UK Championships first round predictions and winner odds: Double up classy duo

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for the Thursday's games at the UK Championship.

When to bet

2.30pm Thursday

Best bet

Robert Milkins to beat Louis Heathcote & Jimmy Robertson to beat Bai Langning 1pt double 11-10 Hills

First-round preview

Shaun Murphy suffered a shock UK Championship defeat to amateur Si Jiahui on Wednesday but there are a couple of favourites on Thursday's card who are unlikely to be upset.

Robert Milkins is rated a 4-7 shot against Louis Heathcote and at the price you can back the Milkman to deliver.

Milkins has had a slow start to the season but his performances haven't been as bad as the results suggest.

The Gloucester potter was beaten in the opening round of the recent Northern Ireland and British Open, but he was drawn against Kyren Wilson in Belfast and lost only in a deciding frame to Stuart Bingham in Leicester.

The sights are lowered somewhat against Heathcote, who has won just two matches in the last five ranking events he has contested. Those wins were both deciding-frame victories against Lee Walker and Craig Steadman, and Milkins should have too much class for the 24-year-old.

Put Milkins in a double with 1-3 shot Jimmy Robertson. J-Rob has been in pretty good nick since regaining his Tour Card and that was evident when the Bexhill potter made the semi-final of the British Open in August.

Opponent Bai Langning is another top-up player, but his efforts at Q-School don't suggest that he will be able to follow in the footsteps of Si.

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