We round up our best bets for today's sporting action including horse racing, golf, cricket, NFL and greyhounds while we'll reveal Sky Bet's most popular punts later in the day.
Sporting Life's Best Bets for Thursday
HORSE RACING: Trilliant to win 3.30 Haydock
By Ben Linfoot: After running over 10 furlongs in a couple of maidens at the beginning of the season she improved plenty for the switch to a handicap over a mile and she has more to offer yet over the distance on that evidence. A big filly that only got into top gear at the business end last time, she looks a likely type to relish the expected dig in the ground for a stable that’s in really good form.
HORSE RACING: Pretty Reckless to win 2.40 Sedgefield
By Murt Khan: Her run two starts back is the race I want to focus on. This was a slowly run race where the pace held up and it was hard to make much ground up. She pulled pretty much from the get go and didn't run at all badly, finishing sixth beaten just over 12 lengths. Her style of running suggested that 2m could potentially be more beneficial and her technique over the baby fences was solid.
HORSE RACING: Special Purpose to win 3.50 Salisbury
By Jamie Maynard: After two pretty routine wins in Novice company, this daughter of Scat Daddy was a very respectable fifth in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York behind the exciting Threading when upped to 6f for the first time. She'll handle any ease in the ground and the drop in class looks a good move. Looks the one to beat here.
CRICKET: Ben Stokes to be man-of-the-match in England v West Indies
By Dave Tickner: His overall career record of four MotM nods in 38 Tests makes the price just about value. But that overlooks the consistency Stokes has added to his explosive talent. With the bat he’s now second only to Root in terms of reliability, passing 50 in five of his 11 Test innings this summer. He’s turned two of those into centuries and is averaging just about 42 and a half this season. That kind of figure should be the stretch target for his overall career mark, but certainly at the age of 26 he looks capable of dragging his career average up significantly from 35. The Durham all-rounder’s career remains on a steep upward curve, and he’s revelling in the extra responsibility of the vice-captaincy. He’s been man of the match in two of 13 Tests since the start of last winter, and has taken the honours once here in four Tests.
GOLF: Victor Dubuisson to win the European Masters
By Ben Coley: The case for Dubuisson revolves around his ball-striking. Very few players in this field have hit the ball as well over the last three months and while that hasn't necessarily yielded results, perhaps a return to Crans might trigger the necessary improvement in scoring. Dubuisson certainly caught the eye in Denmark a fortnight ago, opening with a round of 66 and playing largely controlled golf, but on his first look at Himmerland ultimately had to settle for a share of 33rd. Still, that's a step in the right direction and for a player with two wins and 17 top-five finishes in his last 100 starts, who wasn't far off winning this event in 2013 and opened 65-67 a year later, I simply feel his price is generous and worth chancing.
- Click here to read the full preview and his other FIVE selections
- CLICK HERE TO BACK THE SELECTION WITH SKY BET
NFL: Chris Hogan to score 1st touchdown in Kansas @ New England
By David John: I would not be surprised at all to see Kansas City put up a competitive display but the bet I like is Chris Hogan to score a touchdown anytime for the hosts. An extremely versatile receiver, he has already started to develop a fine chemistry with his quarterback and can expect an increased workload with Edelman out of the equation. He has already delivered big performances in the play-offs last season and has additional speed to offer Brady compared to Edelman so Hogan represents a tempting wager to find the end zone first.
- Click here to read ALL David John's NFL pre-season package
- CLICK HERE TO BACK THE SELECTION WITH SKY BET
GREYHOUNDS: Punkrock Rambo (T1) to win 8.19 Hove
By Chris Oliver: The switch to the red jacket did the trick for Punkrock Rambo (T1) in the heats of a 515m maiden competition at Hove last week and he can continue his progress in the final at 8.19 tonight. Ken Tester's charge rocketed out of the boxes and kicked clear on his way to a two-and-a-half-length victory over Garfiney Bolt in 27.71, which comfortably set the standard last Thursday. There could be more to come from the youngster and he is fancied to steal a march on the rails again.
- Click here to read the full preview of today's greyhounds
- CLICK HERE TO BACK THE SELECTION WITH SKY BET
Most Popular Punts
HORSE RACING: Priscilla's Dream, 5.40 Chelmsford
Available at 9/1 overnight, this filly is all the way into 2/1 as favourite Hikmaa eases from odds-on to odds-against. Priscilla's Dream was an eye-catching fourth on her debut behind a subsequent winner who could be very smart, so it's not surprising to see punters latch onto her under Luke Morris. Watch for a big run from Goodnight Girl in the 3.20 Salisbury - also well-backed, she was just ahead of Priscilla's Dream last time and were she to win, this one could yet go off favourite.
FOOTBALL: Both favourites in the Copa del Rey
Another quiet night before domestic action resumes, but punters - who've enjoyed some good days on the football this week with several well-backed winners - have latched on to both favourites in Spain tonight. Osasuna are 4/6 from 8/11 while Alcorcon have been clipped to 23/20. A double on the two pays around the 7/2 mark.
