spurs a few hammerings and I think they will win comfortably enough today. Silva could be fit enough to come back in which means they will boost a front four of Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling and Aguero with Toure behind them. That should be far too much for this Spurs side and I can see them winning by at least two goals. We can get 5/2 on this happening and I think it is a good looking bet.

Elsewhere Chelsea will look to continue their recent upturn in form when they travel to lowly Newcastle and Utd look to have a banker at home to Sunderland who are rock bottom. Brendan Rogers looks like he is hanging on by the smallest of threads so a win at home to Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa looks an absolute must if he is to keep his job. Even a comfortable win may not be enough but at least that would be a start.

Newmarket 15:50

The Cambridgeshire is a notoriously difficult race to call and today's edition is no different. Thirty five runners going flat out down the Newmarket course means there will be all kind of difficulties for the jockeys and with the favourite for the race at best price 8/1.

The horse I like here is the John Gosden trained GM Hopkins. He won the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in July which had thirty runners so he can do it in big fields. He has gone up six pounds since then and had a couple of runs where he finished down the field. The last of these was however is a Group 3 so this is sure to be easier. The majority of his races have also been over a mile but I think he is crying out for a little bit further so the nine furlongs here are perfect. We can get 14/1 which is a good enough each way price for me, just make sure you get on with a firm that is paying five places.

Newmarket 14:35

The Cheveley Park Stakes looks a cracking race with three strong horses at the head of the market. Besharah lost by a nose to Illuminate three runs ago but has since gone on to win and Group 3 and then a Group 2 where she had Lumiere over two lengths behind. The last two runs have been on surfaces that have been soft or good to soft and it is this that I think gives her the edge. Despite the better weather the ground will still be a little sticky and both Illuminate and Lumiere haven't won on anything but good to firm so Besharah is the value play in the race for me.

Today's Selections

Man City v Spurs - City minus one on the handicap - 1 point @ 5/2 (Betwin)

Newmarket 15:50 GM Hopkins - 1 point each way @ 14/1 (Paddy Power, William Hill, Betvictor)

Newmarket 14:35 Besharah - 2 points @ 5/2 (Most firms)