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You’ve just got to take your hat off to Saddleworth’s superman Kevin Sinfield.

He’s displayed the true spirit of rugby league completing a remarkable SEVEN marathons in as many days raising £2.3 million for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in support of his close friend and Leeds Rhinos team mate Rob Burrow who has been diagnosed  with the disease.

It was a phenomenal achievement showing the fantastic spirit and camaraderie of Super League which I am proud to be the title sponsor.

I have done one or two marathons  in different parts of the world and enjoyed taking part but to do seven on the bounce is just remarkable.  

This is what Betfred TV pundit Oldham-born Paul Sculthorpe had to say about the fella he calls Skinny: “ We always say our sport is the greatest and the best for looking after our own – well I must give a massive congratulations to my good friend and fellow Waterhead ARLFC junior Kevin Sinfield. 

“Kev set out to raise £77,777 for his good friend Rob Burrow, who was sadly diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease back in December last year. 

“Sinny set himself a challenge of running seven marathons in seven days, all under four hours.

“Well, he achieved that, and with the fantastic support of the BBC, MND Association and the backing of the whole rugby league community, he has gone on to raise a staggering £2.3m which will help further research and support to other sufferers of this cruel illness. Well done mate.”

It’s the 183rd Manchester Derby on Saturday, and it should be an early Christmas cracker!

 City are odds-on favourites, but you never know in one off games of this magnitude.

Pep Guardiola’s side had much the easier run-in having strolled to victory against Fulham and then a dead-runner against Marseille – meanwhile Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had to orchestrate a comeback win at West Ham and then a trip to Germany in the Champions League.

It should be a fascinating clash of styles with United’s counter-attacking tactics, that have led to 19 goals so far this season, against the Blues’ more measured, possession-based style that has produced two goals less.

The Manchester giants lie 5th and 6th in the table, with City 2/1 second-favourites at Betfred to be crowned Premier League champions next year, while United have been cut to 20/1 after that victory in London.

Current champions Liverpool remain favourites at 7/4 to defend their crown, while the fast-improving Chelsea are 5/1 ahead of surprise leaders Tottenham at 11/2.

The remaining team in the top six is Leicester, who are proving their critics wrong but rely too much in my opinion on evergreen striker Jamie Vardy, at 33/1.

City are 3/4 to triumph at Old Trafford on Saturday, while United are 10/3.

The Reds are infuriating with their inconsistency this season, but at least we can claim to be the luckiest team in the land.

Clearly Paul Pogba’s wonder goal at West Ham should have been chalked out because the ball had clearly gone over the touchline when cleared by Dean Henderson.

Don’t try and blame the linesman, because he really would need eyes in the back of his head as he was bombing down the touchline as he’s supposed to ready to be in position to see if anyone was offside.

I’m glad of course that goal stood, because it set us up for the 3-1 victory against the Hammers that catapulted us up to 5th in the table, one point ahead of City, before the big one on Saturday.

Pogba took time out after his goal to explain why he’s been struggling of late having suffered from coronavirus pre-season, at times struggling for breath.

I hope he’s over it now, because our record signing will need to be at his very best for Saturday when I reckon all will be decided in midfield with the Reds needing to get possession off City’s slick-passing players – and it will be up to Pogba to spring the passes for speedsters such as Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial to test City’s defence.

Here’s hoping both teams play their academy products Rashford, Greenwood and Phil Foden, for us fans just love a local hero and of course this derby will mean so much more to them than with local bragging rights up for grabs.

United’ exit from the Champions League at the hands of Leipzig only underlines our inconsistency but City will know they should be wary of a wounded tiger. My head says it will be a City win but you can guess what my heart says! Incidentally United are the new favourites at Betfred at 5/1 to win the Europa League after missing out in the elite European league and have to play their matches on a Thursday.

Finally my congratulations to a big Betfred winner… Neil Maher.

 This boxing coach from Liverpool  KO’d me after winning over £417,331 on the horses.

 The 40-year-old father-of-two from Liverpool floored us at Betfred by defying odds of 60,000/1 with four winners from his £5 each-way Lucky 15 bet.

He’s going to splash his once-in-a-lifetime windfall on a honeymoon he and his long-term partner Leanne have never had.

Self employed  heating engineer Neil and Leanne were childhood sweethearts originally meeting at Bootle High School but, although having been together for over 20 years, have never married.

He’d already proposed and the wedding is booked for July next year, but the couple had no plans for a honeymoon… until now.

The world is literally their oyster now and they’re off to Cuba after the nuptials, although Neil joked it would be more like a “familymoon” as they will be taking along their two teenage sons!

“We didn’t have anything planned in terms of a honeymoon, but now with this brilliant win we’re off to Cuba which I’ve always thought is an interesting place…I will also be getting Leanne a much more expensive wedding ring,” said Neil.

“The horses came in on Saturday and Leanne has been really emotional and has barely stopped crying.

“As well as the special honeymoon, I’m going to invest in some property, probably buy to rent or maybe a self build. I doubt even now I can get anything like ass many houses as Robbie Fowler! My sons will get basically whatever they want after what is my biggest win ever by a long chalk. It goes without saying we’ll be having the best family Christmas ever.

“How did I celebrate? I just had a couple of beers and then a cup of coffee. 

“I’d love to be able to get a season ticket at Liverpool, or even two, but it doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got because there is such a long waiting list.”

Neil, who lives in Litherland and is the owner and head coach at Aintree Amateur Boxing Club, found himself in the money after studying form late on Friday and making his selections just before midnight.

He spent half an hour picking horses based on a variety of factors, including being towards the bottom of the handicaps,  suited by the soft going and being a big price.

That strategy certainly paid off for Neil when his last selection, Benson, was first past the post at Sandown as the 9/2 second-favourite, despite backing the gelding at 10/1.

His Betfred Lucky 15 bet got off to a brilliant start earlier in the day when Veux Lion Rouge, a horse that had never fallen over the Grand National fences at Aintree, came home at best odds of 14/1, followed by further wins for Talking About You and Beau Bay at 16/1 and 22/1 respectively. 

Neil, who has been a Betfred customer for all of his adult life, added: “Betfred always have the best odds, and I like the Double Delight/Hat-trick Heaven offer on the football as well.

“It is a fantastic feeling to have won so much. We might have another holiday to celebrate, but obviously we’ll have to wait until the COVID restrictions are lifted.

Naturally I fixed it for Neil to not only have a celebratory bottle of champagne, but a little taste of Cuba with a complementary cigar.

Neil has got me on the ropes with this one, but let’s say I may have been floored but it’s only round one!

Good luck and well done. Neil boxed clever and beat me fair and square. His win included a £37,000 bonus from us with all four of your horses galloping home first. 

 

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