May 2018



Tories set to lose ground in key London local election battlegrounds 

Sporting Index predict winners of key constituencies as Brexit effect could leave Tories feeling blue in the polls 

Thursday, 3rd May 2018 – As Britain gets set to go to the polls, leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index believe the impact of Brexit could leave the Tories fighting to keep control of multiple boroughs across London today.   
 
Labour currently hold control over 20 out of 32 boroughs in the capital, and Sporting Index’s political trading team expect to see them and the Liberal Democrats run the Tories close by seizing key seats in the poll, including Richmond, Wandsworth and Barnet.  
 
The Tories currently hold power in Wandsworth but that looks set to change according to Sporting Index, with traders giving Labour a 51% chance of winning an overall majority in one of the tightest races in the London boroughs.   
 
Barnet, a former Tory stronghold, has been a closely competed borough in recent times, and Labour, priced as a 56% chance of taking control, will edge it this year according to the spread bettors.    
 
The Conservatives could also be feeling blue in Richmond, where the Tories currently hold 37 of the 52 council seats. According to Sporting Index, the Lib Dems have the edge with a 53% chance of taking control.  
 
The Lib Dems are also expected to receive an overwhelming majority of votes in Sutton and Kingston Upon Thames, whereas the Tories are widely predicted to maintain their overwhelming power in Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster.  
 
Ed Fulton, political spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “The London boroughs could have a big effect on the local elections, and it’s interesting to see the Brexit effect and how this may impact key swing seats in the capital.  
 
“The battle of Child’s Hill in Barnet could prove to be the tightest race – we’ve found it very hard to call with all three parties in the running for a majority. Child’s Hill looks a clean three-way split between the big three parties, with the Tories and Labour neck and neck on a 32% chance each and the Lib Dems on 26.”

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Rampant Reds hit Sporting Index for quarter of a million

Liverpool’s semi-final Champions League goals haul proves to be costly for leading sports spread-betting company

Thursday, 3rd May 2018 – Punters were on cloud nine after a splurge of goals across Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final tie with Roma hit leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index to the tune of £250,000.
  
Jurgen Klopp’s men stunned the Serie A side after a masterclass from Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino saw the Reds lead 5-0 before the 70th minute in the first leg, and with many punters opting to buy goals and goal minutes with the leading sports spread betting firm, the losses began to pile up.  
 
Roma clawed back two late goals to keep Liverpool on their toes and make the second leg interesting, and those extra scores tallied up a further loss on the first leg and the damage didn’t stop there.  
 
Neutrals were treated to a 4-2 thriller in Rome but Sporting Index’s traders in the UK spent the night totting up the cost of the scoring frenzy, which ended up breaking the quarter of a million mark.  
 
The combination of total goal minutes, corners and bookings hit the spread-betting firm where it hurts and left the brave punters who went long counting their winnings.   
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “With so much at stake, these semi-final matches can often be cagey and play out as tense affairs. We didn’t expect to see goals fly in so thick and fast in both legs, and we paid the price for it.   
 
“Liverpool’s bombardment of Roma’s defence in the first leg saw us lose nearly £150,000 and the two late goals in Rome took us to a combined loss of around £250,000 for the tie. A sore one for us to take, but well done to the punters who called it.”  

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Haye expected to reap revenge on Bellew

Sporting Index also predicts Bellew Haye II will not go the distance

Friday, 4th May 2018 – The highly-anticipated rematch between Tony Bellew and David Haye is finally upon us this weekend, and leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index predicts the ‘Hayemaker’ will deliver a knockout blow in London.  
 
The former world heavyweight champion suffered a nasty Achilles injury in the first fight but, to Bellew’s credit, the latter was impressive throughout and deserving of the win. Despite this, the Liverpudlian is still viewed as the outsider by traders at Sporting Index.  
 
The war of words between the pair had subsided since their first meeting, with Haye taking a more methodical approach. However, their clash during the latest press conference confirmed their dislike for each other is still very much there. 
 
Bellew describes Haye as the ‘world’s most dangerous fighter inside four rounds’ but has no ambition to run and will go toe-to-toe with the 37-year-old from the first bell.  
 
Despite Bellew’s confidence, Sporting Index’s traders have crunched the numbers and predict Haye could deliver a knockout blow in the eighth round of the bout. The spread-betting experts also believe there will be one knockdown with a referee count and Haye is favourite to deliver the punch. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “This really is make-or-break for David Haye, who admits his career is over if he loses to Tony Bellew again, but our traders believe he’ll deliver the goods at the O2 Arena. 
 
“Bellew was impressive in the first fight and should not be discounted but a fully-fit and re-energised Haye may just be too much for the natural cruiserweight.” 

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Water at Sawgrass’ 17th expected to gobble up 41 balls 

Less balls to find the water than last year and Players Championship winner expected to triumph on 13 under par 

Wednesday 9th May 2018 – The water surrounding the famous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass will claim 41 balls during this year’s Players Championship, according to the traders from leading spreadbetting firm Sporting Index. 
 
The spread-betting experts have calculated the numbers ahead of the unofficial ‘fifth major’, and believe the hole will play easier than last year, where 69 shots found the water – the second most in the tournament’s history. 
 
Sporting Index also predict that 13 under par will be the winning score, the score which both Tiger Woods and Martin Kaymer shot when winning in 2013 and 2014. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “The 17th at Sawgrass is one of the most iconic but at the same time intimidating par threes in the world and all of the 144 players taking part in this year’s Players Championship will be hoping they can keep their tee shots on dry land. 
 
“Last year, there were an incredible 69 balls in the water, but this time round we think the players will find it easier and 41 balls will find the water that surrounds the island green. 
 
“Sawgrass is notoriously known as one of the fairest courses around and it rewards those who have all aspects of their game in order. We think the course this year will play easier than in 2017 and we predict 13 under to be score required to take the trophy.”

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Simon Yates to keep pink jersey until Monte Zoncolan

Leading spread betting firm expects British cyclist to hold onto Giro lead until stage 14 

Friday 11th May 2018 – Sporting Index think next Saturday’s gruelling mountain stage, Monte Zoncolan, will be the point at which British cyclist Simon Yates will be surpassed as leader of the 2018 Giro d'Italia.
 
Yates peddled hard to become only the fourth Briton to slip on the pink jersey after stage six on Thursday, but the leading sports spread-betting firm expects Monte Zoncolan, the 14th stage next weekend, to be the start of his slide down the leader board. 
 
Offering a spread of 6.8-7.8 days, with sellers punting on Yates losing the lead before next Saturday and buyers staking in the hope that the man from Bury can cling onto the lead for more than a week, all eyes will be on the pink jersey over the coming days. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “Simon Yates has opened up a gap of 16 seconds over reigning champion Tom Dumoulin but that may not be enough to see him hold onto the pink jersey after Monte Zoncolan. 
 
“If he manages to get through Zoncolan then we think he’s very likely to lose the jersey at the time trial two days later. Overall, it’s been a cracking effort from Yates but we think he’ll have to hand over the pink jersey in just over seven days’ time.”



Pickford in goal, Young wing-back, and no place for Cahill or Vardy – England’s predicted World Cup starting XI 

Sporting Index name England’s likely team to face Tunisia in the World Cup opener 
 
Wednesday 16th May 2018 – After Gareth Southgate named his England World Cup squad, leading spread-betting firm Sporting Index have predicted his likely starting XI to face Tunisia in their first match, with no room for Gary Cahill or Jamie Vardy.   
 
Southgate had a few surprises in store when announcing his squad this afternoon, and Sporting Index traders think he may have a few more ready for the opening match in Russia. Everton keeper Jordan Pickford is expected to get the nod in goal over Jack Butland, while Ashley Young, who didn’t play a minute in qualifying, appears to have leap-frogged Danny Rose for the left wing-back berth. 
 
Making up the defence are Phil Jones, John Stones and Kyle Walker – which means no place for the Chelsea captain, and most experienced player Gary Cahill. Kieran Trippier is set to get the nod as right wing-back ahead of Liverpool starlet Trent Alexander-Arnold. 
 
Into midfield, and Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson are set to resume their partnership that helped the Three Lions breeze through qualifying – with Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek having to make do with places on the bench. 
 
Sporting Index traders also believe Southgate will favour Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling behind striker Harry Kane – which means no place for Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck or Jamie Vardy. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “Gareth Southgate hasn’t been afraid to make the big decisions since taking the England job – and we think it’ll be more of the same in Russia, with no place for Gary Cahill, Jamie Vardy, or Marcus Rashford in his starting XI. 
 
“Still, with a couple of friendlies to go before that Tunisia game on June 18, there’s still time for a couple of the fringe members of the squad to play their way into Southgate’s plans – and we’ll all be watching with interest”. 

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Unai Emery to earn 71 points in debut season at the Emirates

Newly appointed Arsenal boss priced to better Arsene Wenger’s final tally by eight 

Wednesday 23rd May 2018 – Sporting Index expects Unai Emery to improve on Arsene Wenger’s 63point haul from the 2017/18 campaign and bag 71 points for Arsenal next season. 
 
Offering Arsenal’s Premier League 2018/19 points at 70.5-72, which would have been enough for them to finish above London rivals Chelsea last season, the leading sports spread betting firm expects Emery to have an immediate positive impact on the team and earn the Gunners the same amount of points that saw them finish runners-up to Leicester in 2015/16. 
 
Elsewhere, West Ham are predicted to rack up 47 points, their highest points tally since the 2015/16 season with Manuel Pellegrini in the Hammers hot seat. 
 
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “Arsene Wenger’s final season at Arsenal was particularly disappointing, finishing just sixth on 63 points, and we think Unai Emery comes in with a very good chance of bettering that. 
 
“Our spread suggests Emery will break into the seventies in his debut season, while in the east of London we’re backing Manuel Pellegrini to give West Ham a much needed boost.” 

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