Midweek's Big Winning Bets

There is plenty of top-quality sporting action with internationals in rugby union as the Northern Hemisphere sides travel south of the equator for tours to Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Closer to home, there is the rearranged Test match with India at Edgbaston as well as the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock and the Eclipse at Sandown.

Friday night will also see England U19 go for European Championship glory with Israel standing between them and a record-equalling 11^th title at this level.

However, that is all still to come and there has been plenty to keep us interested over the past week as we review the big winning spread markets.

Please remember that unlike fixed odds betting, when spread betting losses can exceed deposits.

ENGLAND U19 v ITALY U19 – CROSS-BOOKINGS (SETTLED AT 2400)

England have a decent pedigree at the U19 Euros and although France were the favourites before the tournament began, many still give the Young Lions a good chance. On Tuesday they came up against Italy and looked to do what the senior side failed to do last summer.

Carmine Nunziata’s side took the lead through a Fabio Miretti penalty in the 12^th minute as he held his nerve from the spot. The 18-year-old has already played six matches for Juventus and was impressive as Italy pressed and harried England throughout the first half.

However, a triple change from Ian Foster in the 56^th minute changed the game with Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott equalising with his first touch just two minutes later. Another sub, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (following the Jadon Sancho route from Manchester City to Borussia Dortmund), was influential as England bagged a late winner through Daniel Jebbison to send England to another major youth final.

The big spread wins in this fixture were in the bookings market with ten yellow cards shown throughout the match, four of which came after the 90^th minute in injury time. England racked up 40 booking points and Italy hit 60 with the Cross-Bookings market settling at 2400.

Before kick-off, the spread was 450-530, with buyers winning 1870x their stake.

ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA – MARIZANNE KAPP 1^st INNINGS RUNS (SETTLED AT 150)

Women’s Test matches are very few and far between but after the men produced a pulsating series with New Zealand, this was a good time for the women to ride the crest of a red ball wave.

South Africa were the visitors to Taunton and they were sent in to bat first by Heather Knight with her decision paying off early. Debutants Issy Wong and Lauren Bell both took wickets for England in the morning session as the visitors were reduced to 45/4.

Up stepped Marizanne Kapp however, and an inspired knock from the 32-year-old - playing in her first Test match since November 2014 - steadied the ship for the South Africans. She pounced on anything that was slightly wide and her century was brought up in just 151 balls, the fastest anyone has managed against England in this format.

The Eastern Province all-rounder added a further 50 runs before a superb catch from Tammy Bell ended an innings that ultimately helped the South Africans salvage a draw out of the match.

Before play began on Monday, Kapp’s 1^st Innings Runs spread was 25-29 and buyers were left doffing their cap to the South African sensation as they won 121x their stake.

HAYDOCK 30^th JUNE – TOM MARQUAND SUPER-MEGA PERFORMANCE (SETTLED AT 185)

Tom Marquand and William Haggas have been a lethal combination this season and the duo enjoyed another delightful day at Haydock on Thursday.

Their first entry came in the third race of the day with Soulcombe being sent off 10/3 second favourite at the Merseyside track. Despite being away slowly, the three-year-old stayed on well to head 2/1 favourite Hilts in the final furlong.

Desert Hero gave the pair a 2¾ length victory in the Class 4 Novice Stakes race, before the hat-trick bid was foiled by a neck in the fourth race of the day. Hugo Palmer’s Skittlebombz won by a short head with Thunder Legend a neck behind in third for Marquand and Haggas.

That defeat was the one blemish for Marquand as he won the final two races under Substantial (7/2 cf) and Hamaki (10/3) to cap a memorable day for the 24-year-old.

A jockey’s Super-Mega performance awards 25 points for the first win on a card, 50 for the second, 75 for the third and 25 for every win thereafter. A second-place earns ten points and a third-place finish earns five. Before racing began, the spread on Marquand was 47-50, but with four wins and a third he earned 185 points (an additional five points for having a non-runner which was priced 5/1 or greater). Buyers ended with a win of 135x their stake.

Please note that these are examples of winning bets from the past week, and it is important to remember that spread betting carries a high level of risk to your capital and can result in losses larger than your initial stake/deposit.