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Five Steps to Heaven: because we just can't seem to get enough

The column which could save you an absolute fortune – if used correctly.

THANK GOD IT’S Friday – not because we have the weekend off, but because this column gives us a chance to make some outrageous betting predictions without having to put our hands in our pockets.

With that in mind, here are our five “dead certs” for this weekend.

1. We’ll be bailing out of the office quite shortly and heading to the local hostelry to watch tonight’s Magners League semi-final over a beverage or two.

The bookies have been very generous to Ulster, giving them a ten-point head start. If Leinster have one eye on next weekend’s Heineken Cup final, is there a chance that the visitors might make a game of this? Take Ulster (+10) at 10/11.

2. You know that old cliché about “the magic of the FA Cup?” Is there any chance that Stoke could pull off a truly magical upset tomorrow?

The Potters come into the game on the back of a rather impressive 3-1 win over Arsenal last weekend while City have been just about getting by for the last few weeks. We’ll have Stoke to lift the FA Cup at 2/1.

3. While the rest of the world is fawning over proceedings at Wembley, there is the little matter of a relegation six-pointer to take care of as West Ham travel to Wigan.

With rumours abuzzing that Scotty Parker is set to make his comeback, West Ham might just be about to see their luck change for the better. Back the Hammers at 9/4.

4. Forget about the calendar – summer only begins when the Championship kicks off. The New Yorkers had their day in the sun a few weeks ago when Roscommon were in town, but the first game on Irish soil is tomorrow night when the Leinster SHC kicks-off with Laois against Antrim in Portlaoise.

The visitors are slight favourites but deservedly so – because they are slightly better. We’ll take Antrim at 5/6.

5. Graeme McDowell is just about to wrap up his second round at The Players Championship at Sawgrass and he’s still very much in contention heading into the weekend.

It might be a sentimental bet, but we’ll add G-Mac to finish in the Top 4 at 3/1 as our final tip for the weekend.

Stake: €10

Returns: €1365