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| Roo the psychic dog makes barking World Cup prediction: England victory | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Desperate times call for desperate measures. A British veterinary and pet products chain has attempted to emulate the "psychic" World Cup octopus by unleashing a tipster bulldog named Roo before this year's tournament in Brazil. | Desperate times call for desperate measures. A British veterinary and pet products chain has attempted to emulate the "psychic" World Cup octopus by unleashing a tipster bulldog named Roo before this year's tournament in Brazil. |
| Roo, named after another ferocious square-jawed national emblem playing at number 10, has tipped England to beat Italy in their opening game of the tournament on 14 June. | Roo, named after another ferocious square-jawed national emblem playing at number 10, has tipped England to beat Italy in their opening game of the tournament on 14 June. |
| Roo allegedly used her canine gifts to select the Grand National winner, 25-1 outsider Pineau de Re, with her paw. Her owner, Pets at Home employee Debbie White, said: "I couldn't believe it when the horse came first." White's astonishment grew when Roo "tipped" Manchester City to win the Premier League by barking at Match of the Day. | Roo allegedly used her canine gifts to select the Grand National winner, 25-1 outsider Pineau de Re, with her paw. Her owner, Pets at Home employee Debbie White, said: "I couldn't believe it when the horse came first." White's astonishment grew when Roo "tipped" Manchester City to win the Premier League by barking at Match of the Day. |
| Roo made her prediction of England success by eating a bowl of dog biscuits marked with an England flag. Scott Jefferson, marketing director of Pets at Home, claimed: "Roo has an exceptional gift." | Roo made her prediction of England success by eating a bowl of dog biscuits marked with an England flag. Scott Jefferson, marketing director of Pets at Home, claimed: "Roo has an exceptional gift." |
| While the bookmaker Paddy Power secured the services of the scientist Stephen Hawking for its own football prediction publicity stunt, Pets at Home has put its faith in the bulldog. | While the bookmaker Paddy Power secured the services of the scientist Stephen Hawking for its own football prediction publicity stunt, Pets at Home has put its faith in the bulldog. |
| Following the lead of 2010's pioneering animal tipster, the now deceased German tipster Paul the octopus, Roo has selected her own nation's flag for victory. | Following the lead of 2010's pioneering animal tipster, the now deceased German tipster Paul the octopus, Roo has selected her own nation's flag for victory. |
| Pets at Home shares have slumped 12% since the veterinary and pet products chain floated in March, and it has wheeled out the bulldog ahead of its first results report on Thursday, when it is expected to post underlying earnings of about £110m. | Pets at Home shares have slumped 12% since the veterinary and pet products chain floated in March, and it has wheeled out the bulldog ahead of its first results report on Thursday, when it is expected to post underlying earnings of about £110m. |
| Roo might have done better than Goldman Sachs in picking the offer price for Pets at Home shares, which are now trading at 216p compared with 245p at flotation. The chain should still have more chance of getting investors to back its expansion plans (more than 100 new stores) than Roy Hodgson's team has of triumph in Brazil. | Roo might have done better than Goldman Sachs in picking the offer price for Pets at Home shares, which are now trading at 216p compared with 245p at flotation. The chain should still have more chance of getting investors to back its expansion plans (more than 100 new stores) than Roy Hodgson's team has of triumph in Brazil. |