Daily tips for April 22

IPL – of course it’s real!

Last year, Yahoo! India conducted a public perception survey regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL). Almost 20,000 cricket enthusiasts responded, and the results were staggering.

A resounding 68.9 per cent of the respondents said they believe match-fixing is rampant. Bizarrely, 61.5 per cent felt that despite this, the format has had a positive effect on cricket. Arguably the most surprising result of his survey was that 31.1 per cent thought that match-fixing in the IPL wasn’t rampant!

Last week, I watched an IPL game featuring the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Needing two off the last delivery, CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja was caught at deep third man only for the umpire to signal no-ball after R.P. Singh’s left foot landed at least 10cm over the crease. Jadeja scuttles through for a single, Super Kings win.

It was about as surprising as watching pro wrestling legend The Undertaker stretch his Wrestlemania winning streak to 21-0 a week earlier! Without stating the obvious, the IPL is not sanctioned by the International Cricket Council meaning the rules of the ICC don’t apply in this competition.

It seemed the Board of Control for Cricket in India might be taking a harder line last year when it announced in May 2012 that five players were to be suspended for spot-fixing.

However, that paled into insignificance when, less than two weeks later, it was revealed on the IPL website that the Chennai Super Kings defeated the Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator before earning a spot in the final against the Kolkata Knight Riders thanks to victory over the Delhi Daredevils in Qualifier 2. Just one problem – the results of those games were published before they’d been played!

Unless you happen to have an open-line to someone in the know, tread cautiously when it comes to IPL betting. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the competition, especially towards the end of the season when the standings seemingly condense to ensure the majority of teams have the opportunity to make the finals with a handful of games to play.

Racing for April 22

Horse racing: Stawell (Vic), Grafton (NSW), Narromine (NSW)

Harness racing: Menangle (NSW), Horsham (Vic), Albion Park (Qld), Canberra (ACT), Globe Derby (SA), Gloucester Park (WA)

Greyhound racing: Dubbo (NSW), Northam (WA), Ballarat (Vic), Albion Park (Qld), Launceston (Tas), Angle Park (SA), Bulli (NSW), Cranbourne (Vic), Shepparton (Vic), Bathurst (NSW)

Just the three race meetings scheduled for today, and wouldn’t it be great to spend a lazy Monday at the Clarence River Jockey Club for the nine-race program at Grafton! They’ll be racing on a dead (4) with good-sized fields the order of the day.

Our best comes up in the last race, the Shamardashing Open Hcp over 1206m, where a locally trained chance looks hard to beat. Formerly part of the Darley camp, the move north to join local trainer Debbie Trembath looks to have agreed with #8 Reckons.

Under Trembath, Reckons is a winner of four from 22 with three of those wins coming in his last five starts. Reckons has been sent forward in each of those runs with the son of Lonhro stepping his form up to a new level. #2 Darshan Joh will keep Reckons honest, but we’re confident the 5yo gelding will be winning here.

Suggested bet: Grafton R9 #8 Reckons (WIN two units) LOSE U/P

Other racing tips for April 22

Stawell R3 #4 Actionova (E/W) 3rd $1.60

Grafton R3 #2 Speed of Dark (E/W) 1st $11.80/$3.50

Harness racing tip: Globe Derby R4 #4 Linvel Daintee (E/W) 2nd $1.50

Greyhound racing tip: Bulli R6 #5 Zulu Zircon (win) 1st $1.70

Are Tom’s FTA TV days numbered?

Live betting odds are set to be banned during sports broadcasts after the industry's peak body, Free TV Australia, said it would draft a new code of practice.

FairfaxMedia is reporting this morning that, in a move that would severely restrict the appearance of bookmakers like Tom Waterhouse, the new code also bans commentators and guests from promoting live betting odds during play and for 30 minutes before and after events.

It was designed to "reduce and control the promotion of live odds during the broadcast of live sporting events,” it was stated in a FreeTV release this morning. The proposed code was open for public comment until 20 May, after which it would be submitted to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

“The proposed amendments to the code reflect an agreement reached between the Government and commercial radio, commercial television and subscription broadcasters to reduce and control the promotion of live odds during the broadcast of sporting events,” FreeTV stated.

MLB for April 22

St Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA, Monday, April 22, 10.30am

The St. Louis Cardinals bounced back, while the Philadelphia Phillies’ performance seemed to suggest that the previous game was little more than an aberration. Philadelphia will turn to Kyle Kendrick as it tries to salvage a four-game split at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

The Cardinals’ Jake Westbrook may have a 0.00 ERA but the right-hander has walked 10 batters while striking out four, and he was roughed up in Pittsburgh where the Pirates plated four in the opening frame of a game eventually rained out. We can’t bet either side with much confidence, so will settle on a play on the under based on Kendrick’s showing in Cincinnati last week.

Suggested bet: Game total -8.5 (two units) LOSE (3-7)

Others tips

Athletics @ Rays WIN (WIN 1-8)

Yankees @ Blue Jays +8.5 WIN (4-8)

Royals @ Red Sox (1) +9 LOSE (4-2)

Cubs @ Brewers WIN WIN (2-4)

Nationals @ Mets WIN WIN (0-2)

Diamondbacks @ Rockies WIN LOSE (5-4)

Mariners @ Rangers -1.5 WIN (3-11)

NHL for April 22

Columbus Blue Jackets @ San Jose Sharks, HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA, Monday, April 22, 10am

With playoff implications for both sides, we’re expecting a tight tussle here. The Sharks have the best home record in the league, making their fight for home-ice advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs even more important. San Jose, just 8-12-2 on the road, is tied with LA for the fourth seed in the West.

Simply qualifying for the postseason would be an accomplishment for the Blue Jackets, though they haven't had much success in their trips to HP Pavilion. Columbus (21-17-7) had a five-game winning snapped with Friday’s 2-1 defeat at LA, its first loss in four stops on its six-game road trip. Despite the defeat, the Blue Jackets are locked in a tight battle with Detroit and Dallas for the West's final playoff berth.

Suggested bet: Game total -5.5 (two units) LOSE (4-3)

Others tips

Hurricanes @ Lightning -6 WIN (3-2)

Panthers @ Bruins WIN WIN (0-3)

Devils @ Rangers -1.5 WIN (1-4)

NBA playoffs for April 22

Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK, Monday, April 22, 11.30am

All four round one-playoff games today feature short-priced favourites so we’re looking elsewhere for some value to kick-off the new week.

In a classic plot twist to spice up the NBA playoffs, James Harden and his Houston Rockets faded just enough in the final stretch of the regular season to drop to the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, just as his old team locked up the top seed. That set up a first-round clash between Harden and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that drafted him and where he spent his first three seasons in the league.

The series will feature two of the NBA’s top three teams in scoring, with Houston averaging 106 points per game and Oklahoma City right behind at 105.7. We’re fully expecting the high scoring trend (218, 218, and 241 in the regular season) between these sides to continue here but with a little playoff intensity thrown in, we'll play the under – just!

Suggested bet: Game total -212.5 (two units) WIN (91-120)

Others tips

Hawks @ Pacers -7 WIN (90-107)

Bucks @ Heat +198.5 LOSE (87-110)