The pundits are back to look ahead to QPR’s crucial match at West Brom on Saturday, and of course the Grand National weekend.

A blank week for Brian last week, following a £1.25 profit the week before, drops back to £251.60 in the black. His 4/1 horse came in second last week so that was a near miss. Nothing from Andy since Arsenal when he lost another £50 to move out to £180.32 in the red. He has now fled the country. No, seriously.

Brian Power

WBA V QPR looks like a nightmare set of letters the lovely Rachel Riley would pull out on Countdown. The Baggies don't have a good home record this year losing nine and have won once in the last seven and that was their last home game against Blackburn . They have also only scored 18 goals at the Hawthorns and I think we can heap more misery on them. I will go for a 2-1 win and Zamora to score first (good grief – ed).

The two FA Cup semi finals take place at Wembley to allow our inept and buffoon led FA to grasp more cash out of the normal supporter. Both games are too close to call so a double on both to be draws. In the Championship Brighton travel to West Ham who are in woeful form at home and the 5/1 on the Seagulls is worth a bet.

The Grand National takes place and I am going for two choices. First pick is Killyglen who was running a big race when coming down four from home last year and has won at Aintree (although over hurdles). The regular reader of this column will know how much I rate Donald McCain and tipped his horse Ballabriggs to win last year. I would not put any one off backing it again although the downside is a 10lbs weight rise and no horse has retained the title since Red Rum in 74 trained by Donald’s father Ginger who died this year. Now there is your Grand National story for 2012. He also runs Weird Al and if right could go close so will have a small stake at a big price.

Good Luck.

For the weekend:

£5 QPR to win 2-1 14/1

£5 Bobby Zamora to score first 13/2

£5 Liverpool/Everton (23/10) and Chelsea/Spurs (12/5) to be draws

£5 Brighton to beat West Ham 5/1

£2 trebles and £2 acca

Blackpool 21/10

Charlton 8/5

Sheff Wed Evs

MK Dons 7/5

The Grand National

Killyglen £5 e/w 20/1

Ballabriggs £7.50 win 12/1

Weird Al £1.25 e/w 50/1

Previously advised:

£10 Spurs to win FA Cup 8/1

Andy Hillman

The continuing skew in the work/life balance, coupled with following Clive’s sorry ass around the country (ask him about the ‘woman’ in the club in Blackpool...) meant that I missed last week’s betting column, where I would have basked in the fact that my mini-breakdown and spiteful backing of Arsenal and RVP to score meant that neither happened.

This will be the first game I’ve missed home or away since Everton away, some eight months ago. Perhaps not watching the match might bring me some luck – I can’t get much worse. Despite our lousy away record, I fancy us to get a result against West Brom on Saturday, so I’m backing the QPR win at 29/10 with Stan James (oh Jesus – ed). Assuming that Mackie is fit after hobbling off against Swansea, he’s a very good price of 9/2 to score anytime with Ladbrokes, so I’ll definitely take a piece of that as well.

If Van Persie hadn’t scored against Wolves, it would have been his worst goal-scoring drought in five years. I fancy him to do us a favour against Wigan on Monday, and I’m backing him to open the scoring at 9/4 with Bet365.

The Grand National is on Saturday, and whilst horse racing isn’t really my thing (I’m taking personal responsibility for Kauto Star’s retirement...) I’m going to do what every gran in the country does, and have a flutter. I’ve been recommended Black Apalachi as a solid each way bet, at a whopping 50/1 with William Hill.

Finally, I’m going to do a sevenfold for my accumulator this week, breaking my own imposed rules, because the rules I’ve been keeping have hardly been working out for me, have they? Man U, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Juventus, Barca and Real Madrid. The cream of Europe at the moment. 6/1 for all seven.

For the Weekend:

West Brom vs QPR - QPR to win - £10 @ 29/10

West Brom vs QPR - Mackie to score anytime - £10 @ 9/2

Arsenal vs Wigan – RVP to score first - £10 @ 9/4

Grand National – Black Apalachi - £7.50ew @ 50/1

Sevenfold accumulator: Man U, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Juventus, Barca and Real Madrid. £10 @ 6/1.

Tweet @loftforwords, @andy_hillman

Photo: Action Images

dixiedean added 10:33 - Apr 14 don't think we can look for a draw at Baggies - we must go for 3 pts there,which would turn up the heat on the others, esp if Wig & Bburn lose ( quite possible)and Bolton don't play until next Sat. I don't think we can pick & choose which games we try to win lose or draw , (at least now that OT is out of the way) and a win today would make us strong favourites to stay up and put "scoreboard pressure " on the others as Geoff Boycott likes to say. I'd only take a draw if we snatched one from a defeat.

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