Premier Spread Preview
Spread bettors will be debating whether this weekend has the potential to provide a few upsets, after some of the top sides return from their European trips. Both ends of the Premier League table are tight and spread punters will be watching with interest to see how the weekend develops. One thing that should be clearer by Sunday evening is who will be leading the fight for the fourth Champions League spot, as Manchester City will have taken on Liverpool. Saturday's early kick-off will see Manchester's other side travel to Goodison Park to face a rejuvenated Everton side.
Sporting Index's Premier League championship index (60pts to the winner, 40pts to runner-up, 30pts to third-place, and 20pts for fourth etc) has City as slight favourites in the race for fourth, at 13-14.5pts. Liverpool are currently priced at 12-13.5pts, but a win for the Reds on Sunday will likely see a shift in the spreads. Those looking to buy City's win index against Liverpool can take plenty of confidence that they are yet to lose at home this campaign, winning nine of their twelve matches. Further encouragement for spread buyers will be that City have won their previous six home league matches, while only conceding five goals. However, spread bettors considering selling City's supremacy spread will have taken note that the team have not beaten Rafa Benitez's side in the league since 2005. During that period, City have picked up four draws and suffered five defeats, although they are undefeated in their last two matches against the Reds.
Total goal buyers will be aware that this fixture has produced a mixed bag in recent seasons finishing 3-2 to the Reds on the last meeting. However, sellers will have noted that the six matches between the 2005/06 and 2007/08 seasons only produced four goals. The sides met in November this season, a 2-2 which had goal minute buyers particularly pleased. That game accumulated 272 minutes, whilst the 3-2 at City the season before accumulated a total of 278.
Saturday's lunchtime kick-off sees Manchester United and Everton fight it out for three points. Spread buyers of United's supremacy spread will be banking on another performance similar to the one at Old Trafford in November - a game the Red Devils won 3-0. Sellers will quickly point out that the Toffees held United to a 1-1 draw the year before though. Sir Alex's team are unbeaten in their last six league games, while they have lost just one of their last six away games. Spread bettors interested in the first goal markets will do well to note that United have taken the lead in their last four games against Everton - with the first match goals coming in the 35th, 44th, 22nd and 22nd minutes.
There hasn't been a red card in this fixture during the last nine meetings in the league and the previous five matches accumulated 40, 0, 60, 60 and 40 on the bookings index spreads. Spread buyers will be most keen for a repeat of the meeting in 2005 which saw two red cards and a total make-up of 100 points.
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Man Utd win at San Siro
Manchester United took a huge step towards qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League tonight as they beat AC Milan at the San Siro after being matched at odds of 9.0 on Betfair. The inimitable Ronaldinho was backed at 11.5 to open the scoring but that’s as good as it got for the home side with a fortuitous goal from Paul Scholes and a brace from Wayne Rooney turning the tie on its head. Milan were matched at a low of 1.44 when they were in the lead.
Many predicted a cautious affair before kick-off with goals at a premium but some Betfair punters disagreed and put their money where their mouth was, with five goals or more backed at odds of 20.0 and the 2-3 scoreline matched at 65. United are now 1.11 to qualify for the quarters, having briefly touched 2.0 when going behind earlier tonight.
Wayne Rooney’s two goals have seen his odds of finishing as the tournament’s top scorer chopped to 9.0 after being matched as high as 75.0 whilst United’s price to win this year’s Champions League has also unsurprisingly shortened to 6.8, making them joint-third favourites alongside Real Madrid, and behind just Barcelona and Chelsea.
The reason Real are on the drift is as a direct result of their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lyon in tonight’s other tie. Matched at a low of 2.0, they couldn’t find that priceless away goal. Lyon were matched at a high of 4.9 to win the match but the Betfair market thinks the one goal lead won’t be enough to see them through. From a high of 5.5 to qualify, Lyon are now chalked up at 2.58 with Real fancied to turn the tie around in the second leg, which is why they’re the favourites at odds of 1.62.
Fulham 3-0 matched at 230 on Betfair!
Liverpool’s season went from bad to worse after Portsmouth, an in-running 7.2 shot, beat them 2-0 this afternoon. That scoreline was matched at the huge price of 50 but in addition to the loss of points, Rafael Benitez will also now have to make do with Javier Mascherano for the next four matches after he was dismissed late in the first half, his second red card of the season. The defeat has caused Liverpool to drift to odds of 3.5 for a Top Four finish which means that Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City are all shorter in the betting than them in that market. Portsmouth’s win means they are now out to 1.9 for the drop, having traded as low as 1.41 before the arrival of Avraam Grant.
Manchester United also appear to be doing their absolute best to gift Chelsea the title after going 3-0 down at Fulham, their second league defeat in three matches. Fulham backers who secured odds of 8 will be relatively happy about the outcome of the match but their joy will be nothing compared to winning correct score backers. Not many will have predicted such a scoreline but those who did got odds as high as 230 and will have Bobby Zamora to thank for that, who scored one and set up another. The defeat has seen United drift to 4.7 for the title with Chelsea now available at just 1.64 ahead of their trip to Upton Park tomorrow afternoon.
Aston Villa continue on their merry way to securing a Top 4 spot after beating the ever-tough Stoke City by a single goal at Villa Park. Emile Heskey was the scorer in a win that was matched at a high of 2.36. They are now just 2.7 for a Top 4 finish which would give them a chance of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time. Tony Pulis won’t be happy with the defeat but at odds of 11.5 they are unlikely to be in too much trouble in terms of the drop.
Seven-goal matches are no longer much a novelty when Manchester City play these days but this time they ended up winning the game. They were matched at 3.95 after Sunderland had equalised to make it 3-3 but this time they had enough in the tank for one last push. They’re now 2.96 for a Top 4 finish of their own after being matched as high as 4.2. The win may be Mark Hughes’ last action in charge of the team with rumours of a 19:30 GMT announcement at Eastlands.
Tottenham carried on the good work they started with their midweek win over Man City by beating Blackburn 2-0 away from home. A win at Ewood Park is always a tall order for anyone but not tall enough for Peter Crouch who scored both goals after Harry Redknapp’s side were matched at a high of 2.54.
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Premier League Spread Preview
Spread bettors will have been surprised by last weekend's bizarre results, seeing as only one home side managed to claim three points, even with the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool on home turf. Spread punters looking to support any of the home sides this weekend will have to take extra care before departing with their money. Sporting Index offer plenty of spread markets with the potential to provide Christmas cheer, on games including Fulham v Manchester United, West Ham v Chelsea and Portsmouth v Liverpool.
Those in favour of Manchester United on the spreads will have been shocked after last weekend's loss to Aston Villa that condemned the champions to their first home league defeat this season. Spread buyers of United's win index in their match against Fulham will be aware that the Reds struggled at Craven Cottage last season with the outcome a 2-0 defeat that threatened to derail United's title charge. Punters looking to sell United's win index this weekend will also point out that United have already lost three on the road this season to Burnley, Chelsea and Liverpool although spread buyers of United's supremacy will highlight the team's five wins away from Old Trafford. Of further encouragement to supremacy spread buyers, United do hold a favourable record over the West London club, having lost just once from ten meetings in all competitions since 2000.
On the other side of the Capital, West Ham host rivals Chelsea after the Blues' disappointing draw at home to Everton. Buyers of the Hammers' win index will be wary that they have not beaten Chelsea since 2003, when West Ham did the double over their opponents. Since then the sides have met nine times with Chelsea only failing to win once. Spread betters that enjoy a bet on the total goals market will note that the last four league meetings between the sides here have yielded a total of 12 goals. Buyers of the Chelsea/West Ham supremacy spread will also be delighted that only two of those goals went the way of West Ham's way. Buyers of the bookings index spread may be surprised by the last two meetings making-up just 50pts in total, but the same spread buyers may highlight both the match in 2007 when seven players picked up a booking and the Frank Lampard sending off in 2008 - although spread sellers will counter that the game only made-up 55 points on the spread.
Liverpool's season continued to unravel at home to Arsenal last weekend and next up is a trip to Fratton Park to face an improving Portsmouth. Buyers of the away side's supremacy spread will be all too aware that Liverpool have only won three times in fifteen matches in all competitions. Spread buyers can take heart in the Reds' decent record away to Portsmouth, having only lost once at Fratton Park in their last six meetings in all competitions. Spread bettors considering a buy of total goal minutes will remember last season's corresponding fixture in which 384 goal minutes were tallied, while sellers will draw attention to the previous result, a goalless draw.
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Tigers' Doctor arrested
Tiger Woods' doctor is under criminal investigation for providing performance enhancing drugs to athletes.
In a statement in today's New York Times it is claimed that Dr Anthony Galea, a Canadian, was arrested in Toronto on the 15th of October. The doctor who has treated several high profile NFL stars as well as Olympian Donovan Bailey was found to have the human growth hormone Actovegin, which is extracted from calves blood in his medical bag. The doctor was searched at a border patrol between Canada and the US.
Dr Galea and his lawyer have said that the innovative treatments methods he utilises do not break and anti-doping laws in sport. His lawyer said " We're confident that any investigation will lead to Dr Galea's actions being totally vindicated." It is understood that Dr Galea treated Woods four times in the last year as he recovered from knee surgery.
Johnson hits 2000 winners!
Richard Johnson reached the landmark of 2000 winners on Wednesday.
Johnson has now become only the second jockey to reach the two thousand mark along with Tony 'AP' McCoy who passed the 3000 career winner mark at Plumpton in February. Johnson reached 2000 winners aboard 4/1 chance Fighting Chance in the 2pm at Newbury. Fighting Chance, trained by Richard Lee was given a confident ride by Johnson before finding more when pressure was applied, as McCoy abaord Wheels Up, challenged in the closing stages. Johnson said after the race, "I was starting to get frustrated, but it's lovly to have finally reached the mark." "I feel really lucky", he added.
Johnson paid tribute to David Nicholson, the first trainer he was associated with and Philip Hobbs, for whom he currently rides. "He's fantastic to ride for, he's always backed me 100%. To have someone on your side all the time is priceless", Johnson said when speaking about Hobbs.
Johnson, 32 rode hos first winner under rules at Exeter aboard Rusty Bridge in 1994. He was crowned the champion conditional jockey at the age of 18 and rode his first Cheltenham festival winner in 1999 in the Bonusprint Stayers Hurdle. To this date he has ridden 13 festival winners and has won all the Championship races. The only challenge which remains for Johnson to finish the season as Champion jockey. Having fnished runner-up to AP McCoy on 11 occassions, it is long overdue!
West Ham shorten for drop!
Manchester United went some way to making amends for losing at home to Aston Villa at the weekend by comfortably beating Wolves 3-0 at home tonight. The home side only ever reached 1.23 on the match odds market before a Wayne Rooney penalty put them ahead. The 3-0 correct score was matched at 8.2 and the win has seen United shorten to 3.3 for the title.
The team who will have caused Sir Alex Ferguson sleepless nights since Saturday in the meanwhile had little trouble disposing of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Aston Villa were matched at a high of 2.94 before an Emile Heskey opener and a James Milner thunderbolt ensured Martin O’Neill’s men continued their super run of form. The 2-0 scoreline was matched at 16.5 in-running and these three points have seen Villa shorten to 3.05 for a Top 4 finish and 3.3 in the Winner Without Big Four market.
Amongst those trying to stay in the division rather than qualify for the Champions League, Birmingham and Bolton both managed priceless home wins that could make all the difference come May. Birmingham were matched at a high of 2.56 in a 2-1 win over Blackburn courtesy of a double from Cameron Jerome. The win has seen them eased to 14 for the drop whilst Bolton’s 3-1 triumph over West Ham means they are now 5.0 shots to be relegated from odds of around 4.0 before tonight’s match. West Ham look in serious trouble and at 3.25 to be in the Championship next season only Hull, Portsmouth, Wolves and Burnley are shorter in the betting.
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Administration for Hornets?
Watford look set to go into administration after their creditors have made demands for owed funds. It is reported that the Hornets have only a few hours on Wednesday to find the funds to repay the outstanding debt.
Today's news follows crisis in the boardroom as chairman Jim Russo and fellow board members, Vince Russo and Robin Williams resigned from their positions on Tuesday. Former chairman Jim Russo, has made the demand that he is immediately repayed £4.88 million by the Championship outfit. His company Valley Grown Salads loaned the club the money earlier this season when financial difficulties initially surfaced.
It now seems likely that the club will go into administration this evening if the debt is not paid. The penalty for falling into adminsitration is a 10 point deduction from the Football League. If this penalty is served to the Hornets they will fall to 21st place in the table and will be strong favourites to face the drop to League One this season.
Chelsea hit 1.05 in-running!
Chelsea were held to one of the most humiliating draws of their recent history as they drew 2-2 with Apoel Nicosia, having traded as low as 1.05 in-running on Betfair. The draw was matched as high as 20 when Chelsea were ahead with just 3 minutes on the clock after goals from Didier Drogba and Michael Essien. Despite this minor irritation for Carlo Ancelotti, his team are still the 4.8 favourites to win the competition.
One team they certainly won’t be facing in the knock-out stages is Juventus after the Turin giants were thrashed 4-1 at home at the hands of Bayern Munich and consequently eliminated. The home side went 1-0 ahead through David Trezeguet but Bayern came storming back at them after being backed at 9.6 to win the match. Louis Van Gaal’s side had been backed at a high of 9.8 to qualify when looking dead and buried.
Over in Wolfsburg, a makeshift Manchester United side featuring three midfielders in defence still proved too strong for the home side and they ended up winning 3-1 after being backed at an in-running high of 7.4, with Michael Owen scoring a hat-trick.
Elsewhere there were straightforward wins by Porto over Atletico Madrid (high of 5.8) and Real Madrid (2.84) over Marseille, with two-goal man Cristiano Ronaldo back to something like his best. Real trade at 7.2 for the Champions League, just behind the aforementioned Chelsea and compatriots Barcelona, who are 5.1. Ronaldo’s goals have now seen him installed as the 2.12 favourite for top goalscorer in the competition whilst another all-English final, as happened in 2008, trades at 3.7.
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Spread betting Premier Preview
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal recovered well from two consecutive 3-0 defeats to beat Stoke City at the weekend, while Liverpool, the Gunners' opponents on Sunday, limped to a goalless draw with Blackburn. Spread buyers and sellers of Liverpool's win index will remember Arsenal's league cup win in October, but supremacy spread bettors should note that this fixture has ended level on each of the four last league meetings. In fact, as spread buyers of Liverpool's supremacy may have already noticed, only two of the last seven Arsenal / Liverpool clashes in all competitions have produced a victor. Sellers of the total match goals spread might also like to know that four of the five draws finished one apiece.
The exception, as many followers of the Premier League will remember, was last April's incredible 4-4 draw at Anfield. Spread buyers of goal minutes in that match will hold the finest memories though, as seven of the eight goals were scored in the second half for a truly staggering 530 goal minutes spread make-up. Buyers of Andrei Arshavin's goal minutes spread alone celebrated his total of 263 minutes' the Russian forward scored all four of Arsenal's goals. While they won't necessarily expect a repeat, Sporting Index's football traders will certainly be more wary of another goal glut owing to the increased number of goals this season. However, we can see that Liverpool have scored 21 goals at Anfield compared to Arsenal's 16 away (from one game less) and spread punters wishing to sell total goals can therefore work out Liverpool's average of 1.4 goals a game at Anfield, and Arsenal's 1.1 goal average away from home this season.
The other big game most likely to attract Sporting Index's neutral punters is Saturday's evening kick-off which sees Aston Villa travel to Manchester United's Old Trafford. This fixture has seen a number of goals in the last few seasons, with United winning 3-2, 4-0 and 3-1 on the last three occasions that they have hosted Villa. Buyers of United's win index spread will be encouraged that you have to go back to 2002 for the last time Villa earned a point here but buyers of Villa's win index spread will be even more dismayed that the West Midlands-based club has not won here since 1983. Those spread punters - and Martin O'Neill - would dearly love to see 26 years of history upended this weekend.
Both teams have been fairly well behaved this season, with United averaging just 15.4 points at home on Sporting Index's bookings index spread (10pts for a yellow card, 25pts for a red) while Villa have averaged just over two bookings. Sellers of the index spread on Saturday will be more impressed by the bookings history when these teams have taken to field together most recently. In the last four, no more than three bookings have been awarded in any match and the average spread make-up over the last 10 games is just 21 points.
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Carling Cup betting from Betfair
Arsenal’s youngsters are still on track to win the Carling Cup after being matched at 2.38 on Betfair to beat a similarly second-string Liverpool side.
Fran Merida was matched at 17.5 to open the scoring and the Gunners were matched at just 1.17 to be leading at half-time before Emiliano Insua hit back for Liverpool. In the end it was a relative veteran, Niklas Bendtner, who scored the winner for the home side in the second-half. At 6.6 they might not be everyone’s idea of a value bet to win the competition given they’re unlikely to change their policy of playing youngsters but their name is certainly in the hat for the next round.
It was far more straightforward for fellow Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City. Mark Hughes fielded virtually his best eleven and that was good enough to beat Scunthorpe 5-1 with City never touching any bigger than 1.4 on the exchange. At 6.2 to win the Cup, only Chelsea at 4.1 and Man Utd at 5.8 are shorter. The former had no trouble disposing of Bolton. They were matched at a high of 1.4 and those who predicted Chelsea would get four by backing the “any unquoted” runner secured a high of 5.6.
Tottenham (7.4), Aston Villa (12.0) Portsmouth (26.0) and Blackburn (27.0) complete the teams who will be in the draw for the quarter-finals.
Snow walks out of the door
The revolving door shows no sign of stopping as Snow White left the DFS showroom floor on Monday afternoon.
'Snow' has added to the list of casualties which now stands at four, all apparantly citing a rather fat, cumbersome issue which could not be dislodged from its position. One departee, who didn't wish to be named said, "I just can't work there with the huge obstruction in the way." He added, "on top of that, once I learn't of the lack of bonus and benefits structure my mind was made up."
It begs the question who will walk next from the London DFS branch? Rumours are rife of re-strutures, chains of lies from the upper management tiers, and an invasion of a cheaper workforce, with a stronger work ethic from Germany. This is sure to uspet the long standing salesmen. Ladbrokes are yet to release prices, once the runners and riders are confirmed we'll bring them to you.
Betfair Champions League Update
Fans of in-running betting on Betfair will have enjoyed the Real Madrid v AC Milan match tonight, where all three outcomes traded at odds-on at one time or another.
Real traded at 1.15 after Raul’s umpteenth European goal made the most of an error by goalkeeper Dida to allow the home side to take the lead. An equaliser from Andrea Pirlo and another goal from Pato then put AC Milan ahead, only for substitute Drenthe to equalise for Madrid with just 15 minutes left on the clock. Going into injury-time the draw traded as low as 1.31 but it was the aforementioned Pato who had the last laugh with a well-taken winner. Good on the teenage striker, good on those Betfair punters who had taken odds of 50 on an AC Milan win and a colossal 250 on a 2-3 scoreline.
The other match in that group saw Marseille matched at 2.58 before Real Madrid (and Manchester United) old boy Gabriel Heinze scored the only goal of the game to give them a win over FC Zurich.
Over in south west London things were a lot simpler for the home side with Chelsea touching just 1.68 before a comprehensive 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. Chelsea are favourites to progress to the knock-out stages alongside FC Porto, who now have six points courtesy of a win over Apoel Nicosia. The Portuguese champions came from a goal behind to win the match and were backed at a high of 1.98 when 1-0 down.
Elsewhere there were wins for Bordeaux, who were matched at odds of 30 to be leading at half-time after going a goal down to Bayern Munich, Juventus and Manchester United who benefited from an Antonio Valencia goal late on to beat CSKA Moscow. Fergie’s boys were matched at a high of 6.2 and the draw at a low of 1.3.
Despite a shock home defeat last night, Barcelona remain the favourites at 5.1 to do what no side has ever done and successfully defend their Champions League crown. Chelsea (5.7), Real Madrid (7.0) and Manchester United (10.0) hover around them at the top of the market.
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Commander to return at Haydock
Imperial Commander will make his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair chase at Haydock next month.
Commander, the stable star of Naunton trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies is likely to line up alongside Kauto Star in the race on November the 21st. The eight-year old gelding had a superb season last year winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival.
Carl Llewellyn, the assistant trainer to Twiston-Davies said, "He is a force to be reckoned with when he gets his conditions." "The plan is to go straight to the Betfair Chase." Llewelly added, "He is in great form, he does all his prep work in Irelandd but is back in the yard now, and we're all happy with him."
Commander's last run was in the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown where he was pulled up, Llewellyn said, "the ground was just too testing at Punchestown, he travelled well, but it just found it too much." "We'll see how he gets on ay Haydock, he is still improving so there is no reason why he can't have a big season."
Millwall and West Ham to appeal
Millwall and West Ham are expected to appeal today against the seven FA charges imposed against them. West Ham face four counts whilst Millwall face three. The two South London rivals met in the Carling Cup in August at Upton Park. The game was marred by hurrendous scenes of violence in and around the ground throughout the evening as opposing fans clashed.
A spokesman from Millwall said, "we are shocked and disappointed." Millwall are claming that they were powerless to influence the the behaviour of fans at another clubs ground. West Ham meanwhile have acknowledged that some sections of their fans behaved appallingly but followed police advice in the lead up to the game. Thirteen poeple were arrested on the night and a 42-year old fan was stabbed in the violent clashes.
Westwood wins in Portgual
Lee Westwood ended his two year year title drought by landing the Portugal Masters on Sunday.
Westwood claimed the 30th win of his career finshing on 23-under par thanks to a superb final round of 66. Francesco Molinari finished in second, two behind with Padraig Harrington a further two shots back in third. The win landed Westwood, £458,000 and moved him above Rory McIlroy at the top of the European money list and also up to fifth in the World rankings.
Westwood said, "It was nice to finish it off, you never know when the next win is going to come and you start to question yourself." He added, "Hopefully now I have won again I can win more."
Westwood, 36 from Worksop, trailed Retief Goosen by three strokes overnight but took a firm hold of the tournament thanks to four opening birdies. Molinari joined Westwood at the top of the leaderboard on the 12th only to bogey the 16th. Meanwhile Westwood sealed the victory by making an unlikely birdie on the 17th after an erratic approach to the par five.
Latest Race to Dubai Odds from Ladbrokes
Lee Westwood - evens
Rory McIlroy - 5/2
Martin Kaymer - 10/1
Paul Casey - 12/1
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Road hole to be lengthened
The 17th hole at St.Andrews is to be lengthened next year, when the Open Championship is played at the home of golf to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the competition.
The 17th is one of, if not the, most famous holes in world golf. However, the wonders of modern technology have reduced the 455 yard par four to a mere drive and a flick for most players so the Royal and Ancient have stepped in. They have decided to lengthen the hole by 35 yards for the 2010 Championship.
Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A said, "over the years, we have seen the threat of the road behind the green lessen, the threat of the road hold bunker has also reduced as players are hitting shorter and shorter irons to the green." He added, "the changes will return the hole to the way it was inteneded to be played."
Dawson confirmed that work will begin immediately on the new Championship tee, but no further changes will be made to the course which was significantly altered prior to the 2005 Championship which Tiger Woods won. Woods is the 5/2 favourite with Ladbrokes to win the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
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Sheridan out of Autumn tests
England and Sale prop forward Andrew Sheridan has been ruled out of Englands Autumn Internationals.
Sheridan, 29, suffered a dislocated shoulder when playing for Sale in the 27-26 victory over Cardiff Blues in the Heineken Cup on Friday night. The injury occured in the 72nd minute of the game when a scrum collapsed. Sheridan required oxygen as medics attempted to push the left shoulder back into place but he had to be taken away for further treatment.
The disclocation has ruled Sheridan out of the game for three months missing four games for England in November and December. The first International is against Australia on Novmber the 7th and Twickenham, followed by games against the Kiwi's and Argentina.
Voy Por to miss Master clash
A clash between Voy Por Ustedes and Master Minded at Cheltenham next month, has been ruled out by Alan King.
King, who trains Voy Por has found an alternative engagement the following week which means his star chaser will avoid meeting the reigning two-mile champion chaser. The pair have won the last three renewals of the Queen Mother Champion chase at the Cheltenham festival and were due to meet in the new Connaught Chase at the Paddy Power meeting.
Voy Por has now been aimed at Ascot's Amlin 1965 chase on November the 21st. King said, "We were looking at the race at Cheltenham on November 15th but Ascot have come up with a race the following week." He added, "It looks like the perfect race to get Voy Por rolloing again, and it means we miss Master Minded, which has to be a good thing."
Chelsea to contest transfer ban
Chelsea have declared their intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the transfer ban imposed upon them by FIFA.
Chelsea are banned from making any new signings until January 2011, after FIFA found them guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007. Kakuta, 18, is banned from playing official club games for four months as part of the ban. It is understood that Chelsea have requested a fast track hearing and will file documentation as soon as possible to the Swiss-based court.
Chelsea, currently top of the Premier League by two points from Manchester United travel to Aston Villa on Saturday. Ladbrokes make Chelsea a 4/5 shot to win the game. The Blues are without Michael Ballack who suffered an ankle injury in a tackle with his team mate Yury Zhirkov while on International duty this week. Petr Cech returns from suspension, boosting the Chelsea defence as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
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