Daily tips for May 16

Racing for May 16

Horse racing: Bendigo (Vic), Gosford (NSW), Toowoomba (Qld), Northam (WA) 

Harness racing: Shepparton (Vic), Newcastle (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld), Bendigo (Vic), Penrith (NSW)

Greyhound racing: Warragul (Vic), Grafton (NSW), Geelong (Vic), Maitland (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Mandurah (WA), Sandown Park (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Dapto (NSW), Hobart (Tas)

It’s time to dig out the winter woollies after a cold blast swept across Victoria yesterday, leaving a slow (7) for today’s nine-race program at Bendigo. However, a bit of sting out of the track won’t hamper the chances of our best of the day, #7 Rococco, in the State Trustees Showcase F&M BM72 (race 7) over 1600 metres.

Scratchings have left just seven runners contesting this race, which looks well within reach of this 3yo filly making her seventh start. She’s a last start winner at Warrnambool in similar class over 1400m two weeks back, also on a slow track. Glen Boss stays aboard here, and we’re comfortable taking the short-ish price.

• Group 1 action returns to Sandown Park tonight with the running of the Harrison-Dawson Final and Macro Meats Sapphire Crown Final, along with the heats ahead of next week’s RSN Sandown Cup, the world’s richest race for stayers.

It will be the last series for Australian greyhound racing's golden girl Miata. The winner of an Australian record $690,008 in prize money will attack the race she was unable to win last year in an attempt to take her career prize money beyond $800,000.

Suggested bet: Bendigo R7 #7 Rococco WIN (two units @ $2.70) 1st ($2.70)

Other tips

Bendigo R5 #4 Commemorate (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Bendigo R8 #2 Old Bill (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Gosford R1 #7 Howdah (E/W) WIN ($4.60/$1.60)

Gosford R4 #2 Uncle Phil (E/W) 3rd ($1.30)

Gosford R5 #4 Wimpole Street (win) LOSE (2nd)

Harness racing tip: Bendigo R5 #12 The Kimura (win) LOSE (U/P)

Greyhound racing tip: Dapto R5 #5 Velvet Fog (win) LOSE (U/P)

MLB for May 16

New York Mets (14-22) @ St Louis Cardinals (25-13), Busch Stadium, St Louis, MS, Thursday, May 16, 10.15am

It’s been tough going for MLB punters over the past few days with so many results defying logic. If the Mets win here, we might have to give the game away! All eyes will be on Shelby Miller when the rookie makes his first start since one of the best pitching performances in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Miller looks to follow up his one-hitter and lead the Cardinals to their 12th win in 14 games as he faces one of baseball’s worst hitting teams. While the Mets, who rank near the bottom of the majors with a .227 batting average, scored more than three runs for the first time in eight games, they lost their fifth straight and 11th in 14 games at Busch Stadium.

Mets starter Shaun Marcum (0-3, 8.59) has yet to make it out of the fifth inning in each of his first three starts after beginning the season on the disabled list. He is 0-3 with a 6.88 ERA in his last three starts against St Louis.

Suggested bet: Cardinals -1.5 (three units @ $2.05) WIN, game total -8.5 (one unit @ $1.83) WIN (2-4)

Other tips

Padres @ Orioles +9 WIN (8-4)

Indians WIN @ Phillies WIN (10-4)

Astros @ Tigers +9 WIN (7-5)

Braves @ Diamondbacks WIN WIN (3-5)

White Sox WIN @ Twins WIN (9-4)

Rangers WIN @ Athletics WIN (6-2)

Rockies WIN @ Cubs LOSE (3-6)

Mariners @ Yankees +7.5 WIN (12-2)

Royals @ Angels +9 WIN (9-5)

NHL playoffs for May 16

Western Conference semi-finals, game 1: Detroit Red Wings @ Chicago Blackhawks, United Center, Chicago, IL, Thursday, May 16, 10.10am

The Chicago Blackhawks have waves of talented lines, making them a difficult match-up for any team and they pose a big challenge for the Detroit Red Wings in the opening game of this Western Conference semi-final series on the road to the 2013 Stanley Cup.

The top of the list includes Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. Patrick Sharp is coming off another great playoff series, and Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland have come up with big post-season goals in the past.

Chicago’s deep group of forwards against Detroit’s refurbished defence could go a long way to deciding the 16th post-season series between the proud Original Six franchises.

Chicago has won all four games this season over Detroit but they haven’t been cakewalks. 

Aside from a 7-1 blowout, the other three games were decided by only one goal. But Chicago has been resting their weary bones since last Thursday while Detroit has been battling to avoid elimination up until Monday.

Suggested bet: Blackhawks WIN (three units @ $1.52) WIN, game total +5 (one unit @ $1.95) PUSH (1-4)

NBA playoffs for May 16

Eastern Conference semi-finals, game 5: Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat, AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL, Thursday, May 16, 9am (Bulls lead 3-1)

They’ve been gallant throughout their playoff series against the Nets and Bulls but the 88-65 rout at the hands of Miami in Game 4 of this semi-final showdown looked to be the final shot fired by the injury riddled Chicago for the season.

Barely a week ago, there was so much talk about how the Chicago Bulls had Miami’s number like no other team. That seems long forgotten now, after three straight wins (by an average of 23.3 points) have the Heat one win away from returning to the East finals.

When Miami gets a chance to finish off an opponent, it typically doesn’t waste any time. Since James, Wade and Chris Bosh joined up, the Heat are 8-2 in games where they can clinch a series, winning each of their last five by double figures.

Wade might be limping around in obvious pain, James' shooting percentage is down while Shane Battier and Ray Allen have struggled to get anything going from three-point range but look for the Heat to wrap this up here and now – not that we're keen on such a big start.

Suggested bet: Bulls +14 (three units @ $1.91) WIN, game total -181 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (91-94)

Other tips

Grizzlies @ Thunder -4.5 LOSE, +185 LOSE (88-84)

* Prices with thanks to Centrebet, correct at time of publication