The Hollywoodbets face a tough trip to the Cape, trouble’s brewing at Swallows, the Boxing Day goal glut arrived as expected and more!
39 GOALS ARRIVE AS EXPECTED
We’re almost through the Premier League storm, with the final round of matches being played this weekend before a break again until 13 January. As we called it, there was a glut of goals in the traditional “Boxing Day” programme, with 39 goals coming in the 10 matches.
Readers of this blog will know that if they were having a punt they should go for the +2.5 goals per game option. Eight out of 10 of the games saw three goals or more. The early “lunchtime” upset also happened this past week, with Newcastle losing 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest.
This week there is another “Saturday lunchtime” start. If you’re a Chelsea fan, look away now. You’re up against Luton in that time slot. The most eye-catching game in this next round is on Monday when pace-setters Liverpool host Newcastle.
Do you see your team? 🤩#FestiveFixtures pic.twitter.com/P7yL87W5Ft
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2023
BUILD A KITTY FOR KING’S PLATE DAY
It’s the quiet before next week’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate Storm, with nine races set for Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this Saturday. The card itself looks competitive and there are some big fields, which always makes for a good spectacle.
When it comes to this type of season punting is a bit more difficult – as we saw with Wednesday’s Pick Six carryover. This is because all the stables have their horses near peak fitness and they are all trying to take advantage of the “Cape Summer Season”.
In terms of giving you “one for the day”, I like the look of Bristol Hercules in the fourth race. He is drawn at No1 in the 1400m event, has jockey Richard Fourie aboard and is highly-regarded, as seen by him being entered, before withdrawn, for the Grade One Cape Guineas.
I’ll be taking the 5-2 opening price and he’s my exotics banker. The Hollywoodbets Syndicate’s Igugulethu, opening at 6/1, should also go very close in the first race. That double is 24/1 and the place double is 16-10.
Final Field betting for The L’Ormarins King’s Plate is now available! 🏇
— Hollywoodbets (@Hollywoodbets) December 28, 2023
Play now!#HWBTWT pic.twitter.com/9kGC1LHKX3
STORMERS VERSUS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS SHOWDOWN
Another round of the United Rugby Championship – not to be confused with the European Champions Cup – is played around New Year, with seven matches on the cards. From a South African perspective, the big one is the Stormers at home to the Hollywoodbets Sharks at the Cape Town Stadium.
The Stormers weren’t at their best last week, but still beat the Bulls and I fancy them to continue with another “W”. Cape Town at this time of year is difficult to visit given the home support, the weather and the general positivity that fills the air.
The handicap is set around seven points in favour of the Stormers, which sounds about right, although I’ll be going with the hosts to cover that and win by double digits.
Walk down memory lane 🦈#FearTheFin @Vodacom #URC #STOvSHA pic.twitter.com/XDtIhf7bcx
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) December 28, 2023
TEENAGER STILL IN WORLD DARTS HUNT
As we mentioned last week, the 2024 World Darts Championship is taking place in London and if you ever have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere, do so. The “athletes” themselves make the game look easy, although as individuals many of them are rough around the edges.
Scott Williams was in hot water this week after beating Germany’s Martin Schindler and saying, live on TV, “I know we won two World Wars and one World Cup, but…”
The fourth-round matches are completed on Saturday before the quarter-finals start on Monday. Meanwhile, Luke Littler is as short as 15/2 in the betting, despite being only 16, the youngest ever player to reach the last 16. The crowd have been chanting, “you’ve got school in the morning” when he has arrived on stage.
Luke Littler keeping his fans happy 👀📸 pic.twitter.com/hyZRyiVGwZ
— Live Darts (@livedarts) December 28, 2023
SWALLOWS FLY THE PSL NEST
You know we’re in the middle of “slow news day” when a story about England striker Harry Kane going to the beach with his wife and kids, and then “texting his friends in England” about having a break from football, given that he’s now with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
However, that does again raise the discussion about heavy workloads and tired legs, and whether football leagues around the world should get an enforced break.
One team that already seems to have gone AWOL is Moroka Swallows. Their two DStv Premiership matches over this festive period, against Sundowns and Golden Arrows, have been postponed because the club is in a dispute with their players and management about payment issues.
Official Statement pic.twitter.com/u5n3pcGIKE
— Moroka SwallowsFC (@Moroka_Swallows) December 27, 2023
