If you are a sports betting fan then this is one of those weeks of the season with 
you are blessed with some of the best betting opportunities available all season. Never mind all the action coming up at the weekend, during the week there are a couple of truly massive sports events to enjoy.
Both start on Tuesday with the Cheltenham Festival getting underway for horseracing lovers. This massive event has grown hugely over the past 20 years or so and now is one of the biggest sporting events in the UK of the year. With 60,000 fans expected to attend on each of the four days, plus around ÂŁ350m wagered on the 28 races, it is one of the biggest four-day meetings in the horse-racing calendar.
Standing toe to toe with that behemoth event, is the Round of 16 second leg games in four crucial Champions League clashes this week, with two British teams, Manchester United and Chelsea in action, both against Spanish opposition.
So now may well be the perfect time to look up the latest Coral no deposit bonus offer available for punters to join Coral Sport, or indeed any of the other Coral sites as your single Coral account allows you to access all available Coral platforms.
Let’s begin with a look ahead to the Cheltenham Festival with my tips for each of the four big races to be held each day:
-
Tuesday 13th March – Champion Day
3.20pm Stan James Champion Hurdle
This massive race has been won by some of the biggest names in horseracing in the past including Istabraq, Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and See You Then and last year’s winner Buveur D’Air is back to try and defend the title. In truth, he should do so with ease, given the outstanding form he has shown this season where the Gelding has been almost impossible to beat in each of his three runs (each of them a winner).
Faugheen’s best days are now gone but he too is a former winner. Melon, Yorkhill and Wicklow Brave are all worth looking at mainy as each way punts for a place in the top three. However if this goes to form then I think Buveur D’Air will become the first back to back winner of the event since Hardy Eustace in 2004 and 2005.
My Tip – Buveur D’Air (8/15 with Coral)
-
Wednesday 14th March – Ladies Day
3.20pm Queen Mother Champion Chase
Special Tiara is back to try and win this race for a second year in a row, but at 28/1, he looks at best an each way tip for the Queen Mother Chase on Ladies Day. Â The strong favourite here is Altior who has been in outstanding form this season, although he could be challenged strongly by Douvan, if the veteran of Cheltenham can find his very best form.
That though looks a long shot to be truthful with fitness issues plaguing the much-loved Douvan this season, while Min, another decent horse, may not quite have the legs or stamina needed to match Altior if he finds top form.
My Tip – Altior (Evens with Coral)
-
Thursday 15th March – St Patrick’s Day
3.20pm Ladbrokes World Hurdle
Of all the big races at Cheltenham this year, the World Hurdle looks like being the most even contest with a number of runners likely to have a real claim at being the next winner. Past winners of this event include Baracouda, Inglis Derve (3-time winner) and Big Bucks (4-time winner).
The likes of Yanworth, Supasundar and Sam Spinner are amongst the favourites depending on which bookmaker you bet with, while Apple’s Jade and Penhill are also ranked as having a chance, but I think L’Ami Serge is a great option here. He has form at Cheltenham, has improved each year and has been in great form this season and in an open race, he stands as good a chance as any.
My Tip –L’Ami Serge (10/1 with Coral)
-
Friday 16th March – Gold Cup Day
3.20pm Cheltenham Gold Cup
The list of Cheltenham Gold Cup winners reads like a who’s who of National Hunt racing, and although Sizing John will not be back to try and defend the title he won last year, it should still be a hugely competitive race.
My gut feeling here is that Might Bite is the best option but I do confess that if the ground gets very heavy then I feel it may be a bit much for him. In that case, the likes of Native River or Road to Respect may well be worth a look, but for now, I’m sticking with Might Bite to take advantage of Sizing John’s absence to claim a big win on Friday.
My Tip – Might Bite (3/1 with Coral)
Champions League Round of 16 Second Legs
Also coming up this week are the second legs in the Champions League Round of 16 for eight teams. Four matches across Europe which will decide who will join Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid and Juventus in the last eight.
Let’s take a look at the four games together with a look at who we think will win the game and progress into the quarter finals.
Tuesday 13th March – 7.45pm Kickoff Unless Stated
- Manchester United (0) v (0) Sevilla
After a somewhat boring first leg in Sevilla, where David De Gea’s great save kept Manchester United level heading into the second leg at Old Trafford, United now face Sevilla on home soil knowing any victory will allow them to progress. In truth, that should be a formality for United following their fine 2-1 win over Liverpool at the weekend.
Sevilla do not travel well and were thumped 5-1 by a very average Spartak Moscow side in Russia during the group stages. I don’t think United will run up a similar score, but I am confident that they will get the win and make relatively easy progress into the quarterfinals.
My Tip – Manchester United to win 8/13 with Coral
- AS Roma (1) v (2) Shakhtar Donetsk
I’m always a bit wary of AS Roma, they can be brilliant one week and awful the next and there is seldom any rhyme or reason for their performance. They know a 1-0 win here will see them through, and normally I’d back an Italian side to get that, but Roma concede far too many goals to make me comfortable that it will be that straightforward.
I do fancy Donetsk to score in Rome and I also feel Roma will win the game. However, I would not be too surprised if extra time is needed in this one to separate the teams and maybe even penalties to see who makes it through on the night. As such, I’m backing Roma to win in 90 minutes, but I am not confident they will go through.
My Tip – AS Roma to win 7/10 with Coral
Wednesday 14th March – 7.45pm Kickoff Unless Stated
- Besiktas (0) v (5) Bayern Munich
Is there any point Besiktas turning up on Wednesday night? 5-0 down from the first leg and facing a Bayern Munich side that defeated Arsenal 5-1 twice at the same stage of this competition last season for a 10-2 aggregate win, the Turkish side must be dreading a similar outcome in the second leg.
I do fear for them as if they try to win the game and save a bit of face, Bayern can just counter on them and I think the Bayern attack has so much pace that they will cause huge problems for Besiktas. I cannot see any other result here than a decent win for Bayern and for them to make easy progress into the quarterfinals.
My Tip – Bayern Munich to win – 4/7 with Coral
- Barcelona (1) v (1) Chelsea
Finally, this clash in the Nou Camp could have been a belter, but I am really concerned that Chelsea’s lack of form will be their undoing here. Conte’s men are not playing with much verve of confidence at the moment and against a team like Barcelona you have to not just be at your very best, but also have a huge degree of luck to get a result, especially away from home.
I can see Chelsea scoring a goal, but I can just see Barcelona outscoring them with the likes of Messi and Suarez likely to cause Chelsea’s back line plenty of problems. It’s not a certainty Barcelona will win, but I’m certainly backing them to do so.
My Tip – Barcelona to win – 4/9 with Coral
Worried about your gambling?