After a rather long losing streak it was good to get back to winning ways last week with seven from ten correct predictions and two of the three Aussies I predicted to do well delivering! This has reduced losses down to £10.50 and with only five predictions this week I'm hopeful to reduce this further next week!
The three sports subject to my predictions are Formula 1 from Hungary, Rugby League's Superleague and Test cricket.
In the Formula 1 I'm predicting Lewis Hamilton to carry his form from last week into another win in Hungary and for Sebastian Vettel to get back on the podium after his non-visit for the first time this season in Germany.
After England's enthralling win in the first test versus India last week, I'm predicting a repeat at Trentbridge mainly based on the fact that the Indians will have to bat last on the wicket.
The final set of predictions is in the Engage Superleague where Wigan carried on their winning streak last night and are looking favourites for the title again this season. This week I'm predicting an away win for St. Helens at Castleford and home win for Wakefield who host the soon to be non-Super League side, the Crusaders.
In summary the predictions for the week are:
Hungarian Grand Prix
Hamilton to win at 2/1
Vettel to podium at 3/16
Test Cricket
England to beat India at Trentbridge at 2/9
Engage Superleague
St. Helens to win at Castleford at 2/9
Wakefield to defeat the Crusaders at 2/5
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Aussies to the Forefront?
After another poor showing from my predictions last weekend I'm relying on some help from some Aussies and their wheels this weekend! Last week's predictions were some of the worst ever since this blog started with only two correct, both from the sport of Rugby League, but having said that my highlight was the great performance from Darren Clarke in winning the Open at Sandwich and keeping up Northern Ireland's run of winning majors in the last year and a bit.
As highlighted above in order to get back on track I'm selecting three Aussies, two using two wheels and one on four wheels this weekend. I'll start with the Tour de France which reaches it's climax in little over 24 hours time with the final time trial in Grenoble today and then the final stage finishing on Paris' Elyssian Fields tomorrow.
This year's tour has had everything so far and with the final two stages to go the podium is yet to be sorted, as are the Green and White Jerseys. Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck have been in and around the top of the race since it started three weeks ago and it looks like one of them will triumph in Paris tomorrow but what would be a delight to see is if they can be joined on the podium by the French sensation Thomas Voeckler who has been a distinguished leader of the tour for much of the last two weeks. My prediction though is for Evans to become the first Australian to win the Tour de France because of his superior time-trialling ability.
Before I move on there is also a prediction for the final stage tomorrow which unless there is only a couple of seconds between the overall contenders will come down to the sprinters, and of course there is only one realistic prediction, the current leader of the points jersey, the winner in Paris for the last two years and the first rider in 99 Tours de France to have won at least four stages in four consecutive races - Manxman Mark Cavendish. He may not be to everyone's taste - probably because he's a Brit who knows not just how to win, but how to do it continually and in the biggest events. In cycling they don't come any bigger than Le Tour and Cavendish's name is already up there with the greats of this fantastic race, even though he will never win the overall event. I will be shouting Go Cav at the screen tomorrow afternoon and hopefully so will every other Brit who loves their sport and British winners!
Back to the Aussies again now, as the GP circus moves to Germany where for a quarter of the drivers this year this will be their home GP, not least current World Champion, Sebastian Vettel who I am growing to like week by week for both his in and out of car persona. However, whilst he would dearly like to win his home race for the first time, has finished in the top two of every race this year, in my twisted mind and logic I'm not adding him to my predictions but going for his Aussie teammate Mark Webber to win and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to make the podium.
Whilst on the Motorsport theme and Aussies the Moto GP season is at the mid-way point of the season and the last four races have produced four different winners with undoubtedly the greatest rider on the grid not in the mix on his uncompetitive Ducati. Aussie Casey Stoner leads the Championship going to Laguna Seca in the US and it's amazing corkscrew turn come hill! I'm prediction Stoner to win but on his "home" circuit, Ben Spies to make the podium.
Unbelievably, the football season kicks off in Scotland today - I checked the diary and it still is July for another week or more, and so whilst I may disagree with such an early start I will make a prediction and that is for current Premier League Champions, Rangers, under new manager Ally McCoist to win at home against Hearts.
At this time of year we expect the sound of leather on willow to be the main sound of sport in the UK and this week the first Test Match between England and India started at Lords. After Kevin Pietersen's fine performance with the bat and with England having the chance to become the number one rated country in the world if they can win this series by two tests I'm going for an England win.
Final predictions this weekend are back to where I've had some successes recently and that is the sport of Rugby League which features the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup this weekend. I'm backing Wigan to win at Warrington in what is undoubtedly the big game of the weekend and St. Helens to triumph over Hull KR.
In summary, come on the Aussies:
Tour de France
Evans to win Le Tour at 11/17
Cavendish to win final stage at 6/11
German GP
Webber to win at 6/1
Alonso to podium at 12/25
Moto GP at Laguna Seca
Stoner to win at 5/2
Speies to podium at 15/8
Scottish Football
Rangers to defeat Hearts at 4/9
Test Cricket
England to beat India at Lords at 39/10
Challenge Cup Rugby League
Wigan to win at Warrington at 25/19
St. Helens to defeat Hull KR at 1/5
As highlighted above in order to get back on track I'm selecting three Aussies, two using two wheels and one on four wheels this weekend. I'll start with the Tour de France which reaches it's climax in little over 24 hours time with the final time trial in Grenoble today and then the final stage finishing on Paris' Elyssian Fields tomorrow.
This year's tour has had everything so far and with the final two stages to go the podium is yet to be sorted, as are the Green and White Jerseys. Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck have been in and around the top of the race since it started three weeks ago and it looks like one of them will triumph in Paris tomorrow but what would be a delight to see is if they can be joined on the podium by the French sensation Thomas Voeckler who has been a distinguished leader of the tour for much of the last two weeks. My prediction though is for Evans to become the first Australian to win the Tour de France because of his superior time-trialling ability.
Before I move on there is also a prediction for the final stage tomorrow which unless there is only a couple of seconds between the overall contenders will come down to the sprinters, and of course there is only one realistic prediction, the current leader of the points jersey, the winner in Paris for the last two years and the first rider in 99 Tours de France to have won at least four stages in four consecutive races - Manxman Mark Cavendish. He may not be to everyone's taste - probably because he's a Brit who knows not just how to win, but how to do it continually and in the biggest events. In cycling they don't come any bigger than Le Tour and Cavendish's name is already up there with the greats of this fantastic race, even though he will never win the overall event. I will be shouting Go Cav at the screen tomorrow afternoon and hopefully so will every other Brit who loves their sport and British winners!
Back to the Aussies again now, as the GP circus moves to Germany where for a quarter of the drivers this year this will be their home GP, not least current World Champion, Sebastian Vettel who I am growing to like week by week for both his in and out of car persona. However, whilst he would dearly like to win his home race for the first time, has finished in the top two of every race this year, in my twisted mind and logic I'm not adding him to my predictions but going for his Aussie teammate Mark Webber to win and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to make the podium.
Whilst on the Motorsport theme and Aussies the Moto GP season is at the mid-way point of the season and the last four races have produced four different winners with undoubtedly the greatest rider on the grid not in the mix on his uncompetitive Ducati. Aussie Casey Stoner leads the Championship going to Laguna Seca in the US and it's amazing corkscrew turn come hill! I'm prediction Stoner to win but on his "home" circuit, Ben Spies to make the podium.
Unbelievably, the football season kicks off in Scotland today - I checked the diary and it still is July for another week or more, and so whilst I may disagree with such an early start I will make a prediction and that is for current Premier League Champions, Rangers, under new manager Ally McCoist to win at home against Hearts.
At this time of year we expect the sound of leather on willow to be the main sound of sport in the UK and this week the first Test Match between England and India started at Lords. After Kevin Pietersen's fine performance with the bat and with England having the chance to become the number one rated country in the world if they can win this series by two tests I'm going for an England win.
Final predictions this weekend are back to where I've had some successes recently and that is the sport of Rugby League which features the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup this weekend. I'm backing Wigan to win at Warrington in what is undoubtedly the big game of the weekend and St. Helens to triumph over Hull KR.
In summary, come on the Aussies:
Tour de France
Evans to win Le Tour at 11/17
Cavendish to win final stage at 6/11
German GP
Webber to win at 6/1
Alonso to podium at 12/25
Moto GP at Laguna Seca
Stoner to win at 5/2
Speies to podium at 15/8
Scottish Football
Rangers to defeat Hearts at 4/9
Test Cricket
England to beat India at Lords at 39/10
Challenge Cup Rugby League
Wigan to win at Warrington at 25/19
St. Helens to defeat Hull KR at 1/5
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Close But No Cigar
Some close predictions last week but ultimately they were wrong leaving only three correct forecasts and a loss of £5.50 taking accumulated losses to £10!
The big sporting highlight of this weekend is the Open Golf at Sandwich where I'm forecasting a win for the USPGA Champion Martin Kaymer and a top 4 finish for US Open winner Rory McIlroy.
In cycling the Tour de France continues in earnest and has reached the mountains with perhaps the big surprise being that Contador looks human and beatable. For today's stage 14 I'm predicting a win for Cunego and a top 3 finish for Cadel Evans who may just be assuming the mantle of favourite for this year's tour.
In Germany we have the Moto GP where I'm predicting a win for Honda's Championship leader Casey Stoner and a first podium finish for Simoncelli - not the first time I've made that prediction!
Superleague continues as well this weekend and my predictions are away wins for Castleford at the Crusaders and Huddersfield at Bradford, whilst a home win for Hull KR who host Salford.
My final forecast for this weekend relates to the women's football world cup from Germany where I'm going for a USA triumph over Japan.
In summary this weeks predictions are:
Open Golf
Kaymer to win at 13/2
McIlroy to finish in Top 4 at 12/5
Tour de France Stage 14
Cunego to win at 37/1
Evans to finish Top 3 at 5/2
German Moto GP
Stoner to win at 11/4
Simoncelli to podium at 4/5
Engage Superleague
Castleford to win at Crusaders at 7/11
Huddersfield to win at Bradford at 6/17
Hull KR to defeat Salford at 3/11
Women's Football World Cup Final
USA to beat Japan at 11/10
The big sporting highlight of this weekend is the Open Golf at Sandwich where I'm forecasting a win for the USPGA Champion Martin Kaymer and a top 4 finish for US Open winner Rory McIlroy.
In cycling the Tour de France continues in earnest and has reached the mountains with perhaps the big surprise being that Contador looks human and beatable. For today's stage 14 I'm predicting a win for Cunego and a top 3 finish for Cadel Evans who may just be assuming the mantle of favourite for this year's tour.
In Germany we have the Moto GP where I'm predicting a win for Honda's Championship leader Casey Stoner and a first podium finish for Simoncelli - not the first time I've made that prediction!
Superleague continues as well this weekend and my predictions are away wins for Castleford at the Crusaders and Huddersfield at Bradford, whilst a home win for Hull KR who host Salford.
My final forecast for this weekend relates to the women's football world cup from Germany where I'm going for a USA triumph over Japan.
In summary this weeks predictions are:
Open Golf
Kaymer to win at 13/2
McIlroy to finish in Top 4 at 12/5
Tour de France Stage 14
Cunego to win at 37/1
Evans to finish Top 3 at 5/2
German Moto GP
Stoner to win at 11/4
Simoncelli to podium at 4/5
Engage Superleague
Castleford to win at Crusaders at 7/11
Huddersfield to win at Bradford at 6/17
Hull KR to defeat Salford at 3/11
Women's Football World Cup Final
USA to beat Japan at 11/10
Saturday, 9 July 2011
British GP Weekend
The undoubted highlight of this weekend is the British GP which as usual has more than a whiff of controversy surrounding it, with disagreements on the use of blown diffusers.
Hopefully, my predictions will be better than last week's effort with only three correct forecasts led by Novak Djokovic's success at Wimbledon. This resulted in a loss of £4.50 on the week which also equates to the overall losses on the blog.
This will be the first GP at Silverstone since re-development began and so this is going to be a fairly new experience for all of the teams and drivers. Whilst I'd love to see a British team and driver win, realistically I can't see past the Red Bulls but I don't think Vettel's consistency and reliability will last for a ninth race so I'm going for his Aussie teammate Mark Webber to win with Lewis Hamilton to make the podium.
Meanwhile the Tour de France continues and it has been a mixed week for the Brits with Wiggins having to withdraw following his crash yesterday but Cavendish having won two stages in week one taking his overall tally of stage victories to 17 placing him in the Top 10 of all time - not bad in only his fourth tour! For today's eighth stage it looks like it is going to favour the strongmen and I'm predicting Gilbert to repeat his victory from last Saturday and Sanchez to make the top 3.
It is the last of the one day series cricket between England and Sri Lanka and all to play for so I'm going for a narrow England win. The women's World Football Cup has reached the quarter final stage in Germany and my predictions for today's games are England to defeat France with Germany beating Japan.
My final predictions are in the Engage Superleague where I'm forecasting Wigan to win at Harlequins, Catalans to beat Leeds in France and for Bradford to triumph at Castleford.
In summary the predictions are as follows:
British GP
Webber to win at 7/1
Hamilton to podium at Evens
Tour de France Stage 8
Gilbert to win at 8/1
Sanchez to make top 3 at 6/1
ODI Cricket
England to beat Sri Lanka in Game 5 at 8/11
Women's Football World Cup
England to beat France at 11/5
Germany to defeat Japan at 6/19
Engage Superleague
Wigan to win at Harlequins at 1/10
Catalans to beat Leeds at 4/7
Bradford to defeat Castleford at 9/11
Hopefully, my predictions will be better than last week's effort with only three correct forecasts led by Novak Djokovic's success at Wimbledon. This resulted in a loss of £4.50 on the week which also equates to the overall losses on the blog.
This will be the first GP at Silverstone since re-development began and so this is going to be a fairly new experience for all of the teams and drivers. Whilst I'd love to see a British team and driver win, realistically I can't see past the Red Bulls but I don't think Vettel's consistency and reliability will last for a ninth race so I'm going for his Aussie teammate Mark Webber to win with Lewis Hamilton to make the podium.
Meanwhile the Tour de France continues and it has been a mixed week for the Brits with Wiggins having to withdraw following his crash yesterday but Cavendish having won two stages in week one taking his overall tally of stage victories to 17 placing him in the Top 10 of all time - not bad in only his fourth tour! For today's eighth stage it looks like it is going to favour the strongmen and I'm predicting Gilbert to repeat his victory from last Saturday and Sanchez to make the top 3.
It is the last of the one day series cricket between England and Sri Lanka and all to play for so I'm going for a narrow England win. The women's World Football Cup has reached the quarter final stage in Germany and my predictions for today's games are England to defeat France with Germany beating Japan.
My final predictions are in the Engage Superleague where I'm forecasting Wigan to win at Harlequins, Catalans to beat Leeds in France and for Bradford to triumph at Castleford.
In summary the predictions are as follows:
British GP
Webber to win at 7/1
Hamilton to podium at Evens
Tour de France Stage 8
Gilbert to win at 8/1
Sanchez to make top 3 at 6/1
ODI Cricket
England to beat Sri Lanka in Game 5 at 8/11
Women's Football World Cup
England to beat France at 11/5
Germany to defeat Japan at 6/19
Engage Superleague
Wigan to win at Harlequins at 1/10
Catalans to beat Leeds at 4/7
Bradford to defeat Castleford at 9/11
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Wimbledon Finals, Tour de France and More...
Last week saw some hope from British tennis with Andy Murray through to the second week of Wimbledon and some better performances from the women but yet again there will be no British representation in the senior finals though Liam Broady from Stockport has made the Boys final.
My own set of predictions failed to set the world alight as well with five from ten and a loss of £2.50 on the week taking profits for the blog back to zero.
This weekend has a whole host of sporting action including the Wimbledon finals, Haye vs Klitschsko to unify most of the World Heavyweight boxing titles, ODI cricket, Moto GP from Italy, Superleague rugby and of course not forgetting the most gruelling sporting event on the calendar as the Tour de France begins it's three week journey.
In the Wimbledon finals I'm prediction Sharapova to win the ladies title, seven years after her last success in South West London and for Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon crown.
One day cricket has moved to Lords for Sunday's match between England and Sri Lanka and my forecast is for a home win. In the much anticipated Boxing showdown I'm sticking with the patriotic theme and going for a Haye win in a match that is unlikely to match all of the build up hype.
Last week's MotoGP saw a new winner on the podium with Ben Spies taking the race but this week I'm predicting Casey Stoner to return to winning ways and for Marco Sioncelli to make his long awaited breakthrough on to the podium in his home race.
The Engage Superleague has been carrying on through the British summer and this weeks predictions are for the Dragons to win at Bradford and Hull KR to defeat Wakefield.
My final set of predictions this week are for the Tour de France which for a change this year has started in France and without a prologue time trial but a proper road stage. In other changes the points scoring systems for both the Green and Polka Dot Jerseys has changed this year in an effort to boost the chances of out and out sprinters for Green and the best climbers for the Polka Dot. Brits will should be challenging for two jerseys as Mark Cavendish has a team built to support him for Green as he looks to add to his fifteen previous stage wins whilst fresh from his recent success in the Dauphine Librere Bradley Wiggins is chasing at least a podium finish in Paris if not the ultimate prize of the Yellow Jersey. Realistically, this may be beyond him if Contador's form from the Giro d'Italia continues but in a three week race anything can happen.
Today's stage is not entirely suited to the sprinters so I'm predicting a win for Wiggins' Sky teammate Boasson Hagen and a top three finish for sprinter Pettachi who will probably better handle the climb at the end than most of his other Green Jersey rivals.
In summary the predictions are:
Wimbledon Tennis
Sharapova to win the Ladies Title at 8/13
Djokovioc to win the Mens at 13/9
ODI Cricket
England to win at Lords tomorrow at 4/5
Heavyweight Boxing
Haye to win at 7/4
Moto GP from Mugello
Stoner to win at 13/8
Simoncelli to podium at 81/100
Engage Superleague
Dragons to win at Bradford at 7/10
Hull KR to defeat Wakefield at 1/7
Tour de France Stage 1
Boasson Hagen to win at 16/1
Pettachi to make top 3 at 21/4
My own set of predictions failed to set the world alight as well with five from ten and a loss of £2.50 on the week taking profits for the blog back to zero.
This weekend has a whole host of sporting action including the Wimbledon finals, Haye vs Klitschsko to unify most of the World Heavyweight boxing titles, ODI cricket, Moto GP from Italy, Superleague rugby and of course not forgetting the most gruelling sporting event on the calendar as the Tour de France begins it's three week journey.
In the Wimbledon finals I'm prediction Sharapova to win the ladies title, seven years after her last success in South West London and for Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon crown.
One day cricket has moved to Lords for Sunday's match between England and Sri Lanka and my forecast is for a home win. In the much anticipated Boxing showdown I'm sticking with the patriotic theme and going for a Haye win in a match that is unlikely to match all of the build up hype.
Last week's MotoGP saw a new winner on the podium with Ben Spies taking the race but this week I'm predicting Casey Stoner to return to winning ways and for Marco Sioncelli to make his long awaited breakthrough on to the podium in his home race.
The Engage Superleague has been carrying on through the British summer and this weeks predictions are for the Dragons to win at Bradford and Hull KR to defeat Wakefield.
My final set of predictions this week are for the Tour de France which for a change this year has started in France and without a prologue time trial but a proper road stage. In other changes the points scoring systems for both the Green and Polka Dot Jerseys has changed this year in an effort to boost the chances of out and out sprinters for Green and the best climbers for the Polka Dot. Brits will should be challenging for two jerseys as Mark Cavendish has a team built to support him for Green as he looks to add to his fifteen previous stage wins whilst fresh from his recent success in the Dauphine Librere Bradley Wiggins is chasing at least a podium finish in Paris if not the ultimate prize of the Yellow Jersey. Realistically, this may be beyond him if Contador's form from the Giro d'Italia continues but in a three week race anything can happen.
Today's stage is not entirely suited to the sprinters so I'm predicting a win for Wiggins' Sky teammate Boasson Hagen and a top three finish for sprinter Pettachi who will probably better handle the climb at the end than most of his other Green Jersey rivals.
In summary the predictions are:
Wimbledon Tennis
Sharapova to win the Ladies Title at 8/13
Djokovioc to win the Mens at 13/9
ODI Cricket
England to win at Lords tomorrow at 4/5
Heavyweight Boxing
Haye to win at 7/4
Moto GP from Mugello
Stoner to win at 13/8
Simoncelli to podium at 81/100
Engage Superleague
Dragons to win at Bradford at 7/10
Hull KR to defeat Wakefield at 1/7
Tour de France Stage 1
Boasson Hagen to win at 16/1
Pettachi to make top 3 at 21/4
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