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Weekend betting tips - 10 May

By Matt | May 10, 2008

Good morning and thank you for visiting the first in an occasional series of free betting tips from the team here at A Cunning Punt.

Betting is, of course, all about value which isn’t easy to find on a weekend like this where there’s little action except the dog-end of the league season. Manchester United at 2/5 and Chelsea at 1/8 make little appeal, so I’ve been looking elsewhere.

Football betting tip
My search took me right down to Blue Square Premier level, where Ebbsfleet and Torquay United are competing in the FA Trophy Final. This could have been a match featuring the mighty York City, but Ebbsfleet dispatched them in the semis and have to be respected accordingly.

That said, I think a Torquay side that finished well above them in the league will have enough for them. The Gulls will be desperate to avenge their Conference play-off home defeat by arch-rivals Exeter City and, at even money, cannot be sniffed at.

Relegation issues will be decided as well as the title tomorrow in the Premier League, and after their miracle comeback at Manchester City, Fulham will fancy their chances of escaping the drop by winning at Portsmouth, who will have one eye on next weekend’s FA Cup final.

They’re sadly deluded. Pompey could beat Harold Steptoe’s hapless team with both eyes closed, and the money seems to agree. You could get a massive 5/2 on a Portsmouth win yesterday; sadly, that’s gone, and they’re a best-priced 12/5 now – still great value for a home team that will be playing for their Wembley places.

The third leg of my treble is filled by Aston Villa who will be desperate to qualify for Europe to show their fans and players – Gareth Barry in particular – that they have ambitions to challenge for serious honours.

Martin O’Neill’s side take on a West Ham team that has taken a lot of stick from the Upton Park crowd in recent months, and Alan Curbishley may well be on his way out. The players have no reason to up their game and Villa could run riot. You can still get 13/10 on them, but the price is shortening.

I put my bet on at Victor Chandler who offered the best combination of odds.

Horseracing betting tip
I’m giddy with the thought of this year’s Dante after Authorized and Motivator’s Derby wins in the last three seasons so it’s difficult to get excited about the Victoria Cup at Ascot today.

I’ve plumped for Zaahid each-way at 12/1 because I remember being impressed by him in the past. The Richard/Barry Hills combination offers a lot of promise and although the market likes the look of favourite Al Kahleej I feel she can be taken on in this enormous field.

Selections
• 1 pt treble Torquay United 1/1, Portsmouth 9/4, Aston Villa 5/4 (Victor Chandler)
• Zaahid 2pts each-way at 12/1 (general)

A Dante Stakes betting tip will come later in the week.

Topics: Football betting