Cardiff v QPR Betting Preview
Friday, 22nd Apr 2011 18:25 by LFW Pundits

A bumper Easter weekend of sport is already well underway, and our pundits are here to point you in the direction of any market value.

Brian lifted himself above the magic £600 barrier last week and now boasts a £625.06 profit, Andy dropped back a little after a good few weeks and now holds £89.08.

Andy Hillman

QPR really don’t make betting on them easy, do they? Of all the results I could have predicted against Derby, 0-0 was at the very bottom of the pile. And Stoke made an absolute mockery of my suggestion that both FA Cup semi-finals were evenly matched, running out 5-0 winners. A complete blank last week, and down £40 as a result.

So we’re into the real nitty gritty of the season now - one win from four required, and wouldn’t it be wonderful to get it at Cardiff? In fact, by the time we play Cardiff, indeed by the time you read this (hello both of you…) we could already be promoted, without having kicked a ball. That would be nice from a pressure off point of view, but having been to about 35 of the 42 games so far this season, it would be nice to actually be there and witness Derry’s fist pumping when we do actually go up.

The bookies have got Cardiff down as clear favourites at a best priced 11/8, whereas QPR are as long as 12/5 with some places. I personally feel the smart money is on a draw - despite both teams having natural attacking tendencies, neither will want to lose this game, so a draw at 12/5 is where I will stick my money, with Stan James who are doing bore-draw refunds (this game can’t finish goalless - can it?) I also think this game is perfectly set up for counter attacking football, and as such I’m picking Routledge as first scorer, available at a fairly generous 12/1 also with Stan James.

We’re also at home against Hull on the Monday, where I think we will actually pick up the title. Hull have the second best away record in the division (behind us, naturally, albeit only on goal difference…) and we have the best home record in the league. The odds have not yet been priced up for this one, but I’m going to go for a QPR win, draw no bet, taking into account Hull’s away record.

Checking the odds across all markets for this week’s multiple has also thrown up a couple of fantastic value bets - Man U vs. Everton on Saturday lunchtime the bookies have down as a home crush - Everton currently are second in the form table only to Chelsea at the moment, and Man Utd are coming off a draw with Newcastle and defeat against City. You can get odds of 7/2 on the draw at the moment, which seems fantastic value, despite United’s home record. Also, in the Spanish League, Real Madrid are underdogs against Valencia on Saturday evenings - available at 3.1 or 85/40 on Betfair. I can’t remember the last time that Real Madrid were underdogs to anyone in the Spanish league that wasn’t Barcelona, and buoyed by their Copa Del Ray win against Barcelona on Wednesday, this represents frankly amazing value - despite Valencia being third in the league, the gulf between the top two and the rest is staggering.

For my actual multiple, I’ve gone for Bayern Munich, Leverkusen, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona. £10 there is 25/2 on Betfair.

Finally, a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the handicap league on which I’ve got a bet running with Betfair. With four games to play, the league now looks like this:

QPR 88; Watford 88; Cardiff 87; Swansea 86; Norwich 84; Millwall 84

Cardiff are currently 4.2, and Watford are 4.8 on Betfair to win the handicap league. Swansea are as far out as 6.6 the Watford vs. QPR game could be massive for me. Anyone dare to predict the last 4 results?

For the Weekend:

Cardiff vs. QPR - Draw - £10 @ 12/5 (Stan James)

Cardiff vs. QPR - first goal scorer - Routledge - £10 @ 12/1 (Stan James)

QPR vs. Hull - QPR to win, draw no bet - £10 @ odds TBA

Fivefold accumulator - Bayern Munich, Leverkusen, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona. £10 @ 25/2 (Betfair)

Brian Power

A small return last week as three of our four came in to give £28.88

This Saturday sees the final day of the National Hunt Jump season and the jump jockeys can take a well deserved break.

The new National Hunt jump season commences on Sunday and it will be good to see the jockeys refreshed after their well deserved break.

The Final big race on Saturday is the Gold Cup Handicap Chase and my selection for last weeks Scotish National Poker De Sivola runs again. Despite falling last week and I will give him another chance as Ferdy Murphy would now if the horse has it in him. In the previous race Nicky Hendersons French Opera can give the Walsh/Nicholls combo on the favourite Tatanio.

On Easter Monday the Irish Grand National is run and we will have a each way bet on Whatuthink available at 20/1 with Hills but 12/1 with Stan James.

I suppose I should mention the little matter of a trip to Cardiff on Saturday. To win promotion in Cardiff would be fantastic but we are up against a team that is on form and with a partisan crowd on their side. Saying that I think Cardiff are suspect at the back and if we can take advantage of this we can get all 3 points and I will go for a 3-1 win. Wayne Routledge likes the TV Cameras and the 12/1 on him to score first is attractive.

We play Hull on Monday and if all goes to plan with our game and results elsewhere the players may have been out celebrating and for this reason I will not have a flutter on this game.

For the weekend:

£5 Correct Score Cardiff 1 QPR 3

£5 1st scorer Wayne Routledge 12/1

£2.50 trebles and £2.50 acca

Bristol City 7/4

Notts Co 9/5

Chesterfield 13/8

Wigan 5/2

£7.50 win 3.10 Sandown

Poker De Sivola Gold Handicap Chase 14/1

£2.50 ew Irish Grand National Monday

Whatuthink 20/1