Apologies for no predictions last week but have some for this week. Two weeks ago I ended up £2 down on the week as only got three correct predictions - for those of you interested they were Wigan drawing with Manchester City and Stoke beating West Ham in the Premier League football as well as Stade Francais beating Bath in the Heineken Cup rugby.
This means my cumulative loss is now £13 but I hope to claw some of that back this week with my predictions. Five sports come under the reckoning this weekend with Premier League Football, Formula 1 Motor Racing, Rugby Union, Rugby League and World Matchplay Golf.
In the Barclays Premier League my predictions are for Chelsea to continue in pole position by beating Bolton, Burnley to continue their good home form and pile the pressure on Hull manager Phil Brown by winning, and then I'm going for two draws with Fulham holding Liverpool and Sunderland to draw with West Ham.
As for Rugby Union my two predictions are Leicester to win at home versus Northampton and Saracens to keep their winning start to the season at Bath. In Rugby League I am going with an Australia win over England in the four nations.
The golf world matchplay has been going on in Spain for the last few days and I'm going for Cabrera to win.
Finally, I started this blog one the eve of this 2009 F1 season and this most interesting of seasons draws to a close at the new circuit in Abu Dhabi this weekend with the first ever day / night race. The Championships have been sorted out but not most of the seats for the drivers next year and so this is the last chance to impress. However, my two predictions are with drivers who have impressed recently and that is the former World Champion Lewis Hamilton who I am predicting to win and his successor as the number 1 Jenson Button to finish on the podium. I have been fairly poor at predicting the results of these two drivers this season and hope that will change for the last race.
In summary the predictions are:
Premier League Football
Chelsea to win at Bolton at 5/11
Burnley to beat Hull at 18/19
Fulham to draw with Liverpool at 12/5
Sunderland and West Ham to draw at 5/2
Rugby League
Australia to beat England at 1/6
Rugby Union
Leicester to beat Northampton at 4/9
Saracens to beat Bath at 4/3
World Matchplay Golf
Cabrera to win at 15/8
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Hamilton to win at 11/8
Button to podium at 20/13
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Friday, 16 October 2009
Not a Brand of Hairdryers!
This should be the weekend when Brawn GP becomes more than just a homophone of the well-known manufacturer of hairdryers and electric razors. On Sunday afternoon it is an almost certainty that Brawn will become F1 Constructors Champions just a few months after the team came into existence out of the ashes of what was the Honda team.
In addition to this Jenson Button could follow the trend of recent seasons and become world champion in Brazil though this year it is not the final race of the season. I am hoping for both outcomes but forecasting a Hamilton win as this will be his first visit to Interlagos when he has no championship at stake and therefore less pressure. I'm also thinking we could have two Brits on the podium so that means Button.
Australia is also hosting motorsport this weekend with Moto GP going antipodean. Rossi can't win the title at Philip Island but he can take a big step towards it and following eleven podium finishes from twelve starts at this track I am going for him to win.
My remaining predictions are my stalwarts of rugby and football. After the international break last week premiership football is back and I'm going for two home wins and two draws this weekend. Aston Villa take on league leaders Chelsea tomorrow lunchtime and I am going for a draw here which both teams will probably settle for.
Manchester City visit Wigan and this is my second draw prediction which will be an improvement for City after recent visits to their near neighbours. As for the home wins I am going against teams at the wrong end of the league with Wolves getting nothing at Everton and West Ham not having enough to combat the Stoke style.
In rugby union and the Heineken Cup especially, playing at home is a real advantage yet the bookies are thinking this may not be the case in a couple of this weekend's matches. Therefore I am going against the experts as I think Brive can beat Leinster and Harlequins will win against Toulouse. When it comes to the Bath versus Stade Francais match they are less clear on the outcome but I am going for a Stade away win as Bath have not been at their best this season.
Could do with a decent week as back to £11 down since blog began but will be happy to witness some new British World Champions after I return from a rather special lunch at a restaurant in Bray!
In summary the predictions are as follows:
Brazilian Grand Prix
Hamilton to win at 10/3
Button to podium at 7/2
Australian Moto GP
Rossi to win at 6/4
Barclays Premier League
Everton to beat Wolves at 1/2
Aston Villa to draw with Chelsea at 11/4
Wigan to draw with Manchester City at 11/4
Stoke to beat West Ham at 15/13
Heineken Cup Rugby
Brive to beat Leinster at 9/4
Harlequins to beat Toulouse at 15/8
Stade Francais to win at Bath at Evens
In addition to this Jenson Button could follow the trend of recent seasons and become world champion in Brazil though this year it is not the final race of the season. I am hoping for both outcomes but forecasting a Hamilton win as this will be his first visit to Interlagos when he has no championship at stake and therefore less pressure. I'm also thinking we could have two Brits on the podium so that means Button.
Australia is also hosting motorsport this weekend with Moto GP going antipodean. Rossi can't win the title at Philip Island but he can take a big step towards it and following eleven podium finishes from twelve starts at this track I am going for him to win.
My remaining predictions are my stalwarts of rugby and football. After the international break last week premiership football is back and I'm going for two home wins and two draws this weekend. Aston Villa take on league leaders Chelsea tomorrow lunchtime and I am going for a draw here which both teams will probably settle for.
Manchester City visit Wigan and this is my second draw prediction which will be an improvement for City after recent visits to their near neighbours. As for the home wins I am going against teams at the wrong end of the league with Wolves getting nothing at Everton and West Ham not having enough to combat the Stoke style.
In rugby union and the Heineken Cup especially, playing at home is a real advantage yet the bookies are thinking this may not be the case in a couple of this weekend's matches. Therefore I am going against the experts as I think Brive can beat Leinster and Harlequins will win against Toulouse. When it comes to the Bath versus Stade Francais match they are less clear on the outcome but I am going for a Stade away win as Bath have not been at their best this season.
Could do with a decent week as back to £11 down since blog began but will be happy to witness some new British World Champions after I return from a rather special lunch at a restaurant in Bray!
In summary the predictions are as follows:
Brazilian Grand Prix
Hamilton to win at 10/3
Button to podium at 7/2
Australian Moto GP
Rossi to win at 6/4
Barclays Premier League
Everton to beat Wolves at 1/2
Aston Villa to draw with Chelsea at 11/4
Wigan to draw with Manchester City at 11/4
Stoke to beat West Ham at 15/13
Heineken Cup Rugby
Brive to beat Leinster at 9/4
Harlequins to beat Toulouse at 15/8
Stade Francais to win at Bath at Evens
Two out of seven - not my best set of predictions!
Not a great week on the prediction front but some great sport nevertheless - particularly in the Heineken Cup last weekend.
As it was I only ended up £2.50 down on the week even though my only correct predictions were Leeds Rhinos winning Rugby League's Superleague for the third consecutive time and Ireland and Italy drawing their World Cup qualifying match in the football.
This meant that I was wrong with my prediction for Russia and Germany to draw their qualifier, but then maybe fairly senseless of me to think Germany may not qualify! I also went for an England win in Ukraine but the star of this match was the referee by all accounts - I didn't see the game and only read the reports.
It was in my own sport of rugby union that I really made myself look a fool as I didn't get one prediction correct here, though this was made up for by some scintillating action, not least the 32 - 32 draw between Leicester and the Ospreys. A draw in Rugby Union is rare but such a high-scoring draw is almost unheard off.
As I write this Cardiff Blues who suffered the loss by penalty shoot-out in last season's semi-final are struggling in Stockport against Sale but there have been plenty of tries and still half an hour to go. Almost a shame I have to play myself tomorrow as the quality in this tournament makes missing watching it almost criminal.
As it was I only ended up £2.50 down on the week even though my only correct predictions were Leeds Rhinos winning Rugby League's Superleague for the third consecutive time and Ireland and Italy drawing their World Cup qualifying match in the football.
This meant that I was wrong with my prediction for Russia and Germany to draw their qualifier, but then maybe fairly senseless of me to think Germany may not qualify! I also went for an England win in Ukraine but the star of this match was the referee by all accounts - I didn't see the game and only read the reports.
It was in my own sport of rugby union that I really made myself look a fool as I didn't get one prediction correct here, though this was made up for by some scintillating action, not least the 32 - 32 draw between Leicester and the Ospreys. A draw in Rugby Union is rare but such a high-scoring draw is almost unheard off.
As I write this Cardiff Blues who suffered the loss by penalty shoot-out in last season's semi-final are struggling in Stockport against Sale but there have been plenty of tries and still half an hour to go. Almost a shame I have to play myself tomorrow as the quality in this tournament makes missing watching it almost criminal.
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Football and Rugby are the Main Events
Just a quick set of predictions this weekend which will be all football and rugby related as they are the main events on today and tomorrow.
In rugby league for the third successive year Leeds take on St. Helens at Old Trafford in the superleague final and having seen some of the play-offs I am going for Leeds to complete a hat-trick of wins.
The Heineken Cup is well underway in Rugby Union with last year's champions Leinster off to a bad start last night against London Irish. It was a mixed evening for the English teams as Gloucester also won but Bath lost. My remaining predictions in this round of matches are for Harlequins to win in Cardiff after their first win of the season last weekend, Leicester to beat the Ospreys and Glasgow to beat Biarritz.
There are places football's world cup finals up for grabs this weekend and with England already qualified the build up to their game in Ukraine has been fairly understated in comparison to most England matches. I am going for an England win as I don't believe Capello will be impressed by anything less. In Dublin Ireland host the current champions Italy and my thought is a draw in this game which should ensure Italian qualification and leave Ireland in pole position for the play-offs. Finally neither Russia or Germany have so far qualified and they meet today as well and yet again I am going for the stalemate.
In summary the predictions are:
Superleague Final
Leeds Rhinos to beat St. Helens at 4/7
Heineken Cup
Harlequins to beat Cardiff Blues at 3/1
Leicester to beat the Ospreys at 4/7
Glasgow to beat Biarritz at 5/4
International World Cup Football
England to beat Ukraine at 6/4
Ireland to draw with Italy at 15/8
Russia to draw with Germany at 23/10
In rugby league for the third successive year Leeds take on St. Helens at Old Trafford in the superleague final and having seen some of the play-offs I am going for Leeds to complete a hat-trick of wins.
The Heineken Cup is well underway in Rugby Union with last year's champions Leinster off to a bad start last night against London Irish. It was a mixed evening for the English teams as Gloucester also won but Bath lost. My remaining predictions in this round of matches are for Harlequins to win in Cardiff after their first win of the season last weekend, Leicester to beat the Ospreys and Glasgow to beat Biarritz.
There are places football's world cup finals up for grabs this weekend and with England already qualified the build up to their game in Ukraine has been fairly understated in comparison to most England matches. I am going for an England win as I don't believe Capello will be impressed by anything less. In Dublin Ireland host the current champions Italy and my thought is a draw in this game which should ensure Italian qualification and leave Ireland in pole position for the play-offs. Finally neither Russia or Germany have so far qualified and they meet today as well and yet again I am going for the stalemate.
In summary the predictions are:
Superleague Final
Leeds Rhinos to beat St. Helens at 4/7
Heineken Cup
Harlequins to beat Cardiff Blues at 3/1
Leicester to beat the Ospreys at 4/7
Glasgow to beat Biarritz at 5/4
International World Cup Football
England to beat Ukraine at 6/4
Ireland to draw with Italy at 15/8
Russia to draw with Germany at 23/10
A Good Week!
Last week was one of my better on the prediction front as though I only correctly forecast six results from ten it resulted in a profit of £5 for the week. This means my accumulated loss is down to £8.50 since the blog started.
Success came across the board even in horse racing where my predictions of Sea the Stars to win and Cavalryman to place were both accurate in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. In cricket New Zealand beat Pakistan as forecast even though they came up short in the final against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy. Harlequins got their season up and running with their narrow win versus Bath though in Rugby League my prediction of a Wigan win at St Helens was wrong.
There was a Grand Prix and Moto GP last week and though I predicted both Button and Rossi to take significant steps towards their respective World Championships neither of them could.
Premier League football provided more success for me as Chelsea beat Liverpool whilst Aston Villa and Manchester City drew. In a league where draws have been rare Stoke gained their third of the season (all away from home) at Everton meaning I didn't get a clean sweep on the football.
Success came across the board even in horse racing where my predictions of Sea the Stars to win and Cavalryman to place were both accurate in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. In cricket New Zealand beat Pakistan as forecast even though they came up short in the final against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy. Harlequins got their season up and running with their narrow win versus Bath though in Rugby League my prediction of a Wigan win at St Helens was wrong.
There was a Grand Prix and Moto GP last week and though I predicted both Button and Rossi to take significant steps towards their respective World Championships neither of them could.
Premier League football provided more success for me as Chelsea beat Liverpool whilst Aston Villa and Manchester City drew. In a league where draws have been rare Stoke gained their third of the season (all away from home) at Everton meaning I didn't get a clean sweep on the football.
Friday, 2 October 2009
One Weekend and Loads of Sport
It might be my wife's birthday this weekend but yet again we have plenty of sport to keep us entertained! As I write this the first semi-final of both the ICC Champions Trophy cricket and the Superleague (rugby league) are well underway!
On that basis I'll start with both of these sports and am going for New Zealand to beat Pakistan in the cricket and Wigan to upset St. Helens in the rugby.
There is a full football programme this weekend and after my success last week I am going for three predictions in the premiership. These are home wins for Chelsea against Liverpool and Everton versus Stoke but even with the lack of draws this season I am going for Aston Villa and Manchester City to end in stalemate. In rugby union my prediction is for Harlequins to notch their first win of the season at home to Bath.
There is plenty of motorsport this weekend. At the Japanese GP in Suzuka I am going for Button to make the podium and in the Portuguese MotoGP my forecast is for a Valentino Rossi win meaning both of these individuals will be taking major steps to becoming World Champions this season.
My final set of predictions are for the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe horse racing which regular followers will know is a sport where my ignorance knows no bounds. In this most prestigious of races my prediction is for Sea the Stars to win and Cavalryman to place, but then what do I know.
After last week's poor efforts I am currently £13.50 down since I started so could do with a good week!
In summary my predictions are:
ICC Champions Trophy Cricket
New Zealand to beat Pakistan at 6/4
Rugby League
Wigan to beat St Helens at 17/10
Premiership Football
Chelsea to beat Liverpool at 6/5
Everton to beat Stoke at 3/5
Aston Villa to draw with Manchester City at 5/2
Guinness Premiership Rugby
Harlequins to beat Bath at 10/11
Japanese Grand Prix
Button to podium at 14/5
Portuguese MotoGP
Rossi to win at 6/4
Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe
Sea the Stars to win at 10/13
Cavalryman to place at 9/4
On that basis I'll start with both of these sports and am going for New Zealand to beat Pakistan in the cricket and Wigan to upset St. Helens in the rugby.
There is a full football programme this weekend and after my success last week I am going for three predictions in the premiership. These are home wins for Chelsea against Liverpool and Everton versus Stoke but even with the lack of draws this season I am going for Aston Villa and Manchester City to end in stalemate. In rugby union my prediction is for Harlequins to notch their first win of the season at home to Bath.
There is plenty of motorsport this weekend. At the Japanese GP in Suzuka I am going for Button to make the podium and in the Portuguese MotoGP my forecast is for a Valentino Rossi win meaning both of these individuals will be taking major steps to becoming World Champions this season.
My final set of predictions are for the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe horse racing which regular followers will know is a sport where my ignorance knows no bounds. In this most prestigious of races my prediction is for Sea the Stars to win and Cavalryman to place, but then what do I know.
After last week's poor efforts I am currently £13.50 down since I started so could do with a good week!
In summary my predictions are:
ICC Champions Trophy Cricket
New Zealand to beat Pakistan at 6/4
Rugby League
Wigan to beat St Helens at 17/10
Premiership Football
Chelsea to beat Liverpool at 6/5
Everton to beat Stoke at 3/5
Aston Villa to draw with Manchester City at 5/2
Guinness Premiership Rugby
Harlequins to beat Bath at 10/11
Japanese Grand Prix
Button to podium at 14/5
Portuguese MotoGP
Rossi to win at 6/4
Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe
Sea the Stars to win at 10/13
Cavalryman to place at 9/4
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Home Wins and Hamilton Shines in the Dark
Not a good week on the prediction front last week as I only got four out of ten correct and those that I did get right were short odds meaning I was down £3.50 on the week. Where I was successful were the three home wins I predicted in the premier league as Liverpool, Spurs and Sunderland all won by scoring a hatful of goals.
The only other correct prediction was Wigan's win at Hull KR in the Rugby League playoffs and this has put them into the semi-finals against St Helens this week.
My main errors in prediction were rugby union were though Leicester nearly beat Bath at the Rec they could only draw and Sale never looked like beating Worcester. My F1 predictions were also well off the mark as Button's poor qualifying never gave him a chance of winning though all his main rivals for the Championship struggled and he could now become champion this weekend in Japan, though I doubt it! Fisichella has not got to grips with the Ferrari and looked nowhere near the points and probably regrets his move with another circuit likely to favour the Force India this weekend at Suzuka.
My remaining two incorrect predictions were India getting heavily beaten by Pakistan not being foreseen, and once again I predicted a draw in the premiership football - when will I learn.
Hope to get this weekend's predictions done tomorrow evening by when we should know if England's cricketers will be progressing to the ICC Champions Trophy final in South Africa but they have to get passed the Aussies first. Predictions will include football, rugby, F1 and MotoGP so watch this space.
The only other correct prediction was Wigan's win at Hull KR in the Rugby League playoffs and this has put them into the semi-finals against St Helens this week.
My main errors in prediction were rugby union were though Leicester nearly beat Bath at the Rec they could only draw and Sale never looked like beating Worcester. My F1 predictions were also well off the mark as Button's poor qualifying never gave him a chance of winning though all his main rivals for the Championship struggled and he could now become champion this weekend in Japan, though I doubt it! Fisichella has not got to grips with the Ferrari and looked nowhere near the points and probably regrets his move with another circuit likely to favour the Force India this weekend at Suzuka.
My remaining two incorrect predictions were India getting heavily beaten by Pakistan not being foreseen, and once again I predicted a draw in the premiership football - when will I learn.
Hope to get this weekend's predictions done tomorrow evening by when we should know if England's cricketers will be progressing to the ICC Champions Trophy final in South Africa but they have to get passed the Aussies first. Predictions will include football, rugby, F1 and MotoGP so watch this space.
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