Stan Hey: 6-5 Against

Trophy season can spell reward for punters

A glorious month lies ahead for punters as football and rugby union reach their trophy-winning climaxes and while some of my long-distance bets are still running, a few have already pulled up (goodbye Rotherham!). One intact rugby bet is for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup.

Toulouse's defeat by Wasps in a pool game forced them on to the road for the knock-out stages, and though they got past Biarritz, beating a Brian O'Driscoll-inspired Leinster in a packed Aviva stadium in Dublin will be a tall order. So I must have a few quid on Northampton as back-up. They face Perpignan tomorrow, at unappealing odds of 8-15. Better to back them for the Cup outright – £20 win at 100-30, Stan James.

The stand-out matches in the Premier League feature Chelsea at home to Spurs this evening and Manchester United at Arsenal tomorrow. Everton nearly got a result for us at United but it's hard to see Arsenal turning them over. A £10 win double, Chelsea and United, pays just over 3-1 at Ladbrokes.

Racing fans have a feast this week – Guineas this weekend; Chester and Punchestown midweek; Kentucky Derby next Saturday. Frankel, at 4-7, is way too short to back for the 2,000 Guineas, so £5 goes on Saamidd (33-1) for a place. The 1,000 Guineas is consigned to Memory, £10 at 11-2, Boylesports; while Admiral Barry, £5 each-way at 14-1 with William Hill, can sail in at Chester.