Place Your Bets with the Wizard of Odds

Unfortunately our horse selection, Big Fella Thanks, just missed out, running a gallant third in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton, but he is still a lively outsider for Grand National glory in April.

This weekend sees the Carling Cup final between all-conquering Manchester United and the most inconsistent team in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur.

Some bookies have already paid out on Sir Alex's side winning the domestic treble and few would argue with their decision on the form shown so far.

Sunday's big match prices look to be spot on by the bookies and a bet is very hard to find.

Instead the best football bet lies in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Riverside between Middlesbrough and Liverpool.

Relegation haunted Boro have not won in 14 league games and have only scored six goals in that run. In fact, their top scorer has just four goals to his name and that could be the undoing of Gareth Southgate's men this season.

But Liverpool could be without influential skipper Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres and with eight of their last nine games producing less than three goals a low-scoring encounter at Boro looks probable.

The last five games between the sides at the Riverside have seen three goalless draws, a 1-1, and a 2-0 win for Boro, so the 4/6 with the bookies that the game produces less than three goals looks more appealing than Mr Kipling's cakes.

Sunday's programme sees Bolton apparently overpriced at 5/4 to beat Newcastle at the Reebok. Gary Megson has had his critics but he looks to have guaranteed Premier League football for Bolton for another season.

At home Wanderers are a match for anybody and have beaten the Magpies in five of their last six games at the Reebok.

The Six Nations rugby continues this weekend with a Friday night game between France and Wales. Bookies cannot split the two, making them both 10/11 for the win and it's hard to argue with the on this one.

Where you can make a case is England's visit to Ireland on Saturday. The bookies are giving England a massive 10 point start on handicap at 8/11.

The Irish are going for the Grand Slam but recent history suggests they can be flaky under pressure, while England showed encouraging signs in their narrow defeat by Wales last time out.

Running total: -£348

Suggested bets:

£60 - Middlesbrough and Liverpool to score under three goals @ 4/6

£20 - Bolton to beat Newcastle @5/4

£30 - England plus 10 points against Ireland @ 8/11