Safety first is sound option this weekend

Many accumulator bets went down the drain last week as Walsall and Reading in the Second Division and Chesterfield and Brighton in the Third Division all got turned over. There was also no escape for mug punters who dodged the lower league slaughter as Manchester United and Chelsea both came a cropper in the top flight.

However, this weekend should see the victorious return of the odds-on brigade. After I picked out some gems last week, we'll go for a change of tack and a safety-first policy.

Both Reading and Walsall should redeem themselves when they entertain Luton Town and Cambridge United respectively. Prices of 4-9 and 2-5 may hardly whet the appetite, but I make their 'real' prices 1-3 and 2-7!

Walsall were never at their best last week losing 2-0 at Millwall, but they were the better team for long periods and deserved at least a point. Visitors Cambridge have an abysmal away record particularly against the division's top teams having lost 3-0 to Reading and 3-1 at Millwall. Expect that pattern to continue.

Reading were off-colour at Notts County last week when they were torn apart by the pace of Danny Allsopp. Despite their display, Reading were set for a point until Allsopp's late winner.

They take on a Luton side who won 3-1 at Stoke - a team still reeling from their 8-0 Worthington Cup hammering by Liverpool. However, the Hatters followed that with an horrendous home display against an ordinary Colchester side. Expect Luton to get a wake-up call from the Royals.

Combine those two homes in trebles and a four-timer with Watford (who showed more of their old form at home to West Bromwich Albion last week) to see off Huddersfield, and Darlington (who played well in a narrow defeat at Orient) at home to Lincoln.

On the racing front, three or four drying days at Kempton Park should ensure we don't get a mud bath for the King George VI Chase.

That will count against the stamina-laden See More Business (too short at 5-4) and French raider First Gold. When I saw trainer Francois Doumen, he thought First Gold was at least the equal of The Fellow. That is good enough to entitle the raider to the utmost respect, but the value is elsewhere.

Beau's Whitbread form seems to have been overrated and the remaining value lies with Edredon Bleu and Go Ballistic. Take a point each-way on both.

THIS WEEK'S BETS: Trebles & four-fold: Reading 4-9, Walsall 1-2, Watford 8-11, Darlington 10-11.

Treble for Boxing Day: Liverpool, Barnsley, Kidderminster. Horse Racing: 1pt each-way Edredon Bleu (about 12-1) and Go Ballistic (about 20-1) for King George VI Chase at Kempton.

LAST WEEK Football: Treble won 10.5-1 and four-timer won 22-1.