Bet365

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WIZARDS WIN DATE WITH CAVS BUT PISTONS ARE FAVS AT 11/10
Washington beat Detroit 96-80 on the final day of the NBA regular season to clinch the No.5 seed, and will open the playoffs against the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers when post-season action begins on Saturday April 22nd. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Pistons (and bet365’s Championship favourites at 11/10) will open Sunday night against the eighth seeds Milwaukee. In the West, Kobe Bryant scored 35 points to claim his first NBA scoring crown as the Lakers beat New Orleans 115-95 to enter the play-offs riding a five-game victory streak. The Lakers, back in the post-season after a one year absence, take on the Phoenix Suns in a first-round clash featuring two of the league's top MVP candidates, Bryant and Suns guard Steve Nash.

To celebrate the start of playoff action, bet365 are offering customers bonuses of up to 50% on their parlays. Plus, once the games tip-off, be sure to check out their live betting service, available through the In-Play console found on their homepage.

bet365 latest Championship prices … Pistons 11/10, Spurs 13/5, Suns 8/1, Heat Mavericks 9/1, others on bet365 website.

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IT’S TOUGH AT THE TOP FOR JOHNSON
In bet365’s Nextel Cup Championship betting, series leader Jimmie Johnson remains favourite at 4/1 but, after finishing out of the top-10 in two of his last three races, the pack are closing in on him. Four drivers, Matt Kenseth (11/2), Kasey Kahne (10/1), Mark Martin (12/1) and defending series champion Tony Stewart (6/1), are now within 100 points of the No.48 Hendrick Motorsports driver. Kenseth has had four top-three finishes in the last six events and is just 15 points behind, while Kahne joined Johnson as the only multiple winners this season after his victory in the Samsung/Radio Shack 500 on April 9th.


STEWART LOOKS FRESH AT bet365’s 6/1
Subway Fresh 500, Phoenix International Speedway
Sa Apr 22 – 8:00 pm (FOX)
The next race is on Saturday night under the lights of the Phoenix International Speedway, and Tony Stewart is strongly fancied to win his second race of the season. Stewart is a previous winner at this track in 1999, and has fared well since with five top-10 finishes in eight starts. He gets the checkered flag this week at bet365’s 6/1, with Matt Kenseth (7/1) the most likely driver to follow him down Victory Lane.

Nigel’s Checkered Flag … Tony Stewart @ 6/1

bet365 latest Subway Fresh 500 prices … Tony Stewart 6/1, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth 7/1, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson 9/1, others on bet365 website.

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BROTHER DEREK IS bet365’s DERBY FAVOURITE AT 11/4
The 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby, otherwise known as the Run for the Roses, takes place at Churchill Downs on Saturday 6th May, and Brother Derek deserves his place at the head of the bet365 market at 11/4. The Dan Hendricks-trained front-running colt was a most impressive winner of the Santa Anita Derby on April 8th, looking value for more than his three-and-a-quarter-length victory. It is not easy to oppose him, but he won’t have things all his own way out in front, and better value could be had by backing a couple against him.

Lawyer Ron, a 5/1 chance with bet365, has made great progress recently, winning his sixth successive race when cruising home in the Arkansas Derby last time out. He’s bound to be popular on the day due to his trainer Bob Holthus’ popularity in the area, and he could be challenging for favouritism on the day. Meanwhile, Sweetnorthernsaint is another going the right way after taking the Illinois Derby in some style, and there could be further improvement to come. He rates a sold each way bet at bet365’s 7/1 (1/4 odds 1.2.3) for this ten furlong contest, although Tote customers are also assured of some extra value as the firm are adding bonus payments to all winning bets placed on the Tote board - 10% Win / Place / Show, 15% Exotics.

bet365 latest Kentucky Derby prices … Brother Derek 11/4, Lawyer Ron 5/1, Barbaro 7/1, Sweetnorthernsaint 7/1, Bob and John, Sinister Minister 10/1, others on bet365 website.

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GLOVER TO HUMBLE HIS HOUSTON RIVALS AT 28/1
Th Apr 20 – 4:00 pm ET (USA)
Fr Apr 21 – 4:00 pm ET (USA)
Sa Apr 22 – 3:00 pm ET (CBS)
Su Apr 23 – 3:00 pm ET (CBS)
This week’s event is being played on a brand new course (Redstone GC, Humble, TX), which unfortunately means there’s no course form to go on. However, it’s safe to assume that at just under 7,500 yards long, the course is going to suit the long-hitters, which is why the main pick this week is Lucas Glover (tenth in total driving this season). With four top-ten efforts and seven top-25 finishes in 11starts, Glover’s had the ‘winner waiting to happen’ look for some time now and, at the bet365 price of 28/1, he has to be thereabouts.

Despite having no course form to go on, a good record in Houston is still desirable as it shows an ability to play in the prevailing course and weather conditions, and that means Gary Owen must come into the reckoning at a tasty bet365 price of 40/1. Last year’s Houston Open represented his best chance to win on the Tour before the Bay Hill Invitational last month (finished fourth after holding the final round lead during the front nine), and a return to Houston should see him back into he mix. He’s worth backing each-way in bet365’s outright market, but mustn’t be missed at 11/2 to be Top European.

At the same odds, the massive-hitting Camillo Villegas also makes plenty of appeal, having twice made the frame this year in his rookie year. He missed the cut last week at Hilton Head, where the emphasis was on accuracy off the tee, but this week’s set-up will be much more to his liking. Don’t forget, once the event tees off, bet365 will still be taking plenty of bets via their In-Play Console found on their homepage. The advice here is to back your selection before they reach the intimidating 15th, the longest of the par fives at a mere 607 yards!

The Houston Open Three Off The Tee … Lucas Glover @ 28/1, Gary Owen @ 40/1, Camillo Villegas @ 40/1. Each-way ¼ odds 1.2.3.4.5

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BLUES CAN BREAK RED BLOCKADE AT bet365’s 11/10
Chelsea v Liverpool
Sa Apr 22 – 5.15 pm ko (BBC1)
As usual with these two teams, a tight low-scoring game looks on the cards, but its Chelsea who are fancied to prevail at the bet365 price of 11/10 (Liverpool 12/5, 2/1 the Draw). That doesn’t look a bad price considering that Chelsea have won five of the last nine encounters in the last two seasons, compared to the Red’s solitary triumph in May 2005, and they probably have more potential match winners on the pitch than Liverpool. Of course, the Reds won’t be easy to break down at Old Trafford, but Chelsea are fancied to nick his by one goal and progress to the final.

In the bet365 First Goalscorer market, the in-form Didier Drogba gets the nod at 5/1, especially as they’ll give you your money back if he scores the last goal in the game instead. It’s not difficult to envisage this game being really tight leading up to the interval, so the same firm’s 4/1 about the Draw / Chelsea double result market also looks tempting. Once the game goes live, don’t forget to check out their Live In-Play Console, which offers up to 14 dynamic markets on the game.

Live Game Picks:

Chelsea @ 11/10
Didier Drogba to score first @ 5/1
Draw / Chelsea @ 4/1


BORO TO NAIL HAMMERS AT 13/10
Middlesbrough v West Ham
Su Apr 23 – 4.00 pm ko (SS1)
Not forgetting the ‘other’ semi final, which promises to be at least as entertaining as the match at Old Trafford, with both teams likely to go for each other’s throats straight from the whistle. Both teams are much better going forward than they are sitting back, which should give the neutrals amongst us plenty of excitement, and a decent bet to boot in the shape of over 2.5 goals at 10/11. Both sides have averaged two goals per game in the FA Cup this season, and this game is likely to be no exception. As for the winner, Boro just get the nod at 13/10, with their quality winger James Morrison a good shout to score first at bet365’s 11/1 (3/1 Anytime).

Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.90
James Morrison to score first @ 11/1

IT’S ALL IN THE STARS AT 8/1 FOR SCOTTISH NATIONAL
This weekend, the flat takes a back seat as the jumpers are in action up at Ayr for the last National of the season. It’s been a tough season already for many of the runners in Saturday’s Scottish National (3.30), so it should pay to stick with those runners who have had a relatively light campaign so far, and the Paul Keane-trained All In the Stars will be fresher than most. Connections have laid their horse out for the race all season after showing progressive form, and their decision to bypass Cheltenham and Aintree could reap dividends at a tasty bet365 price of 8/1. He’s already shown that he’s suited to a flat track and a test of stamina, and proved that he can mix it with the best over fences by slamming Vodafone Gold Cup winner Horus (3rd) at Wincanton last time out.

Scottish National Pick: All In the Stars @ 8/1

On the same card, Wellbeing looks a good bet to take the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.50). He was top-class on the flat and, although he took a while to get the hang of things over jumps, his latest impressive Aintree win confirms him as a future star, and the 19lb rise in the weights is unlikely to stop him going in again. Jack The Giant was beaten a short head by the selection last time out at Newbury in receipt of just 5lb, and he looks the answer to the opening novice hurdle (1.50). As well as taking advantage of some cracking bets on the card, bet365 customers can go one better by having a free bet(s) on the live Channel 4 racing from Ayr and Newbury. Simply back a winner at 4/1 or more in a live Channel 4 race and they’ll give you a free bet to the same stake (up to £50) on the next bet365 Channel 4 Race.

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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL BETTING PREVIEW
GIVE HEURES THE TIME AT 8/1
The action gets under way on Tuesday when the Irish ‘banker’, Sweet Wake, attempts to justify short-priced favouritism (currently 5/2 at bet365) in the Supreme Novice Hurdle. Of course he can win, but his price is surely based on all the hype surrounding him, and he looks a favourite to take on. While market leaders have a good record in this race in recent years, the Irish often used to take this race with their second string, and that makes the four-year-old Quatre Heures of interest at the bet365 price of 8/1, especially as he gets a handy 8lb allowance. He’s also entered in the Triumph Hurdle (for which he gets a bet365 quote of 12/1), but bet365 customers can back him for the former now safe in the knowledge that they’ll get a run for their money, or their stake returned to their balance!

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STICK WITH IN-FORM OLAZABAL AT 18/1
VERIZON HERITAGE
Starting April 13th - Live on Sky all four days, starting 9.00pm
This week, we’re going to play-up some of our winnings from Jose Maria Olazabal (Each-way at 28/1 and Top European at 5/1) in bet365’s outright market at 18/1. That’s not a bad price considering that only one of the world’s top-5 is in opposition this week, and that Ollie is such great form right now, coming off the back of successive each-way finishes and a top-10 in the Players’ Championship. Of course, there’s a danger in siding with players who had a hard week in the Masters, but The Spaniard was only in contention for a few holes late on Sunday and, besides, every Heritage winner since 1969 has been won by a player coming on from Augusta.

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EBDON RIGHT ON CUE AT 28/1
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - Live on BBC Interactive
starting Saturday, April 15th – LIVE BETTING AVAILABLE
After the Masters and the Grand National, another great betting event cues off this Saturday 15th April, as the Snooker World Championships gets under way in Sheffield. For the next 17 days, bet365’s snooker punters, who are now deprived for all but 9 weeks of the year, will get to feast on a massive range of pre-match markets and drool over our live In-Play service, which sees prices changing in real-time and (thanks to the BBC’s interactive service) covers every game in progress. But after last year’s shock winner Shaun Murphy at 150/1, who’s going to have the nerves to win in the City of Steel?

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NATIONAL SCARE FOR BET365
As always, the Grand National was a thriller, and for bet365, it was very nearly an expensive one! Joint favourites Clan Royal (5/1) and Hedgehunter (5/1) had been well-backed throughout the week and both had a chance of glory coming off the final fence. However, the strong running of Numbersixvalverde (11/1) saved the day, although there were lots of winning each-way bets after the joint favourites came home 2nd and 3rd! A fifth-placed finish for Risk Accessor (66/1) was also great news for the bet365 customers who backed the fifth horse past the post in the big race – as they got paid out at ¼ odds thanks to bet365’s generous place terms.

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UNITED QUICK OFF THE BLOCKS AT TASTY 2/1
Man United v Sunderland
Fr Apr 14 – 7.45pm ko (PremPlus)
Last week, we cashed in by taking the 11/10 on United to beat Arsenal, and the Red Devils can again be a route to profit when they play Sunderland on Good Friday. There is likely to be nothing ‘good’ for the Black Cats in this game, and a score line of 3-0 or even 4-0 (at 11/2 and 7/1 respectively) looks about right. However, a safer bet could be on United to score most of their goals in the first half at a very tasty bet365 price of 2/1. In their last four Premiership matches at home, nine of Man United’s twelve goals have been scored in the first half, which underlines the fact that they are invariably quick off the blocks at the Theatre Of Dreams.