Daily tips for December 4

What’s on today

There’s a full card of EPL games scheduled tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday morning which kicks-off with an intriguing clash between Crystal Palace (with new manager Tony Pulis presiding over his first home fixture) and West Ham United. There are eight games scheduled in the NBA with the visit of Phoenix to Memphis arguably the pick of the card while in the NHL, the visit of LA to nearby Anaheim is the standout game on a nine-game slate. The midweek racing card takes us to Sale, Ipswich, Balaklava and Bunbury with a metro meeting at Canterbury and night racing at Launceston.

Racing for December 4

Horse racing: Sale (Vic – dead 5), Canterbury (NSW – good 3), Ipswich (Qld – good 3), Balaklava (SA – slow 6), Bunbury (WA – good 3), Launceston (Tas – night/dead 5). Harness racing: Bathurst (NSW), Bendigo (Vic), Redcliffe (Qld). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Bendigo (Vic), Richmond (NSW), Angle Park (SA), Bulli (NSW), The Meadows (Vic), Cranbourne (Vic), Cannington (WA), Ballarat (Vic), The Gardens (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld).

Melbourne has just been drenched by a line of thunderstorms meaning the rain will sweep across East Gippsland and Sale just about the time of the first race on the eight-event card this afternoon. The track is currently rated a dead 5 but watch for a likely downgrade. The leans listed below are based on a dead 5 so there’ll be no confirmed bets for Sale today.

Best of the day: In contrast, the weather is fine with the mercury set to climb into the high 20s for today’s seven-race card at Canterbury. The opening event is the Australian Turf Club Handicap over 1250 metres for one-metro wins. Just six horses will jump with #3 Darciwood looking hard to beat. The 4yo gelding has won two of four starts including a narrow victory here over 1200m on November 14. Kiwi hoop James McDonald (pictured) takes the ride for Team Hawkes and look for the son of Darci Brahma to race on the speed before dispatching of this bunch.

Canterbury R1 #3 Darciwood (win) LOSE (2nd)

Other confirmed bets

Canterbury R3 #4 Pentometer (win) LOSE (3rd) – another small field here with just seven to go around in this one-metro win handicap over 1900m. This 4yo gelding from the Waller stable has won his past two including first-up here on November 20 over 1580m. Look for him to make three in a row here.

Balaklava R7 #7 Night Breeze (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.45) – nothing went right for this 4yo gelding last time out at Morphettville but he was just pipped at the post. He’s down in weight for this 0-62 affair over 1050 metres and, from barrier 2, Joe Bowditch should steer him to his first win for Peter Macdonald.

Adding: Ipswich R4 #3 Monicelli (E/W 1x3) 1st ($5.10/$1.80)

Leans

Canterbury R4 #4 Miss Fearless (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Canterbury R7 #8 Lady De Chine (E/W) LOSE (4th)

Sale R2 #11 Zedi Gold (E/W 1x3) 3rd ($1.60)

Sale R4 # 6 Riviera Riches (E/W 1x4) 3rd ($1.40)

Sale R5 # 2 Sunset In Venice (win) SCRATCHED

Sale R6 #1 Cadel Triomphe (win) 1st ($2.30)

Ipswich R7 #3 Lucia (win) LOSE (U/P)

Balaklava R2 #7 Coup De Beel (win) LOSE (2nd)

Balaklava R3 #4 Leahone (win) LOSE (2nd)

Harness racing tip: Bendigo R4 #5 Major Deed (win) 1st ($1.90)
Greyhound racing tip: Ballarat R7 #4 Born Ali (win) 1st ($2.60)

NHL for December 4

San Jose Sharks (18-3-5, 41 pts) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (14-10-3, 31 pts), Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada, Wednesday, December 4, 11.10am

NHL best of the day: The San Jose Sharks have an NHL-low three regulation losses, in part because of how they’ve jumped on teams in the first period. They’ll try to continue that early game dominance as they go for their sixth straight win against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that’s dropped four in a row. The Sharks’ 92 goals scored are among the most in the league and their 60 allowed are among the fewest. San Jose is in first place in the Pacific Division, emerging as one of the top teams in a loaded Western Conference. San Jose has built its gaudy record in part by beating up on East teams, going 7-1-2. It appears to have a good chance to pad that mark during a four-game road trip that features three opponents from that conference to start the stretch. First up is Toronto, which the Sharks have beaten in five of the past six meetings and is 0-2-2 in its last four overall. The Maple Leafs (14-10-3) have scored two or fewer goals five times in the previous six contests, going 1-3-2. The S/U price is a bit short so I’ll take the Sharks to win this in regulation.

San Jose Sharks WIN NT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (one unit @ $2.00) WIN (4-2)

Other confirmed bets

11.10am: Tampa Bay Lightning (16-9-1, 33 pts) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (10-14-3, 23 pts) -5.5 (one unit @ $1.68) WIN (0-1) – Tampa Bay (16-9-1) is 0-3-1 in its last four on the road and closed out November with a 3-0 home defeat to Pittsburgh last Friday. The Lightning converted at 9.1 per cent on the power play in that month to finish ahead of only Dallas' 7.3 mark. This also figures to be a low-scoring contest since these teams do not shoot much. Tampa Bay averages 27.9 shots on goal and Columbus 27.1 to rank among the league's lowest figures.

11.40am: Ottawa Senators (10-13-4, 24 pts) @ Florida Panthers (7-15-5, 19 pts) WIN (one unit @ $2.00) LOSE (4-2) – the hosts represent solid value in this spot. Ottawa has won 12 of the past 14 meetings with Florida (7-15-5), including a 3-2 home win on November 9 but have dropped seven of 10 games since. Panthers goalie Tim Thomas has a 1.81 GAA and two shutouts while winning seven of his last 10 against the Senators. He made 29 saves against them last month. I’m expecting at least three Florida goals, which should be good for victory.

Adding – 11.10am: Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York Islanders +5.5 (one unit @ $1.83) LOSE (3-2)

Leans

Pittsburgh Penguins WIN $1.65 @ New York Islanders WIN (3-2)

Carolina Hurricanes @ Washington Capitals WIN $1.65 LOSE (4-1)

Dallas Stars @ Chicago Blackhawks WIN NT $1.77 LOSE (4-3)

Vancouver Canucks WIN $1.77 WIN @ Nashville Predators -5 $2.08 WIN (3-1)

Phoenix Coyotes @ Edmonton Oilers WIN $2.08 LOSE (6-2)

Los Angeles Kings @ Anaheim Ducks WIN $1.79 LOSE (3-2)

NBA for December 4

Toronto Raptors (6-10, 3-4 away) @ Golden State Warriors (10-8, 5-2 home), ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA, Wednesday, December 4, 2.40pm

NBA best of the day: Coming off a much-needed win, the Golden State Warriors are hoping they've put their recent struggles behind them. A visit from the Toronto Raptors could help them take another step in the right direction. Golden State (10-8) had lost five of six before bouncing back in Sunday’s 115-113 win at Sacramento. Stephen Curry made a pair of free throws with 8.6 seconds left and Andrew Bogut (pictured) blocked a potential game-tying layup in the closing moments. The Raptors have not been in first place in the Atlantic Division since 2007 and despite losing three games in a row and sitting at 6-10 for the season, they lead their division in the putrid Eastern Conference where only two teams have winning records. The Raptors had a chance this week to take a pseudo-strangle hold on the division, but were only able to go 1-3 in a four game homestand. The Raptors dropped to 1-8 when allowing at least 92 points. That doesn't bode well for a team that's surrendered 113.1 per game during a 3-12 stretch against Golden State. Toronto is 0-3 SU and 0-3 ATS ion their past three, and I’m not expecting things to improve here.

Toronto Raptors @ Golden State Warriors -7.5 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (103-112)

Other confirmed bets

11.40am: Detroit Pistons (7-10, 2-5 away) @ Miami Heat (14-3, 9-1 home) -10 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (107-97) – the Heat look to extend their latest winning streak to 11 games Tuesday night when they host the Pistons. Miami lead the NBA in field goal percentage (51.3) with LeBron James shooting 59.8 per cent from the field and a staggering 64.8 per cent in the past seven games. The Pistons had a plus-5.3 margin against the Heat last season but lost two of three meetings. The Heat have won seven of the past eight meetings at home by an average of 12.0 points.

12.10pm: Phoenix Suns (9-8, 4-5 away) @ Memphis Grizzlies (8-8, 3-5 home) +190 (one unit @ $1.91) WIN (91-110) – the Suns are still one of the best teams ATS, but after putting a stop to the Portland Trailblazers winning streak and two contests against the hapless Utah Jazz, the Suns have also become a great ‘over’. They’re 10-7 O/U overall thanks to a good balance on offence and defence. They are in the top half of the league when it comes to scoring at 101.7 points per game and they give up 99.7 points per game. Memphis is also coming off a 97-88 loss to Brooklyn.

Leans

Orlando Magic @ Philadelphia 76ers -3.5 $1.91 LOSE (125-126)

Milwaukee Bucks @ Boston Celtics NO LEAN

Denver Nuggets @ Brooklyn Nets +4.5 $1.91 LOSE (111-87)
Charlotte Bobcats @ Dallas Mavericks -194.5 $1.91 WIN (82-89)

Oklahoma City Thunder -6.5 $1.91 LOSE @ Sacramento Kings -203 $1.91 WIN (97-95)

EPL for December 4

Crystal Palace (2-1-10, 7 pts) v West Ham United (3-4-6, 13 pts, Selhurst Park, South Norwood, London, England, Wednesday, December 4, 7am

Crystal Palace welcomed 14 new players to the club after their promotion back to the EPL. After 13 games and just two wins, Palace have shed manager Ian Holloway for Tony Pulis (pictured), who needed just one game on the touchline in tracksuit and cap to decide the squad needed tweaking! It will take a huge swing in momentum for the Eagles to avoid the drop, but they’re only six points from safety and have lost only one of their past three. If Pulis can get a win in his first home game in charge – against a West Ham team that falls firmly into the ‘catchable’ category – then Palace could be on their way. Coming off a 1-0 loss to Norwich over the weekend, Palace will probably again go with Marouane Chamakh and Cameron Jerome up front for the opening game of this midweek round of EPL games. Palace are unbeaten in their last four league matches with West Ham at Selhurst Park but have only won two of 13 home meetings in total (W2, D6, L5).

The Hammers aren’t exactly setting the world on fire with a run of five without victory before the weekend’s 3-0 win over Fulham. West Ham striker Carlton Cole (who’s short-term contract expires next month) is pushing for his first start of the season after scoring in that game off the bench. Ravel Morrison is also in line for a recall, but George McCartney has been left out of the squad. Palace's 2-0 win at Upton Park in April 1992 was the last time the away team triumphed in this fixture. There have been four home wins and four draws since that game. They are yet to earn a point after going behind this season. The last Premier League meeting between these sides ended 3-3 at Selhurst Park in May 1998, and three of the last five league meetings between the sides have ended level. Given the Hammers’ own anaemic form in front of goal, expect a low-scoring affair here and I’m sure Pulis would be happy with one point in his first game on the sidelines in south London.

Confirmed bets

Crystal Palace v West Ham -2.5 (1.75 units @ $1.67) WIN (1-0)
Crystal Palace v West Ham (0-0) (0.25 units @ $9.00 LOSE (1-0)

Leans

Crystal Palace v West Ham DRAW $3.10 LOSE (1-0)
Crystal Palace v West Ham -1.5 $3.10 WIN (1-0)

• Selections are listed in three categories – 1) Suggested (likely bet but yet to be finalised); 2) Confirmed (locked in at the price listed); and 3) Leans (tips, but not recommended bets); all times quoted are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT); prices with thanks to Centrebet (except where markets are not available), 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.