Weekend Review: Odds-on favourites Man City defeat United to lift FA Cup

Premier League champions Manchester City got the better of city rivals Manchester United with a 2-1 win in 90 minutes at Wembley on Saturday to secure the seventh FA Cup in the club’s history.

City, who were 4/7 to win in normal time, got off to a dream start when captain Ilkay Gundogan (11/1 first goal-scorer) fired home a stunning volley from outside the box after just 12 seconds – the fastest goal in FA Cup final history.

United pulled one back through a penalty from Bruno Fernandes in the 33 minute, however Gundogan made it 2-1 six minutes into the second half after volleying home a cross from a Kevin De Bruyne set piece.

With the ball having bounced twice before nestling in the back of the net, goalkeeper David De Gea will be disappointed not to have saved what was an accurate but somewhat pedestrian strike.

Despite a late goal-line scramble at City’s end as United turned up the pressure searching for the equaliser, Pep Guardiola’s side got the job done and the Spaniard claimed his second FA Cup since joining the club in 2016.

The win means City travel to Istanbul for the Champions League final, with Inter Milan standing in their way of completing the treble on Saturday evening.

The Blues are the red-hot favourites – as short as 1/6 in places to lift the trophy – and generally around 4/9 to beat Inter in 90 minutes.

At the start of the season, City has been 18/1 to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. They are just 4/6 to win the league next season.

“Gripping fare at Wembley, as City edged United,” said Alan Firkins of Betfred when reflecting on the final. “The Blues were very warm favourites, but the anticipated raft of goals didn’t quite materialise.

“Nothing for Erling Haaland on the day either – that’s always a plus. Lots of accas will be realised if City win the Champions League on Saturday, and we’re bracing ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Francisco Pimentel Cano, head of trading at Virgin Bet, said: “It was a busy football weekend, with the main highlight being Saturday’s FA Cup Final. Manchester City’s win keeps them on course for the treble and provided us with an amazing turnover.

“Additionally, we saw a significant number of bets placed during the last round of fixtures in La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1.”

While it was a derby in the FA Cup final, it was racing’s Derby at Epsom, with a rescheduled 1.30pm running of the Betfred-sponsored race to avoid a clash with the football.

Despite an extra £150,000 spent on security this year to protect British flat racing’s biggest race from animal rights protestors, one individual managed to get onto the track near the finish just after the horses had left the stalls but was swiftly removed.

Luckily, the incursion didn’t impact the race as 9/2-shot Auguste Rodin chased down 66/1 outsider King of Steel to land the Group 1 by half a length and almost £900,000 in prize money for first place.

The win gave jockey Ryan Moore his third Derby of his career and a record nine victories in the race for Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien.

It was a remarkable training performance by O’Brien after the horse put on a very disappointing display in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, finishing 12 of 14 runners despite going off as the 13/8 favourite.

Firkins said: “It was a losing race for us in the Betfred Derby, as plenty of the right judges stayed faithful to Aidan’s Guineas flop Auguste Rodin.”

Unfortunately, there wasn’t quite the fairy-tale ending for Frankie Dettori who was riding in his 28 and final Derby ahead of his retirement.

His mount, the 4/1 favourite Arrest, sweated up quite badly at the start, before an awkward-looking and unbalanced run which was later discovered to have been caused by a lost right hind shoe.

However, the 52-year-old Italian was able to perform his famous flying dismount the prior day after riding 11/4-shot Soul Sister to victory in the Oaks, beating odds-on favourite Savethelastdance. 

“Better for the book was the Betfred Oaks, as hot favourite Savethelastdance lacked another gear close home,” Firkins noted.

“A great win for Frankie Dettori on Soul Sister with a timeless, trademark, quite beautifully timed ride.”

Dettori also took the race immediately following the Derby, the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, aboard 6/4 favourite Prosperous Voyage.

There was controversy in the Dash handicap, though, when stalls 16, 18, 19 and 20 opened a split second behind the rest.

The owners of the affected horses were right to feel aggrieved, yet the stewards took the opinion that “none of those runners’ chances were materially impacted” and so no further action was taken.

The five-furlong sprint was won by Tatterstall at 8/1, ahead of Miss Brazen and Dickieburd.

Pimentel Cano added: “The Epsom Downs also saw strong numbers, with only one of eight favourites managing to win on Saturday.

“In the Dash handicaps, we achieved two favourable outcomes, with Tatterstall winning at odds of 8/1 and Navello securing a victory at 25/1. The placing bets also fared well, adding to the overall success.”

Finally, Betfred boss Fred Done said: “It has been a tremendous couple of days here at Epsom. I have enjoyed every minute and I am so proud to have my name associated with these Classics.”