Sporting Life pick out five betting highlights for the week ahead
Our 'Five for the Week' looks ahead to another exciting week of sport, including the final week of Wimbledon and the Cricket World Cup.
Cricket - World Cup final
When: July 14
Where: Lord's Cricket Ground, London
TV: Sky Sports
Lord’s will stage the final act of the Cricket World Cup 2019, a tournament that might eventually go to script despite England threatening an early exit following a stuttering start to the competition.
A return to winning their destructive best, driven by the return of Jason Roy at the top order, was enough to see Eoin Morgan’s side safely through to the last four where they will meet Australia in Birmingham on Thursday.
Australia were victors when the two sides met in the group stage, a convincing display which included a hundred from captain Aaron Finch and a blistering spell of pace bowling from Mitchell Starc, proving something of a turning point for the reigning champions following their own quiet start to the tournament.
Despite losing to South Africa on Saturday, they will feel they are peaking just at the right time and Matthew Wade’s recall following Usman Khawaja’s untimely hamstring injury might well prove a blessing in disguise, so good has been in form for Australia A in recent weeks.
England, too, will feel they are peaking when it matters most and with conditions at Edgbaston expected to suit their armoury of power hitters well, they will surely fancy their chances of extracting revenge on the old enemy and booking their place in Sunday’s final.
The winners will face either New Zealand or India, the former scraping through to the semi-finals despite a poor run of form that very nearly wasted their excellent start in England.
India, on the other hand, have made seamless progress to the last four and with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kolhi and Jasprit Bumrah all excellent and boasting an abundance of big-match experience, it is no surprise the 2015 champions are strong favourites to book their place in another World Cup final.
Best bets:
Tennis - Wimbledon Week Two
When: July 8-14
Where: All England Club, Wimbledon
TV: BBC
Wimbledon enters its second and final week with many of the key players still standing and so many of the big narratives yet to play out.
Roger Federer’s potential blockbuster semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal is still very much on the cards following an impressive start to the tournament by both while favourite Novak Djokovic has made seamless progress to the second week and remains the man to beat.
There is no Andy Murray in the Men’s Singles this year but his blossoming partnership with Serena Williams in the mixed doubles could well prove to be the biggest story of the week as the former continues his return from injury.
Williams is still in there pitching in the Women’s singles but not her sister, Venus, after the five-time Wimbledon champion was sent crashing out by teen sensation Cori Gauff.
Elsewhere, world number one Ashleigh Barty has continued her rich vein of form and currently heads the betting to win her first Wimbledon title.
Racing - Darley July Cup
When: July 13, 1640 BST
Where: Newmarket, July Course
TV: ITV/Racing TV
The Darley July Cup brings together the pick of the sprinting generations as the likes of Brando, City Light and former winner Limato take on young guns Advertise and Invincible Army.
Aidan O’Brien has a fantastic record in the Newmarket summer highlight and looks set to be strongly represented once more as he looks to repeat last year’s success in the race with U S Navy Flag.
Ten Sovereigns could be among the Ballydoyle team this time around, while Michael Bell’s filly Pretty Pollyanna returns to the scene of her greatest success last season.
The Roger Varian-trained Cape Byron could the fly in the ointment for the aforementioned contenders after impressive handicap wins over seven and six furlongs so far this term. His Wokingham win promised plenty and the five-year-old remains open to further improvement as an out-and-out sprinter.
Best bet: Dream Of Dreams
DREAM OF DREAMS looks a solid bet around 7/2 to atone for his agonising Royal Ascot defeat in the Diamond Jubilee and claim a first Group One success. Sir Michael Stoute’s charge is thriving right now and would have been in front in another stride or three at Ascot.
It’s the best recent form on offer and he can prove too strong for Advertise and give his trainer a fourth win in the race and a first since Adjal in 1987.
His main market rival has a couple of lengths in hand of Ten Sovereigns on their running in the Commonwealth Cup but it’s too soon to write off the latter who ran flat last month.
Of the more established sprinters Brando has hit the frame in the last two renewals of this race and arrives here in good form. He could complete a hat-trick.
Golf - Scottish Open
When: Thursday to Sunday
Where: v
TV: Sky Sports Golf
It’s the Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the 37th staging of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, an event that has played a significant part in the Open Championship preparations of several big names in recent years.
Padraig Harrington has already questioned Tiger Woods’ decision not to play here or in Ireland last week ahead of the Royal Portrush Major but Rory McIlroy will be in the field.
He’ll do well to match the performance of Brandon Stone from 12 months ago at Gullance GC. The South African carded a remarkable and record final round of 60 to claim a four-shot victory.
The last six years have seen the likes of Phil Mickelson (2013), Justin Rose (2014) and Rickie Fowler (2015) lift the Scottish Open trophy and a testing weekend for the players, but unmissable one for spectators, lies ahead.
Best bet: e.w. Martin Kaymer at 35/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8); e.w. Erik van Rooyen at 50/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8); e.w. Lee Slattery at 300/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)
Formula One - British GP
When: July 14 [main race]
Where: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester
TV: Sky Sports F1/Channel 4
Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to make it five wins from six on his home circuit, as the Briton looks to keep his place at the top of the Drivers' Championship leaderboard, with Valtteri Bottas in second and Max Verstappen in third.
Sebastian Vettel finished first last year, to end Hamilton's run of four successive triumphs in front of his English fans in what is one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the season and a highlight in the British sporting calendar.
Last time out, Dutch driver Verstappen produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent Formula One history to win in Austria, in what was the race of the season so far.
Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were caught up in a row while Hamilton finished fifth on an off-colour weekend for the world champion and Mercedes, the sport's all-conquering team.
Here's hoping for more excitement here.
Best bet: Will appear here...
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