Hi Guys,

Below is today's English language versions of the Betting Editorial:

UK

Formula One

Webber hopes to end hoodoo

Mark Webber, 40/1 with bet365 to be the first driver to retire from the European Grand Prix, hopes to bring his poor recent record at Valencia to an end.

Last year the Australian driver was involved in a spectacular crash when his Red Bull car hit the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus-Renault. He smashed into a tyre wall and was forced to retire from the race.

The best he has finished at the track is third, and he has also recorded a ninth and 12th-placed finish. Webber is 67 points behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel going into this race, the eighth round of the championship.

Red Bull are 20/1 to be the first team to retire from the race.

Cricket

Dilshan set to miss out

Kumar Sangakkara could be forced to captain Sri Lanka again as Tillakaratne Dilshan is a major doubt for Saturday's Twenty20 clash against England in Bristol.

Dilshan, 34, broke his thumb in the drawn second Test against England, 8/11 with bet365 to win on Saturday, and was unable to play any part in the third Test at the Rose Bowl.

Sangakkara skippered Sri Lanka, 11/10 to win the Twenty20 clash, at Hampshire's home ground when a rain-affected clash again petered out into a draw, and may have to do the job again if Dilshan is unable to play.

Soccer

Barcelona fail with Fabregas bid

Barcelona, 2/1 with bet365 to defend their Champions League crown in 2011/12, have reportedly had a £27million bid for Cesc Fabregas rejected by Arsenal.

The La Liga giants had two offers for the Spanish international midfielder turned down last year, but Pep Guardiola is determined to land a player that started his career at the Camp Nou.

However, Arsenal, 20/1 to win Europe's premier competition for the first time, have rejected the latest approach for Fabregas as Arsene Wenger attempts to keep his star man.

Australia

AFL

Tigers will be up for Demons challenge

Coach Damien Hardwick wants Richmond, who are 150/1 with bet365 to win the Grand Final, to learn to start games more effectively.

The Tigers return to Melbourne for the first time in a month on Saturday to take on the Demons at the MCG.

Their travels – to Darwin, Sydney and Brisbane – were made even more tiring when they had to return from Sydney by bus because of airline cancellations.

But Hardwick doesn’t expect his players to suffer any ill-effects against Melbourne, as they have only had to train once this week.

And he says the important thing will be to hit the ground running.

He told afl.com.au: “Our second, third and fourth quarters are all pretty good but our first quarters, slow-start-wise, we do struggle a bit.

“But we don't want to jump out of the blocks in the first quarter and then lose the second, third and fourth. We've analysed it to death.”

F1

Webber wants change of luck

Mark Webber, who is 7/1 with bet365 outright, says there is no reason why he should not break his run of bad luck at Valencia in this weekend’s European Grand Prix.

The Australian driver has done no better than third at the circuit, and last year he was involved in a dramatic crash.

He went airborne after his Red Bull car hit the back of Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus-Renault. He smashed into a tyre wall and was forced to retire.

Going to Spain 67 points behind teammate Sebastian Vettel, he is still to win his first race of the year.

But he has made the podium three times so far, and told sportal.com.au: “There's no reason why the car shouldn't perform well there.”

Webber says he enjoys driving at Valencia, despite his previous inability to win there.

He added: “It’s got a really good combination of corners which are challenging.

“It's a circuit that's yet to provide a phenomenal F1 race, but we've seen some special ones this year so hopefully this is an opportunity for Valencia to add its name to the list.”

NRL

Meninga hails Thurston acquittal

Coach Mal Meninga is “thrilled” that star Johnathan Thurston can play in the State of Origin decider for Queensland, who are 4/6 with bet365 to win the series outright.

Thurston was cited for a collision with referee Matt Cecchin, being handed a grade two contrary conduct charge that Meninga labelled “ludicrous”.

His acquittal means he is available for the Maroons as they seek a sixth consecutive Origin series win at Suncorp Stadium.

Meninga now wants the NRL to change the rule to avoid a repetition.

“Everyone is going to be relieved about this,” Meninga told sportal.com.au following Thurston's acquittal.

“I'm just happy that commonsense has prevailed and Johnathan gets to play footy. It's great that he can get out there for the Cowboys, and great that he can play for Queensland in Origin. Any other result would have been wrong.”

Meninga said the rule, as it stood, was too difficult to police.

He added: “You can't be black and white about this sort of thing - you can't just say that if you run into a referee then you are guilty.”

Canada

Baseball American League East

Red Sox to face Pirates

Jon Lester will look to become the first 10-game winner in the major leagues as he takes to the mound for the Red Sox (100/169) against the Pittsburgh Pirates (77/50) at PNC Park in the first of a nine-game road trip that takes Boston on to Philadelphia and Houston. Paul Maholm will answer for the Pirates in the opener.

Baseball American League Central

Twins remain eight games back in the Division

The Minnesota Twins (131/100) will send Scott Baker to the hill against the Milwaukee Brewers (100/141) in hopes of ending their first two-game skid since the start of the month. This after the Giants allowed only a single run in each of the final two games of the three-game series in San Francisco.

Baseball American League West

Pineda solid in no-decision

It doesn't get any easier for Florida Marlins (143/100) manager Jack McKeon as the Seattle Mariners (50/79) will come into town led by Felix Hernandez looking for his eighth win of the year. The Mariners arrive in Miami having been swept by the Nationals in Washington.

Baseball National League East

Riggleman resigns after sweep of Mariners

The Washington Nationals (11/10) traveled to Chicago for their upcoming series with the White Sox (5/6) without their skipper, Jim Riggleman, after the manager abruptly resigned following the successful three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners. There's no word yet as to a possible long term successor.

Baseball National League Central

Cardinals win finale to halt losing streak

After losing two of three against the Phillies, the Cardinals (25/26) will look for a better result against the Toronto Blue Jays (50/53) as St. Louis welcomes the return of inter-league play to Busch Stadium. Jake Westbrook will go in search of his seventh win of the year in the first of three.

Baseball National League West

Lincecum and Wilson keep Giants winning

Jonathan Sanchez, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner will get the starting assignments this weekend as the San Francisco Giants (100/123) continue to face American League Central division opponents. The Cleveland Indians (113/100) come into town after the Giants took two of three from the streaking Minnesota Twins.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me other any other member of the bet365 team.

Thanks,

Adam