Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 27 July 2009 / Leave a comment

Mowbray's got Celtic firing, the weather forecast makes repeat Egbaston heroics unlikely and Hampshire on a high...

Back Celtic to beat D Moscow @ [2.0]
Back England and Australia to draw @ [2.0]
Back Hampshire to beat Northamptonshire @ [1.9]
£10 Treble @ [7.6]

Mark Cavendish has revealed the secret behind his achievements in this year's Tour de France. He has claimed that "a smaller breakfast is the key to success". Dieticians and sports scientists have combined their brain powers and backed up Cavendish's claims by stating that 'in France one egg is un oeuf.'
Here is an omelette of sporting delights for your delectation this week....

Bet 1: Football - Champions League

These early European qualifiers can prove to be tricky for managers as they try to balance the need for players' recovery time with getting them up to speed for top class competitive football. That challenge can prove even greater when you are drawn to face a Russian side that are 15 games into a 30 game season.

That is the conundrum Tony Mowbray has been presented with in his quest to take Celtic into the lucrative Champions League group stages this year - Dinamo Moscow are the Parkhead visitors on Wednesday night. But if last weekend's Wembley Cup is anything to go by, Mowbray has found the right balance and has his side bang on course for the challenge ahead.

Lest not forget (before we are reminded by the Celtic PR machine) that the Scots have a nigh on impeccable home record in the Champions League which has been the key to any success they have seen in recent years. It's no easy task for Celtic but I fancy them to edge this one as they have done so regularly in home Champions League ties in the past.

Selection: Back Celtic to beat Dinamo Moscow @ [2.0]

Bet 2: Cricket - The Ashes

Kevin Pietersen's injury has begun to swing the pendulum back in the direction of Australia in an Ashes series which has once again provided plenty of talking points. Or at least that is what the Aussie's will be hoping.

But problems such as Pietersen's absence can often breed unity within teams and it definitely won't have has much of an effect on morale as the absence of Andrew Flintoff would.

Edgbaston is England's most successful home venue in history - the home side the victors in over 50% of test matches played at the ground. And who can forget the 2005 Ashes test match? I'm sure we will see endless replays of Harmison taking Kasprowicz's wicket and Freddie consoling Brett Lee whilst the England team and fans celebrate around them. But unfortunately the weather looks like it will put pay to any chance of us seeing a repeat of the 2005 result. With rain forecast for every one of the five days, the draw is the only sensible pay here.

Selection: Back England and Australia to draw @ [2.0]

Bet 3: Cricket - Twenty20 Cup

Fresh from their Friends Provident Trophy success Hampshire will aim to keep the momentum rolling against Northamptonshire in the Twenty20 Cup. The winner of this match will complete the semi-final draw and book their place at Edgbaston for finals day in August.

Cricket, perhaps more than most sports, is a game in which players and teams feed and grow from runs of good form. Hampshire's players will be on a high after Sunday's results and be keen to experience lifting another trophy as soon as possible.

Veteran Dominic Cork was inspirational with the ball at Lord's and Michael Lumb once again provided a solid platform for victory with the bat. The latter's call-up to England's provisional 30-man, Champions trophy squad means that he will be eager to display his qualities in front of the Sky cameras. Three top class performances on his way to lifting this trophy could see him retain his place when the squad is trimmed in September.

Hampshire are the team to beat at present and are my fancy to lift the trophy in August, but for now we will do with backing them just to make it to finals day.

Selection: Back Hampshire to beat Northamptonshire @ [1.9]

Tags: Andrew Flintoff, Ashes betting, Australia, Brett Lee, Celtic, Champions League football betting, Cricket betting, Dinamo Moscow, England, Hampshire CCC, Jaymes Monte, Multiples Betting, Northamptonshire CCC, Ricky Ponting, Tony Mowbray