Today's Papers / Top Dog / 11 March 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Betfair's top dog sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales

Cruft's champion - Top stories that can dominate the news agenda
Pedigree chum - Insights that tell you something you don't know
Dog's dinner - Speculation, guesswork, or ideas that just don't come off

Top Dog says: Prince William will be backing the Queen's horse Gold Award in the 5.20 at Cheltenham tomorrow according to the Sun, as all the papers get in the Festival mood with colour racing pull-outs. The Sun says Wills is having a flutter at 12-1 - he should have got on with Betfair where the horse is trading at [23.0] this morning! Meanwhile Liverpool arrive in Milan against a troubled background with a new twist in the takeover talks as co-owner Tom Hicks pulls out of a deal with Dubai International Capital at the last minute, and Xabi Alonso pulls out of the trip to the San Siro because he's about to be a dad. Rafa Benitez, who stayed in Japan for the World Club championship in 2005 despite the death of his father, is not impressed.

Cruft's:

Daily Mail - I'm not kidding - Liverpool's Xabi Alonso won't be playing against Inter Milan after refusing to fly to Italy until his girlfriend had given birth to their first child. An echo of the row between Trevor Francis and Martin Allen all those years ago, how will it affect team spirit before what's still a tough test at the San Siro. Liverpool as short as [1.29] to qualify. Top Dog fears that could be a good one to lay.

Daily Mirror - Zanetti Kop warning - More reasons to lay Liverpool if you listen to Javier Zanetti who says if Rafa Benitez tries to sit on his 2-0 lead Inter will turn the tie round.

Daily Express - This hurts, you know - The Express get their money's worth for having Alan Curbishley as a columnist as he gives a personal insight into the strain of getting stuffed 4-0 three times in a week. A vote of confidence won't have made him feel much better and he's shortened to [4.4] in the managerial change market, although talk of other targets is very premature (see below).

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Robert Green interview - Another good take on the West Ham crisis as their goalkeeper insists he's studied all 12 goals he let in last week and couldn't have saved any of them. Good detail and graphics. Green's people are clearly trying to push his England cause because the Mirror have the same interview.

Daily Star - No wonder the Bluebirds are fit - All the North East writers picked up the story that Cardiff's players had watched a fitness DVD starring Roger Johnson's missus Melissa on the way to their Cup win at The Riverside. The Star's picture desk did the job best by fishing out a fetching portrait of the WAG in question wearing stockings and suspenders. Not that Top Dog would have looked at that, of course! Cardiff are now [5.5] to win the Cup

Daily Mail - Goal-shy Owen wants pay rise - Martin Hardy has heard hints from Michael Owen's people that he wants to start talking about a new contract with 18 months left on the current one, and will want a rise on his current £104,000 a week. His 13 goals in a Newcastle shirt have so far cost the club £30million!

Daily Mail - Fergie cancels day off for FA Cup flops - Ian Ladyman gets the inside info on the Old Trafford reaction to going out of the Cup, apart from the explosion at referee Martin Atkinson. Sir Alex held an inquest and cancelled a day off, while Wayne Rooney also accused some other players of letting themselves down. United are [1.22] to put things right at Derby who are an incredible [20] to win a home game!

Daily Mirror - The future is orange - The Mirror are the only paper to give space to what will be a massive night for the Championship promotion race. Aidy Boothroyd says he wants to squeeze opponents Bristol City until the pips squeak - but says Gary Johnson is a contender of manager of the season. City blew their last big chance to dominate the title race when they drew at home to Palace - they could be worth laying at [2.82] tonight. Watford [4] and West Brom [2.56] remain favourites to finish top of the pile.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Star - Hammers want Bil - No, not Hammers legend Billy Bonds but another fans' favourite Slaven Bilic. According to Duncan Wright the Croatia boss is top target to replace Alan Curbishley in the summer. It's not impossible, but wildly speculative at the moment.

Daily Express - The document that proves Hammers flouted the rules - Yawn, yawn. Yet another revelation from Harry Harris about Carlos Tevez, Kia Joorabchian, third party ownership, etc, etc. It happened, it was probably dodgy, West Ham got away with it and are still in the Premier League, get over it and move on.

Daily Mirror - Jari has to search his insole - The Mirror's Football Spy column reveals Jari Litmanen has gone back to Finland to get his boots adapted after a thigh strain followed a heart scare to put off his Fulham debut. Roy Hodgson says: 'He will play but he's been unlucky'. Top Dog reckons he's actually been very fortunate to get a contract for a few months when he's clearly Finnished!

strong>Today's other headlines:

The Sun - That's yer tot - Cardiff vow to fight UEFA ban - We've got the world's number one striker says Gerrard - DIC deal Hick up - Avram's a dead man walking - Ian Wright column - We're not g-Owen to crash - Brian Howard says Cardiff will be tougher than Chelsea or Liverpool.

Daily Express - Gerrard's vow amid Anfield turmoil - Torres is the real deal - Mancini left wondering if fate will rescue Inter - Alonso's shock number two to Rafa - Pompey are now public enemy number one - Curbs job safe, for now at least - Johnson at mercy of WAGS on team bus - Carlos (Queiroz) sticks to views on ref - Owen: I'm still the same force

Daily Star - Get Inter 'Em - Davey's delight - You're Torrified - Miller so glad he quit City - Harry red-hot for glory - Owen: We can't hide from the flak - Darren Bent's battling back

Daily Mirror - Xabi to miss Milan clash after baby row - Dream draw for Steele - the TerminaTorr - FA Cup semi-final draw specials - Roman sharpens axe for Chelsea flops - 12 goals but none of them were my fault says Robert Green

Daily Mail - You can't stop Fernando - Maxherano exclusive interview - Joy for Steele as he dodges semi shut-out - Curbishley is safe for now

Tags: Inter Milan, Liverpool, Rob Green, West Ham