November 2019

UNITED WOES CONTINUE 

Man Utd slump to worst-ever Premier League points total 



Monday 4th November, 2019 – Manchester United fans will see their side break a club record this season, by becoming the first United team to finish a Premier League campaign with less than 60 points.  
 
Sporting Index have revised their spread on Premier League Points to leave United languishing in seventh spot on just 59 points, five worse than their 2013/14 total of 64, and 32 points shy of local rivals Manchester City. 
 
United are therefore on course to finish further behind their city adversaries than ever before, while this will be their joint-worst finishing position since the Premier League started in 1992.  
 
Leicester will break into the top four, north London rivals Arsenal and Spurs will have to be split by goal difference on 62 points apiece, while Aston Villa, Watford and Norwich will be relegated, according to the spread betting experts.  
 
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “Originally quoted at 68, United have plummeted to a prediction of just 59 points, which would be the worst Premier League performance in the club's history.“  
 

BARRY GERAGHTY PREVIEWS 

Season feels like its getting underway  
Wednesday 6th November, 2019 – With Newbury on Thursday and then the November Meeting at Cheltenham next week, it really feels like we're getting into the season now. 
 
All the better horses are starting to come out and I'm really looking forward to Champ making his debut over fences in the beginners' chase (2:05pm).  
 
He was a high-class novice hurdler, winning two Grade 1s, with his only defeat of last season coming at Cheltenham, which in itself was a good run.  
 
I schooled him over fences at Chepstow last week and he did it very well. He gave me a great feel and I couldn't be any happier with him going into the race.  
 
At home he's maybe been a little bit over-eager, but Nicky [Henderson] is a great trainer and he'll leave no stone unturned ahead of his first run.  
 
Champ is a big horse so you'd like to think he has a massive future over fences. He's exactly what you look for a chaser.
 
As for the dangers, obviously Beakstown has been over fences once and he'll benefit from the experience, while Dashel Drasher is ahead on ratings, but Champ should tak all the beating if he puts his best foot forward.
 

BARRY GERAGHTY Preview 

Defi Du Seuil has form on soft ground and stepping back in trip shouldn't be a problem  

Friday 15th November, 2019 – Cheltenham is a stiff track anyway, so when the ground is a soft as it will be, it'll take a lot of getting.   
 
The November Meeting tends to be very competitive too, so there will be a good end-to-end gallop and it's likely to get attritional.  
 
There could be a few shock results and the soft ground form from this weekend may well get turned on its head come the Festival.  
 
My first ride on the Saturday is Mick Pastor for Paul Nicholls in the Triumph Trail (12:40pm). He's a French import with heavy ground form, so you'd like to think conditions won't be a problem.  
 
He has the right kind of profile for the race and Paul seems very keen on him. Of the opposition, Allmankind from the Skelton yard won well at Warwick last time out, while Gary Moore's Botox Has was impressive at Fontwell.  
 
Brelan D'As was scheduled to run on the Friday but now takes his chance in the feature race (2:25pm).  
 
He was running well at the track last time when unseating four out, and though this looks a tough race he's in good form and should have an each-way chance. It's going to be tough for everyone on the ground but hopefully he handles it well enough.  
 

HEAVY LOSS ON UTD DRAW 

Man Untied's £70k late show 

Monday 25th November, 2019 – Betting firm Sporting Index have suffered a heavy loss as a result of a dramatic six-goal draw between Sheffield United and Manchester United on Sunday night.
 
The leading sports spread betting company' Total Shirts market, which adds up the squad numbers of the match's goal scorers, settled at 89 for the Red Devils, way higher than the 20 quoted ahead of kick off. That meant the lucky buyers on the spread raked in 69 times their stake.  
 
Before the 70th minute, Sporting Index were onto a £20,000 profit on that particular market, but quickfire strikes from United's No.26 and No.53 sent shockwaves through the trading floor and triggered a £70,000 swing in favour of the punters. 
 
Neville Burdock, head of trading for Sporting Index, said: “One minute we're making a tidy £20,000 on Manchester United's Total Shirts and the next we're facing a £50,000 payout. 
 
There's a few players in the United team that have come in from the fringes of the squad with high numbers on their back and that's proved very costly for us this weekend.“