April 2018



Ten under par needed to claim The Masters Green Jacket

16 players under par, five over to make the cut and seven under best round - Sporting Index predicts ‘The Masters in numbers’ 

Thursday, 5th April 2018 – Ten under par is the score that will be required to take this year’s Masters at Augusta National, according to the traders from leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index. 
 
The spread-betting experts have totted up the numbers ahead of the first major of the year, and believe the famous course will play pretty tough with just 16 players finishing under par after Sunday’s final round – one more than last year. 
 
Sporting Index also predict this year’s cut will come at five over par, while of the 87 players taking part, the best score shot will be a seven under par 65, a score that’s only been posted once since 2012. 
 
Augusta is renowned for punishing those who are not fully on their game and the leading spreadbetting firm think that of the market leaders, Tiger Woods will be the first to suffer a disaster, with it taking the 14-time Major winner 32 holes to make a double bogey or worse. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “The year’s first major is always looked upon with great interest and expectation and this year’s renewal is no different. As beautiful and spellbinding as Augusta is, we think it could play pretty challenging this year and 10 under par is our prediction for the winning score. 
 
“Augusta officials were reportedly unhappy with how easy the course played when Jordan Speith won in 2015 and ever since they’ve toughened it up and we predict that just 16 players will finish under par. 
 
“Tiger’s return is arguably the biggest talking point of the week and while his comeback has been spectacular so far, of the market leaders we think he’s the one most likely to throw in a bad hole first, with it coming after 14 holes of his second round.”

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2018 Grand National to be won by seven lengths 

25/1 winning SP, 14 finishers and 15 lengths between 1st and 3rd – Sporting Index predicts ‘The Grand National in numbers

Thursday, 12th April 2018 – This year’s Grand National will be won by seven lengths, the longest distance in six years, according to the traders from leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index. 
 
The spread-betting experts have been busy number-crunching and think this year’s winner will be priced at around the 25/1 mark, meaning that three of the last five winners have won at that price. 
 
Such a price would mean that runners such as I Just Know, Captain Redbeard, The Dutchman, Regal Encore and Vieux Lion Rouge are the most likely to triumph according to Sporting Index. 
 
The spread-betting firm also expect that there will be 14 finishers of the world’s most famous race, the lowest number since 2012, while the distance between the horses finishing first and third is predicted to be a healthy 15 lengths. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “The Grand National is the race that everyone tunes in to and each person has their own way of picking their fancied runner. 
 
“This year’s race looks tricky to solve and we’re predicting that a horse priced at 25/1 will take it, meaning the likes of I Just Know, Captain Redbeard and The Dutchman could be popular choices. 
 
“We also think that with the ground expected to be on the testing side, plenty of runners will find it tough going and we expect just 14 of the 40 runners to finish.”

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King Khan to claim eighth-round knockout

Sporting Index predict welterweight boxer will win fight in eighth round of bout against underdog Lo Greco

Friday, 20th April 2018 – Amir Khan will step foot in the ring for the first time in two years to face Canadian Phil Lo Greco this weekend, and leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index predict the ‘King’ will deliver an eighth-round knockout in front of the sell-out Liverpool crowd.  
 
The former light-welterweight WBA champion last fought in May 2016 when he was dealt a brutal sixth round knockout at the hands of Mexican Canelo Álvarez in Vegas. However, the traders at Sporting Index believe any knockout this weekend will see Lo Greco on the receiving end.  
 
Khan has won 19 of his 31 bouts by knockout, and the number crunchers at Sporting Index have calculated that Khan will deliver the knockout blow in the eighth round in the 24th minute at the Echo Arena.  
 
If Khan does make it past the Canadian on Saturday night, he could face Kell Brook later this year, and Sporting Index believe that will be an added incentive for the man from Bolton.  
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “It’s great to see Amir Khan prepare to get back in the ring, and the man known as ‘King’ should be too much for Canadian Lo Greco at the Echo Arena this weekend.  
 
“Phil Lo Greco has a record of being selected for fighters looking to make anticipated comebacks, and Khan’s team will view this as just that. He should outbox Lo Greco, and we fancy Amir to return in style and land an eighth-round knockout in this one.  
 
“He’ll want to wrap the fight up as soon as possible, and one eye will surely be on a showdown with Brook later this year. Win this, and it surely won’t be long until that fight is in the calendar.”  

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Shane Williams expected to finish first out of celebrities at London Marathon

Sporting Index predict Welsh rugby international Shane Williams will pip fellow celebs Chris Evans, George Lamb, Gordon Ramsay and Joel Dommett to the post 

Friday, 20th April 2018 – Welsh rugby international Shane Williams will top the list of celebrities running the London Marathon this weekend according to leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index. 
 
Speed merchant Williams, who plays as a winger for the Ospreys, has recorded a personal best of three hours and thirty-five minutes in the 2015 London Marathon. Sporting Index predict he will smash that record and finish in three hours and two minutes this year.  
 
The London Marathon regularly attracts several famous faces and celebrities, including chef Gordon Ramsay, comedian Joel Dommett, and BBC radio presenters Chris Evans and Scott Mills are also confirmed to race this Sunday. 
 
Comedian and I’m A Celeb presenter Joel Dommett will finish slightly behind Williams according to the traders. The man from Gloucestershire has been tipped to finish in three hours and thirty-five minutes.  
 
Experienced long-distance runner Sophie Raworth will be running her seventh London Marathon on Sunday after recording a personal best of three hours and twenty-nines minutes at last year’s event. The BBC newsreader is predicted to hit the finish line at around three hours and forty-five minutes this year.  
 
Hell’s Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay ran his personal best at the 2004 London Marathon in three hours and thirty minutes. The celebrity chef’s last marathon came in 2013 when he completed at a time of four hours and thirty-seven but will run alongside his family this weekend. He’s predicted to finish close to the four hours and thirty-five-minute mark.  
   
BBC Radio hosts Chris Evans and Scott Mills are predicted to finish the race at four hours and fortyfive minutes and five hours respectively. Former Welsh sprinter Iwan Thomas has been tipped to finish in four hours and fifteen minutes and George Lamb in four hours fifty minutes.  
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “The London Marathon always bring a few celebrities out to raise money for good causes, and we’re predicting Shane Williams to lead the celebrities and finish quickest at this year’s event.  
 
“Newsreader Sophie Raworth is also a keen runner, and this will be her seventh London marathon. We can see her and Joel Dommett finishing in less than four hours, while Gordon Ramsay, Scott Mills, Chris Evans and Iwan Thomas will likely be over the four-hour mark.”

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Mo Farah expected to record PB at London Marathon

Sporting Index predict Sir Mo will just miss out on a British record – behind marathon winner Eliud Kipchoge

Friday, 20th April 2018 – Sir Mo Farah will record a personal best marathon time, just slower than the British record at the London Marathon, according to leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index, though he’ll finish a way behind the eventual winner Eliud Kipchoge. 
 
Farah, who recorded his previous best of 02:08:21 at the 2014 marathon, is expected to clock in almost a minute faster this Sunday, at 02:07:30. While this will be his own quickest speed, it will be a matter of seconds slowest than the current British record of 02:07:13, set by Steve Jones back in 1985. 
 
While Sir Mo is expected to beat his own fastest time, Sporting Index traders don’t think he’ll be in contention to win the marathon. Kenyan runner, and 2016 Olympic gold medallist, Eliud Kipchoge, is backed by traders to win the race, at a speedy time of 02:03:50. 
 
Kipchoge, who clocked an unofficial marathon time of 02:00:25 as part of a publicity stunt last year, and holds the London Marathon record time of 02:03:05, is expected to win in London for the third time – ahead of Ethiopa’s Kenenisa Bekele, and last year’s winner Daniel Wanjiru. 
 
Still, plenty of the crowd’s attention will be on home-favourite Farah. With weather expected to be good, traders are predicting a quick race – and the four-time Olympic gold medallist will hope to be in the mix for another medal here. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “After his track retirement, it’s great to see Sir Mo Farah still in action – and we think he’ll wow the packed streets of London with a personal best time here. With the sun out, we think it’ll be a very quick race – don’t be surprised to see the world record fall in what could be a classic.”  

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