Champions League
Chelsea are having a terrible time of things at the moment having been dumped out of the Capital One Cup on penalties by Stoke last week before being thoroughly outplayed and beaten 3-1 at home to Liverpool. They host Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge in a game they really need to win to keep their chances of progressing in their own hands. Kiev currently sit one point ahead of them in the group with Porto a further two points clear, therefore if Chelsea were to lose tonight they will be as good as out.
The pressure is going to be high but this is a game I think they will be good enough to come through. Having your backs to the walls can often bring the best out in teams and I am confident it will do the same for Chelsea here. The price of 3/4 looks on the high side to me.
Arsenal are in a similarly precarious position even though they beat Bayern Munich last time out, due to losing the first two matches in this group. They travel to Munich tonight where they could really do with taking something from the game. Their form has been really strong of late and they were good value for their 2-0 over tonight's opponents at the Emirates. I have a feeling they be playing well enough to get a draw here but am going to play it safe and back them on the handicap plus 2. Then even if they lose by the odd goal we still win our bet.
Elsewhere Barcelona are a very short price in what should be a comfortable win over BATE Borisov. Porto are away to Maccabi Tel Aviv who look an incredibly poor side so they should have little trouble in getting the win. Roma host Bayer Leverkusen and they will be keen to get the three points after letting a two goal lead slip in Germany with the game finishing 4-4.
15:20 Chepstow
Sykes for Philip Hobbs has had just the five runs under rules and was caught on the line last time out to dead heat a conditional race. He races off the same mark here today and with further progressed expected, a bold showing is on the cards. This is a furlong less than at Aintree where he was tiring towards the end so it should definitely suit and with Richard Johnson on board I think he will be really hard to beat today and looks the value in the race.
Today's Selections
Chelsea win and Arsenal + 2 double - 2 points @ 3.15 (Coral)
Acca - Barcelona, Chelsea, Porto and Roma - 1 point @ 6.22
Chepstow 15:20 Sykes - 2 point @ 15/8 (Paddy Power)