We ended last week well with two out of the three selections on Saturday winning. Overall for the week we were a little over nine points in profit so it was a very pleasing week and hopefully we can continue in that vein.
England v Switzerland
England became the first team to ensure automatic qualification for next year's European Championships on Saturday after a routine 6-0 against the minnows of San Marino. Wayne Rooney scored from the penalty spot to draw level with Sir Bobby Charlton as England's all time leading goal scorer. He will be hoping that tonight he can get a goal that puts him there on his own.
Switzerland are a reasonable side and should finish second in the group behind England. Anything less than a Switzerland win would mean England were almost guaranteed to finish the qualification as group winners. England won 2-0 in the reverse fixture which was a decent result and set the tone for the rest of the campaign. They have won all seven of their games so far and have conceded just the three goals in the process, whilst scoring 24.
Switzerland were 2-0 down with ten minutes to go against Slovenia at the weekend but somehow managed to turn it around and win 3-2 with a last minute goal. Their hopes of qualification would have hung in the balance had they lost that game and it shows that there is a difference in quality between the two sides and even though England have already qualified I am surprised they are not shorter in the market 3/4. Hodgson has said that he will experiment with him team selection in the final three qualifying games but I still think England will have too much for the Swiss tonight. The Swiss do have some dangerous attacking players however, none more than Xherdan Shaqiri and I think they will find the net. Therefore, both teams to score at 23/20 is an attractive looking bet.
Leicester 15:30
English Summer moved to Richard Fahey last year and has run some really good races since. His last outing saw him win eased down by six lengths and is turned out again quickly here with a five pound penalty. However, his latest win could well have been down to him handling the heavy conditions best and he has to give a lot of weight to some of his rivals.
Irish Hawke won well over this trip at Lingfield before finding the step up in trip and class too much at Salisbury in August. The move back to this trip looks sure to help and I think he has a chance of making the frame.
Moshe won last time out over course and distance and his overall form at Leicester reads 2,1,1. However he has struggled a little when he has tackled this class of race in the past and I think there may be one or two too good for him today.
I am going to take a chance on David O'Meara's three year old High And Flighty. She has only had the one run so far where she was a comfortable winner over nine furlongs at Ripon. She is by High Chaparral so the extra distance here should suit and there's a chance she could be a class above her rivals here. Being a three year old filly she is receiving weight all round and at best price 5/1 she represents good value.
Today's Selections
England v Switzerland - Both teams to score - 3 points @ 23/20 (Coral)
Accumulator - Sweden, Slovenia, England & Belarus - 1 point @ 7.48 (Paddy Power)
Leicester 15:30 High And Flighty - 1 point @ 5/1 (Majority of firms)