Daily tips for September 30

Racing for September 30

Horse racing: Stawell (Vic), Cessnock (NSW), Leeton (NSW), Northam (WA). Harness racing: Albion Park (Qld), Globe Derby (SA), Pinjarra (WA), Tamworth (NSW), Yarra Valley (Vic). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Angle Park (SA), Bathurst (NSW), Geelong (Vic), Launceston (Tas), Northam (WA), Nowra (NSW), Shepparton (Vic), Warragul (Vic), Wentworth Park (NSW).

Here’s one from left field – the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSCG) are investigating allegations a jockey used a battery on a horse in the closing stages of the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August. The D.Wayne Lukas-trained Will Take Charge lifted late to beat Moreno narrowly in the $USD 1 million event but the trainer of the runner-up Eric Guillot claimed the winning rider Luis Saez used an electronic device on his mount. Guillot alleged Sarez shocked his mount before Will Take Charge made up a length in the last few strides to get up by a nose. The trainer said Saez used a device on Will Take Charge before tucking it underneath his saddle pad.

The NYSGC began an inquiry into Guillot’s complaint but has not concluded the probe, despite the pair meeting again in the Pennsylvania Derby on September 21 in which Will Take Charge again prevailed. The NYSGC enlisted the services of the New York Police Department to assist in the analysis of footage available but has not reached a decision in the case. Both Lukas and Saez denied any wrongdoing at the time of the alleged incident. US media hoped the investigation would end before November’s Breeders’ Cup meeting in Santa Anita. Will Take Charge and Moreno are expected to clash again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Batteries not included.

Daily tips

Stawell R1 #1 Trust In A Gust (win) 1st ($1.60)

Stawell R4 #5 Twin Spires (E/W 1x3) 1st ($3.50/$1.60)

Stawell R8 #3 Freshwater Storm (E/W) 1st ($8.50/$2.70)

Cessnock R3 #3 Rich Megastar (win) LOSE (2nd)

Cessnock R6 #2 La Disco (E/W 1x4) LOSE (U/P)

Cessnock R7 #5 Casino Queen (E/W)

Leeton R2 #6 Impella (E/W 1x2) 1st ($3.90/$1.40)

Leeton R5 #1 Drama Lodge (E/W 1x4) 3rd ($1.50)

Leeton R6 #2 Mineral Deposit (E/W 1x3) 1st ($4.60/$1.60)

CFL (week 14) for September 30

Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-4) @ Montreal Alouettes (4-8), Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal, QC, Monday, September 30, 3.05am

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes are hurting their respective playoff positions with their three-game losing skids. One of those streaks will come to an end here when the Roughriders visit Montreal. Saskatchewan defeated the Alouettes 24-21 at home in Week 8, but have played most of their last two games without league-leading running back Kory Sheets (ankle), who assured Roughriders fans that his return will be soon. Quarterback Darian Durant (pictured, with thanks to cfl.ca) fumbled the ball twice against the BC Lions last week, and those turnovers resulted in a crucial 10 points en route to a 24-22 decision. The fumbles overshadowed a 326-yard, two-touchdown passing performance by Durant, but Saskatchewan was limited to 39 rushing yards without Sheets. Defensive end Ricky Foley and linebacker Craig Butler stepped up in the absence of linebacker Renauld Williams, who led the team in tackles (42) and sacks (seven) before being placed on the nine-game injured list. Foley has six sacks, while Butler has tied Williams with 42 tackles and added three sacks and one interception.

Montreal is less fortunate with its injury situation, as running back Brandon Whitaker and quarterback Anthony Calvillo will remain out for the duration of the regular season while back-up quarterback Tanner Marsh joins them with a thumb injury. The Alouettes did welcome back linebacker Kyries Hebert last week against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but their offence remains inconsistent under the leadership of young pivot Josh Neiswander and back-up running back Jerome Messam. Neiswander threw for nearly 300 yards in the loss to Hamilton. Linebacker Chip Cox was named defensive player of the week after recording eight tackles, two sacks and one interception against the Tiger-Cats. Cox leads the league with 86 tackles and is the centerpiece of Montreal’s elite linebacker corps. Hebert led the team with seven sacks before he was injured, while linebacker Marc-Olivier Brouillette has five sacks and four fumble recoveries. Quarterback Troy Smith saw his first CFL action last week, scoring a rushing touchdown. The former Heisman Trophy winner will be back-up to Neiswander while he learns the Alouettes’ playbook.

Suggested bets: Saskatchewan -3.5 (1.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE, game total -53.5 (2.5 units @ $1.91) WIN (12-17)

MLB for September 30

AL: Cleveland Indians (91-70, 40-40) @ Minnesota Twins (66-95, 32-48 home), Target Field, Minneapolis, MN, Monday, September 30, 3.10am

Cleveland’s 20 wins this month mark its best total in almost 20 years. With one more, almost unbelievably, the Indians will host the wild-card game. With at least a share of the AL wild card already assured, the visiting Indians seek a 10th straight win in their regular season finale against the Minnesota Twins. If Cleveland (91-70) loses and Tampa Bay and Texas both win Sunday, the ensuing three-way tie would result in a one-game playoff between Tampa Bay and Cleveland at Progressive Field on Monday. The winner would get one wild card with the loser playing a win-or-go-home contest at Texas on Tuesday. A win here, though, means the Indians host the wild-card game on Wednesday. Five of Cleveland’s 20 wins in September – the franchise’s most in a month since August 1995 – have come with Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9, 3.38 ERA, pictured) on the mound. Boasting a 1.76 ERA since July 28, the right-hander has been even better in September, going 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA in five starts. He couldn't pick up the win on Wednesday, despite holding the Chicago White Sox to two runs in 6 1/3 innings of Cleveland's 5-4 comeback victory.

He struck out seven, and is averaging 11.14 strikeouts per nine innings over his last eight starts. Jimenez has generally fared well against the Twins, posting a 3.21 ERA in five starts. He held them to two runs in six innings of a 5-1 loss on August 23. The Twins turn to Scott Diamond (6-12, 5.54), who has allowed at least three runs in four straight starts and 17 of 23 this season. A trip to the minors hardly helped, as he is 1-2 with a 5.71 ERA in three starts since his return. Wednesday marked another hiccup for the left-hander, as he allowed four runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss to Detroit. A three-run fifth knocked Diamond out of 7-1 loss to Cleveland on July 21, when he allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings. His 3.53 strikeouts per nine innings are the lowest of any pitcher with at least 125 innings thrown. He has eight over 41 2/3 innings in his last eight starts. With a loss, Minnesota (66-95) would have at least 96 defeats in three straight years for the first time in franchise history.

Suggested bet: Cleveland WIN (four units @ $1.49) WIN (5-1)

Other tips

IL: Tigers* WIN $1.61 @ Marlins LOSE (0-1)

AL: Rays** WIN $1.65 @ Blue Jays WIN (7-6)

AL: Red Sox* @ Orioles WIN $1.68 WIN (6-7)
AL: Royals WIN $1.95 @ White Sox WIN (4-1)

AL: Yankees @ Astros WIN $2.23 LOSE -8.5 $1.84 WIN (5-1)
AL: Angels @ Rangers** +7.5 $1.88 WIN (2-6)
AL: Athletics* @ Mariners WIN $2.27 LOSE (9-0)

NL: Pirates* WIN $2.17 @ Reds* WIN (4-2)
NL: Brewers WIN $1.93 @ Mets LOSE (2-3)
NL: Phillies @ Braves* WIN $1.40 WIN +7.5 $2.20 WIN (5-12)
NL: Cubs @ Cardinals* WIN $1.65 WIN (0-4)
NL: Padres @ Giants +7.5 $2.10 WIN (6-7)
NL: Rockies @ Dodgers* WIN $1.48 LOSE (2-1)
NL: Nationals @ D'backs -8 $1.77 WIN (2-3)

* = playoff spot, ** = wild card contender

NFL (week 4) for September 30

Cincinnati Bengals (2-1, 0-1 away) @ Cleveland Browns (1-2, 0-1 home), FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH, Monday, September 30, 3am

Coach Marvin Lewis realises he needs to keep his Cincinnati Bengals focused as they prepare to face the Cleveland Browns, who shouldn't be taken lightly after last week. The visiting Bengals hope to avoid a letdown by beating the Browns for the eighth time in 10 meetings when the AFC North rivals meet in Cleveland. Cincinnati (2-1) became the first team in NFL history to lead by 14 points, then trail by 16, before rallying to win 34-30 over Green Bay last week. It was also the first time in 14 years that a team won after allowing its opponent to score 30 consecutive points. The Bengals know they now have to turn the page from the wild victory as they hit the road looking for a 2-0 start in the division. The Browns (1-2) appeared to be looking to next season with the stunning trade of running back Trent Richardson to Indianapolis and the appointment of third-stringer Brian Hoyer (pictured) as their starting quarterback last week. However, emerging star Jordan Cameron caught three TD passes, including the go-ahead grab in the back of the end zone with 51 seconds left, to give the Browns a 31-27 victory at Minnesota on Sunday. It was their first win in six games.

Hoyer overcame three interceptions to throw for a career-best 321 yards, going 30 for 54 with three touchdowns. The effort earned him his second straight start and first at home in place of Brandon Weeden (recovering from a sprained right thumb). Cincinnati, though, would like to clean things up offensively after committing seven giveaways in three games. Andy Dalton threw his third interception of the season Sunday, though he went 20 of 28 for 235 yards with two touchdowns. The Browns intercepted him four times last year, but Dalton completed 71.4 per cent of his attempts for 699 yards and six scores as the teams split the two meetings. A.J. Green has 10 receptions for 87 yards and one score over the past two weeks after finishing with nine for 162 and two touchdowns in the opener. He’s likely to face a difficult match-up in star cornerback Joe Haden, who has played a key role in helping limit Cleveland’s opponents to 300.0 yards per game, sixth in the league. Although the Bengals have won seven of nine meetings, they’ve dropped two of their last three in Cleveland.

Suggested bets: Cleveland +3.5 (2.5 units @ $1.91) WIN, game total +42.5 (1.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE (6-17)

Other tips

Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills +3.5 WIN -44 LOSE (20-23) 

Chicago Bears +3 LOSE @ Detroit Lions -47.5 LOSE (32-40) 

New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs -4.5 WIN -44 WIN (7-31)

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Minnesota Vikings +3 (London) WIN (27-34) 

Arizona Cardinals +1.5 WIN @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers +40.5 LOSE (13-10) 

Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars +9.5 LOSE -42.5 WIN (37-3)

Seattle Seahawks -1 WIN @ Houston Texans +41.5 WIN (23-20) 
New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans -39.5 LOSE (13-38)
Philadelphia Eagles +11 LOSE @ Denver Broncos +58.5 WIN (20-52)

Washington Redskins @ Oakland Raiders +3 LOSE -44 WIN (24-14)

Dallas Cowboys @ San Diego Chargers +1 WIN +47 WIN (21-30)

New England Patriots @ Atlanta Falcons -2

EPL for September 29-30

Sunderland (0-1-4) v Liverpool (3-1-1), Stadium of Light, Sunderland, UK, Monday, September 30, 1am

There’s certainly no shortage of anticipation ahead of this clash. How will managerless Sunderland react after the week’s events? Will there be a new man watching from the stands or from afar? And will a certain Uruguayan be back in the headlines? They are just a few that spring to mind.  Luis Suarez will return to the Premier League for the first time in 162 days, a spell only 13 days short of Paulo Di Canio’s tenure as Sunderland head coach (pictured). The midweek Capital One Cup win was a welcome relief on Wearside, but interim coach Kevin Ball knows Liverpool will provide a far stiffer test than Peterborough did. His players did look as though, straight away, they were playing with more freedom. The former club captain’s style will be totally different to Di Canio's and his instant recall – and the subsequent performance – of Lee Cattermole was a much-needed one after their worst start to a season for seven years. It will be a different mentality to the one seen under the Italian. They’ll need it too, as their next three home games are against Manchester United, Newcastle and Manchester City.

Liverpool have taken 20 points from 27 in Suarez’s absence, but his return will only be a positive in the long run. In the short term, the early-season optimism has been dampened slightly with the home reverse to Southampton and the League Cup exit at Manchester United. Still, the Reds have only been beaten twice in the last 17 league matches. They already have eight more points than they did at this stage last season, and have a world-class talent to welcome back. Suarez has never been too far from the limelight since he arrived in England, and his manager says it’s now ‘payback time’. However, I’m happy to take on Liverpool here. They were appalling against Southampton at home and were lucky to not lose by more than a single goal, then came the defeat at the hands of rivals Manchester United, a game in which they again failed to score. It’s 234 minutes now since they scored a goal. In fact, they’ve not notched since playmaker Philippe Coutinho has been injured, and he’ll be out until at least the end of the month.

Suggested bet: Game total +2.5 (three units @ $1.95) WIN, Sunderland DNB (1.5 units @ $4.10) LOSE, correct score 1-1 (0.5 units @ $6.00) LOSE (1-3)

Other tip

Stoke City WIN $1.96 v Norwich City LOSE (0-1)

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