THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN
THE COCKEREL TO CROW AGAIN AS FRANCE AIMING TO RETAIN THEIR COURONNE (CROWN)
In a sport where home field advantage (sounds American?) is critical, this year’s Six Nations, surely the most respected Rugby Union tournament in the world, will be retained by FRANCE, who this year, not only play three of their five matches at home, but also host Ireland and England, arguably their two toughest opponents in Paris.
The Six Nations begins next week, on Thursday 5 February, so get on early and take the 4/5 on offer. I appreciate the price is skinny but to me it is an absolute shoo-in.
In a great night for sports fans, the Premier League darts begins in Newcastle and this year it looks a block busting tournament with only Gary Anderson and Nathan Aspinall missing out.
The new kid on the block (no not the Nuke) but GIAN VAN VEEN can strike a blow for the Dutch and is offered a sporting bet at a tempting 7/1. He should qualify for finals night at the O2 and is a big stage player. Obviously Littler is the most likely winner and 4/5 is not too skinny for the same reasons as above, so I would not put anyone off the rugby/darts double at 9/4.
But, there is also a market on who comes last, and I would put up debutante JOSH ROCK at a universal 12/1 for small stakes.
SUPERBOWL
Superbowl 60 climaxes this Sunday and followers of this column will know I was sweet on SEATTLE to take Vince home (Lombardi) and the 7/2 advised is long gone, but the above double, if combined/ extended to a treble with the Seahawks enhances the 9/4 to 4/1.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The order has now been finalised for the knockout stages of the Champions League, with the top 8 at a greater advantage over clubs 9-24 in the rankings by virtue of playing one knockout round less.
PHTM FEBRUARY 2026
It goes further - clubs that have qualified 1-4 not only have the advantage of playing the lowest ranked surviving club from the knockout last 24 round, but also have a further advantage of playing the second leg at home, and now that there is no away goals rule, extra time after a full 180 minutes favours the home team. Cappiche?
That said the all powerful FC HOLLYWOOD (Bayern Munich) look excellent value at 5/1 to give us a good run for our money.
Those more patriotic, can back the winner coming from any of the six English teams at a shade of odds against (11/10) with Bet Victor. Not for me though, but just saying. A decent bet, but not enough dragons!
FORMULA ONE
In little over a month the 2026 Formula One season gets underway in Australia. It only seems like November since the last one finished! Hold on, it was!! But it’s all changed because new regulations mean that the Papaya will not have the best car or the best driver this year, at least at the start, and the Silver Arrows are widely tipped to re-establish their dominance. For the less enthusiastic or knowledgeable, that’s Toto Wolff and MERCEDES. One driver who outperformed his car last year was GEORGE RUSSELL and in what could be a seismic year, take Russell to win the drivers’ crown at a juicy 11/4. They are available for the Constructors Championship at a tempting 13/8.
So until next month......where I will be focusing on Cheltenham and the Festival....
Good punting Bernie the Book 73
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