Author Archive

February 8th, 2013 Horse Racing Comments Off

Air of anticipation mounts as Cheltenham Festival edges ever closer

Air of anticipation mounts as Cheltenham Festival edges ever closer

Air of anticipation mounts as Cheltenham Festival edges ever closer

By Kieron Casey: The Cheltenham Festival takes place over four days and each day engages the crowds as much as the other. The event is now quickly approaching and racing fans are getting excited!

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The equivalent of the FA Cup in football, fans from all over the world will gather to witness the action up close and personal.

Every year the famous racecourse opens its gates to over 220,000 race fans not knowing who is going to shine in each race but well aware that the action they will see won’t disappoint.

The Festival, taking place between the 12th and 16th of March, is the highlight of the year for jump racing, with the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, and World Hurdle all taking place throughout the week.

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January 15th, 2013 Football Comments

Who is Vegard Forren?

Who is Vegard Forren?

Who is Vegard Forren?

By Kieron Casey: Vegard Forren is a name very few British football fans will have heard of before the start of January, when this somewhat innocuous Norwegian midfielder became the subject of fierce speculation from the football betting news linking him to the Premier League.

Newcastle, Tottenham, and Everton were all reportedly tracking the 24-year-old, who has been a mainstay in Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Molde FK squad over recent seasons. Liverpool even offered Forren a week-long trial at Anfield, which he was set to undertake with the Norwegian Tippeliga currently in its offseason.

However, before he arrived on Merseyside, Molde reportedly accepted a bid from Southampton – believed to be around £3.5m – and he immediately headed to the south coast for negotiations.

So, who have the Saints signed here, and can he become the saviour of fans placing a bet on football, helping the side avoid the drop this season? Forren, who made his debut for Molde in 2007, quickly rose to become a central cog in their midfield engine.

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January 8th, 2013 NFL Comments

Marrone Ready for Bills Challenge

Marrone Ready for Bills Challenge

Marrone Ready for Bills Challenge

By Kieron Casey: New Buffalo Bills head coach, Doug Marrone, believes that he is capable of turning round the fortunes of the flagging franchise, despite his lack of experience as a NFL head coach.

Taking his first head coaching position in the NFL, Marrone will inherit a team from Chan Gailey, who paid the price for a disappointing 16-32 record from his three years in charge.

The 48-year old becomes the Bills fifth head coach in 12 years arriving in Buffalo, following a successful four years at Syracuse University.

In his job with Syracuse, Marrone took the football team from having a record of 26-57 from seven years, to leaving with a 25-25 record, including victory in the Pinstripe Bowl following a 38-14 win against West Virginia in what was his final act as head coach of the university.

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December 19th, 2012 Tennis Comments

Heather Watson Should Aim Higher

Heather Watson Should Aim Higher

Heather Watson Should Aim Higher

By Kieron Casey: Heather Watson has given a clear indication of her goals for 2013, earmarking a top-20 finish by the end of next season for the British world number 50. Yet many fans placing a bet on tennis will be disappointed she is aiming so relatively low, for there is genuine belief Watson could mount a serious challenge on the WTA rankings.

Watson currently sits 49th after a magnificent breakthrough season in 2012. She became the first British woman to make the top 50 in decades and is expected to continue her rise through the ranks next season.

“I have a general idea about world rankings and I’d love to be around the 20s at the end of 2013,” she told BBC Guernsey.

Indeed, Watson is right to fancy her chances of progressing up the rankings next year, with another season of tennis experience under her belt. But, after such an outstanding 2012, many tennis fans argue she should be looking at breaking into the top 10 by the close of play next November.

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