Dave1962

Top of the table DET Pistons take on eleventh-place MIL Bucks. MIL Bucks have lost their last four away games and lost on their last visit to DET Pistons.

DEN Nuggets are nine places higher in the table than MEM Grizzlies. DEN Nuggets have won their last nine home games. The last seven times DEN Nuggets have welcomed MEM Grizzlies, the home side has won.

Since moving to the Dan Skelton yard, Maestro Conti has raced three times, winning twice and finishing second last time out. His two wins were on good and soft ground. His last race was in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, where he finished second, with Minella Study third and Selma De Vary fourth. His advantage over these two, who renew rivalry today, was over a length. Therefore, I am taking Maestro Conti to confirm the form of that Cheltenham race and go one better here at Liverpool.

Having finished third in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, Lulamba is looking to make amends. His two conquerors that day were Kargese and Kopek des Bordes, and neither of those are in opposition today. In that race, Lulamba finished eighteen lengths clear of the fourth horse. On ratings, Lulamba is well clear, so he has every chance to return to winning ways.

Jango Baie is the youngest horse in the race. He finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Today he takes a slight step back in distance, and if fully recovered from his exertions at Cheltenham, Jango Baie looks to be the horse his rivals have to beat.

The two runners who fought out the finish in the Hunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival once again lock horns. Barton Snow has raced four times this season and won them all. In total, he has raced five times over the larger obstacles and is yet to be beaten. Ground conditions should not be an issue, as he has won on Good, Good to Soft, and Soft. At Cheltenham he won by a neck, but the last time he ran over a similar distance to today he won by over four lengths. Providing he takes to the Aintree fences, then every chance the same jockey who rode him to victory at Cheltenham can do the same at Liverpool.

In his career, The New Lion has won a total of six races. Four of those races have been between half a furlong shorter than today's distance and one furlong longer. He finished third in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, having been outpaced towards the end of the race. The extra distance should be in his favour today, so there is every chance The New Lion can return to the winner's enclosure on this, his first visit to Liverpool.

Since moving to this country and joining the Paul Nicholls yard, Sans Bruit has raced a total of eighteen times. In that time he has registered three wins, which have all come in the month of April. He has won this race for the last two seasons. He is three pounds higher than when winning this race last year, but six pounds below his last winning mark. If Sans Bruit does his best running in the spring, then he has every chance to complete a hat-trick of wins in this race.

It may only have been a Class Five race, but there was much to like about the way Burds of a Feather sauntered to a nineteen-length win. Today she takes a step up in grade to a Class Two race. Interestingly, the current favorite Princess Day won her opening hurdle race in a Class Five event by a comfortable two lengths before, next time out, going up in grade to a Class Two race and winning that. Hopefully Burds of a Feather can do the same and can gain an Aintree winner for one of the youngest trainers in the country, Max Comley.

Tommy Fleetwood has a best finish of tied third, which was in 2024. He has shown he can play this course, having completed a round in 66. This will be his tenth appearance at the Masters, so with his knowledge of the course and experience, Tommy Fleetwood could once again be in contention come Sunday evening.

Last year Justin Rose made a blistering start to the Masters with eight birdies and one bogey for a 65, which was seven under par. If he can do the same today without any dropped shots, then he has every chance of being the first-round leader.

A win for West Ham against bottom-of-the-table Wolves would see them move out of the relegation zone, to be replaced by Tottenham. West Ham have a good record when playing Wolves at home. They have won the last five meetings, with Wolves failing to find the back of the net in four of those games. The last four Premier League home games played by West Ham have resulted in one win and three draws. Holding Manchester City to a draw in their last home game would appear to give West Ham a decent chance of gaining a valuable three points with a win against Wolves.

Arsenal appear to be closing in on the Premiership title. They have seven remaining games and are nine points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand and an inferior goal difference. Winning six more matches would mean Arsenal would be crowned champions even if Man City win all their remaining games. Bournemouth are down in thirteenth place and have drawn their last five games. Arsenal have won their last three home Premiership games, scoring seven goals and only conceding once. Bournemouth's last away defeat in the Premiership was towards the end of last year. Having learned from the previous season, Arsenal appear a stronger side, so there is every chance they can get the win and keep their Premiership ambitions firmly on course.

Both teams have played thirty-one games and have forty-six points, which is three points off fifth place. Brentford have taken just two points from their last four home games. The two teams that Brentford lost to in this period are both below Everton in the table. Everton have taken seven points from their last four away games. Their one defeat was against the top of the table, Arsenal.

Burnley's performances may have been improving, but they are still not getting points on the board, and unless things change quickly they will be relegated. Brighton are on a decent run and have moved to within six points of a play-off spot. They have won their last two away games, which were at Sunderland and Brentford. Both of those teams are higher in the table than Burnley.

Both teams are in the bottom half of the table. Crystal Palace are three points behind Newcastle with a game in hand. Newcastle won their last away Premiership game at Chelsea, while Palace could only draw their last home league game, which was against Leeds. If Newcastle play as they can, there is every chance they will come home with all three points.

Despite their recent ups and downs, Aston Villa remain fourth in the Premiership and are still involved in the Europa League. Nottingham Forest won their last game, which was away at Tottenham. That win moved them out of the relegation zone. Twenty-two points separate these two teams in the Premiership, so I'm going with the higher-position team to get the win.

Liverpool are currently hanging on to fifth spot in the Premiership, just one point above Chelsea. Liverpool have stumbled a little of late at home, but it is doubtful, with the recent away form of Fulham, that they will be able to capitalise on this. The last three meetings between these two sides when Liverpool have been at home have resulted in one draw and two wins for Liverpool.

Before the international break, Sunderland won away at Newcastle, while Tottenham lost at home to Nottingham Forest. With Spurs looking in freefall, if Sunderland can build upon that Newcastle win, they have every chance to stop the run of three consecutive home defeats and get the win.

On three of their last four visits to Chelsea, Manchester City have come away with a win. Having beaten Arsenal in the final of the EFL Cup, City will be looking to get the win over another London club and keep up the pressure on top of the table.

In his seven US Matstes appearances, Harris English achieved his best finish when finishing tied in twelfth position last year thanks to his sixty-eight on the final round.He aslo finished second at the British Open. If he can improve on the level of play he showed last season, Harris English could be a live outsider.

Last year Justin Rose rolled back the years to finish runner-up to Rory McIlroy, losing in a play-off. Over three rounds he shot under par, with a 65 opening round and a 66 final round. Having finished runner-up three times, hopefully this year Justin Rose will get to put on the green jacket.

Matt Fitzpatrick appears to be one of the in-form players. He finished second in the Players Championship and then followed that up with a win. Both those tournaments were in March. If he stays in form, very possibly Matt Fitzpatrick could better his seventh-place position in 2026.

Justin Rose will no doubt go about his job very calmly and professionally. Having finished runner-up three times, he obviously feels comfortable playing around Augusta. If he can keep himself in contention going into the third and fourth rounds, then he has every chance of performing best of the Europeans.

Having already tipped Justin Rose for Masters glory and Top European, it appears only right that I have him as my selection for Top GB and Ireland player. He showed last year that he can play his way into contention if not too far off the lead going into the final round. If he finds himself in that position again, he could be the player who handles himself best from a GB and Ireland perspective.

If Michael Carrick can keep Manchester United in the top four until the end of the season, then there is every chance he will be their next permanent manager. With seven games to play, they are third in the table and currently have a six-point cushion over the team in fifth spot. Leeds are only four points clear of the relegation zone, so they could also do with the points. Manchester United have won their last five home games, while Leeds have one defeat and four draws from their last five away Premier League games.