Pocket a nice profit with Gilbert in Belfast

Eurosport 1, 12.45pm Monday
Starts 10am

Tournament preview
Ronnie O'Sullivan is back in the hunt for the £1,000,000 Home Nations bonus and given that he lifted the the Shanghai Masters in supreme style last week it is easy to see why he is favourite for the Northern Ireland crown in Belfast.

There is no doubting the Rocket's form and he is sure to be well motivated given the prize money on offer. However, he was in action in Shanghai on Sunday night and the week before he was contesting the final of the Champion of Champions in Coventry.

There has to be a chance that the hectic schedule may catch up with the Chigwell potter, while the short best-of-seven format makes it unwise to take short prices.

David Gilbert is a supremely gifted break-builder and at 150-1 he looks worth an investment.

Gilbert hasn't produced anything like his best in recent events but you only have to go back to September to find runs to the quarter-finals of the World and Indian Open.

The Tamworth farmer is housed in the same section as Judd Trump, but he kicks-off against Daniel Wells and then faces either Paul Davison or Rod Lawler. Those contests should tune him up nicely.

At a colossal 500-1 Sam Baird is another player who looks worthy of support. The Blade is a solid break-builder and he showed what's in the locker when reaching the last 16 of the Riga Masters earlier in the year.

Scottish trio John Higgins, Anthony McGill and Stephen Maguire are all housed in Baird's section but he has the game to compete.

Finally, Ryan Day has a tasty looking draw and at 50-1 he looks a nice wager.

Mark King is the highest ranked player Dynamite can play before the quarter-finals and the Welshman has been playing well all season.

Recommendations
D Gilbert
0.5pts 150-1 Betfair, Betfred
S Baird
0.5pts 500-1 general
R Day
0.5pts 50-1 general

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on FacebookRacingPostSport