Something For the Weekend. Best Bets for the Racing and Football Action

It seems we can’t rely on the England national side to deliver on the entertainment front, but the other sides at Euro 2024 are at least doing their bit to put on a show. In fairness to Gareth Southgate’s men, they may be about as exciting as watching paint dry, but they are at least picking up positive results – which is exactly what we are hoping for with this weekend’s punting exploits.

Here, using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our best bets on the final day of the magnificent Royal Ascot meeting and the best of the weekend's Group games in Germany.

Saturday: Hardwicke Stakes – Ascot 3:05

We kick things off in this Group 2 1m4f contest for the older runners. No shortage of intriguing contenders in here, including Middle Earth, who returned with a solid effort in the Aston Park Stakes and Desert Hero, who handed the King and Queen a famous success when landing the 2023 edition of the King George V Stakes at this meeting.

The aforementioned duo should run solid races, but we suspect they, and everything else, will be biting off more than they can chew in attempting to master the Aidan O’Brien runner, Continuous. Last sighted finishing an excellent fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the four-year-old’s finest hour came when powering clear to land the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster. That came over 1m6½f, but his latest effort in a Group 2 over this distance saw him win the Great Voltigeur Stakes in a canter. O’Brien is already enjoying an excellent week and can grab further success with this high-class colt.

• Recommended Bet - Continuous to win @ 13/8 with Midnite

Saturday: Golden Gates Handicap – Ascot 5:40

Such is the quality of the racing at Royal Ascot that even the handicaps are jam-packed with regally bred sorts. This 1m2f affair certainly lives up to that billing, with the pedigrees of the contenders littered with the most influential sires of the modern era. Roger Charlton’s Hand Of God heads the betting on the back of a success at Sandown last time but is up 3lbs in the weights and 2f in distance, and looks short enough at around the 3/1 mark. The hattrick-seeking Old Faithful looks like the pick of the Aidan O’Brien duo, whilst the William Haggas runner Approval scored nicely over this trip last time and makes the shortlist.

Approval, in particular, is greatly respected, but the one who may have been overlooked in the market is the Andrew Balding representative Dambuster. By Kingman and out of a Singspiel mare, this one is a full brother to one Group 3 winner and a half brother to another, providing hope that he may be a shade better than a handicapper in time. Two from three in his career to date, he got on top late last time over this distance at Beverley and should be well-suited by the likely strong pace of this event.

• Recommended Bet - Dambuster each way @ 14/1 with LiveScoreBet

Saturday: Turkey vs Portugal – 5pm

The pick of the Saturday Euro 24 is the tea-time kick-off in Dortmund. Turkey and Portugal made a winning start to the competition and stand on the brink of qualification with a game to spare. A draw would probably be enough for both sides, whilst a win all but guarantees top spot and a potentially easier Last 16 tie.

Both sides were dominant on the stats when seeing off Georgia and Czechia – for all that Portugal had to come from behind to win it in the 91st minute. Having registered 73.3% of possession against Czechia, we expect Portugal to dictate the tempo. However, they did look a little vulnerable down their left-hand side in that clash, which could spell trouble on the counter, as marauding down Turkey’s right is Real Madrid sensation Arda Güler. With his tail up following that wonder strike against Georgia, we fancy the 19-year-old to pick his moment against this ageing Portuguese defence and find the net once again.

• Recommended Bet - Arda Güler to score anytime @ 27/5 with BetMGM

Sunday: Scotland vs Hungary – 8pm

It all comes down to this for Scotland and Hungary. With Germany guaranteed to progress and Switzerland as good as through, the Scots and Magyars must win to have any hope of joining their Group A compatriots in the Last 16. Three points will almost certainly be enough for Scotland. Hungary must win and keep their fingers crossed that the other results go their way. A draw is no good for either side.

Scotland will be encouraged by a much improved showing in their draw with Switzerland, where they were a far greater attacking threat than against Germany in their opener – carving out 10 shooting opportunities inside the area. However, Hungary were impressive at times against the Germans, creating seven chances inside the box when giving the hosts far more to think about than Scotland did. We see goals in this one and give the attacking edge to the Hungarian trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Roland Sallai, and Barnabás Varga.

• Recommended Bet - Hungary to win and Both Teams to Score @ 33/10 with Midnite