Daily tips for July 2

Racing for July 2

Horse racing: Geelong (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Beaudesert (Qld – abandoned), Cessnock (NSW – moved to Scone). Harness racing: Albion Park (Qld), Menangle (NSW), Echuca (Vic). Greyhound racing: Bendigo (Vic), Gawler (SA), Devonport (Tas), Horsham (Vic), Ipswich (Qld), Lismore (NSW), Warragul (Vic), Gosford (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Mandurah (WA).

Another day, another meeting abandoned due to the wet weather swamping the coastal regions of NSW and Queensland with today’s Beaudesert card put on hold while the famed Jungle Juice Cup meeting has been shifted to Scone from Cessnock. The event began 32 years ago and was named for the drink associated with the race day – the highly alcoholic Dr Jurd's Jungle Juice, developed by Mel Jurd at his Wollombi Tavern. Racing on a heavy (8) at Scone today, we thought #9 Youthful King looked the best bet in the feature. The 7yo gelding was a last start winner on a heavy (9) at Warwick Farm over 1200m in a BM70 and has also won three times in slow going. Robert Thompson takes the ride at the minimum of 54kg, and should get a good sight from barrier 4.

Suggested bet: Scone R8 #9 Youthful King E/W (two units) 1st ($4.80/$1.90)

Other tips

Geelong R1 #8 Merry Magic (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Geelong R3 #5 Our Tiger Lil (win) 1st ($4.60)

Geelong R4 #5 Magenta and Black (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($1.60)

Geelong R6 #4 Theadmiralreturns (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Geelong R8 #10 Spiriticity (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Scone R6 #3 Short Shafted (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Scone R7 #2 Still Roaming (E/W) 1st ($7.80/$2.70)

Bathurst R4 #1 Force One (win) LOSE (4th)

Harness racing tips: Echuca R5 #2 The Numbers Man (win) 1st ($1.70)

Greyhound racing tips: Warragul R8 #4 Maddision Dee (win) 1st ($1.20)

MLB for July 2

Tampa Bay Rays (43-29, 18-21 away) @ Houston Astros (30-52, 16-29 home), Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX, Tuesday, July 2, 10.10am

Matt Moore has been having some control issues, but what’s more important is that he’s back in the win column. The Tampa Bay Rays left-hander will try for a third straight win when the Rays and Astros begin a four-game set at Minute Maid Park. In part due to his 8-0 start, Moore (10-3, 3.95 ERA) is one victory shy of a career high. He’s won back-to-back starts after losing his previous three. Moore will face an Astros team that's dropped eight of 12 after getting swept at home by the Angels. Tampa Bay goes for a sixth consecutive victory in this series – all in Houston – after losing six of the first seven meetings.

Tampa Bay (43-39) finished a 4-2 homestand over the weekend by taking two of three from Detroit. The Rays swept their last series against Houston (30-52), winning three games from June 24-26, 2011. In his last start, Astros leftie Dallas Keuchel (4-4, 4.34) struck out nine for the first time, but he surrendered a career high-tying three homers in a 3-1 loss at the Chicago Cubs. Keuchel had been tagged for just five homers in eight previous starts since being inserted into the rotation May 10 but faces a tough task here against a line-up that hits better against left-handers.

Suggested bet: Rays WIN (2.5 units @ $1.62) WIN, game total -8 (1.5 units @ $1.95) LOSE (12-0)

Other tips

AL: Tigers @ Blue Jays +9 $1.97 WIN (3-8)

AL: Yankees WIN $1.87 @ Twins WIN (10-4)

NL: Giants @ Reds WIN $1.65 WIN (1-8)

NL: Brewers @ Nationals -1.5 $2.20 WIN (5-10)

NL: Diamondbacks @ Mets WIN $2.00 WIN (4-5)

NL: Padres @ Marlins WIN $1.78 WIN (0-4)

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