Snooker and Football

A blank drawn yesterday, but you just have to learn from it and move on. So we move on to Wales for the Welsh Open snooker. Not big prices, but better a short priced winner than a long priced loser.

1.00 Judd Trump to beat Joe Swail 5/6 (WON +10.00 - Judd rattled in a couple of century breaks on his way to a routine 5-2 victory)
Despite having two surnames and no christian name and sounding like a boy band member or Hollywood B-list actor, Judd Trump is actually a talented young cueist. And while everyone knows about Ding Junhui now, Trump has steadily made his way into the top 50 in the world and I expect that march to continue this week, starting with victory over the off form Joe Swail. He is yet to make it beyond the 2nd Rd this season including a loss to Steve Davis. Trump should feel comfortable in Newport, not far from his Bristol home, so back him to set up a clash with Ronnie.

7.45 Bristol City & Watford Double 3.73/1 (WON +13.73 - 1-0 victories are the results of champions at this stage of the season. Bristol City stuck to their task and scored in the 83rd minute, while Watford scored earlier in the game but played the second half with 10 men)
Tonight sees two of the top three in the Championship play two of the bottom five and at tasty prices. Bristol City have been a revelation this season and while their last two away games have seen them return down the M4 with nothing, they were against the resurgent forces of QPR and Palace. They have before that taken 3 points at table toppers Watford, playoff hopefuls Burnley and Norwich, and draws at Wolves, Hull, and Plymouth. Scunny beat Charlton in their last home game but that is their only win in eight games, and with the other three of the top four all taking maximum points at Glanford Park, I expect Bristol City to make it another three points.
Watford lost 4-1 and Walkers Stadium in August but things have changed since then. Leicester are onto their 4th manager since then, including Gerry Taggart's spell as caretaker boss, and rumours swirl around today about how much longer Milan Mandaric will give Ian Holloway with the Foxes just 3 points from safety and a game more played. Watford meanwhile are top of the pile and despite a couple of stumbles are still aiming for an immediate return to the Premiership. They ended Ipswich's unbeaten home run on Saturday and eat Wolves 3-0 at home the week before, signalling a return to form that suggests 4/5 is tasty enough to give you a near 15/4 double.