For me, they haven't got a chance.

Stoke were forced to rely on a string of loan signings to help their promotion push last season.

Pulis won't be able to do that again – he's only allowed to bring in two loanees all season.

He also said where he squad lacked in quality, they made up in superior fitness.

Fitness alone won't keep you in the Premier League and I see them as nailed-on certainties at 4/9 (Betfred, bet365) to go straight back down.

To make the return more appealing, stick them in a relegation double with Hull City for around 2/1 with most firms.

Joint favourites
FOOTBALL: Sky Bet make Brackley Town and Corby Town joint favourites to win next season's Southern League Premier Division.

The Saints and Steelmen head the betting at 8/1 with Farnborough Town.

Bedford Town are expected to struggle and are favourites for the drop.

750/1 for the Open!
GOLF: Local lad Gary Boyd has qualified for the British Open and the Northants golfer is a monster 750/1 with bet365 to win it!

Sergio Garcia (10/1, Ladbrokes) is still my pick to triumph at Royal Birkdale. With Tiger Woods out, it's about time he won a Major.

His game is perfectly suited to the course and anyone who snapped up the 14/1 on offer this time last week can be very happy with themselves.

Ronaldo to stay?
FOOTBALL: Sky Bet have cut Cristiano Ronaldo to just 4/11 to still be at Manchester United on the first day of the new season.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said on Sunday that the Portuguese winger staying at Old Trafford was "the most likely scenario" and he's now out to 2/1 to join the Spanish giants.

However, those who've backed Ronaldo to go shouldn't tear up their betting slips just yet.

Calderon gave the story yet another twist by saying on Monday that he would place a bet on Real signing
him.

Two other clubs, Barcelona and Inter Milan, are listed in Sky Bet's market on where Ronaldo will be on the first day of the new Premier League season although both are big outsiders at 33/1.

Big four for FA Cup
FOOTBALL: One of the big four should restore the status quo in the FA Cup next season and as the team most likely to be out of the title running the quickest, Liverpool represent best value at 7/1 (Sky Bet) to win it.

Manchester United are the 4/1 favourites, ahead of Chelsea (9/2) and Arsenal (6/1). Portsmouth are 25/1 to retain.

Nadal already the favourite
TENNIS: Rafael Nadal is 11/10 to retain his Wimbledon crown next year after defeating Roger Federer in an epic five-set final on Sunday.

The silky Spaniard, who was as big as 7/1 in February this year, was backed off the boards by punters following his wins in the French Open and at Queens. Federer is 2/1 to bounce back next summer.

Bet of week
Back relegation certainties Stoke and Hull both to go down at 2/1 with most firms.