The betting column returns with Brian Power now in profit and on a hot streak - see where he thinks the value lies in the markets this weekend when the housewives go to the bookies.

The trick in any long running competition is to peak at the right time. Having dragged The Challenger account up to the brink of a three figure profit in February I am now taking it right back to where I started – another £50 loss before the Bristol City game, £97.09 the deficit now and just six columns left to turn it around starting today. Brian on the other hand is starting to motor, in pretty serious debt for almost the entire season but picking winners like pick and mix at a motorway service station at the moment – he followed up a first goal scorer success against Swansea with a correct score prediction against Bristol City at 9/1 takes him into the black by £13.22.



Brian Power


Well I have jumped into the profit column as the correct score came through and my horse did not run so I got 82.50 back which means I am now 13.22 in profit for the season. Ok it is not enough to solve the current financial crisis in the banking industry but it might stretch to a down payment on a set of laces for our brand trainers in the W12 boutique.



This week is the Grand National and our initial selection from a few weeks ago is a non runner. My one piece of advice is get your bet on early doors as housewives the length and breadth of the land will be raiding the housekeeping to have a few quid on a horse and will mean horrible queues in bookies on Saturday. We will have an each way bet on Snowy Morning who was placed last year and can go close again at decent odds.



Two of the most hated men in football arrive in W12 no not Flav and Gianni but the Orange man Simon Jordon and Neil “it is never my fault” Warnock for a London derby that has nothing riding on it. I will go for a narrow 2-1 win for Rangers with Hogan to get the first goal.



My first goal scorer Lucky 15 have been very uninspiring over the last few weeks but I am going to stick at it and plump for a couple of players that are decent odds. Add to that our normal four team footie bet and I hope to continue the winning run.



For the weekend:



£10.00 QPR to win 2-1 15/2


£10.00 Ephraim to score first goal 10/1



£5 e/w Snowy Morning Grand National 25/1 Paddy Power


50p Lucky 15 1st scorers

Man U v Villa M Carrick 18/1

Fulham V Liverpool X Alonso 14/1

Blackburn V Spurs A Lennon 12/1

West Ham V Sunderland M Noble 12/1



£2.50 trebles and £2.50 acca


Peterborough 13/8

Gillingham 8/13

Burnley 13/8

Chesterfield 11/8





The Challenger


I notice that Brian has gone for Snowy Morning in the National – I’ve pulled that horse on the work sweepstake so hopefully for both our sakes he’s right. It’s been several weeks since I backed anything like a winner, although I have retained a bit of cash of Damion Stewart being a non-runner, so I’m going for a scatterfire approach this week in the hope of arresting the decline. QPR v Palace has draw written all over it for me and as well as the usual Stewart first scorer bet I’m also going to steal Brian’s idea and back Leigertwood against his former club. How bizarre that Bet365 actually has Stewart at shorter odds than Leigertwood on the coupon this weeend.


Allied to that I’ve gone for Apilachi in The National and with Padraig Harrington going for three straight majors he may make a nice under the radar each way bet in the Masters next week while the media pundits tug each other off over Tiger Woods. If betting each way make sure you choose a bookie offering first to fifth.


I fancy Huddersfield and Catalans as a win double in the Challenge Cup but there is very little value you around. Many of the ties at this stage are likely to be walkovers and the ones that aren’t have the bookies hedging their bets – Huddersfield and Harlequins are both priced 10/11 for instance, how can both teams in the same match be odds on to win? Miserly, so I’m not touching it. Catalans, without a win in five and facing a Bradford side that beat them on their own patch just a fortnight ago at 4/5. Disgraceful. Anyway…



For the weekend:

£10 QPR and Crystal Palace to draw 9/4

£5 Damion Stewart first goal 22/1

£5 Mikele Leigertwood first goal 25/1



£10 double Blackburn v Spurs (9/4) and Bolton v Boro (23/10) to both end in draws



£5 e/w Padraig Harrington 16/1 for the Masters.



£10 Black Apalachi to win the National 14/1 generally

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