Daily tips for April 23

Racing for April 23

Horse racing: Geelong (Vic), Wagga Wagga (NSW), Mackay (Qld)

Harness racing: Menangle (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Shepparton (Vic), Harvey (WA)

Greyhound racing: Bendigo (Vic), Devonport (Tas), Angle Park (SA), Goulburn (NSW), Horsham (Vic), Ipswich (Qld), Lismore (NSW), Gosford (NSW), Warragul (Vic), Townsville (Qld), Mandurah (WA)

Today’s racing program features meeting sat Geelong (on the synthetic track), Mackay and Wagga, where the track has been rated a good (3) where our best of the day comes up in race 8.

The move south from Queensland to Canberra and the stable of Matthew Dale seems to have agreed with #4 Lucky Morna. The 4yo mare lines up in the Home Building Society Benchmark 65 Handicap (1400m) 17 days after cruising to victory at Goulburn.

She carried 59kg on that occasion over 1200m and looked to have plenty left in the tank. Today she drops to 57.5kg and should go straight to the front again for barrier three, with jockey Brendan Ward in the saddle once again.

Suggested bet: Wagga Wagga R8 #4 Lucky Morna WIN (two units) LOSE U/P

Other racing tips

Geelong R4 #5 Lady Nhung (E/W) 3rd $1.90

Wagga R4 #12 Testanova (win) 1st $2.90

Mackay R3 #1 Bynazar (E/W) LOSE U/P

Harness racing tip: Shepparton R3 #3 Luke Hobbs (win)

Greyhound racing tip: Gosford R5 #1 Ariek Pirate (win)

MLB for April 23

Texas Rangers @ Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA, Tuesday, April 23, 12.05pm

Our best of the day in Major League Baseball comes up in one of the late games where Hot-hitting Texas seeks a fourth consecutive victory while ending the host Angels’ three-game winning streak in the opener of a three-game series.

After going 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 2011, Texas pitcher Derek Holland's numbers slipped last season as he finished 12-7 with a 4.67 ERA but he’s gone 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA so far this year and gets the start here.

The Rangers (12-6) led the majors in runs scored last season, but the offense sputtered at times before outscoring the Mariners 23-3 in their recent series. Angels starter Joe Blanton has dropped each of his first three outings while posting a dismal 8.59 ERA. He's given up 15 runs in 14 2/3 innings, including four in 4 2/3 of an 8-2 loss to Minnesota.

Suggested bet: Rangers WIN (three units) WIN (7-6)

Other tips

Athletics WIN @ Red Sox LOSE (6-9)

Cardinals WIN @ Nationals WIN (3-2)

Yankees @ Rays WIN WIN (1-5)

Blue Jays @ Orioles -8.5 WIN (1-2)

Cubs @ Reds -1.5 LOSE (4-5)

Mariners -1.5 WIN @ Astros +7.5 WIN (7-1)

NHL for April 23

Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks, Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Tuesday, April 23, noon

Both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks have qualified for the playoffs, but won’t be winding down ahead of the opening game. The Blackhawks (34-5-5), who have already clinched the Central Division and the West's top seed, can earn their first Presidents’ Trophy since 1991.

Chicago carries an 11-game point streak (9-0-2) into this contest and is trying to become the first team to post four consecutive shutouts away from home since the Phoenix Coyotes accomplished the feat in 2004.

Extending that streak will be difficult as Vancouver (25-13-7) bears down on the Northwest title. The Canucks secured a playoff spot with a 2-1 shootout victory over Detroit that also extended their home winning streak to a season-high seven games. Vancouver is also chasing Anaheim for the No. 2 spot in the West. Expect a low-scoring affair here.

Suggested bet: Game total -5 (two units) WIN (1-3)

Other tips

Jets WIN @ Sabres WIN (2-1)

Penguins @ Senators WIN LOSE (3-1)

Coyotes @ Red Wings -5 WIN (0-4)

Ducks -1.5 @ Oilers WIN (3-0)

NBA playoffs for April 23

Eastern Conference round 1, game 2: Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, Tuesday, April 23, 10am

The Nets picked apart the Bulls defence in game 1, rolling to a 106-89 victory. And when the teams return to Barclays Center for Game 2, the Bulls will have to slow down a team that finished the regular season well and opened the playoffs even better.

The opener was close for only the first few minutes. The Nets began pulling away late in the first quarter, and then made 16 of 20 shots in the second, shooting 60 per cent in the first half and opening a 60-35 lead.

Brooklyn won six of its final seven games of the regular season after opening April with a 92-90 loss to Chicago. The Nets scored more than 100 points in each victory, are much healthier than the banged-up Bulls, and with Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson, have three starters who can hurt even one of the NBA’s best defences.

Suggested bet: Nets -5 (two units) LOSE, game total +183 LOSE (90-82)

Western Conference round 1, game 2: Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers, Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, Tuesday, April 23, 10.30am

The opening game in LA was close through the first three quarters. After the Grizzlies clawed within one in the fourth, the Clippers blew it open when they made 15 of 22 shots while shooting 68 per cent, owned a 15-5 rebounding advantage, and outscored the Grizzlies 37-22.

Los Angeles carried over the momentum it created in putting together a seven-game win streak to close out the 2012-13 regular season—covering the number in six of its last eight contests.

The Grizzlies had only one game during the regular season in which they allowed as many as 112 points, as they led the league in allowing 89.5 points per game by holding 71 of 82 opponents under the century mark.

Suggested bet: Clippers -5.5 (two units) LOSE, game total +179.5 WIN (91-93)

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