Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With Betfred Boss Fred Done

It’s absolutely brilliant that the Premier League season is going to the final hurdle with the title, top-four and relegation all to be resolved on what will truly be a Super Sunday.

And we at Betfred have a special bet that leaders City are beating Aston Villa at half time at the Etihad  and also win the second half with Liverpool doing the same against Wolves at Anfield.

So if you fancy the nation’s two exceptional teams to reinforce their dominance against clubs with nothing to play for then the win both halves double is available at an enhanced 5/1.  

I’ve fancied City to retain the Premier League title since quite frankly this time last year – and that’s why I gave all those Blues fans an early present Christmas when I paid out in December to the tune of £750,00.

City are now 1/7 for the title with Liverpool  9/2 – and Betfred are 7/1 that Jurgen Klopp’s men achieve the quad.

With Cristiano Ronaldo my player of the season at United, my top Blue has got to be Kevin de Bruyne who is in such excellent form at the business end of the season.

It will be ominous for the rest of us when he links up with Erling Haaland – the missing piece of the jigsaw being assembled at the Etihad who will surely next season help deliver the Holy Grail ie the Champions League for Pep Guardiola.

Ronaldo is a huge asset at United – and I’m sure that’s the way our new boss Erik ten Hag sees it.

He needs to put an arm around the shoulders of this season’s top scorer and tap into his knowledge of the Premier League and world game.

Ronaldo with 18 goals and more to come at Crystal Palace on Sunday, when so many Reds will be playing for their futures, has achieved so much in a dire team that’s so lucky to be sixth in the table.

United are 25/1 with Betfred to win the title next season but I’m reckoning it will be City leading a one horse race!

Liverpool’s Mo Salah on 22 goals and 1/ 2 favourite with us for the golden boot is being pressed hard by 21-goal Son Heung-min – and remember Tottenham’s last match of the season also on Sunday is at already well and truly doomed Norwich.

Meanwhile my  congratulations to Stockport County on their return to the big time as the National League champions.

They are already at 7/1 amongst the favourites to do it again and win promotion to EFL League 1 this time next year.

Owner Mark Stott is a Stockport-born entrepreneur who has invested heavily in his home town club and deserves great credit as do the players and management staff.

I’ve always had a soft spot for County since George Best played three games for them in 1975!

IT’s  brilliant that we’ve had so many winners cashing in on Ukraine winning the Eurovision Song Contest – and we had a quite a few who thought the UK would come second too.

Meanwhile with it being a World Cup year, two England footballers – namely Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling – figure highly in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year betting.

The favourite remains Betfred World Snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan at 7/2, just ahead of heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury at 8/1 – then comes Kane and Sterling at 12/1 and 20/1 respectively.

Skipper Kane will no doubt be favourite IF England win the World Cup for the first time since 1966 in Qatar later this year.

Maybe I’m dreaming, but we really do have a chance with our domestic players improving thanks to the input of foreign superstars into the Premier League.

I believe that, even though some supporters argue it reduces the pool of stars available to national coach Gareth Southgate.

TURNING to the Betfred Super League – and it is going to be a tough night indeed when St Helens rock up to take on inconsistent Warrington at the Halliwell Jones on Thursday.

The visitors have bounced back from their Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final defeat with a victory against high-riding Hull FC last Friday.

Meanwhile, the Wire were going down to a 40-8 defeat to Catalans Dragons, which had coach Daryl Powell bemoaning the officials, following on from his earlier comments about rule changes being needed.

Powell was, to an extent, happy with his side’s performance at the Stade Gilbert Brutus before they capitulated late on.

He said his men “lost our way completely” late on, and that the last period was “poor by any standard”.

Powell was especially critical of the mentality, which needs to change quickly before they take on the all-conquering Saints.

Here’s the no nonsense  view of Oldham born Paul Sculthorpe – a double Man of steel and Betfred TV – on then eye catching encounter:

“I would usually say beware the wounded Wolves going into this game on the back of last week’s performances…but how much is there to fear?

“It’s been a pretty miserable season so far for the Wire, with Daryl Powell’s team languishing in eighth place of the Betfred Super League table.

“But after seeing Warrington’s 40-8 drubbing off Catalans in the South of France it’s hard to look past the obvious outcome of Thursday’s game.

“Wolves boss Daryl Powell, a good friend of mine and someone I respect hugely, was very critical of some of the officiating in the game…but I don’t think even Daryl will deny it was far more than a few decisions that cost his side the points. With only one score the difference at the 65 minute mark, shows a complete capitulation from a team tipped to challenge for silverware, again.

“The Wolves, under the new regime of Powell & Co were probably the most fancied team to stop Saints from winning title number four, but with just five wins from twelve games this has been far from the case. For me, it’s simple…his players are not good enough with too many overrated and underperforming.

“I know Daryl, and his attitude to the game - and it seems the players are not buying in to his culture, or not capable of doing as he asks, either way these performances will not be acceptable at a club like Warrington.

“All being said, on their day they still have a number of players who can win games, and Saints must turn up at the Halliwell Jones expecting the best of the Wolves.

“On current form, I don’t think the Wire pack can live with the Saints six, and I’m going for a visitors win by 18 points or more  (evens at Betfred)

“Enough about the opposition anyway, it’s all about what Saints do, and if they turn up with the mentality and ability the showed against Hull FC on Friday all will be good. It was a huge show of character to bounce back from such a tough defeat to Wigan the week before in the Betfred Challenge Cup semi.

“Some of the players impressing me at the moment, as per led by Mr Perpetual Motion- James Roby who just continues to perform at the highest standard week in week out, Mark Percival, Jack Welsby, and another guy who has been immense is Agnatius Paasi. Special mention to Jonny Lomax, who has defied medical science to play through a complete ruptured bicep and still control things out on the park, coming up with big moments and tries to boot.

“Finally, it was great to hear that the new fans favourite Konrad Hurrell has expressed his desire to stay at Saints, amid reports of a move back to the NRL. Hurrell, outstanding in the win over Hull FC has been a revelation since his move from the Leeds Rhinos last season. He is clearly enjoying himself, and has thrived at the club. That initial one year deal is certain to be extended. “

WASN’T it  just brilliant  that a pensioner customer’s first  thought after a remarkable win at Betfred was to treat those who care for him? 

Dennis Waldron beat odds more than 40,000/1 to pick up £20,598 from a 50p each-way accumulator when he went through the card at Nottingham.

He picked seven winning horses – namely Elixsoft in the 1.00, Hebrides (1.35), Tees Spirit (2.10), Grand Scheme (2.45), Pledge Of Honour (3.20), Ermin Street (3.55) and Midnight Train (4.30) – across the afternoon on Saturday  May 7.

Dennis, a retired labourer who worked all his life before being diagnosed as diabetic which has affected his mobility, has the Daily Star delivered to him each morning by his carer, after which he studies form before his carer returns to his home in Birmingham and takes his betting slip round to  his local  Betfred shop.

He said: “For 17 years I’ve been with Betfred, putting on a bet most days – but only a small amount, usually a pound or so.

“I usually spend a couple of hours studying the form in the Daily Star, but for whatever reason this day it just took me 20 minutes.

“I’m going to get myself a new tracksuit – probably an Adidas one – and a new watch, but nothing too expensive.

“I’ve given a treat to my two carers and also to the staff at Betfred who have always looked after me.

“I don’t really go for holidays, especially in my condition, and I can’t drink because of my diabetes.

“I’ve had some wins, but nothing ever as much as this. I am very, very happy to have pulled off this bet of a lifetime.”

Dennis has well and truly picked my pocket with this one. He’s been with us many years, and I’m chuffed to bits that he’s won such a large amount from such a tiny stake.