Daily tips for July 31

UK Racing for July 31

Glorious Goodwood Day 2, Goodwood Racecourse, Chichester, West Sussex, UK

The last time a race was billed as a “Duel on the Downs”, Frankel showed Canford Cliffs a clean pair of hooves to win the Sussex Stakes. Two years later, the most thrilling race of Royal Ascot week gets a sequel when Dawn Approach and Toronado meet again in the Group 1 Qipco Sussex Stakes over a mile on day two of Glorious Goodwood. Nor is this a two-horse race, since Declaration Of War, who won a different Group One at Ascot that same day, also lines up. Dawn Approach held off Toronado by a short-head in the St James's Palace Stakes and there is a school of thought that the runner-up was unlucky. Richard Hughes planned to make his challenge widest of all in order to avoid trouble but was carried sideways for a stride or two by the winner, who had himself been bumped.

Both lost momentum in the incident and it looked as if it was Dawn Approach, closer to the source of interference, who suffered more. In the seconds that followed it seemed a matter of time before Toronado's challenge would carry him past but the Jim Bolger-trained chestnut rallied so bravely that he never gave up the lead. He is starting to look a horse of the highest quality, having won eight of nine, four of those wins at Group 1 level. His Derby meltdown remains the only low point and one unlikely to be repeated so long as he is kept to strongly run races over no more than a mile. He looks a good bet at even money, especially as yesterday’s rain is less likely to be a problem for him than Toronado.

Suggested bet: Goodwood R3 #5 Dawn Approach WIN (two units @ $2) LOSE (2nd)

Other tips

Goodwood R1 #5 Beyond (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Goodwood R2 #3 Excess Knowledge (win) LOSE (2nd)

Goodwood R4 #7 Toormore (win) 1st ($2.25)

Racing for July 31

Horse racing: Warwick Farm (NSW), Ballarat (Vic), Doomben (Qld), Murray Bridge (SA), Belmont (WA), Coffs Harbour (NSW), Darwin (NT). Harness racing: Horsham (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld), Shepparton (Vic). Greyhound racing: The Meadows (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Richmond (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Cranbourne (Vic), Rockhampton (Qld), Ballarat (Vic), Bulli (NSW), Cannington (WA).

Sometimes it takes hours of research to find a winner, but in today’s case, it took a single phone call – I say no more! It’s Cabcharge Sportsmans Race Day at the Coffs Harbour Racing Club, marking the first day of the two-day Carlton MID Coffs Harbour Gold Cup Carnival. Race 5 on today’s card is the Horsepower Class 1 Handicap over 1200m, which will be contested by a maximum field of 14. A last start winner by two lengths on a bog track at Ballina, today’s heavy (8) will suit #6 Kit ‘Em Up just nicely. The 2yo gelding is having the fourth start in his first campaign and looks well placed for Ballina trainer John Everson and jockey Dallas Auckram.

Suggested bet: Coffs Harbour R5 #6 Kit ‘Em Up E/W (two units) LOSE (U/P)

Other tips

Ballarat R1 #5 Mister Ceriani (E/W) 3rd ($2.50)

Ballarat R2 #3 Frogsplash (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Ballarat R4 #7 Tom’s Recognition (win) LOSE (2nd)

Ballarat R7 #8 Nou Camp (E/W) 3rd ($2.30)

Ballarat R8 #4 Heat Blast (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Warwick Farm R1 #2 Danas Best (win) SCRATCHED
Warwick Farm R3 #2 Complacent (win) LOSE (2nd)
Warwick Farm R7 #2 Sir Berus (E/W) 1st ($4.00/$1.90)

Murray Bridge R5 #2 Puzzleman (win) LOSE (2nd)

Coffs Harbour R4 #2 Count The Chimes (win) 1st ($1.90)

Harness racing tip: Shepparton R2 #10 Mcrita (E/W) 3rd ($1.90)

Greyhound racing tip: Bulli R3 #2 Crack of Dawn (win) 1st ($1.70)

CFL (week 5) for July 31

British Columbia Lions (3-1) @ Toronto Argonauts (2-2), Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON, Wednesday, July 31, 9.40am

Despite being reigning Grey Cup champions, the Toronto Argonauts are home underdogs when they host the BC Lions in a rare Tuesday night CFL clash. Toronto, which dropped a 24-16 decision at BC in week 2, lost CFL leading passer Ricky Ray and running back Chad Kackert to knee injuries last week in a road win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kackert, the leading rusher for the Argonauts, will miss at least a month while Ray is listed as day-to-day for the top team in the East Division. Toronto signed running back Chris Jennings to replace the injured Kackert. Jennings was released by the Montreal Alouettes last week after rushing for 29 yards on eight carries in one game.

Following a home-and-home sweep of Edmonton, the Lions have won three straight and have allowed just 40 points in that span after yielding 44 in their Week 1 loss to the Calgary Stampeders. Running back Andrew Harris is driving the offense with 296 yards and four touchdowns on the ground to go with 129 receiving yards and one touchdown reception. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay is enjoying a strong start to the season - with 974 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and only three interceptions. Lulay, who has 173 rushing yards on 19 carries, is on pace to surpass last year’s career high of 477 yards. I have to lean to the Lions here, with the “over” trend (6-0 in Argos’ past six at home) to continue.

Suggested bet: Lions -6.5 (2.5 units @ $1.83) LOSE, game total +49 (1.5 units @ $1.91) WIN (12-38)

MLB for July 31

Washington Nationals (52-54, 21-29 away) @ Detroit Tigers (59-45, 32-19 home), Comerica Park, Detroit, MI, Wednesday, July 31, 9.10am

Stephen Strasburg made a huge impression in his first appearance in a big-league uniform in spring training three years ago by striking out Miguel Cabrera. The Washington Nationals starter has never faced Cabrera or the Detroit Tigers in the regular season heading into the opener of this two-game set at Comerica Park. Strasburg (5-8, 2.85 ERA) will pitch to the reigning AL MVP for the first time in interleague play. He is 5-2 with a 2.09 ERA in eight career outings against the AL. Both Strasburg and Cabrera endured frustrating efforts in their last games. The Nationals right-hander was charged with last Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh despite yielding one run and two hits in eight innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts. Washington (52-54) responded with a 4-1 stretch, winning 14-1 over the New York Mets on Sunday.

Cabrera, meanwhile, was ejected by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild for arguing a strike call in the third inning of Sunday’s 12-4 win over Philadelphia! Detroit (59-45) outscored the Phillies 24-5 in a three-game sweep to improve to 6-2 against the NL East, but both defeats came at Washington on May 8 and 9. The Tigers have won seven straight and 12 of 14 at home versus the NL East. Washington looks to defeat Anibal Sanchez (8-7, 2.68) for the second time after he allowed three runs over six innings in a 3-1 loss May 8. The right-hander is 5-2 with a 2.19 ERA in seven home starts. The Tigers bolstered their bullpen Monday by acquiring right-hander Jose Veras from Houston for minor league outfielder Danry Vasquez and a player to be named. With respect to the Nationals’ recent form, this is a great price on the tigers at home and can’t be ignored.

Suggested bet: Tigers WIN (three units @ $1.78) WIN (1-5)

Other tips

IL: Diamondbacks @ Rays $1.62 WIN WIN (2-5)

AL: Astros @ Orioles -1.5 $1.80 LOSE (3-4)

AL: White Sox @ Indians WIN $1.55 WIN (4-7)

AL: Mariners @ Red Sox -1.5 $2.10 WIN (2-8)

AL: Angels @ Rangers -8.5 $2.00 LOSE (11-14)

AL: Royals WIN $1.80 WIN @ Twins +7.5 $1.83 WIN (7-2)

AL: Blue Jays @ Athletics WIN $1.68 LOSE (5-0)

NL: Brewers WIN $2.05 @ Cubs (1) WIN (6-5)

NL: Cardinals @ Pirates (1) -7 $1.91 WIN (1-2)

NL: Giants WIN $2.09 LOSE @ Phillies -9 $1.87 LOSE (3-7)

NL: Mets WIN $2.11 @ Marlins WIN (4-2)

NL: Yankees @ Dodgers WIN $1.61 WIN (2-3)

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