All-Ireland SFC semi-final – Tyrone (+3) and under 46.5 points in game, 13/5 (Boylesports)
Before Kerry swatted Armagh aside in the All-Ireland quarter-final, Jack O’Connor’s side were being written off as also-rans this term.
One stunning second half later, and they are favourites with some firms to lift Sam Maguire, and strong jollies to see off Tyrone in the last four at Croke Park.
Just as there was a massive over-reaction to their defeat to Meath in the group stages, there might be something similar now because it is hard to see everything going just as perfectly against the Red Hands.
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Malachy O’Rourke’s men relished being underdogs against Dublin, and will be happy to be in that role again, and the 23/10 quoted by Paddy Power about them winning looks huge.
Sean O’Shea and David Clifford had a field day in the second half against Armagh, and they may be seen as the difference-makers again, but to my mind this is very close to being a 50-50 clash, which makes Tyrone’s price very appealing.
If anything, the Red Hands might have a better spread of scorers, with Darragh Canavan, Darren McCurry, Peter Harte and Mattie Donnelly all weighing in at different stages in the run to the last four, and Ruairi Canavan and Eoin McElholm chomping at the bit.
That 23/10 really tempts me, but the 10/11 offered by Boylesports about Tyrone with a three-point start is crying out to be backed.
It is a semi-final, and nerves may play a part, so the overall scoring tally could come down a bit from earlier rounds, so another route to profit is to back Tyrone (+3) and under 46.5 points in the game at 13/5, also with Boylesports.
Donegal (-4) v Meath, evens (Sky Bet)
Donegal boss Jim McGuinness and Michael Langan should be celebrating a place in the All-Ireland final come Sunday evening PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
Jim McGuinness will never say it but Donegal got the draw they wanted against Meath, despite the Royals beating Dublin Meath, Kerry and Galway to reach this stage.
Jordan Morris can be a real threat for Robbie Brennan’s men but Donegal have so much talent on the field, and lying in wait, that I can only see one outcome here, and that’s a Tir Chonaill victory with a bit to spare.
Patrick McBrearty looked his old self against Monaghan, Shane O’Donnell is flying, Michael Langan is a threat, and Michael Murphy is just Michael Murphy.
Sky Bet go evens about Donegal with a four-point handicap and I’m all over that as the quest for Sam gets very interesting indeed.
Fifa Club World Cup final – PSG to win to nil against Chelsea, 2/1 (Paddy Power)
PSG swatted Real Madrid aside in the Club World Cup semi-final, and they should do likewise to Chelsea in the decider on Sunday night (Seth Wenig/AP) (Seth Wenig/AP)
Luis Enrique’s ravenous Champions League winners have cut a real dash in America and there is no doubt they are the best club side in the world.
The draw opened up to let Chelsea sneak through to the decider in New Jersey on Sunday night, while PSG have had it easy in terms of scorelines despite having a treacherous draw on paper.
After slipping up against Botafogo in the group, they have strolled past Inter Miami and Bayern Munich before destroying Real Madrid 4-0 in the semis, while the goal they let in against Botafogo is their only concession so far.
Every element of Enrique’s side is purring and they can dismiss Chelsea without much fuss, so get on them to win without conceding at 2/1 with Paddy Power.
British and Irish Lions to beat Invitational AU & NZ team by 1-12 points, 9/4 (Boylesports)
Lions head coach Andy Farrell will want an improved performance from his side in Adelaide (Jason O’Brien/PA)
The Lions made it four wins from four on Australian soil against the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday, but what looked very close to a Test side missed a host of opportunities and coughed up four tries.
Andy Farrell’s fringe men get a chance to impress against an invitational side made up of grizzled ex-internationals in Adelaide on Saturday, with a few points to prove.
The Lions will have enough to win, but they haven’t clicked in their last two outings, and handling might be hard enough on a cold night, so a narrow win with a margin of under 12 points looks a good bet at 9/4.
Newmarket, 4.35, Saturday – Rogue Lightning, e/w, 50/1 (William Hill)
In a July Cup where there are plenty of obvious questions and not a lot of obvious answers, Rogue Lightning can give his backers a run for their money at huge odds.
Much of the discussion around the prestigious six-furlong sprint this year surrounds last year’s 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech coming back in trip. He has been supplemented which suggests he is firing and ready to go, but it still seems quite an odd move.
He might just prove the best horse in the race, of course, but there are plenty of others with chances and Rogue Lightning is not out of it. His three-year-old campaign was a good one, and while he has not hit the heights since being sold for £1million, he has not been a million miles away, either.
On his penultimate start he was just denied in a Grade Two at Keeneland, before failing to produce the same level of form when staying Stateside to run at Churchill Downs.
A sound surface will suit and funnily enough he is a course and distance winner, having impressed on his two-year-old debut back in June 2022.
Rogue Lightning can spring a surprise in the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday (Nigel French/PA)