Aycliffe’s top tipster shares his two top tips of the day, as he takes on the bookmakers…
Racing
3.25, Ayr – Scottish Grand National
WALKON each-way. 28/1 with LADBROKES
One week from England’s showcase race, attention turns north of the border for the Scottish Grand National. There may be 15 less runners than it’s Aintree equivalent, but picking the winner in such a field remains a bit elusive for many. We’re looking for value amongst the field and have picked out Robert Thornton’s mount Walkon, trained by Alan King. The pair have a great racing partnership, and Thornton has been in the saddle seven times as Walkon has finished in the top three places over the past 24 months so with Ladbrokes offering ¼ odds on the first four past the post, we’re backing the French seven-year-old to prove exceptional value at the lengthy odds of 28/1.
Football
7pm Saturday
Barcelona v Real Madrid
LIONEL MESSI to score first, £10 pays £40 with LADBROKES
It’s the neutral’s favourite game in world football and on Saturday evening there’s added spice to El Classico as Spain’s top two sides lock horns as the Primera Liga title looks like going down to the wire. Both sides may have lost narrowly in Europe in midweek, and both will have half an eye on next week’s second legs as they bid to recreate this game in Munich next month in the Champions League final but make no mistake, neither will let up in this one as Pep Guardiola’s men look to close a four-point gap on Jose Mourinho’s Madrid.
Three weeks ago the Spanish title looked set for Madrid as Mourinho’s men were 10 points clear but Barca have chipped away at that advantage and victory tomorrow evening will see the gap sit at a solitary point with four games remaining.
Regardless of the result, two men will provide the show-stopping moments and between the two – Ronaldo and Messi – they have netted 82 times in the league this season. Between them they total 12 attempts on goal on average per game with a combined chance conversion average of one goal in every four attempts.
Both players are their club’s nominated penalty taker so it’s between the pair for the first goal tomorrow, and we’re opting for Messi solely because he’s playing on home turf. Ronaldo is a kind 9/2 for the first goal but we’re sticking with the 3/1 on offer for Messi.