Daily tips for June 5

State of Origin for June 5

NSW v Queensland, ANZ Stadium, Wednesday, June 5, 8pm

It’s on again! Thirty-three years after that fateful night at Lang Park in 1980, NSW and Queensland renew their annual rivalry in what could well be the most-anticipated State of Origin series of all time. Fair enough – that moniker is bandied about pretty much every year – but 2013 has good reason to lay claim to the title given last year’s series was undoubtedly one of the greatest we’ve ever witnessed. Queensland may well be riding high on the back of seven consecutive series wins but they came within a whisker (and perhaps a questionable refereeing decision or two) last year of seeing that record end at six.

For Queensland, they will be banking on the stability of their brilliant spine to lead them to an eighth straight series win. Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith have long worked wonders together for both Queensland and Australia and that continuity is the Maroons’ greatest strength. NSW will look to their big forwards to dominate Queensland after James Tamou, Greg Bird, Anthony Watmough and captain Paul Gallen enjoyed long periods of dominance 12 months ago.

The flow of money has been with the Blues. They’ve won 14 of 19 at ANZ Stadium and, while the sides look evenly rated on the field, the Blues look to have a superior bench. This will be a game of contrasting game styles.  The selectors' choice of players gives us insights into how the game will be played. QLD will look to play expansive football and exploit the edges at every opportunity, while NSW's decision to take on a number of specialist forwards indicates a focus on conservative play, racking up meters in the middle third before spreading on reaching the 20m. (Additional reporting, NRL.com)

Suggested bet: NSW -1.5 (two units @ $1.91) WIN, game total +34 (1.5 units @ $1.90) LOSE, NSW by 4 (0.25 units @ $14) LOSE, NSW by 6 (0.25 units @ $17) LOSE (14-6)

Racing for June 5

Horse racing: Moonee Valley (Vic), Canterbury (NSW), Gawler (SA), Belmont (WA), Gold Coast (Qld). Harness racing: Horsham (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld), Echuca (Vic). Greyhound racing: The Meadows (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Nowra (NSW), Shepparton (Vic), Albion Park (Qld), The Gardens (NSW), Warrnambool (Vic), Rockhampton (Qld), Ballarat (Vic), Cannington (WA).

A rare midweek meeting at Moonee Valley highlights today’s racing, with the track rated a slow (6) on the tight Melbourne metro track. We have as close to a good thing as you can get as our best of the day, which comes up in the City Jeep Handicap over the Cox Plate distance of 2040m (race 8). Trained by Darren Weir, #4 Lake Sententia is a proven performer at this level with her career highlighted a second in the G2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington last spring. Her record reads five wins and three placings from 11 starts; she’s a last start winner at Morphettville over 2009 and gets the gun jump from barrier 4 with Michelle Payne aboard. Load up!

Suggested bet: Moonee Valley R8 #4 Lake Sententia WIN (four units @ $2.40) WIN (1st)

Other tips

Moonee Valley R3 #10 Mystical Miss (win) LOSE (3rd)

Moonee Valley R4 #10 Truffle (win) 1st ($3.40)

Moonee Valley R5 #1 Johannapine (E/W) 2nd ($2.50)

Canterbury R3 #5 Chateau Lafaite (win) 1st ($2.50)

Canterbury R4 #1 Commanding Wit (E/W) 3rd ($1.90)

Harness racing tip: Echuca R5 #8 Virginia Lightning (win) SCR

Greyhound racing tip: Ballarat R10 #3 Hurunui Hitman (win) 1st ($3.00)

MLB for June 5

New York Mets (22-32, 10-15 away) @ Washington Nationals (28-29, 15-11 home), Nationals Park, Washington DC, Wednesday, June 5, 9.05am

The Nationals and Mets struggled at the plate on the road against division rivals over the weekend. Both clubs are looking for answers heading into the opener of a three-game series. Washington (28-29) owns a losing record for the first time since April 30 after dropping two of three at Atlanta. The Nationals, who are without injured superstar Bryce Harper, hit .190 and tallied seven runs with two walks and 20 strikeouts in the series.

The Mets (22-32) swept four games last week from their city rival Yankees before heading to Miami over the weekend to face a Marlins team that had dropped a season-worst nine straight. New York batted .212, scored eight runs and was swept while falling to 3-6 against the majors’ worst team.

The Mets handed Jordan Zimmermann (8-3, 2.37 ERA) his first loss April 21, as the Nats starter allowed two runs over a season-low five innings in a 96-pitch effort. He still owns a 1.85 ERA over his last six starts against NYY. The Mets had dropped Jeremy Hefner’s first nine starts before he gave up three runs over six innings in a 9-4 victory over the Yankees last week. Hefner (1-5, 4.74) is 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA in four outings against Washington.

Suggested bet: Nationals -1.5 (1.5 units @ $2.13) LOSE, game total -7.5 (2.5 units @ $1.95) WIN (2-3)

Other tips

Indians WIN @ Yankees LOSE (3-4)

Rays @ Tigers -8 LOSE (1-10)

Pirates @ Braves -1.5 LOSE (4-5)

Rangers @ Red Sox +9 WIN (5-17)

Athletics WIN @ Brewers LOSE (3-4)

Orioles -1.5 @ Astros WIN (4-1)

Diamondbacks @ Cardinals +8 WIN (7-6)

Cubs @ Angels -7.5 WIN (3-4)

White Sox @ Mariners WIN WIN +6 WIN (4-7)

Blue Jays @ Giants +7.5 LOSE (1-2)

NHL playoffs for June 5

Western Conference finals, game 3: Chicago Blackhawks @ Los Angeles Kings, Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, Wednesday, June 5, 11.10am

The Los Angeles Kings have been in all types of jams during the past two post-seasons. Just a few weeks ago, they even escaped the same 0-2 deficit they’re now facing in the Western Conference finals. Yet the defending Stanley Cup champions aren't sure they’ve tangled with an opponent that could match the depth and versatility of the Chicago Blackhawks, who might even be the team to end LA's 10 weeks of perfection at home.

After back-to-back losses in Chicago, the Kings, who will again be without center Mike Richards, are hoping they can stay perfect. The Kings have won 14 straight at home since March, and they've won seven straight home playoff games dating to last season’s Stanley Cup clincher. Going back even further, Los Angeles is an astounding 41-12 in their last 53 games played at home and 21-10 versus Central Division opponents.

The Blackhawks have the Kings on the ropes and they know how important it is to keep pressing forward – especially coming off their second round match-up against the Red Wings. After winning the first two games of this series, the Blackhawks have now moved to a perfect 6-0 in their last six Western Conference Finals games. Additionally, they are an impressive 5-1 in their last six against the Kings when facing them at the Staples Center, and should make it 6-1 here.

Suggested bet: Blackhawks WIN (1.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE, game total -5 (2.5 units @ $1.68) WIN (1-3)

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