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Saturday Bets of the Day: All our free sports tips for Saturday including horse racing, football, UFC and snooker
Follow Sporting Life's best bets for Saturday August 8 with our free tips for racing at Ascot, Champions League football, greyhounds, UFC Vegas 6 and the World Snooker Championship.
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GOLF
Two-ball betting doesn't always appeal but I do like the evens quoted about HARRIS ENGLISH to beat Byeong Hun An.
The latter contended in Memphis last week before a disappointing final round and, having ridden a red-hot short-game so far - yes, including the putter - I worry he might struggle to make progress over the weekend.
English on the other hand is gaining strokes throughout the bag and continues to hint that he's going to put four rounds together and either win or go close soon. Indeed he's one to keep a very close eye on for next week's Wyndham Championship.
From a ball-striking perspective he's so much more in control than An, for whom Memphis came out of the blue. And, while the Korean is working with Brad Faxon and entitled to showcase an improved short-game, that was the case for a while last week before it unravelled.
He's far enough away from the lead for pressure not to be a factor this time, but this is a major championship, and you don't tend to get far relying on chipping and putting. It can get you a weekend tee-time, but from there you'll need to hit some quality shots. English has hit many more than his partner here and is the best bet on the card.
RACING
Kasbann has yet to register a victory on turf from seven attempts in total but has shown no shortage of potential in three starts on the green stuff this summer to suggest he’ll be adding to his three all-weather wins before the autumn and winter roll back into view.
Last time out in the seven furlong International Stakes he belied odds of 80/1 to run a stormer in sixth despite having to make his challenge well away from the favoured stands’ side rail. Drawn five, he finished behind horses who came from stalls 19, 18, 20, 12 and 17, and in front of Mutamaasik who was drawn 14.
A further place back in the same race, Shelir was unlucky not to get much closer as he was also drawn low (three) and didn’t get anything like a clear run when things hotted up.
He’s a pound better off with Kasbaan and clearly proving extremely popular in the betting but we don’t really know if he’s still got that killer instinct when it comes to a finish and stepping back up in trip doesn’t necessarily look a positive move.
It’s a big plus point for Kasbaan, though, as he’s won at 10 furlongs and twice over a mile, while he was fighting all the way to the line last month.
David Ord
Back down to his last winning mark, Irreverent is fancied to go close in the BetVictor Gamble Responsibly Handicap for the Richard Fahey team.
The four-year-old has only had two starts this term and shaped as if still better for the run at York last time. There was still distinct promise in his effort behind Orbaan though, the son of Iffraaj making smooth headway on the bridle to loom large two furlongs out only to weaken after meeting with interference.
He should be spot on now and looks primed for a bold show from a two-pound lower rating and with Billy Garrity claiming a further five pounds off.
Simon Holt
Zaaki, who was not disgraced behind subsequent Sussex Stakes winner Mohaather in the Summer Mile at Ascot last month, can return to winning form over the extra two furlongs of the Group Three BetVictor Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.
Ryan Moore's mount has raced mainly at a mile for the last 15 months, but won over nine furlongs at York last August and was beaten just a short head by Communique over this mile and a quarter trip at Newmarket in July, 2018.
Aside from Mohaather's stunning Goodwood exploits, the Ascot race has been well advertised by Duke Of Hazzard (third), Lord Glitters (fourth) and Urban Icon (fifth) since, and Zaaki ran well considering he was hampered early on and then didn't get the clearest of passages up the home straight.
Inside the final furlong, he was not knocked about by Louis Steward and, after an earlier creditable third behind Century Dream at Newbury, he is fancied to win here for the third time at this level.
The main rivals are likely to be Global Giant and Extra Elusive, who finished first and second in a listed race at Newbury last time with the subsequent Goodwood winner Pablo Escobarr a close third.
Greyhounds
The son of Laughill Duke can be forgiven a couple of luckless runs at Romford during early July and highlighted his well-being with a slick 27.96 trial down at Yarmouth most recently. This looks a good starting point to add another big-race success to his tally in the Midlands, with classy A1 operator Swift Fabio (Trap 6, TF115) fancied to pose the lead threat with his very useful early acceleration from the boxes.
FOOTBALL
Tom Carnduff - Champions League
With Bayern forced to shuffle their pack due to injuries and form it is worth backing the 3/1 available on Alphonso Davies to have at least one shot on target in this contest. He proved to be a nightmare for the Chelsea defence in the first leg and there may be more of an emphasis on him to attack with Bayern's current issue at left wing.
Davies isn't known for being a prolific scorer but he did net twice in the post-lockdown period. He will get the better of the Chelsea defence on more than one occasion due to his pace and ability on the ball and if he is in the right position, he has demonstrated on multiple occasions that he will try and find the net.
SNOOKER
- Over 22.5 frames in Martin Gould v Kyren Wilson
Kyren Wilson makes his belated Crucible entrance on Saturday and it may be a strange experience, beginning his campaign at the second-round stage with a three-session match played in an empty Crucible Theatre.
It’s possible then that Martin Gould, who is sharp following two qualifying wins and then a brilliant defeat of Stephen Maguire, has an edge when it comes to knowing just what to expect – and that can ensure we get a close game.
In fact every time these two have met it’s been close and though Wilson remains a strong fancy to progress to another World Championship final, it ought not to be easy. As such backing Gould on the handicap is an obvious option, but the best bet is over 22.5 frames.
This covers us for 13-10, 13-11 and 13-12 either way, surely the six most likely scorelines, and means that if Gould is able to catch Wilson cold, we should still collect. The Kettering man – sure to reach a world final at some stage and every inch a potential champion – does not quit and unless he steamrollers his in-form opponent, we should be in business.
UFC
Justin Jaynes is known for being explosive and dangerous in the opening round, having now secured 12 stoppage victories inside the first five minutes. Gavin Tucker, meanwhile, has been on the sideline with a series of injuries - fighting just once in almost three years.
In regards to the striking exchanges, it is a classic battle of speed versus power. Tucker will have the higher output across 15 minutes, but Jaynes possesses the power to end the fight at any moment and will push the action. If the man from Michigan can throw powerful shots early on, as he often does, he can force Tucker into initiating the grappling.
Considering Jaynes has a clear path to victory and the more opportunistic finishing ability, I was surprised to see him at odds-against. Given Tucker’s temperamental performances and long lay-off, I am more than happy to back him.
Kieran Cobley - UFC Vegas 6 Main card
Aleksei Oleinik wins this fight against Derrick Lewis every day of the week for me, purely because of how good his grappling ability is. The Russian fighter has won a whopping 46 times via submission (78% of his total wins), showing that if he takes you to the floor, he has every chance of finishing the fight.
This comes in stark contrast to Lewis, who has shown very little grappling ability, and who has not faced a fighter anywhere near as talented in the grappling department as Oleinik. His inability to defend takedowns and get up once taken down is something that always puts him at risk of being forced to submit again.
Look for Oleinik to circle away from Lewis’s right hand before quickly closing the distance to look for a takedown in the clinch. Once that takedown is secured he will hold position while waiting for an opening to secure a choke and get the tap.
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