Freddie ready to go at 9/4
Andrew Flintoff makes a much welcome return to England’s Test team for the Second Test against South Africa at Headingley starting this morning and looks a terrific bet with Coral at 9/4 to be England’s top bowler.
However, he has struggled with the bat and backers may fancy their chances of him scoring 28 or less at 5/6 with Skybet in the first innings, which looks the sensible bet.
Flintoff is a world-class player whose addition to the England team is only good news for cricket followers.
After batting themselves into a winning position on a placid pitch at Lord’s, England could have done with a bit of Flintoff magic with the ball in the South African second innings as the First Test petered out to a stalemate and left us level after one match in this four-Test match series.
Addition
The draw is the favourite outcome for the second match at 5/4, but I feel the Headingley wicket and the forecast of overcast conditions are certain to produce a result. Whilst South Africa are popular at 7/4, 3/1 England is a bet I prefer.
This time, if Michael Vaughan wins the toss and bats, they may have enough with the addition of Flintoff in the bowling department to bowl South Africa out twice. At Newbury this afternoon, Atlantic Sport will be hard to beat in the 3.40. Mick Channon’s three-year-old made a pleasing reappearance at this track on its seasonal debut and can follow up easily. He looks a progressive colt for the rest of the season.
Imaam can make experience count by landing the 2.35 at Newbury where the majority of his opponents are making their racecourse debuts, while at Newmarket this evening, Albarouche will be hard to beat in the 7.50 and Hoh Mike, who lost his chance at the start on its latest run at Sandown, can make amends and will take all the beating in the 7.15.
Tomorrow at Newbury, Awinnersgame is worth another chance in the 1.50 for trainer Jerry Noseda, while Ryan Moore can complete a double in the 2.20 with Corrybrough, who is on a winning streak of four and is very much a horse to keep on the right side of as he steps up into group company in the Hackwood Stakes at 2.20.
Decent
Henry Candy has trained some really decent sprinters over the years and Corrybrough has come through the ranks and looks a horse who will relish the step up in class and can prove the weekend’s best bet.
Those who thought finding the winner of The Open was going to be easier without Tiger Woods are in for a surprise as Birkdale was a punter’s nightmare on the opening day of the 137 championship with par hard to achieve and conditions hardly likely to get any better this afternoon.
Lewis Hamilton can continue where he left off at Silverstone in the British Grand Prix by landing the German equivalent on Sunday and, at 2/1, is a great bet to do so.