Daily tips for August 22

Racing for August 22

Horse racing: Sale (Vic), Hawkesbury (NSW), Ipswich (Qld), Port Augusta (SA), Northam (WA), York (UK). Harness racing: Horsham (Vic), Newcastle (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld), Kilmore (Vic). Greyhound racing: Warragul (Vic), Dubbo (NSW), Shepparton (Vic), Maitland (Vic), Albion Park (Qld), Warrnambool (Vic), Sandown Park (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Dapto (NSW), Hobart (Tas), Mandurah (WA).

It’s not your standard Thursday raceday with the running of the $150,000 Group 3 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup this afternoon while it’s also day two of the Ebor Festival at York in the UK. Conditions look superb for the Hawkesbury meeting, which will be run on a good (3) under clear skies. The Cup looks a mighty tough betting proposition so I’ve settled on the Penrith Districts Junior Rugby League Maiden Plate over 1500m for the best of the day. #9 Parfuri is a lightly raced 3yo gelding from the Snowden stable with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle. In the second of his three starts, he finished 4.3L behind Twilight Royale in the G2 Sires Produce at Flemington, but was held up in the straight. He ran on well at Hawkesbury two weeks back over 1300m but was crying out for more distance.

Suggested bet: Hawkesbury R3 #9 Parfuri WIN (two units) LOSE (U/P)

Other tips

Sale R1 #9 Politeness (win) 1st ($1.60)

Sale R5 #4 Lord Finesse (E/W) LOSE (4th)

Sale R7 #3 Dargio (win) 1st ($2.40)

Sale R8 #3 Pro Tour (E/W 1x2) 1st ($4.60/$1.70)

Hawkesbury R1 #6 Gust of Power (win) 1st ($2.70)

Hawkesbury R5 #7 Footy Fan (win) LOSE (2nd)

Hawkesbury R6 #2 Spurtonic (win) 1st ($1.60)

Hawkesbury R7 #5 Darci Be Good (E/W) 3rd ($2.50)

Hawkesbury R8 #1 Electric Dee Jay (E/W) 2nd ($3.70)

Ipswich R3 #5 Party Spin (E/W 1x4) 1st ($2.30/$1.40)

Ipswich R4 #5 Kainji Rock (win) 1st ($3.50)

Ipswich R5 #5 Wonderful Jester (win) LOSE (2nd)

Port Augusta R3 #10 Pure Quartz (win) LOSE (2nd)

Port Augusta R6 #1 Captain Percy (win) 1st ($1.60)

York (UK) R2 #1 Lucky Kristale (win) 1st ($3.50)
York (UK) R4 #3 The Fugue (win) 1st ($3.00)

 
Harness racing tip: Kilmore R3 #7 Longtan Bliss (win) 1st ($1.40)
Greyhound racing tip: Dapto R6 #6 Double Twist (win) 1st ($1.70)

MLB for August 22

Pittsburgh Pirates (74-51, 32-29 away) @ San Diego Padres (56-70, 33-31 home), Petco Park, San Diego, CA. Thursday, August 22, 8.40am

While the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to monitor Gerrit Cole’s innings, the rookie's only focus is trying to help his team maintain first place in the NL Central. The right-hander can do that by helping the visiting Pirates complete their first sweep of the San Diego Padres in 10 seasons. Since making his major league debut June 11, Cole (6-5, 3.88 ERA) has enjoyed a solid season, but Clint Hurdle and staff are figuring out the best way to preserve him should Pittsburgh (74-51) reach the post-season for the first time since 1992. Though the team has not set an innings limit for Cole, who turns 23 next month, he’s thrown 140 between the minors and majors this season. The 2011 first overall pick threw 132 minor league innings during his first professional season in 2012.

Pitching on eight days’ rest on Friday, Cole allowed two runs in six innings of a 6-2 victory over Arizona to end a three-start stretch where he went 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA. After the Pirates held San Diego (56-70) to single runs in each of the first two contests, Cole tries to help the club sweep the Padres for the first time since April 29-May 1, 2003. Scheduled San Diego starter Ian Kennedy (4-9, 5.12) suffered his first loss with the Padres on Friday when he allowed five runs, three homers, and walked four while striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings of a 5-2 defeat to the New York Mets. Kennedy is 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three starts since Arizona traded him to San Diego. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts versus Pittsburgh.

Suggested bet: Pirates WIN (two units @ $1.80) LOSE (1-2)

Other tips

IL: Red Sox WIN $1.62 WIN @ Giants +7.5 $1.91 WIN (12-1)

AL: Mariners WIN $2.34 WIN @ Athletics -7.5 $1.83 LOSE (5-3)

AL: Rays WIN $2.13 LOSE @ Orioles +8.5 $1.93 LOSE (2-4)

AL: Indians WIN $1.65 @ Angels WIN (3-1)

AL: Blue Jays @ Yankees WIN $1.88 WIN -9 $1.91 WIN (2-4)

AL: Twins @ Tigers -1.5 $1.86 WIN -8 $2.07 PUSH (1-7)

AL: Astros @ Rangers -1.5 $1.77 LOSE (4-5)

AL: White Sox @ Royals WIN $1.58 LOSE (5-2)

NL: Braves @ Mets WIN $2.32 LOSE (4-1)

NL: Cardinals WIN $1.89 WIN @ Brewers +9.5 $1.98 WIN (8-6)

NL: Rockies @ Phillies WIN $1.61 WIN -7.5 $2.03 WIN (3-4)

NL: D'backs @ Reds WIN $1.63 WIN (7-10)

NL: Dodgers WIN $1.55 WIN @ Marlins -7 $1.93 WIN (4-1)

NL: Nationals WIN $2.00 WIN @ Cubs -9 $1.97 LOSE (11-6)

EPL for August 22

Chelsea v Aston Villa, Stamford Bridge, London, UK, Thursday, August 22, 4.45am

Chelsea won this equivalent fixture with a record-breaking 8-0 scoreline last season but Villa fans are expecting a better showing here after they defeated Arsenal 3-1 in last Saturday’s season-opener. Meanwhile Chelsea’s first-half dismantling of Hull prolonged the 'feelgood' factor prompted by the return to the dugout of Jose Mourinho. He could rotate his squad with Juan Mata, Andre Schurrle, Demba Ba and Romelu Lukaku all vying for a start. Villa head to Chelsea earlier than planned owing to the Blues’ UEFA Super Cup commitment at the end of the month against Bayern Munich. The date for the re-arranged fixture has annoyed Villa as it comes either side of games against Arsenal and Liverpool.

Chelsea has won each of their last three league matches against Villa, scoring 14 goals. The Villans have won just one of their last 11 league visits to Stamford Bridge, losing seven. Mourinho has never lost a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, winning 47 and drawing 14 of his 61 games in charge at the ground but has not won any of his last four Premier League matches against Villa (D3, L1). Villa is unbeaten in their last three Premier League away matches since a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United in April. They were the only Premier League side to earn more points away (21) than at home (20) last season. Christian Benteke has scored an unrivalled 16 Premier League goals in 2013.

Suggested bets: Both Teams Score – Yes (2.5 units @ $1.94) WIN, Christian Benteke to score (one unit @ $2.80) WIN, Correct Score – Chelsea 2-1 (0.5 units @ $6.75) WIN (2-1)

• 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.