Daily tips for October 17

Racing for October 17

Horse racing: Warrnambool (Vic), Scone (NSW), Gold Coast (Qld). Harness racing: Redcliffe (Qld), Ballarat (Vic), Penrith (NSW). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Angle Park (SA), Dapto (NSW), Dubbo (NSW), Hobart (Tas), Maitland (NSW), Mandurah (WA), Sandown Park (Vic), Traralgon (Vic), Warragul (Vic), Warrnambool (Vic).

Amid the toxic environment that is the Queensland racing industry, the Gold Coast Turf Club stands as a beacon of success. Gold Coast is hosting one of only three meetings today with a rare midweek card comprising six races. The fifth event, the LJ Hooker Nerang QTIS 3yo Colts & Geldings Maiden Handicap over 1200 metres is by far the most competitive event of the day. The top three all have solid claims for victory but I’ve settled on the Real Saga gelding #2 Our Gardy, which has been given time to mature since a maiden preparation where he measured up well in both race-day outings. He’s coming off a quiet 820m Doomben trial and encouraging is the fact Michael Cahill stays aboard off that hit-out. Trainer Danny Bougoure has applied the blinkers for the first time, so expect Our Gardy to perhaps settle more forward than what has usually been the case. The presence of #1 Padrino and #3 Sansho Dayu only improves the price.

Suggested bet: Gold Coast R5 #2 Our Gardy E/W 1x2 (two units) 2nd ($1.70)

Other tips

Warrnambool R2 #4 Henning (E/W 1x2) 1st ($3.30/$1.60)

Warrnambool R5 #10 Springalon (win) LOSE (U/P)

Warrnambool R6 #12 Finley Harper (E/W) 2nd ($4.80)

Scone R2 #2 Grand Condor (E/W) 2nd $2.40)

Scone R4 #1 Simply Mean (win) 1st ($1.50)

Scone R7 #6 Euterpe (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Scone R8 #8 Hammoon Lady (E/W 1x2) 3rd ($2.30)

Gold Coast R3 #2 Florida Fellow (E/W 1x2) 1st ($3.00/$1.80)

Gold Coast R6 #2 Eastern Prince (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Harness racing tip: Ballarat R7 #6 Goodtime Veejay (win) LOSE (3rd)
Greyhound racing tip: Dapto R5 #1 Smashing Sally (win) 1st ($1.90)

NHL for October 17

Calgary Flames (3-0-2) @ Colorado Avalanche (4-1-0), Honda Center, Anaheim, CA, Thursday, October 17, 1.10pm

The Anaheim Ducks can add to one of the best starts in franchise history by continuing their home dominance of the Calgary Flames. The Flames, though, are riding one of their strongest starts and will try to extend a season-opening point streak to six games here. Anaheim (4-1-0) has recovered nicely since a 6-1 drubbing in its season opener on October 2 in Colorado and won its first two home games by a combined 10-1. Corey Perry (pictured) scored twice and the Ducks registered a franchise-best 56 shots on goal in a 4-1 victory over Ottawa on Monday. The Ducks will try to win five of their opening six games for the first time against a Calgary team they’ve beaten in 18 of the last 19 home meetings, including three in the 2006 post-season. The Flames will have had four days off once the puck drops for this game. They head into their trip after a 3-0-2 start that’s the franchise’s best since the Atlanta Flames opened 10-0-2 in 1978-79. The Ducks got off to an even better start in 2006-07, going 12-0-4 and setting what was an NHL record until last season’s Chicago Blackhawks went 21-0-3.

The Flames are 0-10-5 at the Honda Center since a 5-2 victory in Game 3 of that opening-round series. Calgary hasn’t won a regular-season game in Anaheim since January 19, 2004. Calgary rookie center Sean Monahan kept his club's points streak alive, scoring the tiebreaking goal with 2:43 remaining in a 3-2 victory over New Jersey on Friday. All five of Calgary’s games have been decided by one goal or in a shootout. Monahan, the sixth pick in this year’s draft, has scored a goal in each of his last four games. He also has at least one point in his first five NHL contests, the team’s longest streak since 31-year-old Sergei Makarov did it in his first seven in 1989-90. Anaheim has won eight of the past 11 overall meetings and took two of three from the Flames during last season's lockout-shortened campaign. The Ducks’ top players have led the way in those recent match-ups. Perry has six goals and eight assists in his last 10 games against the Flames. Calgary’s Curtis Glencross has eight goals and six assists in his past 16 games against Anaheim but did not record a point in his final two last season.

Suggested bets: Anaheim WIN (three units @ $1.50) WIN, Anaheim -1.5 (one unit @ $2.45) LOSE, game total -5.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (2-3)

Other tips

Rangers @ Capitals WIN $1.70 LOSE -5.5 $1.74 WIN (2-0)

MLB playoffs for October 17

NLCS game 5 (Cardinals lead 3-1): St Louis Cardinals @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, October 17, 7.10am

Although the St Louis Cardinals are one victory away from winning the NL pennant, they don’t want to get caught up with World Series. A year after a devastating post-season collapse, the Cardinals will try to close out the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the NL championship series. St Louis, seeking a second World Series in three years, squandered such a 3-1 lead in the 2012 NLCS, losing the last three games to eventual champions San Francisco. The offence was a major culprit of that collapse, mustering one run while hitting .190. It could become a problem again since St. Louis owns a .148 average while scoring eight runs in this series. The Dodgers, however, are having their own problems at the plate, producing seven runs and going 6 for 33 (.182) with runners in scoring position. Offence may be at a premium again since the Dodgers are scheduled to send Zack Greinke (0-1, 2.57 ERA) to the mound. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA over his last four starts against the Cardinals, but could have used some help from his teammates in Game 1. Greinke struck out 10 and allowed two runs in eight innings of a 3-2 loss in 13 on Friday.

Matt Holliday is 9 for 29 (.310) with two homers all-time against Greinke, including the playoffs. The Dodgers are certainly more concerned with their own offensive issues, and Hanley Ramirez’s availability due to a broken rub. The star shortstop exited in the middle of the sixth inning Tuesday after striking out three times. The Dodgers haven't reeled off three straight post-season wins since sweeping the Cardinals in the 2009 division series. A meeting at Dodger Stadium could prove different since Yasiel Puig is 9 for 15 (.600) with four RBIs in four playoff games there after getting four hits over the last two against St Louis. He hit .360 at home during the regular season compared to .284 on the road. Joe Kelly (0-0, 3.18), a native of nearby Anaheim, will try to keep it that way, and help the Cardinals wrap up this series. The right-hander started opposite Greinke in Game 1, yielding two runs in six innings. Matt Holliday gave the Cardinals a jolt offensively in Game 4, hitting the first homer of the series; a two-run shot in the third inning. He finished with two hits after going hitless in his previous 22 at-bats at Chavez Ravine (pictured).

Suggested bets: Los Angeles WIN (four units @ $1.65) WIN, game total -7 (one unit @ $1.87) LOSE (4-6)

Other tips

ALCS Game 4 (Boston lead 2-1): Red Sox @ Tigers WIN $1.78 WIN +7 $1.75 WIN (3-7)

Note: All times quoted on the Last at Cannington blog are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)

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