Daily tips for April 28

Racing for April 28

Horse racing: Sale (Vic), Nowra (NSW), Sunshine Coast (Qld), Port Augusta (SA), Albany (WA), Tamworth (NSW), Ararat (Vic)

Harness racing: Menangle (NSW), Launceston (Tas), Echuca (Vic), Kellerberrin (NSW)

Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Nowra (NSW), Sandown Park (Vic), Canberra (ACT), Sale (Vic), Strathalbyn (SA), Healesville (Vic)

On a day when racing returned to the headlines for all the wrong reasons, let’s try to find an antidote with a winner on today’s solid provincial card ahead of a sensational week highlight by the three-day Warrnambool carnival.

For our best of the day, we’re heading to Nowra for the sixth on the seven-race card, the Terminus Hotel Marulan Benchmark 55 Hcp over 1600m. Third here over 1400m three weeks ago, #2 Thousand Carat looks ready for the step up to 1600m. Trained by David Pfieffer at Warwick Farm, Sam Clipperton again gets the ride – the first time this 3yo filly has had the same hoop for successive races.

• The other highlight of today’s program is the 47^th running of the Miracle Mile. Team McCarthy play a strong hand this year after securing three invitations headed by race favourite Excel Stride, emerging big race star Mach Alert and the only mare in the field Baby Bling.

Mach Alert, stunned rivals courtesy of his crushing victory in the Coca Cola Sprint two weeks ago when he led throughout in a career best time of 1:50.9 and we’ll be leaning his way in the eighth of 10 races at Tabcorp Park Menangle this afternoon.

Suggested bet: Nowra R6 #2 Thousand Carat WIN (two units) LOSE (4th)

Other racing tips

Sale R3 #8 Hilton Miss (E/W) 3rd ($1.50)

Tamworth R8 #3 Aghamore (E/W) 3rd ($1.50)

Sunshine Coast R8 #7 Red Hot Dazzler (WIN) LOSE U/P

Harness racing tip: Menangle R7 #8 Mach Beauty (win) 1st ($1.80)

Greyhound racing tip: Healesville R11 #4 Surfonic (E/W) 3rd ($1.50)

NRL (rd 7) for April 28

Sharks v Bulldogs, Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford, Sunday, April 28, 3.05pm

We suspect the Bulldogs will enjoy getting out of town after last week’s 38-0 drubbing at the hands of the Roosters and, perhaps, the neutral turf of Bluetongue Stadium will provide the backdrop to kick start their season.

For the Sharks, Todd Carney has been named in their line-up after missing his team’s past two matches with a foot injury while Canterbury has surprisingly named the same squad that played the Roosters last round, with Trent Hodkinson again named at halfback with Kris Keating still unavailable due to injury.

Cronulla has won just two matches – against the Titans and the Warriors at home – while Canterbury have recorded just one victory, against the Eels in round two. Much more is expected of their star-studded line-ups. We’re leaning to the UNDER game total here, with a small play on the Bulldogs straight out.

Suggested bet: Game total -39.5 (two units) WIN, Bulldogs WIN (one unit) WIN (8-24)

Other tip: Gold Coast v Knights WIN WIN (6-30)

AFL (rd 5) for April 28

Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, Gabba, Brisbane, Sunday, April 28, 3.20pm

It’s 16th taking on 17th on a balmy afternoon in Brisbane, which mightn’t be the most anticipated game of the round from a purist’s perspective. But it’s high stakes for these 1-3 sides, which have failed to impress so far in 2013.

With the vultures starting to circle around Michael Voss in the final year of his contract, the Lions need to stand up and defend their home turf – a task made more difficult following the suspension of in-form Irishman Pearce Hanley.

Conversely, Mark Neeld has taken a brief step out of the pressure-cooker this week and could ease tensions even further with an upset at the Gabba. However, we suspect the spotlight will be back on Neeld after his Demons cop a hiding here in our best bet of the AFL round (rated an 80 per cent probability).

Suggested bet: Lions -33.5 (three units) LOSE (122-94)

Other tip: Hawthorn v Nth Melbourne +30.5 WIN (99-96)

NHL for April 28

Nashville Predators (16-22-9) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (23-17-7), Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, April 28, 9.10am

This might be the most important regular-season game in Columbus Blue Jackets history. When they host the Nashville Predators in the final game on their schedule, the Blue Jackets still hold out hope of making the Stanley Cup playoffs.

For fans used to a team playing out the string, this has been a welcome jolt of optimism. The club was 30th of the 30 NHL teams a year ago, and was trolling the depths of the league two months ago.

In order to make the playoffs, the Blue Jackets (23-17-7) must beat floundering Nashville (16-22-9) while seventh-place Detroit (54 points) loses its regular-season finale in regulation at Dallas, also on Saturday and at the same time. We’re tipping the Blue Jackets will hold up their end of the bargain here.

Suggested bet: Blue Jackets -1.5 (three units) WIN (1-3)

Other tips

Devils @ Rangers -5 WIN (0-4)

Red Wings WIN @ Stars WIN (3-0)

Bruins @ Capitals WIN WIN (2-3)

Wild WIN @ Avalanche WIN (3-1)

Canadiens WIN @ Maple Leafs WIN (4-1)

Flyers @ Senators WIN LOSE (2-1)

Hurricanes @ Penguins -1.5 WIN (3-8)

NBA playoffs for April 28

Western Conference round 1, game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets, Toyota Center, Houston, TX, Sunday, April 28, 11.40am (Thunder lead 2-0)

The Houston Rockets could be without starting point guard Jeremy Lin when they host the Oklahoma City but the Thunder will definitely be missing their point guard, with All-Star Russell Westbrook out indefinitely with a knee injury that will require surgery.

The Thunder lead the first-round series 2-0, but the injury to Westbrook, which occurred in the first half of Game 2, could change the complexion of the series. He averaged 24 points and 6.5 rebounds this post-season.

It’s difficult to know just how Westbrook’s absence will change the Thunder since he's never missed a game in his career. But it’s probably safe to say superstar Kevin Durant, who is averaging 26.5 points in the series, will have to do even more than usual.

Suggested bet: Rockets WIN (two units) LOSE (104-101)

Other tips

E4: Nets @ Bulls -2.5 WIN, +177 WIN (134-142)

W4: Clippers @ Grizzlies -3.5 WIN (83-104)

E3: Pacers WIN @ Hawks LOSE (69-90)

MLB for April 28

Colorado Rockies (15-8) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (13-10), Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ, Sunday, April 28, 10.10am

Colorado (15-8) has won six of the last nine meetings, but it may be in for stiff tests in the final two games of this series with Arizona (13-10) scheduled to start southpaws Wade Miley and Patrick Corbin, who have combined to go 4-0 with a 2.24 ERA.

The Rockies will send Jeff Francis (1-2, 8.44) to the mound on three days’ rest due to Tuesday's doubleheader. They were swept in that twinbill with Atlanta, and Francis was charged with a 4-3 defeat in the opener. Francis has won his last two start at Arizona, compiling a 2.45 ERA.

Despite the power of the Colorado bats, we reckon Miley is something special and should lead the hosts to a comfortable win in the uncomfortable heat of the Arizona desert.

Suggested bet: Diamondbacks -1.5 (two units) LOSE (2-3)

Other tips

Braves @ Tigers WIN WIN (4-7)

Reds @ Nationals WIN WIN (3-6)

Phillies WIN @ Mets WIN (9-4)

Orioles @ Athletics -6.5 LOSE (7-3)

Pirates WIN @ Cardinals WIN (5-3)

Rangers @ Twins WIN WIN (2-7)

Cubs @ Marlins -7.5 WIN (3-2)

Rays @ White Sox WIN LOSE (10-4)

Indians @ Royals -1.5 LOSE (2-3)