Daily tips for July 10

Cricket for July 10

First Test: England v Australia, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, July 10-14 (play starts 8pm AEST)

The Poms are crushing the Tour de France, Andy Murray’s ended the Wimbledon drought and the Lions have taken the chocolates from the Wallabies. Where will it end? Probably not over the next eight weeks as Australia sets out to regain the Ashes after England’s victory in Australia in 2010-11. This series is England’s to lose. They are $1.40 to win the series and $1.18 to retain the Ashes. Even these prices hold some appeal due to the clear superiority of Alastair Cook's side in almost every department. On paper, only in pace-bowling depth can the Aussies compete with England.

Of course, the game is not played on paper and Australia cannot to be dismissed out of hand. While the timing of Mickey Arthur’s departure reflected the desperation surrounding the team, the arrival of Darren Lehmann as head coach may well have a galvanising effect. But there are just too many question marks over the Australian batting line-up’s ability to score enough run to support a respectable bowling attack. With so little value in the series markets, we’re going wide in some of the exotics to find some value in this series.

First Test: England WIN (three units @ $1.83) WIN

Series tips

Most Series Runs – Australia (Chris Rogers) one unit @ $5 (best of the series)

Series Correct Score – England (3-1) 0.5 units @ $7.50

Series Correct Score – England (4-1) 0.5 units @ $8

Most Series Runs – Overall (Jonathan Trott) one unit @ $7

Most Series Runs – England (Matt Prior) 0.5 units @ $13

Most Series Wickets – England (Stuart Broad) one unit @ $4.25

Most Series Wickets – Australia (Nathan Lyon) 0.5 units @ $7.50

Feature: There’s no end to Nigerian ingenuity

With thanks to the AP, I came across this story this morning and thought you’d enjoy it. Nigeria is famous for the generosity of people attempting to give away vast amounts of money in return for your bank details but we suspect the local bookies may not have been quite as willing to part with their cash after these two football matches over the weekend.

Plateau United Feeders and Police Machine figured they needed a big win in the final round at an amateur tournament to outdo the other and earn promotion to Nigeria’s professional football leagues. Their wins were definitely big: 79-0 and 67-0. The results have sparked outrage, an indefinite suspension of the four clubs involved in the games, and an investigation into match-fixing by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The NFF overnight called the results from the tournament on Monday in the north-eastern city of Bauchi “a mind-boggling show of shame”. The scorelines were “scandalous”, the NFF added. “The teams involved, their players and officials, match officials, (tournament) coordinator and anyone found to have played some role in this despicable matter would (will) be severely dealt with,” NFF director of competitions Mohammed Sanusi said.

Chasing a place in Nationwide League Division 3, Nigeria’s lowest professional league, Plateau United Feeders reportedly scored 72 of their mountain of goals against Akurba FC in the second half. That’s a rate of more than a goal a minute; in fact, a goal about every 40 seconds – non-stop for 45 minutes! At the same time, Police Machine swept 61 goals past Babayaro FC in the second half after leading by a relatively modest 6-0 at halftime.

In theory, Plateau United Feeders won promotion to the big leagues having scored 81 goals – in three games. Police Machine ultimately could manage only 69. Plateau and Police won their opening games 2-0, then drew 0-0 when they met in the second round, meaning goals would be the decisive factor for promotion to the big time if both won their final games.

Racing for July 10

Horse racing: Canterbury (NSW), Bendigo (Vic), Eagle Farm (Qld), Gawler (SA), Belmont (WA), Grafton (NSW). Harness racing: Geelong (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Redcliffe (Qld), Mildura (Vic). Greyhound racing: The Meadows (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Richmond (NSW), The Gardens (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Cranbourne (Vic), Rockhampton (Qld), Ballarat (Vic), Grafton (NSW), Cannington (WA).

A great card of racing is scheduled for today with metro action in Sydney and Brisbane, provincial racing in Bendigo and the penultimate day of the XXXXGold July Racing Carnival at Grafton. The $150,000 Ramornie Handicap is the highlight at the Clarence River Jockey Club today but for our best of the day, we’ll be closely watching a local hope in the Tursa Grafton Guineas over 1600m on the dead (4) today. Trained locally by Felicity Firth, #17 Primed to Win was the first emergency and made the field after Smart Moochi’s scratching. The 3yo gelding has won at his last two starts and steps up to the mile for the first time at his seventh start. Chris Whiteley will ride at the minimum of 54kg and his work has never been better. #1 Casino Card and #5 Peace Force look the main dangers.

Suggested bet: Grafton R6 #17 Primed to Win E/W (two units) LOSE (U/P)

Today’s tips

Bendigo R5 #9 Skawboard Pressure (win) LOSE (2nd)

Bendigo R7 #4 Up the Creek (E/W 1x4) LOSE (U/P)

Canterbury R1 #1 Sweet Kiss (E/W 1x4) NTD (3rd)

Canterbury R2 #1 Arabian Gold (win) 1st ($1.70)

Canterbury R4 #2 Pretty Famous (E/W) 1st ($8.00/$2.70)

Canterbury R6 #2 My Highlight (win) LOSE (3rd)

Eagle Farm R1 #1 Canisbay (win) 1st ($2.20)

Eagle Farm R2 #2 Neuschwanstein (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($1.30)

Eagle Farm R8 #8 Witches Lips (E/W) SCRATCHED

Grafton R7 #4 Youthful Jack (E/W) 1st ($41.60/$8.50)

Grafton R8 #1 Fashion Opera (win) LOSE (U/P)

Harness racing tip: Mildura R2 #1 Nikki’s Delight (win) 1st ($1.50)

Greyhound racing tip: Grafton R6 #1 Scissor Queen (win) 1st ($1.80)

MLB for July 10

Toronto Blue Jays (43-45, 18-24 away) @ Cleveland Indians (46-43, 25-18 home), Progressive Field, Cleveland OH, Wednesday, July 10, 9.10am

The Cleveland Indians haven't fared well against the AL East since taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays to start the season. The Indians’ 8-19 mark against the East is the second worst among AL teams as they begin a three-game home set against the Blue Jays here. Ubaldo Jimenez (6-4, 4.67 ERA) will open this set, and he’s gone 2-0 with a 3.81 ERA in his last five outings. The Indians had won four straight starts by the right-hander before he gave up four runs over five innings of a 10-7 defeat at Kansas City on Thursday. Jimenez owns a 6.82 home ERA compared to a 3.31 mark on the road. He’s limited Toronto slugger Jose Bautista to a double in 16 at-bats.

The Blue Jays tallied 13 runs in a 1-4 stretch before breaking out in an 11-5 home win over Minnesota on Sunday. The Blue Jays’ Josh Johnson (1-3, 4.89) has received no runs of support in three of his last four outings. That was the case Wednesday when he surrendered six runs (one earned) in a 6-2 defeat to the Tigers. Johnson won his lone start against the Indians on May 20, 2012, yielding one run over seven innings of a 5-3 victory for Miami. He has limited Cleveland slugger Mark Reynolds to a home run and eight strikeouts in nine at-bats. We like the Indians to keep their record in the black with a lean to the over.

Suggested bet: Indians WIN (2.5 units @ $1.95) WIN, game total +9 (1.5 units @ $2.07) LOSE (0-3)

Other tips

IL: Athletics @ Pirates WIN $1.90 LOSE (2-1)

IL: Angels WIN $1.78 @ Cubs LOSE (2-7)

IL: Astros @ Cardinals -7.5 $1.87 LOSE (5-9)

AL: Rangers WIN $2.03 @ Orioles WIN (8-4)

AL: Twins @ Rays WIN $1.61 WIN (1-4)

AL: Red Sox @ Mariners +7.5 $2.02 WIN (11-8)

NL: Nationals @ Phillies WIN $1.75 WIN (2-4)

NL: Braves -1.5 $2.02 @ Marlins WIN (6-4)

NL: Dodgers @ Diamondbacks WIN $1.87 LOSE (6-1)

NL: Mets WIN $2.27 @ Giants WIN (10-6)

• Prices with thanks to Centrebet, correct at time of publication – for most people gambling is an exciting and fun recreational pursuit. For others it can become a problem with devastating consequences for them, their families and friends. We want you to enjoy your gambling experience. We want you to stay in control of your gambling and not allow your gambling to control you.