Daily tips for August 3

AFL (R19) for August 3

Greater Western Sydney (0-17) v Melbourne (2-15), Skoda Stadium, Saturday, August 3, 1.45pm AEST

Melbourne have set new standards for bruise-free, insipid football in 2013 with their effort against North Melbourne last week perhaps establishing a new low. Just passing time until a new coach is confirmed? In contrast, the young Giants turned in an inspired performance to give Collingwood a real fright at the MCG last Saturday evening. Statistically, the sides match up evenly with the bookies in agreement, opening with a pick’em price for the game. GWS dominated Melbourne for three quarters when they met at the MCG in round 4 and, while I hadn’t expected the Giants to break their duck this season, I have little doubt that the league newcomers will give Kevin Sheedy a farewell gift with victory over the hapless Dees. Melbourne has found it extraordinarily difficult to penetrate their forward 50 zone while, at the other end, they’ll be without James Frawley in the battle to stop wunderkind forward Jeremy Cameron.

Suggested bet: GWS Giants WIN (two units @ $1.60) WIN (124-87)

Hawthorn (15-2) v Richmond (11-6), MCG, Saturday, August 3, 2.10pm AEST

This is another case of the obvious bet not necessarily being the best course of action. The Hawks played some of their best footy of the year in easily accounting for the Bombers last Friday night while the Tigers, gallant in the first quarter, had no answers to Sydney’s class at the SCG. However, Damien Hardwick’s knowledge of the Hawks, where he was an assistant before joining the Tigers, served them well last time out as they smashed the eventual grand finalists by 62 points. The Hawks’ game-plan is beatable if the opposition midfield can force them wide when they bring the ball off half-back. The height and strength of Buddy Franklin and Jarryd Roughead may be negated by the lousy weather forecast for Saturday afternoon, while I have a ‘bounceback’ factor in play here for the Tigers. Not suggesting an upset but happy to play the Tigers at the line.

Suggested bet: Richmond +28.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (66-107)

West Coast (7-10) v Gold Coast (6-11), Patersons Stadium, Saturday, August 3, 4.40pm AEST

In 2012 West Coast finished 13 points shy of a preliminary final, while Gold Coast won just three games and finished second last. There was 126 points between the two teams in round 14 last year yet, ahead of this clash, just one game separates them on the ladder. Both are coming off average performances in round 18 – the Eagles looked listless as the Bulldogs ran over the top of them while the Suns didn’t have the cattle to counter a buoyant Carlton at Metricon. However, Guy McKenna is the enviable position to recall Rory Thompson, Dion Prestia and David Swallow for this clash while skipper Darren Glass is back for the Eagles. The key here is the ruck – no Zac Smith or Tom Nicholls will leave Dean Cox almost unchallenged at the stoppages although the class of the Gold Coast on-ballers should ensure a reasonable share of the clearances. I have a slight lean to the Eagles covering the line, but not much interest.

Suggested bet: West Coast -15.5 (one unit @ $1.91)

Carlton (9-8) v Fremantle (12-4), Etihad Stadium, Saturday, August 3, 7.40pm AEST

Carlton may be the side scratching for its top eight survival, but I suspect that it will be Fremantle that makes a statement of intent here. Unbeknownst to many AFL followers, clubs with their finals sports secure often undergo rigourous training about a month out from September before tapering over the final four weeks of the home and away season. Ross Lyon adheres to this philosophy, which served him so well at St Kilda. Additionally, the Dockers seem to have Etihad Stadium sorted, with their record reading 4-0 on their past four visits. These fixtures have also been generally close, with three of the past four decided by less than 10 points. I’m very keen on the Dockers here – Hayden Ballantyne is a big ‘in’ while they’ve yet to lose to a side outside the top eight. Meanwhile, the Blues have yet to beat a top eight side with the exception of Port Adelaide.

Suggested bet: Fremantle WIN (two units @ $2.00), game total -167.5 (three units @ $1.90, best of the round)

Brisbane Lions (7-10) v St Kilda (3-14), Gabba, Saturday, August 3, 7.40pm AEST

These sides have met just once over the past six seasons, with the Saints on a 4-0 winning streak including the past three here at the Gabba although the margin has never stretched beyond three goals. Ironically, the top goal kicker in their 13-point win last time out was Ahmed Saad, the player now facing a two-year suspension after returning an irregular drug sample. St Kilda can thank Essendon that their 2013 woes haven’t filled more space in the media as the club’s commitment to youth hasn’t exactly been a rip-roaring success, underlined by their capitulation at Geelong last Saturday night. Brisbane’s hopes of a top eight berth may have ended at the hands of Port Adelaide in round 18, and they’re forward set-up remains well below the best in the competition, but that won’t be an issue here as they beat-up on a St Kilda counting down the days to the end of the season.

Suggested bet: Brisbane -25.5 (two units @ $1.91), game total -183.5 (one unit @ $1.90)

Racing for August 3

Horse racing: Moonee Valley (Vic), Rosehill (NSW), Doomben (Qld), Morphettville (SA), Belmont (WA), Kembla Grange (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld), Coonabarabran (NSW), Broome (WA), Darwin (NT), Sunshine Coast (Qld). Harness racing: Globe Derby (SA), Albion Park (Qld), Bendigo (Vic), Bunbury (WA), Menangle (NSW), Wagga (NSW). Greyhound racing: The Gardens (NSW), Wentworth Park (NSW), Cannington (WA), Richmond (NSW), The Meadows (Vic), Traralgon (Vic).

So where would you rather be today? Freezing off your extremities at Moonee Valley or kicking back with a cold one in the Top End for the penultimate day of the Carlton Mid Darwin Cup Carnival and today’s running of the bet365 Palmerston Sprint! SA trainer Michael Hickmott would love nothing better than to put the Palmerston Sprint trophy to sit alongside his two Darwin Cups and, in smart speedster #3 Rescue Mission, Hickmott believes he has the horse capable of winning the Territory's premier dash. The winner of six of 28, the 5yo gelding was runner-up to Adebisi in the G3 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield in February with firm fitting his preferred surface. He had a look at Fannie Bay back on July 13 and is primed for this with Victorian hoop Reece Wheeler taking the ride.

Suggested bet: Darwin R7 #3 Rescue Mission (E/W 1x4) LOSE (4th)

Other tips

Moonee Valley R1 #1 Clevadude (E/W) 1st ($4.20/$2.10)

Moonee Valley R3 #1 The Cleaner (win) LOSE (3rd)

Moonee Valley R4 #3 Ominous Quality (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Moonee Valley R6 #9 Vizhaka (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Moonee Valley R8 #9 Henwood (win) 1st ($2.40)

Rosehill R2 #4 Champagne Cath (win) LOSE (4th)

Rosehill R3 #1 Dee ‘N’ Gee (E/W) LOSE (NTD)

Rosehill R4 #9 Canny Ballad (E/W) 2nd ($2.50)

Rosehill R6 #8 Coup Ay Tee (E/W) 1st ($7.90/$2.30)

Rosehill R7 #4 Sacred Flyer (win) 1st ($2.60)

Rosehill R8 #12 Tenby Lady (place) LOSE (4th)

Doomben R1 #1 D'jet (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($2.10)

Doomben R5 #5 Keep It Moist (win) LOSE (4th)

Doomben R7 #2 Gundy Son (E/W) 3rd ($2.50)

Morphettville R4 #12 Dylanson (E/W) 3rd ($1.60)

Morphettville R6 #5 Fast And Free (win) LOSE (U/P)

Morphettville R7 #10 Saturday Affair (E/W 1x4) 1st ($4.80/$1.90)

Harness racing tip: Bendigo R9 #7 Union Belle (E/W)

Greyhound racing tip: The Meadows R6 #2 Our Tommy (E/W 1x2)

Note: The racing industry is recognising National Jockeys Celebration Day across the nation today. Race-clubs and racing patrons will celebrate the contribution former and current jockeys have made to the racing industry in Australia for more than 200 years. More than 500 riders have lost their lives in racing accidents since 1810. Blessings will be offered and a minute's silence observed for those who have lost their lives at many tracks today. Donations can be made by visiting the Trust’s website – www.njt.org.au.

CFL (week 6) for August 3

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-4) @ Edmonton Eskimos (1-4), Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB, Saturday, August 3, 11.05am

Something’s gotta give here as the 1-4 Eskimos host the 1-4 Tiger-Cats for one of our stronger plays of the weekend! The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are reeling after back-to-back losses to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in which they were outscored 69-20 and surrendered 298 total rushing yards. Quarterback Henry Burris and the Tiger-Cats will try to recover when they visit the floundering Edmonton Eskimos. Burris leads the league with 1510 passing yards, but Hamilton has only managed 99 points – tied with Edmonton for lowest in the league – because of its lack of a running game. Running back Lindsey Lamar appeared to have solved Hamilton’s running issues with more than 100 total combined yards in a little over one quarter of action last week before he was injured by a high hit during a kick-off return. Lamar, who has 564 return yards as a rookie, was on the sidelines at practice Monday, along with newly signed linebacker Brandon Isaac.

The Eskimos’ only win came against Hamilton in heavy rain at the Tiger-Cats’ temporary home in Guelph, Ontario, in Week 2. Quarterback Mike Reilly was pulled briefly after a poor start in last week’s loss to the Montreal Alouettes, but returned to bring Edmonton within one yard of winning on a long final drive. Reilly has completed only 72-of-128 passes and has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five) in his first stint as a CFL starter, but the Eskimos are short on options to replace him as they look for their first home win of 2013. Running back Hugh Charles had his strongest performance of the year in Edmonton’s 30-20 victory over the Tiger-Cats. Charles ran for 119 yards, including a 70-yard dash that resulted in his only touchdown of the season. The Eskimos defence has 10 sacks, while linebackers Damaso Munoz and JC Sherritt lead the team in tackles with 34 and 31, respectively.

Suggested bet: Game total -53.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE, Hamilton +3.5 (three units @ $1.91) WIN (30-29)

MLB for August 3

San Francisco Giants (48-59, 20-32 away) @ Tampa Bay Rays (64-44, 35-20 home), Tropicana Field, St Petersburg, FL, Saturday, August 3, 9.10am

The Tampa Bay Rays ended July on a down note, but it still ended up being the best month in franchise history. No AL rookie pitcher in the past 92 seasons had a better July than Chris Archer. The right-hander goes for a fifth consecutive winning start here when the Rays continue their push for the AL East lead with the San Francisco Giants making their second-ever visit. Going for its 24th win in 28 games, Tampa Bay (64-44) finished with three hits in a 7-0 loss to visiting Arizona on Wednesday. The Rays, though, went 21-5 in July, and they would have opened this three-game series percentage points ahead of Boston for the East lead had the Red Sox not rallied for six runs in the ninth inning of Thursday’s 8-7 victory over Seattle. Archer (6-3, 2.39 ERA) enjoyed a historic July, going 4-0 with a 0.73 ERA in five starts after throwing a two-hitter in Saturday's 1-0 road win over the Yankees. Since 1921, that is the lowest ERA by any AL rookie in July.

Archer gets his first look at the Giants (48-59), who arrive in St. Petersburg after rallying for a 2-1 victory at Philadelphia on Thursday. San Francisco, last in the NL West, has won two in a row following a 1-8 stretch. The reigning World Series champs go for their first three-game win streak since July 11-13 with Madison Bumgarner (10-6, 2.76) on the hill. The All-Star left-hander leads the Giants in wins and innings, but the club hasn’t done much to support him lately, scoring once in his last two outings. Bumgarner has surrendered one run in those starts after his eight scoreless innings were wasted in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Cubs. The Rays, who had their seven-game interleague home winning streak snapped Wednesday, haven’t dropped two straight overall since June 26 and 28. Tampa Bay won two of three from the visiting Giants from June 8-10, 2004, to even the all-time series at three games apiece.

Suggested bet: Tampa Bay WIN (2.5 units @ $1.67) LOSE, game total -7 (2.5 units @ $1.75) WIN (4-1)

Other tips

IL: Royals @ Mets +8 $1.98 LOSE (2-4)

IL: Indians WIN $2.02 @ Marlins LOSE (0-10)

AL: Mariners @ Orioles -1.5 $2.08 WIN (8-11)

AL: Astros @ Twins -8 $2.00 WIN (3-3)

AL: Rangers WIN $2.23 @ Athletics WIN (8-3)

NL: Dodgers WIN $1.75 WIN @ Cubs -9 $1.91 WIN (6-2)

NL: Braves WIN $1.59 WIN @ Phillies +8.5 $1.80

NL: Rockies @ Pirates WIN $1.61 LOSE (4-2)

NL: Cardinals WIN $2.02 @ Reds WIN (13-3)

NL: Nationals @ Brewers WIN $2.25 LOSE (4-1)

• 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.