Thursday's best bets and popular punts, including racing, football, golf and cricket
We bring you Sky Bet's most popular punts, plus the pick of our fancies for today's sporting action including day two of the Ebor Festival.
Most popular punts
Horse Racing - Ronald R, 3.00 at York
It’s no surprise that punters have found an angle to latch on to in an attempt to eke out some extra value on this competitive second day of York’s Ebor Festival. Ronald R was a runner-up at Royal Ascot and has only been seen once since that narrow defeat in the Britannia. The three-year-old returns to handicapping off 104 after finding listed company too tough at Newmarket, and the weight he receives from his age allowance means he’s towards the bottom half of the handicap. He’s been backed from 10/1 into 15/2 favourite following a mass of money and looks solid for Ryan Moore and Michael Bell in the same colours carried to success this term by Big Orange.
Football - England World Cup squad selection
England's squad announcement for Malta and Slovakia fixtures is this afternoon and two central defenders have been well backed overnight to make the 23-man cut for Russia next year. Centre-back looks one of the more competitive selection dilemmas and Harry Maguire and Michael Keane have both been supported after impressive starts to the campaign at Leicester and Everton respectively. Maguire has shorted from 6/4 to 11/10, while Keane is considered more likely to make the plane and has hardened into 4/9 from 1/2.
Our best bets
Ben Linfoot - One Word More to win 3.00 York
"Tim Easterby’s horses have been going really well all summer, with Wednesday’s Acomb hero Wells Farhh Go his 39th winner in July and August, and One Word More could well add to that tally now he’s become so well handicapped. He’s been placed at York in handicaps off marks of 98 and 99 on no less than four occasions and he was fifth in this race two years ago off a rating of 103. Now rated 92, this is his best chance at the weights for years."
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Simon Holt - Madeline to win 2.25 York
"Since being beaten on her debut, this daughter of Dubawi appears to have progressed with every start, landing a maiden at Goodwood in May, finishing fifth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and, latterly, taking the listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury last month by a decisive two-and-a-quarter lengths from the re-opposing Natural."
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Murt Khan - Midnight Cowboy to win 2.45 Stratford
"He's also only a six-year-old and may have the most improvement to come from the field. I hope there is a decent pace today and can see him travelling well and bringing in the sweets late on."
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"I think Everton will be ready for the toughest test of their Europa League campaign to date and close to 3/1 is very inviting for the visitors to win to nil in Croatia. Raheem Sterling's late equaliser for Manchester City (on Monday) was the first goal that the Toffees have conceded in five matches so far this season, including their three outings in the Europa League so far."
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Ben Coley - Patrick Reed to win The Northern Trust
"Reed's record defending titles is strong - he's never been worse than 24th in four attempts, and almost won back-to-back renewals of the Tournament of Champions only to finish second - and with form at Firestone and Muirfield Village in the bag, he looks a solid alternative to the better-fancied runners, few of whom are more prolific."
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Simon Crawford - Samit Patel to be man of the match in Notts v Somerset
"In county cricket for Nottinghamshire Patel has been a star performer for more than a decade, becoming a key member of the side with his hard-hitting batting in the middle order and wicket-taking slow left-armers. This season has been no exception and Patel has played his full part in getting the Outlaws into their third T20 quarter-final in the last four seasons. He has taken 13 wickets at an economy of 7.02, including three for 26 against Durham and three for 29 against Yorkshire. With the bat he has made 261 runs with a strike-rate of 148.29 with a best of 77 not out against the Birmingham Bears. Players like Patel can make all the difference in Twenty20 cricket where margins are so small and he looks a gamble worth taking."
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