Roughyeds 11-2 for top honours

Sports and entertainment betting:

FRED DONE, that Salford bookie chappie who built a multi-million pound empire from humble beginnings, is a huge Manchester United fan.

OK, we can’t hang him for that (sorry you Reds supporters), but whether it be arrogance or justifiable confidence, Fred has a history of paying out on United title triumphs way before the chequered flag has been waved.

So far he hasn’t come a cropper — and good luck to him if he is prepared to put his money where his mouth is.

With this in mind, I was expecting Betfred to be among those bookies offering the shortest price about United retaining their Premier League title.

But guess what? Fred and his pals are going a bigger price than everyone else!

Does he know something we don’t? Has he changed his allegiance to City? Has he already backed United to such a tune that he is hedging his bets?

Or maybe he just likes giving United fans money so they can pay for their season tickets and keep his beloved club afloat.

Whatever the reason for this act of huge generosity, you can walk into a Done shop and back United at evens for the Premier League title.

And with Chelsea’s off-the-field problems catching up with them on the field and Arsenal lacking the strength in depth needed to see them over the finishing line, that’s a very decent price.

As for City, their mission is to finish in the top four and here Fred shows his true colours.

If you fancy the Blues to break into the Premier League elite, the best price you will get is 11-8 and there are no guesses for who is offering that.

Tottenham look a stronger bet at 7-4, while Liverpool are a silly price at 9-2 for a team which is reluctant to attack and Aston Villa (7-1), attractively priced at first glance, seem to get a nosebleed the moment they threaten to reach the higher echelons of English soccer’s top flight.

Meanwhile, the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champion League has given United a golden chance of reaching the final for the third season in a row.

Barcelona and Inter Milan are in the opposite half and although last-eight opponents Bayern Munich are no pushovers (German teams never are) you would expect the Reds to be too strong over two legs.

As I can’t see farther than United, Barca or Inter, their respective prices of 3-1, 21-10 and 4-1 are perfectly fair and you will be getting decent value whoever you back.

As for Arsenal, they will struggle to get past Barca and, even if they were to do so, they would probably have to beat Inter and United to win the trophy.

With that in mind, I would want a lot more than the current 10-1 to be remotely tempted to support the Gunners.


YOU have to give Chris Hamilton, Tony Benson and Co. plenty of credit for the way they continue to keep Oldham RL afloat and competitive.

Despite continuing financial struggles, a decent squad has been assembled and a successful campaign in Co-operative Championship One looks to be on the cards.

Victories over Swinton and Hunslet in their first two matches have given the Roughyeds a decent platform from which to mount a challenge and 11-2 about them winning the Grand Final is perfectly fair.

Despite losing to Oldham, Hunslet remain favourites at 3-1, with York 4-1, Blackpool 5-1, Swinton 8-1 and South Wales 9s.


SEBASTIAN Vettel’s late breakdown in Bahrain was a blow for those of you who followed this column’s advice to back him at 6-1 in the first Grand Prix of the season.

Aware of the speed of his car - if not its reliability - the bookies make Vettel only 5-2 to make amends in Australia this weekend, a price he shares with Fernando Alonso, the chief beneficiary of the German’s misfortune in race one.

Felipe Massa is 13-2 and Lewis Hamilton 7-1, but for me the early value has vanished and I would like to see a few more races before entering the betting stakes again.



TIGER Woods definitely returns to golfing action at next month’s Masters and the odds-layers want to get him.

The world number one has drifted from 4-1 to 9-2 and I am certain he will start at an even bigger price as bookies clamour for your custom.

Those prepared to take a huge leap of faith and back Woods should wait until the day before the event.

He is likely to tee off for the Masters at 5-1 or bigger and I would much rather be a layer than a backer, even at that price.


RECOMMENDATION: Manchester United to win Premier League, evens (Betfred).