Another great win for Newcastle United sees Alan Pardew's side sit proudly in the Champions League places ahead of this weekend's international break, but with fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea on the horizon no-one associated with the club will be getting too carried away with things just yet.

We are impressed though and make Newcastle a quarter odds to make the top ten, 5/4 to head the league without the "big six" although they are still 16/1 to make the Champions League next term.

We have priced the game at the Etihad on Saturday week up already and make Premier League favourites City 3/10 favs with the draw 4s and Newcastle 19/2.

There was an audible sigh of relief in the office when the final whistle went at Anfield on Saturday after we had offered 11/1 for the big six to all win and 27/1 if you add the Magpies and make it the magnificent seven. God bless Andy Carroll!

Sunderland could be without Conor Wickham for some time after his injury at Old Trafford; the Black Cats are 9/4 to finish in the top ten and they are 13/10 to beat Fulham at the Stadium of Light in their next game.

Boro failed to impress against Watford at the Riverside on Saturday evening but another three points keeps them in touch with Southampton who are 11/8 market leaders for the Championship title.

Tony Mowbray's side are 14s to finish top and 5/2 to be promoted at the end of the campaign.

Hartlepool are 6/1 to be relegated after their battling performance at inform Orient on Saturday and manager Mick Wadsworth will hope that they have turned the corner after their poor run of form in recent weeks.

The Breeders' Cup was a poor one for the Europeans with only two winners across the two days, but it was a personal triumph for Team O'Brien with father Aidan saddling those two winners and son Joseph becoming the youngest ever jockey at eighteen to ride a winner when St Nicholas Abbey landed the Turf.

The Open Meeting is the weekend racing highlight and if Jessica Harrington brings over Steps To Freedom on Friday I suggest we take the hint in the Grade 2 Novices' Hurdle at 2.55.

Ireland will never have a better chance of making the finals of a major football tournament and we make them 1/3 to qualify against Estonia; the first leg is on Friday evening with return a week tomorrow in Dublin.