June 2019
US OPEN
Five under needed to be crowned US Open champion
Tuesday 11th June, 2019 – Five under is the magic score required to tame Pebble Beach and win this year’s US Open, according to the traders from spread betting firm Sporting Index.
In typical US Open fashion, the picturesque course on the Monterey Peninsula in California is expected to play very tough for the world’s best, with four over predicted to be the score required to make it to the weekend.
Tiger Woods shot an opening 65 on his way to an incredible 15-shot victory in 2000 at Pebble Beach and the spread betting firm expect that to be score of the week, while they predict just one player will make a hole in one.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “There aren’t many courses in world golf more spectacular than Pebble Beach but, as we know, winning a US Open is about as hard as it gets.“
“Birdies will be at a premium this week and we predict that five under par will be the winning score, the same score Jordan Spieth shot to win the 2015 renewal at Chambers Bay.“
“The cut in 2018 was the highest since 2013 at eight over and while we think Pebble might be slightly less fearsome than that. We don’t expect it to play easy by any stretch with four over the likely cut score.“
EDEN HAZARD TO MADRID
Hazard to hit 14 La Liga goals in debut season
Thursday 13th June, 2019 – As Eden Hazard gets set to be unveiled to Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu, spread betting firm Sporting Index, predict the Belgian will score 14 La Liga goals in his debut season.
The former Chelsea attacker notched 110 goals in 352 appearances for the Blues, and scored double figures in the Premier League in five of his seven seasons at Stamford Bridge.
That has led traders at Sporting Index to believe the 28-year old will be a scoring sensation in Spain in his first season, and they expect the new Madrid man to finish on 14 in the 2019/2020 league campaign.
Hazard was penalty taker at Chelsea, but it’s unlikely that club captain Sergio Ramos will give up spot kick duties due to Hazard’s arrival, which is a factor in Sporting Index’s prediction.
Neville Burdock, Head of Trading at Sporting Index, said: “Eden Hazard will be unveiled to thousands of Real Madrid fans shortly, and we predict the Belgium captain will soon have supporters on their feet in the season ahead.
“Our traders expect the new Galactico to score 14 La Liga goals – which would be the same amount that Gareth Bale managed in all competitions last season“
ASTON VILLA EPL POINTS
Aston Villa set to pick up 39 points in Premier League comeback season
Thursday 13th June, 2019 – Newly promoted Aston Villa will claim 39 points in their Premier League comeback season according to Sporting Index, which would have been enough to secure survival in the last two seasons in England’s top flight.
The Villains, who saw off Derby in the Championship play-off final to regain their Premier League status, may face a relegation fight next season but a tally of 39 could be enough to stay in the top division.
Dean Smith’s side travel to Tottenham for their first game of the season before hosting Bournemouth and Everton, in what will be a tough opening start for the Midlands outfit.
Southampton, Brighton and Huddersfield have all avoided the drop on 39 points or less over the last two years in the Premier League, so Villa can take heart from Sporting Index’s prediction.
The spread betting firm expect last season’s Championship winners Norwich to reach 37 points, while Sheffield United have been predicted to land 35 in their first season back in the Premier League.
Neville Burdock, Head of Trading at Sporting Index, said: “Aston Villa are back where they belong in the Premier League and everyone at the club will be delighted if they can build a solid foundation by surviving in their first year back.
“The first season after promotion is tough for most sides, which is why our traders have predicted Dean Smith’s side will take 39 points next season. The 40 point mark is usually the target, but 39 points would have been enough to survive in the Premier League for the past two seasons.“
ROYAL ASCOT
Eight winning favourites at Royal Ascot 2019
Tuesday 18th June, 2019 – This year’s Royal Ascot will see eight favourites come home in front, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
With 30 races over the five-day meeting, the spread betting experts predict that eight of the most fancied runners will pass the winning post first, while they predict that those 30 races will be won by a total of 44 lengths with the biggest margin being a seven-length victory.
Aidan O’Brien has landed the top trainer title for five years in a row and he heads Sporting Index’s top trainer index, while the spread betting firm predict that the longest priced winner will be a 40/1 shot.
Neville Burdock, Head of Trading at Sporting Index, said: “Royal Ascot really is the Olympics of the Flat racing calendar and this year’s meeting looks one of the most competitive to date and, in keeping with this, we think favourites might not have as quite as good a time of it as previous years, with eight predicted to come home in front.
“Winning distances is always one of our most popular markets over the five days and this year we think that the mark will be 44 lengths, while the widest margin of victory will be seven lengths.“
BREXIT
Brexit still 350 days away from completion
Thursday 20th June, 2019 – Britain may not officially leave the European Union until 4th June 2020, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index, despite Government being under orders to work towards achieving Brexit by 31st October 2019.
EU leaders granted a second delay back in April which currently means Britain will leave formally on the last day of October. However, the political traders are predicting a further delay could be on the cards and estimate Brexit could be 350 days away from being complete.
The traders at Sporting Index are sceptical that Parliament will allow the UK to leave under a No Deal and, with the EU emphasising that negotiations are closed, there could be a longer stalemate ahead.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is set to lay down the law for the next Prime Minister in a speech today, where he’s expected to argue the importance of avoiding a no-deal Brexit at all costs.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: ”While 31st October has been set as the formal date for Britain to leave the EU, it feels like we’ve seen this episode before and it wouldn’t be a surprise if a third delay was announced before Halloween.”
“Parliament are unlikely to allow Britain to leave without a deal, and at the moment that could leave the country between a rock and a hard place for a longer spell.
“We’ve taken these factors into consideration, and believe we could be looking at an additional 350 days based on numerous factors surrounding the ongoing Brexit debate.“
TORY LEADERSHIP
Boris Johnson to claim 67% of Tory leadership vote
Friday 21st June, 2019 – As the race for Conservative leadership is reduced to two, spread betting firm Sporting Index have predicted Boris Johnson will defeat party opponent Jeremy Hunt by claiming 67% of the final vote.
Following a fifth ballot yesterday, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Environment Secretary Michael Gove dropped out to pave the way for Johnson and Hunt to go head-to-head for the No.10 hotseat.
And while the vote to decide who should replace Theresa May as Prime Minister won’t conclude until late July, the spread betting experts are already predicting Johnson will win with over two thirds of the vote.
Secretary of State Hunt has promised Johnson to expect “the fight of his life” in the coming weeks, but that hasn’t swayed the political traders enough to predict anything other than a straight forward victory for ‘BoJo’.
Phill Fairclough, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “Boris Johnson has dominated the five ballots to determine the next Tory leader, and our traders are expecting him to continue to do so when the time comes around for the final vote in July.
&ldquoWhile Michael Gove will be disappointed to have dropped out, there’s an opportunity for Jeremy Hunt to put pressure on BoJo, but we don’t think that’ll be enough and predict Johnson will claim a 67% win and be confirmed as Prime Minister.“
WEATHER
London set to record hottest day of 2019 so far
Thursday 27th June, 2019 – Londoners will be baking in 30c heat this weekend, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index with the city set to overtake Cornwall’s record of 29c for the UK’s hottest day of this calendar year.
Hot on the heels of London in the UK are Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, with the trio all expected to hit highs of 28c. Edinburgh and Cardiff are predicted to reach 27c, while Belfast and Dublin could come in slightly cooler at 25c.
Festival goers will embark upon Glastonbury for the UK’s biggest festival, and the spread betting experts predict the Somerset venue will reach heights of 27c – three degrees less than its record temperature in 2017.
Phill Fairclough, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “As a heatwave prepares to engulf Europe this weekend, we’re predicting London to be the hottest city in the UK with a temperature of 30c.
“The hottest day of the year so far was recorded in Cornwall earlier this month at 29c, but London could go one better this weekend, followed closely by Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool at 28c.“