Daily tips for September 18

Racing for September 18

Horse racing: Bendigo (Vic), Newcastle (NSW), Doomben (Qld), Morphettville (SA), Kalgoorlie (WA). Harness racing: Redcliffe (Qld), Shepparton (Vic), Tamworth (NSW). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Angle Park (SA), Ballarat (Vic), Bendigo (Vic), Bulli (NSW), Cannington (WA), Cranbourne (Vic), Richmond (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld), The Gardens (NSW), The Meadows (Vic).

It’s the opening day of the Newcastle Jockey Club Spring Racing Carnival with the highlights today including the $150,000 G3 Coca Cola Spring Stakes over 1600m and the $150,000 G3 Summer Bright Lager Cameron Hcp over 1500m. Newcastle's biggest Spring sprint has been won by some elite gallopers at the peak of their powers. Horses like San Domenico, Romantic Dream, Luskin Star, Flitter, Adam, Anthems, Excellerator and Court's In Session have all won significant races on the calendar as well as the Cameron. My best of the day comes up earlier in the program. Race 3 is the Paspaley Maiden Handicap over 1500m, where #2 Saintly Lad will jump from barrier 11 for the legendary Bart Cummings (pictured). The 3yo gelding has trialled strongly and rated strongly in his debut third at Canterbury two weeks ago. He’ll jump favourite, but the $1.85 on offer is still good value.

Suggested bet: Newcastle R3 #2 Saintly Lad WIN (two units) LOSE (U/P)

Other tips

Bendigo R3 #10 Prince Albert (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.90)

Bendigo R7 #4 Up The Creek (win) LOSE (U/P)

Bendigo R8 #13 Star Impulse (E/W 1x2) LOSE (U/P)

Bendigo R9 #11 Hard Romp (E/W 1x2) 3rd ($1.90)

Newcastle R4 #2 Kirramosa (win) 1st ($2.70)

Newcastle R5 #2 Didntcostalot (E/W 1x2) 2nd ($2.40)
Newcastle R6 #4 Hooked (E/W) LOSE (4th)

Newcastle R7 #2 Toydini (E/W 1x2) 1st ($5.40/$2.20)

Doomben R1 #9 Mr Sanchez (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.80)

Morphettville R3 #7 Loncava (E/W 1x2) 3rd ($2.10)

Morphettville R8 #1 Jenner (E/W 1x4) 1st ($2.90/$1.50)

Harness racing tip: Shepparton R2 #2 Wolfpack (win) 

Greyhound racing tip: Bulli R7 #4 Knocka’s Return (win)

MLB for September 18

NL: Los Angeles Dodgers (86-64, 40-32 away) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (76-73, 43-32 home), Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ, Wednesday, September 18, 11.40am

While the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers were hoping to inch closer to the NL West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Paul Goldschmidt (pictured) is standing in their way. Zack Greinke and the slumping Dodgers will try to quell Goldschmidt and the Diamondbacks, who go for a fourth straight win behind Patrick Corbin here. Manager Don Mattingly's club has followed a remarkable 53-13 stretch by dropping nine of 12, including its last four by a 29-9 score. Los Angeles’ (86-64) woes continued in yesterday’s opener, falling 2-1 while going 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Sitting 9 1/2 games ahead of Arizona (76-73) with 12 to play, the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the division remains four. Goldschmidt provided all of Arizona’s offence with a two-run homer in the first inning. The first baseman, leading the NL with 116 RBIs and tied for first with 33 homers, is 13 for 24 with two homers and nine RBIs during a six-game hitting streak. Goldschmidt is batting .377 with five homers and 18 RBIs in 16 games versus Los Angeles this year.

Goldschmidt, though, is 1 for 7 against Greinke (14-3, 2.74 ERA), who is 6-0 with a 1.58 ERA in his last nine starts. The right-hander threw six innings of one-run ball in Friday’s 3-2, 10-inning win over San Francisco. While Greinke entered this season 0-3 with a 7.90 ERA against the Diamondbacks, he's held them to a combined two runs in two starts spanning 14 innings. He pitched seven scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory at Chase Field on July 8. Los Angeles is 20-5 with Greinke on the mound. Corbin (14-6, 2.92) had posted a 7.85 ERA and received a combined three runs of support during a career-worst three-start losing streak before bouncing back Wednesday in a 4-1 win at Dodger Stadium. Corbin improved to 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his last four match-ups versus Los Angeles. Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp are a combined 2 for 14 in their match-ups. Kemp was activated off the 15-day disabled list Monday after missing 63 of the previous 64 games due to injury.

Suggested bet: Arizona WIN (2.5 units @ $1.88) LOSE, game total -7.5 (1.5 units @ $2.01) LOSE (9-3)

Other tips

IL: Reds WIN $1.56 @ Astros WIN (10-0) 
AL: Yankees WIN $1.94 LOSE @ Blue Jays -8.5 $1.91 WIN (0-2) 
AL: Mariners @ Tigers -1.5 $1.79 WIN (2-6)
AL: Orioles @ Red Sox WIN $1.84 LOSE (3-2)
AL: Rangers @ Rays -8.5 $1.80 WIN (7-1)
AL: Twins @ White Sox WIN $1.74 WIN (3-4)
AL: Indians @ Royals +8 $1.83 PUSH (5-3)
AL: Angels @ Athletics WIN $1.68 WIN -7.5 $2.00 WIN (1-2)
NL: Braves @ Nationals (1) WIN $1.84 WIN (5-6)
NL: Marlins @ Phillies WIN $1.61 WIN +7.5 $1.92 WIN (4-6)
NL: Padres @ Pirates -1.5 $2.23 LOSE (5-2)
NL: Braves @ Nationals (2) WIN $1.73 WIN -8 $1.87 WIN (0-4)
NL: Giants WIN $1.83 WIN @ Mets -7 $1.78 LOSE (8-5)
NL: Cubs @ Brewers WIN $1.74 WIN (3-4)
NL: Cardinals WIN $1.75 @ Rockies WIN (11-4)

Football (UCL matchday 1) for September 18

Group A: Manchester United v Bayer Leverkusen, Old Trafford, Manchester, UK, Wednesday, September 18, 4.45am

This is Manchester United's first European fixture without Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm since March 20, 1985 when Ron Atkinson's side went out of the UEFA Cup quarter-finals against eventual runners-up Videoton FC in Hungary. David Moyes will finally get his first taste of the Champions League proper here. His only previous encounter with Europe’s flagship competition came when Everton were defeated in the qualifiers by Villarreal in 2005. While United have often being handed a group that appeared kind on paper, Moyes has been afforded no such favours for his debut. As well as German outfit Leverkusen, United will also face a Real Sociedad side that were mighty impressive in cruising past Lyon in the qualifiers as well as Ukrainian’s Shakhtar Donetsk, which showed their quality by eliminating then-holders Chelsea last season.

Having finished third in the Bundesliga last season, Leverkusen come into this match in the same position after four wins and a defeat from their opening five matches. There will be a familiar face in the visitor’s dugout for United fans, with Leverkusen managed by former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia. The German side have enjoyed a solid start to the Bundesliga season with four wins in five games (4-0-1) this season and with eight wins in their last nine games. They are third on the table, a point behind Bayern Munich and three points adrift of top of the table Borussia Dortmund. They’ve already tallied 11 goals in five games, and boast last term’s surprise Bundesliga top scorer, Stefan Kiessling (pictured). The 29-year-old striker has four goals for the new season along with teammate Sidney Sam.

Suggested bet: Both Teams Score (three units @ $1.67) WIN, draw (one unit @ $3.55) LOSE (4-2)

Other tips

Benfica WIN $1.50 v RSC Anderlecht WIN (2-0)
Real Sociedad WIN $2.30 LOSE v Shakhtar Donetsk -2.5 $1.90 WIN (0-2)
Olympiakos v Paris St Germain DNB $1.50 WIN (1-4)
FC Copenhagen v Juventus 2+ $2.10 LOSE (1-1)
Bayern Munich By 1 $5.00 v CSKA Moscow LOSE (3-0)
Galatasaray v Real Madrid +3.5 $2.45 WIN (1-6)
FC Viktoria Plzen +0.5 $2.05 v Manchester City LOSE (0-3)

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