Betting Picks

One of two 'Win And You're In' qualifying events on Saturday for the 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championship, the winner of the (G2) Princess Rooney Stakes will grab an automatic starting spot in the BC Filly & Mare Sprint. Eight have drawn into the Princess Rooney, where they'll run for a purse of $250,000 racing seven furlongs on the Gulfstream Park dirt track.

On the undercard of Saturday's Queen's Plate at Woodbine, the (G1) Highlander Stakes is a 'Win And You're In' qualifying race for the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. The race has drawn an eclectic mix of 10 runners, representing four countries and four different US states. They'll race six furlongs in the Woodbine turf course, chasing the Breeders' Cup berth and a total purse of $250,000. 

A couple of weeks after Justify claimed the US Triple Crown, the Canadian Triple Crown kicks off on Saturday with the 159th Queen's Plate from Woodbine Race Track in Toronto. Open to Canadian-bred three-year-old colts and fillies, they'll race 1 1/4 miles on the tapeta surface for a total purse of $1 million. The race has drawn a field of 16, all trying to become the first Canadian Triple Crown winner since 2003.

With Germany eliminated, Spain are now the second-favorites to win the 2018 FIFA World Cup and they should continue their long run of unbeaten matches when they take on the tournament's hosts, Russia. Russia started the tournament in blistering style but were poor against Uruguay and may have peaked too soon. Spain look equipped to win this tournament and should make light work of the Russians.

It is South America versus Europe in this 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Uruguay and Portugal. Those teams who won their final group game have all progressed to at least the semi-finals of the past four World Cups. Uruguay won their final group game, will they carry on this trend in Russia?

Neither France or Argentina have impressed so far at this World Cup, with both struggling to get out of second gear a any stage. Now that the Group Stage is over, however, we may see two different beasts come alive as they know a poor performance could result in them heading home empty handed.

Both Panama and Tunisia have lost their opening two games so have nothing to lose as they cannot qualify for the next round of the tournament. Will this create a game that is wide open or will they both play cagey hoping to secure a point as to not finish last in the competition?

Both England and Belgium have already qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament and neither will be too worried about who they face in the Round of 16. The most likely outcome is that England or Belgium will face Japan or Senegal in the next round.

Switzerland may not have an out and out striker of any quality but they are a solid team who work extremely hard for each other. They have a sprinkling of players who are genuine quality, such as Xherdan Shaqiri who has the ability to both impress and frustrate in equal measure.