Weekend Review: Bookies hail return of the EFL after not-so-Glorious Goodwood

Bookies welcomed the return of men’s professional football this weekend, as several upsets in the English Football League (EFL) and a draw in the Community Shield helped offset a tough week of racing at Glorious Goodwood.

Kindred’s Ali Gill said the 1-1 draw between Man City and Liverpool could “scarcely have gone much better”.

“The draw, the relative lack of goals considering the teams, and Liverpool’s scorer all racked up to leave us massively ahead and get the season underway unscathed,” Gill said.

The results were positive across the football leagues, with Betway reporting a “good result overall,” as Fulham were turned over as well-fancied favourites and Blackburn lost at home to newly-promoted Charlton.

Sky Bet’s Mikey Mumford said it was a “very tough start” for Sky Bet EFL punters with Blackburn, Brentford and Stoke all beaten at home.

Punters got some respite as the “biggest gamble in League One” saw Wycombe bet down from 11/8 in June to 1/5 at kick-off to beat a beleaguered Bolton side with only three senior outfield players.

Qatar Goodwood Festival at Goodwood Racecourse

The football results were particularly welcome after the five-day Goodwood Festival saw a flurry of well-backed favourites going in.

“It was a very tricky week for us with plenty of ups and downs,” said Sky Bet’s Kieran Betteley.

The firm had boosted the Pinatubo-Stradivarius double on Day One which duly copped, as did the Liberty Beach Too Darn Hot price boost on Wednesday.

“Too Darn Hot was one of the worst results of the week for us,” Betteley said.

Thursday and Friday went the layer’s way before Saturday saw four out seven winning favourites and another poor day for the bookies.

Betfair’s Barry Orr highlighted aid Khadeem winning the Steward’s Cup as a costly result, with Betway confirming the Charlie Hills colt was its best-backed horse of the day.

“All in all Goodwood went marginally the way of the punters,” Betway’s Chad Yeomans said.