Sunday Portfolio - 5th February

2 pts Manchester United, (9/5 Hills), Premier League (4PM Sky Sports 1 & SS1 HD), 1 pt 2-1 Manchester United (11/1 general)

Roberto Mancini may have been quietly hopeful of opening up a 2 or even three point gap through his side’s easy win over Fulham on Saturday but he may be quite disappointed if Manchester United can find a way through Chelsea on Sunday.

It can’t be forgotten that Chelsea beat Manchester City here but they’ve won just two of eight since and have lost as many times in their last seven league games (3) as they had in the previous 53 matches at Stamford Bridge (courtesy Opta).

Meanwhile Manchester United, despite a poor run of performances by the high standards set earlier in the season, have won their last three in the league and slowly acquired the best away record in the League, ahead of even rivals City.

It all sounds easy from there but the main problem will be overturning the home record that Chelsea have (they’re unbeaten in their last 9 against United here), but little separates the sides and times have changed.

More pertinent is the absence of Ashley Cole, suspended after his red card at Swansea. His opposite number Antonio Valencia destroyed Arsenal at times and has often been a) a handful in this fixture & b) Crucial to the form of Wayne Rooney on many occasions.

That’s also supplemented by the fact that as Michael Cox of Zonal Marking fame explains here, it’s the first time for a good while that Chelsea will be playing another left back, and they’ll have to shift someone else along into that position.

The Blues are also missing Didier Drogba, centre back John Terry and Ramires (who had a large part to play in Chelsea’s chances at the Bridge) , which leaves them in a weak position. United, beaten at Liverpool in the FA Cup, now have Nani and Wayne Rooney in the side, which gives them a crucial outlet for attacking options.

1 pt the winning distance in the Tied Cottage Chase to be 3 lengths and under, (7/4 Skybet), 2.55 Punchestown

Big Zeb was beaten just half a length by Golden Silver in this last year and this year he provides a mouthwatering clash with champion chaser Sizing Europe, who was a well beaten third in this event last year, finishing a full 7 & ½ lengths behind Colm Murphy’s charge.

That probably plays a big part in the betting, with many fancying him to win today as he shades light favouritism over Sizing Europe, and while he may well win again things shouldn’t be easy for him. On their meeting last year Sizing Europe was really well beaten, but he hadn’t run since November when a well beaten second to Kauto Star at Down Royal.

This year he was a hugely impressive winner of the Tingle Creek, and while he’s not going to be at his peak for this, he should be in better shape for having run over 2 miles while being trained for the Champion Chase.

Both horses have been beaten around this course when connections claimed they’d hit the front too soon, Big Zeb having been outlasted late on by Golden Silver, while Sizing Europe’s connections reckon that he had been infront a little bit sooner than they’d like when beaten at Punchestown.

With both jockeys likely to go for home as late as possible, it could well lead to a near photo finish in either’s favour.