Happy hunting and Best of luck to both teams in the final too!

2.35 Ryanair Chase

Currently favourite for this one as a result of the ground drying out, now good with few soft areas left, is Monet’s Garden. He’s a short enough price at 5/2 and shortening so if you’re going to plump for this one, do it soon.

3.15 Ladbroke World Hurdle

Next up in our big race for the day is the hotly tipped Mighty Man, again the going has been having a heavy influence on the betting here. The dryer ground should suit Mighty Man should you fancy opposing Black Jack Ketchum. Get him at 5/1. Or have an each way punt on Lough Derg at 33/1.

4.00 Racing Post Plate

Bit of an outside fancy in this race but at 12/1 Nycetos give some reasonable value after a poor run in his last race a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully he was keeping it all in the tank for tomorrow.

Value Double of the Day

Nycetos (Place Only) and Lough Derg (Place Only) - 30/1

Best of Luck!

2.00 Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle

First off tomorrow in the Ballymore we have what’s being called lock of the festival - Aran Concerto -  being so heavily tipped the odds have come well in on this one with the best that can be had about 2/1. For anyone interested in opposing, PaddyPower have a special on offer - Second Fiddle to Aran Concerto. Could provide value when added to a well priced double or treble.

2.35 Royal & Sunalliance Chase

Next off tomorrow in the Royal & Sunalliance Chase we’re opposing the heavily fancied Denman, who at 5/4 offers no real value. Instead we’re following Donn McClean’s value tip Snowy Morning. Snowy will need to improve on previous outings but we’re hoping he step up to the challenge and come on home at 7/1.

3.15 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase

Everyone seems to be piling on Newmill in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and that’s exactly where our money is going too - though only available at 3/1 now, this is one of our top tips for Wednesday.

5.20 Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Finishing up the day, we have a sneaking regard for the Willie Mullins trained Mad Fish. With Ruby Walsh on board, our money says 7/1 is too good a price to turn down.
Happy Punting!

Given that in it’s recent competitive history, wins by 5 goals have been something of a rarity for the Republic of Ireland, it’s hard to turn down an inviting price of 4/5 on San Marino. That’s not even taking into consideration their terrible form under Steve Staunton. They’ll want to leave Landsdowne Road on a high but we can’t see them putting 5 or more past their minnow opponents.

Switzerland v Brazil

While Brazil can really blow hot and cold in international friendlies, the Swiss are a lightweight team, not renowned for their fighting spirit and inspite of home advantage are likely to struggle if even a couple of the Brazilians are on form. Take Brazil at 4/5 over the Swiss.

Also look out for some value in the following games:

Czech Republic v Denmark
Czech Republic @ 8 - 11

Serbia v Norway
Serbia @ 8 - 11

Struggling Newcastle visit the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday in what could be an exciting early match. Both team will be looking to get all three points to lift themselves towards the middle of the table and away from the relegation zone. With Man City at home and unbeaten in the last 5 we say they’re good bet at around 11/10.

Middlesbrough v West Ham

Both of these teams have the same record so far this season and lie 16th and 15th in the table but West Ham at least have some momentum coming into the game from their win over Arsenal. Unfortunately, for them they also have one of the worst away records in the Premier League having been unable to keep a clean sheet and only picking up one points in their travels. Middlesbrough to shade it, get them at 12/10 on Bet365.

Odds have shorted considerably on the Czechs since yesterday evening as news of more injury worries broke but they are still available at 21/20 with Bet365. Odds-on everywhere else we’ve seen.

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Arsenal let us, and themselves, down badly at the weekend, but credit where it’s due to Martin ‘Midas’ O’Neill. Villa set their stall out, frustrated the Gunners for most of the afternoon and then sneaked a goal. Though Arsenal deserved their equaliser, they won’t have been happy with their start to the season. They’ll have to do better in their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday against Dinamo Zagreb.

Charlton v Man Utd

Manchester United on the other hand couldn’t have been happier with their start in their newly expanded ‘Theatre of Dreams’. They leave Old Trafford for The Valley and a midweek clash with Charlton Athletic. A brace from Rooney, along with goals from Saha and Ronaldo show that they aren’t missing Ruud Van Nistelrooy, just yet anyway. With Alan Smith on his way back from injury, and playing his first reserve game tonight, it looks like they won’t struggle up front as much as we’d anticipated. It’s almost inconcievable that they’ll lose to Charlton if they can reproduce anything like their form of the opening weekend.

Verdict: Get them while their hot, Man Utd @ 1/2 (Bet365)

Blackburn v Everton

Andy Johnson showed his class by scoring a cracker on his Everton debut and linked up well with strike partner James Beattie. Their promising teamwork bodes well for the coming season, even if it did take a bizarre penalty decision to gift the Toffees all three points at the weekend. Blackburn, while they also have cause for complaint about the referee, were well and truly humbled at the weekend by a rejuvenated Portsmouth side. Having had both Neill and Todd sent off, they’re going to find it hard to regain some momentum on Wednesday.

Verdict: Everton to sneak this one @ 21/10 (Bet365)

Fulham v Bolton

Fulham won’t have much time to lick the wounds of their weekend drubbing and reorganise before the visit of Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers. Bolton, in comparison roared out of the game with main striker Kevin Davies opening his account for the season and through Ivan Campo’s 40-something yard screamer. With Bolton taking all three point in three of their last four encounters, we can’t see Fulham bucking the trend this time.

Verdict: Bolton to inflict further punishment @ 15/8 (Bet365)

Man City v Portsmouth

Man City never really got out of the blocks on Sunday against defending champions Chelsea and will have to do better at home to Portsmouth on Wednesday. With a reasonable record against Portsmouth you’d expect them to do the business, if it wasn’t for the tremendous form being shown by Pompy. While Pompy have a long way to travel they’re going to be eager to get out on the pitch and put on another show for the inspirational Harry Redknapp.

Verdict: Portsmouth have the desire to take all three points @ 21/10 (Bet365)

Middlesbrough v Chelsea

And finally, we take a look at Champion Chelsea’s midweek game against struggling Middlesbrough. It may sound weird to say Boro are struggling after only one game of the season but the nature of their defeat, giving up a two goal lead, and their truly abysmal pre-season form in which they could hardly find the net make them contenders for the drop this term unless Southgate can do something to pull them out of their current nosedive. Our bet says he won’t be able to do it by Wednesday.

Verdict: Chelsea by a country mile, good value @ 4/9 (Bet365)

One word of caution, all our mid week picks are on the away teams, so mix and match some doubles and trebles to avoid getting stung. Having said that, I’m going for a few quid on the fivefold accumulator and spreading the rest on trebles. Good Luck!

Sunday lunch time pits Alex Ferguson’s title pretenders against Chris Coleman’s unhappy travellers and there is likely to be only one outcome. United have beaten Fulham at Old Trafford for the past five seasons and given the Cottagers dismal away record, which saw them win just once on their travels last season, this run is likely to continue. Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes face a three match ban, but this does not come into effect until after Sunday’s match.

Walker’s Word: One for the big hitters, Man United @ 2/9 (Bet365)

Chelsea vs Manchester City

Will Chelsea’s domestic dominance continue this season following the summer signings of Germany captain Michael Ballack and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko? According to the bookmakers, it will, and price Manchester City up at a massive 12/1 to beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge, something no team in the Premiership could do last season. Frankly, it’s an insult considering it’s the opening game of the season and Chelsea haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders pre season, including last Sunday’s Community Shield defeat against Liverpool.

Walker’s Word: Hope for a real upset, Man City @ 12/1 (Bet365)

In the meantime, we here at Canny Punter HQ are just going to sit back and enjoy the opening day. Not too many picks from the Premiership this week, after a very successful mid-week we’re going to wait it out and see how the teams shape up on the opening day. We do think that Arsenal are going to want to see the opening day out with a bang in the elegant new Emirates Stadium, while Martin O’Neill is a great manager with so much turbulence in recent weeks at Aston Villa we doubt the team will be able to stop Henry. And what are the odds on Henry scoring the first goal in the new stadium today, 5/2. Watch it live on Setanta Sports.