Weekend Wagers: Best Bets for the Racing and Football

Not too many weekends pass by without a Group race of some description, but this Sunday's showstopper from Longchamp may be the best of them all. Coveted by trainers from across Europe and beyond, the magnificent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is, in the eyes of many, the pinnacle of the global racing year.

For the equine inclined, that 1m4f contest is the highlight of the sporting weekend, but it is far from the only punting opportunity on offer. Here, using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we present our best selections in the Arc, William Hill Two-Year-Old Trophy, and the best of the Premier League fixtures.

Saturday: William Hill Two-Year-Old Trophy - Redcar, 3:20

Our first selection comes from Yorkshire, with one of the highlights of the Redcar racing year. Twenty-seven runners remain in contention in this £150,000 event, which assigns weights to the runners according to the Median Auction price of their sire’s yearlings; not your usual handicap affair, and a scenario which can leave a few runners officially well in on the handicap.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Billboard Star tops the bill in that regard. Sitting on a rating of 102, the son of Advertise is only twelfth in the weights and should go very close if running up to the level he has shown in Group 2 company. Unfortunately, the market is well aware of his claims and prices of around 3/1 make limited appeal in a race where luck in running plays a role.

Michael Dods Educating Rita appeals at a big price, having looked a little unlucky in Listed company last time, but our each-way vote goes to the Richard Hannon-trained An Outlaw’s Grace. By Dandy Man and out of an Acclamation mare, this Middleham Park runner is nicely bred for the task at hand and - barring a slight misstep last time - has progressed nicely this season. Significantly, the pick of his efforts came when going down by only 1¾l in a French Group 2 on his only previous outing on ground slower than good. We suspect he may enjoy the soft conditions here and will be backing him to at least hit the frame.

• Recommended Bet - An Outlaw’s Grace each way @ 14/1 with LiveScoreBet

Sunday: Aston Villa vs Manchester United – 2:00

A new season, but some things remain the same. Despite a new ownership group and more millions splurged in the transfer window, Manchester United remain a mess. Six games into the campaign, the Red Devils sit down in 13th place on just seven points, with the latest tale of woe including back-to-back 3-0 home defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Spurs. It doesn’t get any easier for Eric ten Hag this weekend as United head to Villa Park to take on a side who sit pretty in fifth.

Villa start favourites here, but United do at least have happy memories from this fixture, having completed the league double over Unai Emery’s troops last season – winning 2-1 in this game and 3-2 at Old Trafford. Will they up their game against the Birmingham club once again?

The stats suggest they will need to. So far at home Villa are averaging 2.28xG for and 0.93xG against. United’s respective figures on the road sit at 2.22xG for and 1.72xG against. Those numbers hint that United can be a threat going forward. However, the 1.72xG against is concerning, considering two of United’s away games were at Crystal Palace (a total of 2 goals in three home games) and Southampton (a solitary strike in their three home fixtures). On their only outing against a good attacking side, United lost 2-1 at Brighton, and a similar scenario may unfold here.

• Recommended Bet - Aston Villa to win and Both Teams to Score @ 5/2 with BetGoodwin

Sunday: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Longchamp, 4:00pm

The hosts held onto the Arc in 2023 thanks to the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Ace Impact and look set to put up a bold defence in 2024. Carlos & Yann Lerner’s Look De Vega shades favouritism despite losing his unbeaten record last time out in the Prix Niel. Reportedly nowhere near full fitness that day, he rates a big threat if bouncing back to his Prix du Jockey Club form. Sosie was the horse to lower the colours of Look De Vega in the Prix Niel and goes for the most successful trainer in Arc history, Andre Fabre. Three from three at Longchamp, the son of Sea The Stars boasts rock-solid claims.

Los Angeles and Continuous represent dual Arc winner Aidan O’Brien, with Ryan Moore expected to take the ride on the former. The 2024 Irish Derby champ handles soft ground well and posted an eye-catching trial in the Irish Champion Stakes. Los Angeles should go well, but Continuous looks overpriced at around the 33/1 mark. He wasn't beaten far when fifth in the 2023 edition of this, and the likely softer conditions may see him go close.

All of the above have claims, whilst supplementary entry, Bluestocking, and Japanese challenger, Shin Emperor, add further intrigue. The one we like best overall is Delius from the yard of 2023-winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. Spoken of in glowing terms by his handler, this son of Frankel finished behind Sosie in his two most recent outings but was ill-suited by those small field affairs and finished to good effect on both occasions. Boasting a beautiful action for soft ground and guaranteed to get a strong pace to aim at, he can stamp his authority inside the final furlong.

• Recommended Bet - Delius each way @ 10/1 with LiveScoreBet

Sunday: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur – 4:30pm

The Super Sunday action concludes down on the South Coast as ninth-placed Brighton hosts a Tottenham Hostpur outfit who sit just one position above them.

The two sides shared the points last season – Brighton impressed in a 4-2 success in this game and Spurs came out on top 2-1 in the reverse fixture. Despite having made broadly similar starts in terms of points, Spurs are playing the better football to our eyes and can count themselves unlucky to have lost at Newcastle and drawn at Leicester.

Looking at the xG numbers, Brighton are averaging 1.82xG for and 1.13xG against at home, whilst Spurs' away numbers are a huge 2.82 for and 1.07 against. Ange Postecoglu’s men are playing better than their early results suggest and can post another win on the road against a side whose high line looks hugely vulnerable to the pace of Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski.

• Recommended Bet - Handicap Betting: Spurs -1 @ 14/5 with BetMGM

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