This weeks Betting article again comes early to give you a heads up for the Champions League and the Punchestown Festival.

First up in the Champions League semi finals is the all English affair with Liverpool 27/20 to win, the Draw is 2/1 and an away win for Chelsea 5/2.

Wednesday's tie see's home side Barcelona 6/4 to win, visitors Manchester United 41/20 to be victorious with the Draw 43/20.

The jumps season this week goes out in a blaze of glory with top-notch action on offer in Britain and Ireland. Punters will be spoiled for choice as the Punchestown Festival spans five days for the first time, while Sandown also stage their big end-of-season finale on Friday and Saturday. Punchestown is the obvious highlight, with no less than ?3million up for grabs.

Tuesday's card is spearheaded by the Kerrygold Champion Chase, in which big-hitters like Twist Magic, Schindlers Hunt and last year's winner Mansony could all step up to the plate. The 78B vcbet.com Champion Novice Hurdle and the Ellier Developments Hanover Reach Champion Novice Chase supplement that race and have over the years thrown up watertight Grade One fare.

Wednesday's fixture is all about the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, which is poised to see the return to action of Kicking King. The Brits are well represented and enjoyed a one-two in last year's race, with Gold Cup third Neptune Collonges having defeated Kingscliff by three and a half lengths. Neptune Collonges returns for more and it will be fascinating to see what Kicking King can do against the Paul Nicholls-trained grey.

The Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle and the Cathal Ryan Memorial Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase will keep everyone on their toes on Thursday.

Friday's fare should also be outstanding, with the highlight being the likes of Sublimity, Harchibald and Sizing Europe all poised to take their chance in the ACCBank Champion Hurdle. There is also additional Grade One action in the shape of the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle, for which the smart Franchoek is a possible.

For those still with cash and stamina on their side, Saturday's fixture is also worthy of plenty of respect - especially when the Eventus Marquees Champion Four Year Old Hurdle and the richly-endowed Ballymore 25th Anniversary Hurdle are factored into the equation.

There is something for everyone at Sandown on Friday and Saturday, with two days of outstanding sport over jumps and on the level. The weekend card is showcased by the bet365 Gold Cup, a race which will be forever affectionately referred to as the 'Whitbread' and won last year by the Ferdy Murphy-trained Hot Weld. Tony Martin's Royal County Star heads the betting but there will be no shortage of star turns on the menu if the likes of Bewleys Berry, Racing Demon and Lothian Falcon make an appearance. The main event and two-mile Celebration Chase are ably supported by decent Flat races such as the Group Two bet365 Mile and the Group Three Classic Trial.

Friday's card is slightly less frenetic, but race goers can still look forward to the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes, a Group Three contest over 10 furlongs and worth a not-too-shabby £47,000.

Perth's three-day jumps fixture on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday has plenty of good money on offer and promises to be well-supported.

Saturday see's Town complete their home League Two fixtures against Chester City who are 7/4 to head off back to Cheshire with all three points. The draw is 9/4 and a home win is priced up at 11/8.

Don't forget, whatever you fancy a punt on you can find all the odds by following the link to ShrewsBet to our betting partner bet365.com.

Good Luck from Shrewsweb's man on the rail.