Bet365 Weekend Betting Analyst - Easter Weekend

GOLF****Players ChampionshipTh Mar 24 - 17.00 BST (SS2)Fr Mar 25 - 17.00 BST (SS2)Sa Mar 26 - 19.00 BST (SS2)Su Mar 27 - 19.30 BST (SS2)This week's event is right up there with the four Majors, and as a spectacle it is arguably the most exciting to watch, with the signature par 3 'island' 17th one of the most intimidating holes in golf. The European contingent is particularly strong this year, with both Clarke and Harrington holding excellent claims after good form in the States this year. Of the two, Pod has to be the pick this week on the back of his maiden US Tour win in the Honda Classic. The manner of that victory - over world No.1 Vijay Singh - gives him credentials equal to the four ahead of him in the betting, especially considering the relatively poor records of Els and Mickelson in this event (no wins and only six top-tens). A prolific bridesmaid in the past (2nd 26 times), including at the Players Champs for the past two years, he could now be ready to move up to the next level. He looks a stonking each way bet at 20/1 (1/4 odds 1st 5), while he can also be backed at 22/1 in our brand new enhanced win only odds market!Stephen Ames, 13th, 17th and runner-up the last three years must also go on the shortlist. His closing 80 at the Bay Hill last week is slightly off-putting, but his price as a consequence has been pushed out (80/1). His ability to play well in adverse weather could also be a factor this week, with thunderstorms on Friday, and generally quite windy conditions forecast during the week.A stat that illustrates the quality of this event is that all but four of the winners since 1982 have also won Majors in their careers. OK, so my picks so far don't yet fit this mould, but I fully expect Harrington to be a serious contender for Major honors in the next few years. His current price of 25/1 for this year's Masters (starts 7th April) could well be worth taking now, in anticipation of a good showing this week. A couple of 'old-stagers' who do fit into the category of past Major winners competing this week are Steve Elkington and Corey Pavin. Neither are likely winners of this event, but could be worthy of support in our 'Top Australasian' and 'Top American' markets at 16/1 and 125/1 respectively. Both are coming off their best finishes for a long while - Elk was 12th at Doral and Pavin 5th at Bay Hill. Don't forget we shall be betting 'In-Play' throughout this event but, with players finding it difficult to play catch-up on this course, it could pay not to look too far down the leader board after the first couple of rounds. Another interesting betting aspect of this event is our 'Round Leader' market, which is updated after each of the first three rounds. For example, if you fancy Pod to get off to a flyer, then you can back him at 16/1 to be leader in the clubhouse after day one. In our 'Big 4 vs The Rest' market, the 'rest of the field' is a strong fancy at 8/13, considering the overall course form of the big 4, and the fact that Els is still nursing a hip injury! Nigel's Players' Picks:Outright - Padraig Harrington @ 20/1 & Stephen Ames @ 80/1 (both each-way)Masters Outright - Harrington now at 25/1 (each-way)Top Aussie - Steve Elkington @ 16/1Top US - Corey Pavin @ 125/1 (each-way)'Rest of the Field' (vs Big 4) @ 8/13.Bet365 offers new users a free ten pound betHORSE RACING************Rosebery Handicap - 1m 2f, KemptonSa Mar 26 (Live on C4) After the thrills and spills of the Cheltenham Festival, racing goes 'flat' this week, with the feature race being the Rosebery Handicap (3.25) on the first day of the new season at Kempton. Since our betting opened on the race, the John Hill's trained Dancing Lyra has come in for plenty of support (now 20/1, from 25/1), on the back of some excellent handicap form in the first half of last season, notably a staying on second to the classy Gatwick over nine furlongs in May. Off a 41b lower mark, and with the extra furlong of Saturday's race sure to suit, he must go well, but the main fancy is the lightly raced Kew Green. Since returning to racing on the All-Weather, after more than two years off through injury, he's quickly made up for lost time by wining twice. His latest win was gained in ready fashion in a competitive race at Lingfield, and a 4lb rise in the weights does not seem harsh. Nigel's Rosebery selection: Kew Green @ 7/1Bet365 offers new users a free ten pound betCHANNEL 4 OFFER***************The Rosebery is one of four Channel 4 televised races from Kempton on Saturday, with another three live races from Haydock and Carlisle over the jumps. If you're a regular bettor with bet365, you'll be aware of our Channel 4 offer, but for those of you unfamiliar with it here's a quick reminder - 'back a winner at 4/1or bigger in any live Channel 4 race, and we'll give you a free bet to the same stake (up to fifty quid), on the next live race. If your free bet also wins then have another free bet and so on?.' Last week's meeting at Cheltenham was a great advertisement for the offer, with 13 winners being returned at an SP of 4/1 or more, including Contraband (7/1), Trabolgan (5/1), Inglis Drever (5/1), and Kicking King (4/1) of course!Bet365 offers new users a free ten pound betFOOTBALL********England v Northern IrelandSa Mar 26 - 15.00 BST (BBC1)This weekend's round of internationals are bound to provide us with a few surprise results along the way, but it's very hard to see an upset at Old Trafford. Despite a laboured campaign, England still arrive at this game unbeaten in qualifying, and the home side looking nailed on for victory. The Irish will just be hoping to leave Old Trafford with their dignity intact, but the fact of the matter is that in the 96 times the two teams have met, England have tasted defeat just six times, the last being back in the George Best days of 1972! The problem with the game as a betting proposition is England's skinny price of 1/7. However, such is the gulf in class between the two sides that the Lions can safely be supported on our Asian Handicap giving up a likely one and a half goal start, while an even safer bet could be 'Over 2.5 goals' at 6/10. A 'Scorecast' is a more speculative investment, but the odds can be rewarding, with a Michael Owen first goal/England 3-0 scoreline priced at 12/1. Once the game gets under way, we'll be betting 'In-Play' on the match to a reduced margin of 107%, with up to 15 markets on offer at any one time. Nigel's match selections:Asian Handicap - England (-1.5?) to bt NITotal Goals - Over 2.5 @ 6/10Scorecast - Owen/England 3-0 @ 12/1Bet365 offers new users a free ten pound bet