BOND’S AYR SHOT
National chance for Nicky
EMIRATES FA CUP SEMI FINALS 17-10 8-5 17-10 17-10 13-8 17-10 2 WLW ............. Chelsea 9-4 Tottenham .... LWW 17-10 17-10 17-10 13-8 17-10 17-10 14-5 14-5 14-5 3-1 3-1 3-1 1 (S) WDW ............. Arsenal 3-1 Man City ........ DLW 5-6 5-6 5-6 17-20 5-6 5-6
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE 17-20 4-5 4-5 8-11 4-5 17-20 4 WWL ... Bournemouth 11-4 Middlesbro ..... LDL 3-1 10-3 10-3 7-2 16-5 18-5 10-11 17-20 17-20 10-11 19-20 10-11 6 WWW ................... Hull 13-5 Watford ........... LLL 3-1 3-1 16-5 3-1 14-5 17-5 23-20 23-20 6-5 5-4 6-5 5-4 8 WDL ............ Swansea 12-5 Stoke .............. DLL 9-4 9-4 23-10 11-5 11-5 12-5 23-10 2-1 21-10 21-10 11-5 9-4 9 LLW ........... West Ham 13-5 Everton ........... LLD 6-5 23-20 23-20 6-5 6-5 5-4 6-1 11-2 11-2 6-1 11-2 13-2 5 (S) DLW .............. Burnley 16-5 Man Utd ....... WWW 1-2 8-15 11-20 8-15 1-2 11-20 9-20 1-2 10-21 1-2 1-2 1-2 7 (S) WWD .......... Liverpool 7-2 Crystal Pal .... WWL 11-2 5-1 11-2 5-1 11-2 6-1
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 10-11 10-11 10-11 17-20 10-11 20-21 11 WWW ......... Brentford 3-1 QPR ................ LLL 11-4 5-2 13-5 11-4 27-10 13-5 13-20 4-6 4-6 4-6 8-11 7-10 12 WWW ...... Bristol City 31-10 Barnsley ........ LWL 15-4 17-5 7-2 15-4 16-5 18-5 19-10 19-10 2-1 19-10 7-4 19-10 13 LDL .... Burton Albion 23-10 Leeds .............. LLD 11-8 7-5 7-5 29-20 11-8 6-4 11-8 27-20 11-8 6-4 6-4 11-8 14 LWW ..... Huddersfield 5-2 Fulham ......... WLW 19-10 9-5 19-10 7-4 15-8 19-10 11-8 11-8 7-5 7-5 8-5 7-5 15 DWL ..... Nottm Forest 5-2 Reading ........ WLW 19-10 7-4 15-8 9-5 6-4 15-8 3-1 27-10 14-5 11-4 3-1 14-5 16 LLD ......... Rotherham 13-5 Ipswich .......... LLW 17-20 20-23 10-11 19-20 4-5 20-21 3-4 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 5-6 17 LWW ......... Sheff Wed 13-5 Derby ............. DWL 4-1 16-5 7-2 17-5 3-1 17-5 6-5 5-4 5-4 13-10 13-10 6-5 18 LWW ................ Wigan 23-10 Cardiff ............. LDL 9-4 2-1 11-5 21-10 15-8 12-5 23-20 6-5 6-5 5-4 23-20 23-20 19 WWL .............. Wolves 12-5 Blackburn ...... LLW 23-10 21-10 11-5 11-5 21-10 12-5 19-20 19-20 17-20 Evs 4-5 9-10 10 WWL ........ Aston Villa 5-2 Birmingham .. DLD 11-4 14-5 16-5 14-5 3-1 16-5 9-20 1-2 10-21 1-2 1-2 1-2 M WWD ......... Newcastle 7-2 Preston N E .... DLL 13-2 5-1 11-2 11-2 5-1 11-2
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE 8-15 8-15 8-15 11-20 8-15 8-15 20 WWW .......... Bradford 3-1 Wimbledon .... DLD 5-1 11-2 11-2 5-1 11-2 6-1 17-20 20-23 17-20 10-11 10-11 9-10 21 DLL .................... Bury 27-10 Northampton..LDL 3-1 14-5 14-5 3-1 11-4 29-10 5-2 23-10 12-5 11-5 15-8 12-5 22 LWL ........ Chesterfield 13-5 Charlton ......... LLD Evs 21-20 21-20 6-5 23-20 11-10 13-8 33-20 7-4 17-20 13-8 17-10 23 WWD ........... Coventry 12-5 Walsall ............ LLD 31-20 31-20 8-5 8-5 13-8 8-5 5-2 12-5 5-2 23-10 5-2 13-5 24 LDW ......... Gillingham 23-1 Fleetwood T.. WLW 21-20 21-20 11-10 8-5 Evs 11-10 13-20 8-13 3-1 13-20 4-7 4-6 25 DWW .............. Millwall 3-1 Oxford Utd .... DDL 4-1 4-1 5-6 4-1 4-1 4-1 16-5 16-5 4-6 3-1 16-5 33-10 26 WWL ........... MK Dons 14-5 Sheff Utd ..... DWW 4-5 4-5 4-1 17-20 4-5 5-6 11-5 21-10 11-5 11-5 11-5 11-5 27 DWW ............. Oldham 12-5 Rochdale ....... LLW 6-5 5-4 5-4 13-10 5-4 5-4 7-4 7-4 15-8 7-4 15-8 7-4 28 DWL ........... Peterboro 13-5 Bristol Rov .... LWL 11-8 27-10 11-8 7-5 13-10 29-20 4-1 15-4 15-4 15-4 7-2 19-5 29 DWL ............ Port Vale 27-10 Bolton ............ WLL 7-10 7-10 8-11 3-4 8-11 3-4 13-5 5-2 5-2 23-10 5-2 5-2 30 LWD ....... Shrewsbury 5-2 Southend ...... WLW Evs 21-20 21-20 6-5 Evs 11-10 17-10 33-20 17-10 17-10 7-4 7-4 31 WDD ........... Swindon 5-2 Scunthorpe ... LLW 29-20 6-4 6-4 8-5 6-4 6-4
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO 5-6 10-11 17-20 10-11 10-11 9-10 32 WLD .......... Blackpool 13-5 Cheltenham... LDD 16-5 3-1 3-1 3-1 3-1 31-10 7-5 29-20 6-4 13-8 6-4 6-4 33 WWD ........ Colchester 12-5 Plymouth ..... WWD 9-5 17-10 9-5 17-10 17-10 9-5 11-5 2-1 2-1 21-10 21-10 85-40 34 WLD .... Crawley Town 12-5 Carlisle .......... LWD 6-5 5-4 13-10 13-10 6-5 13-10 4-7 6-10 8-13 4-6 8-13 8-13 35 WLD ................. Crewe 3-1 Leyton O ......... LLD 9-2 21-5 17-4 4-1 4-1 9-2 4-9 4-9 4-9 4-9 4-9 4-9 36 DLW ................ Exeter 7-2 Morecambe ... LLW 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-1 11-2 13-2 29-20 29-20 6-4 13-8 6-4 6-4 37 DLW ............. Grimsby 9-4 Yeovil .............. DLL 19-10 15-8 19-10 7-4 9-5 19-10 13-10 11-8 7-5 29-20 13-10 29-20 38 LLD ........... Hartlepool 12-5 Barnet ............. LLL 2-1 9-5 19-10 15-8 21-10 19-10 4-6 7-10 7-10 3-4 8-13 8-11 39 DWD ................. Luton 14-5 Notts Co ...... WWD 4-1 18-5 15-4 19-5 9-2 19-5 15-8 19-10 2-1 23-10 21-10 19-10 40 DWW ........ Newport C 5-2 Accrington S . WWD 13-10 27-20 13-8 6-5 13-10 11-8 3-4 4-5 5-6 10-11 4-5 4-5 41 WWD ...... Portsmouth 11-4 Cambridge U. LWL 10-3 16-5 10-3 3-1 10-3 33-10 17-10 33-20 7-4 17-10 13-8 17-10 42 WWL ........ Stevenage 12-5 Mansfield ...... WLW 6-4 31-20 13-8 17-10 13-8 8-5 21-10 2-1 21-10 21-10 21-10 2-1 43 LDL ........... Wycombe 12-5 Doncaster .... WWD 5-4 5-4 5-4 13-10 5-4 11-8
WILLIAM HILL SCOTTISH CUP SEMI FINALS 14-5 13-5 13-5 5-2 5-2 29-10 ...... WDW .......... Hibernian 27-10 Aberdeen LWW 20-21 10-11 17-20 10-11 10-11 10-11 4-9 2-5 4-9 4-11 4-9 2-5 3 (S) DDW .................. Celtic 18-5 Rangers ........ DDW 7-1 11-2 19-4 6-1 11-2 7-1
LADBROKES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP 8-11 8-11 4-5 4-6 4-6 8-11 - WDW ...... Dundee Utd 13-5 St Mirren ..... WWD 7-2 17-5 10-3 16-5 16-5 4-1 6-4 8-5 19-10 7-5 7-5 6-4 - LDW ...... Dunfermline 13-5 Falkirk ............ WLD 7-5 6-4 7-5 7-5 11-8 8-5 1-2 1-2 3-5 2-5 4-9 8-15 - LDL ................ Morton 10-3 Ayr ................. WLL 4-1 5-1 5-1 9-2 4-1 5-1 5-4 11-10 21-20 11-10 11-10 Evs - LLW Queen of South 14-5 Dumbarton .... DLD 8-5 9-5 5-2 7-4 17-10 19-10
LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE 7-5 27-20 13-10 5-4 6-5 11-8 - LWW ... Airdrieonians 11-4 Alloa .............. DWL 7-5 13-8 15-8 6-4 8-5 7-4 11-10 5-4 7-5 6-5 11-10 11-8 - WDW ............... Albion 29-10 East Fife ......... LLL 17-10 5-4 9-5 13-8 13-8 29-20 11-8 8-5 5-4 5-4 7-5 - LWL ............... Brechin 11-4 Stranraer ....... WDL 6-4 33-20 13-8 6-4 6-4 9-5 5-6 17-20 4-5 10-11 17-20 7-10 - WWW ....... Livingston 11-4 Queen’s Park DDD 5-2 27-10 13-5 2-1 11-5 14-5 8-13 8-13 13-20 1-2 4-7 13-20 - LDD ........... Peterhead 3-1 Stenhsmuir .... LLL 10-3 7-2 4-1 19-5 7-2 21-5
LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO 7-5 6-4 6-4 11-8 11-8 8-5 - LLL ............... Berwick 13-5 Montrose ..... WWD 7-5 6-4 17-10 11-8 7-5 8-5 12-5 27-10 23-10 13-5 11-4 11-4 5-4 DLW .... Cowdenbeath 14-5 Arbroath ...... WWD 4-5 5-6 11-10 8-11 8-11 20-23 11-8 13-10 6-5 13-10 29-20 4-7 DWD..Edinburgh City 11-4 Annan Ath ..... WLL 6-4 33-20 2-1 17-10 6-4 7-4 6-10 8-11 4-7 4-7 13-20 4-7 DDD ................... Elgin 3-1 Stirling ......... WWW 10-3 15-4 7-2 16-5 7-2 4-1 6-10 7-10 4-7 8-15 13-20 - LLD .................. Forfar 3-1 Clyde .............. LLL 10-3 18-5 7-2 16-5 7-2 7-2
ODDS SHOWN ARE BEST AVAILABLE AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. How to read the fixed odds (left to right): Best odds for home win; pools number; last three home results, most recent on right; middle column - best price draw; last three away results, most recent on right; best odds for
away win. D=score draw; d=no score draw; S=Sunday; M=Monday; V=void on pools. What is your horse racing nap for the weekend? ...and your best each-way racing tip? What is your top football bet this weekend? ...and give us a weekend football yankee? A rugby union Champions Cup semis double? What is your top bet in other events? And your special offer for this week? Dream Castle (Newbury 3.05) was very impressive on debut at Doncaster and can continue a good week for Frankel progeny. Zhui Feng (Newbury 3.40) with champion jockey Jim Crowley taking over can reach the frame at a big price. Ipswich have won three of their last four including a 3-1 win over Newcastle and have lost just two of their last 13 at Rotherham. Bristol City, Ipswich, Charlton and Portsmouth. Follow the money for Saracens to defeat Munster but go against the tide of support for Clermont and side with Leinster. Mark Selby to beat Xiao Guodong on the handicap giving up 5.5 frames at 10-11. Best Odds Guaranteed & ¼ odds all races at Ayr plus paying five places on each-way bets in the Scottish Grand National.
IT’S a close call for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr (3.55) today with Southfield Royale, Vicente and Premier Bond our cofavourites at 8-1.
The latter – bidding to give our jumps ambassador Nicky Henderson a first win in any kind of National – ran a gallant third in the Kim Muir at the Festival, is only 2lb higher here and has plenty of ticks in the right boxes.
That said, the last favourite to win this race was Paris Pike in 2000.
Vicente, a faller at the first in the Aintree National, goes off the same winning mark as last year and victory here would be a big help to Paul Nicholls in the Trainers’ Championship.
At bigger prices, Al Co and Cogry, both at 33-1, have been popular each-way choices while we’ve also seen good support for Seldom Inn (14-1) and Battle Of Shiloh (20-1).
Winter Escape is the 9-2 favourite to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.45) off the back of a game effort after a lay-off at Cheltenham last time out but L’ami Serge was ahead of him that day and is much better priced at 6-1.
Tommy Silver, however, is Winter Escape will love the better ground and after running well at Cheltenham he holds a huge chance in the 2.45 at Ayr. Muntahaa will come on for his run at Doncaster and should run a big race in the 1.55 at Newbury. Brentford are finishing the season well and should take care of QPR at home. Everton, Huddersfield, Rochdale and Southend. Both Munster and Clermont Auvergne are well placed to make home advantage count. Warrington are back in form and can cover the 10-point handicap against Wakefield. Sky Bet are paying six places in the Scottish Grand National. Double W’s (Ayr 3.20), up just 5lb for winning the Red Rum at Aintree and should score for Brian Hughes and Malcolm Jefferson. Vintage Clouds (Ayr 3.55) gets the each-way nod at 16-1 with five places paid with BetVictor in the Scottish Grand National. Aberdeen 2-1 in the double-result market against Hibs in the first of two Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden. Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Hull and Wolves. Dream Irish final of Munster and Leinster, who both receive four points on the handicap with BetVictor. Tommy Fleetwood 20-1 for the rain-delayed Shenzhen International in China. BetVictor are paying five places on today’s Scottish National at Ayr. Brett Williams on the weekend racing on a roll and with the ground in his favour, 10-1 for this improving youngster could be too generous.
At Newbury, the Greenham Stakes (3.05) takes centre stage, where our flat ambassador Richard Hannon saddles Barney Roy.
The exciting maiden winner is already 16-1 with Stan James for the 2000 Guineas next month, odds that will shorten if he wins here.
Via Serendipity could be a better three-year-old and could be the biggest threat.
The last Greenham winner to claim the Guineas was Frankel in 2011 and he sires the talented Queen Kindly in the Fred Darling (2.30).
He is expected to relish the step up to seven furlongs but it will have to bring out a lot of improvement to defeat John Gosden’s Dabyah, who lost by just a length in Group One company in October.
Midterm should win the John Porter (1.55) for Sir Michael Stoute, who also has a great chance in the Spring Cup (3.40) with El Hayem, but it is noteworthy that Ryan Moore rides Chelsea Lad. Chelsea Lad in the 3.40 at Newbury. I’ve got a sneaky feeling Sugar Baron will be much better on the quicker ground in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr (3.55). Bournemouth to edge Middlesbrough – 7-2 for a draw at half-time and a Cherries win at full-time looks a good bet. Bournemouth, Swansea, Leeds and Coventry to all win. Saracens and Claremont Auvergne to do the business. Maverick Vinales to maintain his unbeaten MotoGP record this season at the Grand Prix of the Americas in Texas at 7-4. From 10am Stanjames.com is top price all runners in the Scottish National and paying ¼ of the odds each-way all races live on ITV 4.