Daily tips for June 16

NRL (R14) for June 16

Rabbitohs v Titans, Barlow Park, Cairns, Sunday, June 16, 2pm

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Fine and warm conditions are expected in Cairns for this clash between the ladder leaders and the much-improved Titans. It’s been a stunning season from Souths – coming off a successful 2012 when they reached the finals for just the second time since 1989, Michael Maguire’s men have hit new heights this year on the back of a monstrous forward pack and lethal backline. South Sydney’s pack is as intimidating as they get – with the exception of Dave Tyrrell, all starting forwards are either Test or Origin stars. And then there’s big Dave Taylor coming off the bench!

The Gold Coast have been the quiet achievers of this year’s Telstra Premiership, having gone about their business with little fuss and gradually moved up to fifth on the ladder in the process. Albert Kelly has had his off-field problems but has proved a revelation since landing on the Gold Coast. The Titans looked an ageing and weary side last season but Kelly – playing alongside fellow youngster Aidan Sezer – has provided some much-needed spark. However, their defensive numbers have fallen off in recent weeks and with the heat taking its toll in the second half, we’ve pegged the ‘over’ game total as the bet here.

Suggested bet: Game total +42.5 (two units) WIN, South Sydney -9.5 (one unit) LOSE (30-24)

Other tips

Melbourne Storm -13.5 LOSE v Newcastle Knights; game total -41.5 WIN (16-14)

Racing for June 16

Horse racing: Geelong Synthetic (Vic), Port Macquarie (NSW), Sunshine Coast (Qld), Kalgoorlie (WA), Bendigo (Vic), Wellington (NSW – abandoned), Devonport Synthetic (Tas). Harness racing: Peak Hill (NSW), Shepparton (Vic), Launceston (Tas). Greyhound racing: Healesville (Vic), Mt Gambier (SA), Sandown Park (Vic), Sale (Vic), Strathalbyn (SA), Nowra (NSW), Albion Park (Qld).

All eyes are on Bendigo today for a terrific card that includes two $100,000 jumps races along with the latest heats of the Silver Bowl and Winter Championship series. Despite the vocal minority, the jumps scene goes from strength to strength with the quality of horses the best of a generation. Today’s battle between Black and Bent and Brungle Cry in the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle looms as one of the season’s highlights, but a safer betting route comes up in the $100,000 Mosstrooper Steeplechase (race 4 over 3600m).

Like many of today’s runners, #1 Bashboy tuned up in a 2500m ‘canter’ at Flemington last weekend after winning a 2400m highweight race at Pakenham last month. The 9yo gelding, trained at Caulfield by Ciaron Maher and ridden by the nation’s leading jumps hoop Steven Pateman, won the Grand National Steeplechase at Sandown last winter and looks to pick up here where he left off. Let’s hope it’s a safe day for all riders and horses, and a banner day for the Bendigo Racing Club!

Suggested bet: Bendigo R4 #1 Bashboy WIN (five units @ $1.80) WIN

Other tips

Bendigo R1 #1 Any Dream Will Do SCRATCHED

Bendigo R2 #11 Three Royal Bees (E/W) 2nd ($1.80)

Bendigo R3 #1 Black and Bent (win) LOSE (3rd)

Port Macquarie R1 #1 Dettori (win) 1st ($3.40)

Port Macquarie R5 #9 Nob Hill (E/W 1x4) LOSE (4th)

Sunshine Coast R1 #2 You Did What (win) 1st ($1.40)

Singapore R9 #6 Red Beard (win) 1st ($2.80)

Harness racing tip: Shepparton R6 #1 OK to Fly (win) 1st ($1.90)

Greyhound racing tip: Sale R10 #3 Lightning Leah (win) LOSE (3rd)

AFL (R12) for June 16

Greater Western Sydney v Port Adelaide, Skoda Stadium, Sunday, June 16, 1.10pm

There’s a lot of space to fill in newspapers, TV and radio during the week and, for the most part, it’s filled with absolute tosh. One of the ‘stories’ making the rounds this week was the excitement in the GWS camp (pumped up by Kevin Sheedy) at the prospect of replicating their 2012 win over Port Adelaide. Buoyed by a solid three quarters against Geelong last week, the Giants reckon they’re a good chance of winning their first game of 2013 here.

But much of the talk ignores the raw facts. The bye couldn’t have come at a better time for Port. After winning its first five, the Power lost the next five and a week’s rest prior to this game will prove just the tonic for Ken Hinkley to have his side back on track for the second half of the season. Matt Thomas and Paul Stewart return, and we’ve already seen the benefit of the bye in helping teams run out a solid four quarters this weekend.

Suggested bet: Port Adelaide -27.5 (1.5 units @ $1.91) WIN, game total +197.5 (2.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE (50-125)

Other tips

Collingwood -33.5 WIN v Footscray, game total -186.5 WIN (99-65)

NHL Stanley Cup finals for June 16

Game 2: Boston Bruins @ Chicago Blackhawks, United Center, Chicago, IL, Sunday, June 16, 10.10am

Game 1 of the finals served up a two-goal comeback, 117 shots on goal, triple-overtime and the fifth longest game in Stanley Cup history. Where to from there? After such a long game, both sides will be feeling the impact despite two days’ rest, and we think this will play into the gloves of the Hawks who’ll carry the momentum of an overtime win into Game 2.

But the biggest news ahead of this game is the likely withdrawal of Nathan Horton. Sidelined for the last part of the 2011 post-season by a concussion, he left the series opener against Chicago with an “unspecified upper body injury” (read: aggravation to seriously dislocated shoulder), but he practiced on Friday. We’re expecting that he will be a non-starter.

If Horton is unable to play, Tyler Seguin would likely move up to the top line. He filled in for Horton after he left Game 1, and had a handful of prime chances to lift Boston to the victory. Regardless of Horton’s status, Chicago will need to improve in a couple of areas. A missed check by Niklas Hjalmarsson played a role in the first goal in the series opener, and Milan Lucic was open again for his second score.

Suggested bet: Blackhawks WIN (2.5 units @ $1.70) LOSE, game total -5 (1.5 units @ $1.74) WIN (2-1)

MLB for June 16

Chicago Cubs (27-38, 12-17 away) @ New York Mets (24-38, 13-22 home), Citi Field, New York NY, Sunday, June 16, 3.10am

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When former American Leaguer Scott Feldman steps up for the Cubs here against the Mets he will do so knowing he is in great form with 21 strikeouts and three walks in his last five starts. Feldman (5-5, 3.22 ERA) will be hoping to match his most recent appearance against the Mets. The right-hander threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in an 8-2 home victory on May 18. He’ll be making his first appearance in Flushing since June 13, 2008, when he gave up seven runs in five innings of a loss with Texas.

The Mets are scheduled to turn to Jonathon Niese (3-5, 4.24) for the second time since skipping a turn in the rotation due to a sore shoulder. Niese has dropped five of his last six home team starts and he’s 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA in three home starts against Chicago, losing 7-0 in the most recent on July 8. He gave up four runs in the first before serving up a three-run homer to Starlin Castro and leaving after the seventh. With Niese also just 3-5 under the sun this season look for more of the same here.

Suggested bet: Cubs WIN (two units @ $2.03) WIN, game total +7 (two units @ $1.83) PUSH (5-2)

Other tips

AL: Red Sox @ Orioles +9.5 $2.01 LOSE (5-4)
AL: Royals @ Rays -8 $1.95 PUSH (3-5)
AL: Tigers WIN $1.65 @ Twins LOSE (3-6)
AL: White Sox @ Astros WIN $2.20 WIN (3-4)
AL: Mariners WIN $2.05 @ Athletics WIN (4-0)

NL: Giants @ Braves -1.5 $2.10 LOSE (5-6)
NL: Dodgers @ Pirates -7 $1.95 LOSE (5-3)
NL: Cardinals -1.5 $1.74 @ Marlins WIN (13-7)
NL: Phillies @ Rockies -1.5 $2.25 WIN (5-10)
NL: Diamondbacks @ Padres +7.5 $2.00 WIN (4-6)

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