Another exciting weekend of sport awaits us and for something different this week I am going to try and pick for readers a multi bet that should lead to a handsome return.  Earlier editions of Shumpty’s Punt have been met with some comment about the inappropriateness of glorifying gambling.  I do not write this blog to specifically offend people and I apologise if I do.  Equally if you not a punting fan, I suggest you exercise your right to choose and decline to read any further into this post.

That now said, onto this weekends action and the weekend multi.  All prices quoted are from sportsbet.com.au.

We will start with tonight’s AFL fixture between the Swans and Cats at the SCG.  This game is the match of the round for mine and features two sides coming off a bye.  The Swans have the best percentage in the AFL whilst the Cats have struggled for peak form all year.  I am leaning towards the Swans in this one in front of their home fans in what presents as a tight tussle.

Swans by 1-39 ($2.25)

Later on Friday evening England host the West Indies in the third one day match of their ongoing series.  Whilst I am often loath to bet on the shorter forms of cricket for obvious reasons, I like England here to continue their domination of the West Indies despite the return of that man Gayle.

England to win ($1.70)

For the third leg of the multi attention turns to the Australia v Wales Rugby Union clash at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  So far this series has involved some excellent and tight rugby from both sides with the Wallabies stealing a victory in Melbourne last week.  With the Welsh coming to the end of a longish tour and the Wallabies injecting new blood in the form of Kurtley Beale I expect the Wallabies to prevail again here in what again could end up a close score line.

Australia by 1-12 ($2.60)

In the interests of not getting too greedy I will limit the multi this week to four legs and for this the fourth and last leg I have found a little bit of value in the Formula 1 race from Valencia.  This F1 year has been a nightmare for tipsters with seven different winners from seven races.  That being the case I am going to avoid tipping a winner and tip Sergio Perez from the Sauber team to finish in the points (Top 10).  Aside from one DNF in Spain Perez has been one of the most consistent drivers in the paddock and I expect him to again pilot his Sauber machine into the points.

Perez in the Top 10 ($1.72)

All up this multi if it gets up will pay $17.11 for each dollar you place on it.  I have gone with $25 for my investment.

Outside of the multi, I have decided to round out my bets this weekend with a bet on the Sonoma Toyota/Save Mart 350 (NASCAR).  This is a road circuit and Australian Marcus Ambrose is the raging favourite to win his first race of the year in this race.  Anything can happen in these races but at $4.50 I consider Ambrose excellent value and will be placing some of my hard earned on him.

Good luck for anyone having a punt this weekend and as always if you don’t have the cash to spare don’t bet: it is simple really.