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Andy

The Horse Racing category publishes select GB and IE reviews around 10 minutes before races we feel merit your interest.

We also have Steamers & Drifters Today, Football Tips, Hot Jockeys And Trainers, Horse Racing News and Daily Horse Racing Tips.

All are updated daily and available directly at the top of every page under News or Sport.

Latest posts by Andy (see all)

• Saturday Horse Racing Trends and Free Tips: 1st Oct 2022 - September 30, 2022
• 2022 Ayr Gold Cup Betting Trends & Free Tips - September 11, 2022
• Saturday TV Trends and Tips: 17th Sept 22 - September 11, 2022

Copa America 2019

This summer’s COPA AMERICA tournament is hosted by Brazil and takes place between 14 June and 7 July. The format is twelve teams, ten from South America plus invited guests Japan and Qatar, in three groups of four. The Group winners, runners-up and two best third placed teams go through to a knock-out stage. The final takes place in The Maracana Stadium in Rio, on Sunday 7^th July.

Coaches are currently naming their provisional squads, but at this stage it does look like the big names like Messi, Neymar, Suarez and James will be in attendance, so it should be quite aa spectacle.

Teams with FIFA rankings in brackets

Group A

Brazil (3), Bolivia (63), Venezuela (29) and Peru (21)

Group B

Argentina (11), Colombia (12), Paraguay (36) and Qatar (55)

Group C

Uruguay (6), Ecuador (59), Japan (26) and Chile (15)

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On current FIFA ranking we should see Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile make it through as there do not tend to be many shocks at the group stages in the Copa America. The other two places could be any of the remaining six teams with Venezuela probably the most likely qualifiers. The draw would then possibly lead to two semi-finals of Brazil v Colombia and Argentina v Uruguay, should all the results go the way rankings would expect. As we know, that never happens, but those two semi finals would appeal hugely to the organisers and sponsors.

The current holders are Chile, but they have a slightly ageing squad, and they may struggle in their attempt to win it three times in a row. They are generally priced around 11.00 if you think they can do that. Understandably the favourites are the hosts Brazil who will be looking to make up for their failure in the World Cup on home soil in 2014. They have hosted this competition on four occasions and won it each time, so it would take a brave man to oppose them here, even as short as 2.50. When you consider that the host team have only won four of the last twelve tournaments, then that stat for Brazil is quite strong. Argentina are second favourites at 4.50 and they would love to win on Brazilian soil. A lot will depend on how talisman Messi performs, and it has to be said that his International form has never reached the heights of his club form. Will this be the tournament where he finally delivers on an International stage? Argentina are the second most successful side in this competition with fourteen wins, surpassed only by Uruguay with fifteen. They could meet Argentina in the semi-final and that would be a cracker and a lot will depend on goals from Suarez and Cavani. Uruguay at 8.00 will appeal to many who are looking for a little more value and as an each way outright selection, first two places, you are probably relying on them beating Argentina, to draw a return. The only other conceivable winners would be Colombia at 11.00 but it seems pointless to bet them now as if they do reach a semi-final with Brazil, they are still likely to be a decent price to win it. We will cover some of the higher profile games for trading, nearer the time.