UK Snooker Day 4 Tips: Trust the captain to end Joyce run

Captain Carter is red-hot favourite this afternoon

The winners keep on coming for our daily tips column, with last night's win on Mark King making it three from three so far during the UK Championship. Today, Paul Krishnamurty can't see past the favourite Ali 'The Captain' Carter...

After pulling off one of the great upsets in snooker history, Mark Joyce should have high hopes of emulating his career best performance, when reaching the quarter-finals of this event two years ago. By interesting coincidence, that run also included victories over Judd Trump and today's opponent Alastair Carter. I will be surprised, however, if history repeats itself.

The truth is, without detracting from a gutsy performance, that result came out of nowhere. Trump was awful and Joyce didn't really show anything to suggest he's much better than his current 50th position on the world ranking list. There are so many tournaments nowadays, one would expect genuine top-class promise to at least shine through on occasion. That cannot be said about Joyce's results this season, the best of which was a quarter-final appearance in a PTC event.

Moreover, while Carter is obviously an easier opponent than Trump on paper, he's generally very reliable against inferior opposition. Following his excellent run to a second world final, 'The Captain' must have his eyes on a career-defining big title, especially now his bogeyman Ronnie O'Sullivan is out of the way. He cued well for a straightforward 6-2 victory over Steve Davis and a similarly dominant performance is expected this afternoon.

This has been a terrible week for odds-on favourite backers so far but, if there are any still standing, Carter looks the most reliable second round jolly at around 1.374/11. For those of us who prefer to take bigger odds, the best option is either Carter on the handicap or a correct score combo. For example, level stakes bets on Carter to win 6-2 and 6-3 equates to a 3.02/1 chance.

Recommended Bets

Back Ali Carter to win 6-2 2u @ 6.05/1
Back Ali Carter to win 6-3 2u @ 6.05/1