Carnage

Ok a horrendous week of football results brings us all the way back down to +80.26pts and I'm going to knock off the 10pts for Pompey getting relegated now before I forget to get all the pain out of the way and leave us a clear run at Aintree. So +70.26pts is where we stand.

1.5pts Man Utd @ 2.84 (Betfair): Obviously losing Rooney is a blow but the market seems to have massively overreacted to this. With Rooney in the line up I make Utd about a 11/10 - 6/5 shot. That they could be so much bigger has to as a result of being over-hyped even though it will be no surprise if this ends in a draw which will suits Utd much more than Chelsea.

2pts Villa @ 13/8 (Ladbrokes): 19 more pts with a game less played too much emphasis is on current form than on what these sides have done this season. Expect a reaction to their humiliation against Chelsea today.

3pts Torres to score at anytime @ 6/5 (Coral): Has averaged about a goal a game in the league this season. This is a massive value price. This is as short as 1/2 in places.

1pt 1st half to be highest scoring half Barca v Bilboa @ 11/5 (tote): Barca have scored more first half league goals than any other team. Although Bilboa might end up being a tougher game than the 1/5 suggests if Barca get an early goal this could easily be over by HT.

1pt e/w Messi to score first @ 5/2 (Paddy Power): the 5/6 we get here on Messi getting one of th first 5 goals is too big to resist even if there is no value in the win part of the bet.

1.5pts e/w David Villa to score first @ 11/4 (888sport): you know the story at this stage.

1pt e/w Higuain to score first @ 10/3 (Skybet): 23 games 23 goals and everyone keeps talking about Ronaldo - take advantage of the hype to get value here.

2pts Gijon @ 4/5 (888sport): At home against a team that is almost relegated and is 14pts below them. Should consolidate their midtable position here.

2.5pts Real Madrid clean sheet @ 5/4 (Skybet): Found a few useful facts on Opta on this one: Racing have won only one of their last 10 league games, and have failed to score a single goal in seven of these. At home, Miguel Ángel Portugal's side are winless in their last six games of La Liga, and have not scored in the last four.

OK ended up with a lot more than I thought I would today. I won't be near a computer tomorrow so just having a quick look at the Powers Gold Cup.

For once the bookies more or less have it right. I think Zaarito is the best horse and he should be fresh enough after all the F's in his form to take this down so long as he stays up not sure I'd want to get overly involved at 5/2 though