There really is little between the two and a quick scan through the majority of experts displays a clear 50/50 split in opinion. However, on a betting front it would be much wiser to stick with one of the quarterbacks landing the MVP award.

Should the Patriots win it will surely be powered by the right arm of Brady and the 5/4 on offer to be named the game’s most valuable player is a fabulous price.

Brady rarely disappoints in consecutive games and after an indifferent display in the AFC championship match he will be fired up to reaffirm his status as the league’s best passer.

Having tipped the Patriots at 6/1 before the season commenced now is definitely not the time for jumping ship. Despite the likes of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Jean Pierre-Paul bringing a ton of pressure, I expect the Patriots offensive line to provide their QB with enough time to make some plays.

With this in mind you could see a lot of quick throws and slants in the direction of Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez on the night, especially as tight end Rob Gronkowski could be limited due to a high ankle sprain. And the 18/1 on Welker landing MVP is a bet that catches the eye.

This should be a high scoring affair with both quarterbacks taking advantage of a suspect secondary and one does worry about the Giants excellent receivers up against Julian Edleman and co. However when it comes to shootouts, it’s hard pressed not to fancy Brady coming out on top.

Recommendations

Tom Brady MVP @5/4

Wes Welker MVP @ 18/1

Aaron Hernandez first TD scorer @ 8/1

Already recommended

New England Patriots Super Bowl winners @ 6/1

]]> http://starbets.ie/nfl/brady-primed-for-super-bowl-mvp/feed/ 0 http://starbets.ie/horse-racing/big-rivalry-resumes-at-punchestown/ http://starbets.ie/horse-racing/big-rivalry-resumes-at-punchestown/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:55:07 +0000 Gary O Brien http://starbets.ie/?p=32057 It’s round five in the great rivalry between the two giants of the two-mile chasing scene at Punchestown this afternoon as Big Zeb and Sizing Europe face off again in the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase.

Rank outsider Imperial Shabra is the only one whose connections have seen fit to take on the big two, and while he has no apparent chance whatsoever he may play a crucial role if as expected he makes the running. Sizing Europe of course had the better of the argument with his old foe on the big day at Cheltenham last March but Big Zeb had seven lengths to spare over him when they were placed behind the ill-fated Golden Silver twelve months ago and also came out on top when the pair last clashed at the festival. He is probably the better equipped to deal with the testing conditions and is taken to retain his 100% record for the campaign and set up another belter next month.

The Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, another Grade 2 event over two miles, also commemorates one of the great speed chasers of the past and Trifolium sets a very high standard on his recent second to So Young at Navan. PReviously successful at Cork and Limerick, Charles Byrnes’ French import has an official rating of 140 which suggests that the likes of Caolaneoin, Joxer and Simenon – for all that they were each impressive in winning their maidens last time – will have to step up significantly to topple him.

The latter’s stable-companion Allure Of Illusion, who appeared very unlucky not to beat Joxer here last month after being badly hampered by a faller, appears to have the opening 2m4f maiden at his mercy. Willie Mullins continues to carry all before him, and while the son of Captain Rio has a slight question mark over him regarding his stamina for this new trip he may not even have to stay to beat some very ordinary opposition.

Champetre has been one of the real stars of cross-country racing since its inception but Enda Bolger’s old favourite will surely have his work cut to beat Mullins’ Scotsirish at level weights in the 3m banks contest at 3.55. The latter looked the likely winner when forced out on the home turn at Cheltenham before Christmas, leaving his chief rival today to capitalise, and should gain compensation now if avoiding similar mishaps.

Selections

Allure Of Illusion 1/4

Trifolium 13/8

De Maree 10/1

Big Zeb 4/5

Up the Beat 6/1

Scotsirish 4/9

Mister Hotelier 4/7

After Man City got back on track so emphatically yesterday evening the pressure is back on United to close the three point gap between them and their noisy neighbours.

This is a season defining match as Champions League football is a must for Chelsea and United would hate to see City open up another significant lead at the summit of the Premier League.

Fergie’s boys made short work of Chelsea at Old Trafford earlier this season romping home 3-1. The Blues look a shadow of former sides we have seen during the Abramovich era and have won just twice in their last eight games.

However Chelsea are a big game team with plenty of experienced internationals in their side so they will put it up to United who will look to secure all three points. With questions over the mental states of John Terry and David de Gea this Sunday afternoon blockbuster should deliver entertainment.

Banker: Both teams to score @ 4/6
Bluffer: Man United @ 7/4
Chancer: Chelsea HT/United FT @ 25/1

3.25 Punchestown DROIM TOLL (16/1) and IN GREAT FORM (5/1 general)
A winner of a similar marathon at Fairyhouse last season, Droim Toll has the credentials to land a race of this type and seems to be running back into his best form at the right time.

The softer the ground the better for the 10yo, who lost his way in the spring after that easy win under today’s pilot Paul Townend on New Years Day last season.  A respectable 7th in the Cork National in the autumn, he was in the process of running a decent race when falling three out at Fairyhouse the following month.

He stayed on nicely into 4th over 3m on this track last month, but with an extra 4f to aid him today and a 2lb drop in the weights, Droim Toll has plenty in his favour.
As a hold up horse, he will also be suited by a number of front runners likely to take each other on and set the race up for him.

In Great Form also merits a punt as he has been doing his name justice in recent weeks.  Classy enough to finish second over 2m in a hurdle at Fairyhouse in the past, he has improved in leaps and bounds over fences this winter.  Consecutive wins at Fairyhouse over 2m5f and 3m1f have been gained on slow ground, and the ease of his last win suggests a 12lb rise might not be enough, whilst he was showing no signs of slowing down over that distance, so an extra 3f could be within his compass.

We’re not surprised to see Ireland as favourites for this Six Nations opener against Wales but 4/9 seems awfully short considering how well Wales stuffed Ireland’s game plan and dominated our boys in New Zealand just a short few months ago.

The Welsh pack is industrious as ever and if they can stand up to the powerful ball carrying of the likes of Healy, O Brien and Ferris their capable back line could cause the Irish a spot of bother. The combination of Phillips and Preistland is sure to get points on the board for Wales while Roberts consistently poses a threat at this level.

Ireland may start slowly as their new centre partnership of McFadden and Darcy find their feet together and I feel this game will be far closer than expected. The home side should win but Wales won’t be far behind.

Double Your Money: Wales (+5) @ Evens

Ireland welcomes the Welsh Dragon to the Aviva in their opening Six Nations clash, while there’s continuing action from the opening weekend of the National Football Leagues after last night’s fireworks. Kerry ran out convincing winners in the renewal of the All-Ireland final on what must be considered a great success – 45,000 people turned up at Croker to see the clash – not bad for a cold February night!

We’ve all your domestic and cross channel cards marked too with some real cracking bets there too. Let us know how you get on!…And some Superbowl stuff will be up later too!

Punchestown 2.20: OUR MONTY (EW 10-1)

I am leaning towards the lighter weights, rightly or wrongly today, and will take a chance on Our Monty here, in the hope that he can recapture his late 2009 sparkle. Willie Mullins charge was a very progressive performer back then, winning three handicaps on the bounce before being sidelined for in excess of two years.

He returned a few weeks ago in a conditions hurdle at Fairyhouse and despite getting beaten 27 lengths by Dooney’s Rock, he did not shape without promise considering the length of his absence. Ruby Walsh was not particularly hard on the horse at any stage of the race and it was encouraging that he was finishing reasonably well, passing two horses between the final two flights.

Mullins is a past master at nursing horses back to top form after absences and Our Monty is still a pretty young horse at the age of nine. He looked like an animal going places a couple of seasons ago and if he is near peak fitness today, he could well be a player off a light weight.

Punchestown: 3.25: SMOKING ACES (EW 10-1), and PORTRAIT KING (9-1)

Stamina will be at a premium in this Three and a Half Mile contest and in view of this, I am going with the two horses who fought out the finish of a simalar race at Fairyhouse a couple of months ago.

Smoking Aces got the job done in fine style on that occasion, and appeals as a horse who is still unexposed and progressive as a stayer. Responding well to the application of blinkers, Tom Taaffe’s charge travelled smoothly through the race and displayed a touch of class in picking of all of his rivals gradually.

He was subsequently dropped back in trip for the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas and despite finding things happening too quick there, he was not disgraced doing his best work at the finish of that well contested handicap.

This stamina sapping marathon type contest will be much more to his liking today and with Adrian Heskin claiming a valuable five pounds, I envisage him running a big race.

Portrait King cannot be dismissed either. Although beaten decisively enough by Smoking Aces in the Fairyhouse race, this seven year old also appeared to relish the distance and looks a real tough slogger in the making.

It was probably a career best from Mike Phelan’s charge,putting in a gutsy battling effort having raced prominently throughout. His earlier bumper and hurdles form had always indicated a real  stamina test was what he needed and he should handle the demands of today’s contest better than most.

I think it was a wise move by connections to have rested the horse since Fairyhouse and he should be well recovered and fresh for another tough battle today after a two month break. Portrait does not quite have the class of some of his rivals, but he will keep galloping and could be a threat off a low weight with Davy Condon on board.

Punchestown 3.55 SCOTSIRISH
The ground is a little bit more testing than ideal for ScotsIrish but he looks in a different league too these rivals and he should be able to cope. A high class handicapper over the years, Willie Mullins has switched the horse to this Cross Country chasing sphere following a slight dip in his form in conventional races.

It has proved to be a wise move by the Closutten maestro as ScotsIrish looked a natural when easily winning a banks race last November. He was then unlucky to be carried out in the big Cross Country chase at Cheltenham in December where Garde Champetre ran out a fortuitous winner.

Enda Bolger’s charge cannot be underestimated, but his best days are probably behind him now and Scotsirish should have too many gears on this occasion.

Banker: Punchestown 355: ScotsIrish
Bluffer: Punchestown 325: Smoking Aces: (EW 10-1)
Dreamer: EW Double, Our Monty 220 and Smoking Aces 325 (132-1 EW Double)

regards

Newcastle will be delighted to welcome back top scorer Demba Ba as well as his new strike partner and fellow Senegalese sensation Papis Demba Cisse who join up with the squad following an early exit from the African Nations Cup.

The Toon have exceeded all expectations so far this season and a top 5 finish now looks to be a real possibility. On the other hand the only thing consistent about Aston Villa is their inconsistency. The Villains have struggled under McLeish but surprisingly their away form reads ok.

With three wins and six draws on the road, Villa have only suffered two losses at Man City and Spurs. If there is one thing that these two sides do have in common it’s the fact that they both have firepower up front and games they are involved in usually produce goals.

Banker: Over 2.5 Goals @ 10/11
Bluffer: 4 or more match goals @ 11/5
Chancer: Cisse to score anytime @ 17/10 (Stake refunded if Cisse doesent start. Keep in mind Alan Pardew has strongly indicated the striker will make an appearance.

There was more evidence of the New Year Man City stutter at Goodison Park midweek when they suffered a 1-0 loss against Everton.

After being knocked out of the Carling Cup and FA Cup in January tensions are high at City and if Roberto Mancini’s petulant post match interviews are anything to go by something is rotten in the state of Manchester.

Fulham visit the Etihad stadium in today’s evening fixture and will provide a stern test for City. The Cottagers are the last Premier League team to leave the Ethiad stadium undefeated, 17 games ago and have not lost in their last four visits.

Have a look at the handicap markets, City have only two handicap wins in their last 10 while Fulham have only suffered 3 losses by two or more goals since the second week of November.

The Banker: Fulham +2 @ 5/6
The Bluffer: Fulham Draw No Bet @ 7/1 – (Stake refunded if match is drawn)

Fairyhouse 2.35: SHARIYAN (6-1)

The lightly raced Shariyan ran a pretty promising race at Leopardstown on St Stephens Day and appeals as a horse potentially ahead of his current rating. On his first start in over five months, the son of Khayasi raced detached for the main pack throughout the race, but stayed on in an eye-catching manner under tender handling in the latter stages.

The jockey Robbie Power reported that the horse ran in snatches at stages of the race and that he felt a stiffer test of stamina would be beneficial in future outings. The two furlongs extra of this contest should therefore no pose any problems for our selection.

Slightly better ground would have been preferable and on the face of it a four pounds rise is a bit harsh, but Colm Murphy’s charge has the look of a horse with a bit of potential and that was a fairly strong handicap at Leiopardstown.If he can find another bit of improvement today, he looks capable of taking a hand in the finish.

Wolverhampton: 5.15: MCCOOL BANNANAS (2-1)

McCool Bannanas has ran a couple of very solid races recently and deserves a turn in the winners enclosure. Just last Monday here at Dunstall Park, the son of Firebreak ran a nice race, staying on strongly from off the pace having been anchored at the rear of the field.

Previously he was unlucky to be narrowly denied by Yourinthewill back in a simalar contest in mid December. This four year old is a likeable type who can travel fairly well in a race and the majority of times, he appears to be pretty resolute in running all the way to the line.

There are a few dangers, with Strong Vigiliance a horse who has been attracting market interest, and Excuse Me a potential improver. McCool however, looks the solid option and we take him to send punters home happy.