Daily tips for May 2

Racing for May 2

Horse racing: Warrnambool (Vic), Wagga Wagga (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld), Kalgoorlie (WA), Gosford (NSW)

Harness racing: Maryborough (Vic), Gold Coast (Qld), Newcastle (NSW), Penrith (NSW), Kilmore (Vic)

Greyhound racing: Warragul (Vic), Dubbo (NSW), Geelong (Vic), Maitland (NSW), Albion Park (Qld), Mandurah (WA), Sandown Park (Vic), Angle Park (SA), Dapto (NSW), Hobart (Tas)

It’s the final day of the three-day Warrnambool Racing Carnival with sunny skies the order of the day for the punters still standing. Highlights of the card include the time-honoured $250,000 Wheelie Waste Grand Annual Steeplechase over a marathon 5500 metres and the $200,000 Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup over 2350 metres.

Banca Mo heads out a deserved favourite for the Brunton boys in the Cup, but we think there’s terrific value around #3 King Diamond. Winner of the Ballarat Cup back in November, the 6yo gelding finished his late-Spring campaign strongly with second in the Werribee Cup and third in the Bagot on New Year’s Day.

He’s only had two runs back this campaign at Caulfield over 1700m and 1800m but trainer Jarrod McLean has put plenty of work into his charge and has been set for this race specifically. Barrier 16 is far from ideal but it’s a long run to the first turn from the 2350m start and we think he’s overs at an each-way price of $12 on the Centrebet fixed odds market.

Suggested bet: Warrnambool R8 #3 King Diamond E/W (two units) LOSE (U/P)

Others tips

Warrnambool R2 #2 Faithful Jester (E/W) 1st ($12.60/$3.60)

Warrnambool R5 #7 Bloomingdale Miss (E/W) 3rd ($1.60)

Warrnambool R6 #9 Banna Strand (E/W) 1st ($7.80/$3.30)

Gosford R3 #4 Brannickers (win) WIN 1st ($2.10)

Gosford R7 #3 The Investor (E/W) 3rd ($1.70)

Harness racing tip: Kilmore R7 #8 Ohoka Mach (win) LOSE (2nd)
Greyhound racing tip: Dapto R1 #2 Spirit to Excel (win) LOSE (U/P)

MLB for May 2

Chicago White Sox @ Texas Rangers, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, TX, Thursday, May 2, 10.35am

The Texas Rangers' struggling offence busted out in a big way in the series opener, though runs haven't been easy to come by against Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale lately. Texas looks to stay hot as it continues its three-game series with visiting Chicago.

The Rangers (17-9) totalled eight runs while splitting a four-game series with Minnesota – including a 5-0 loss – before getting homers from Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre and Jeff Baker in Tuesday's 10-6 victory over the White Sox.

Aside from giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 9-4 loss to Cleveland, Sale (2-2, 4.09 ERA) has pitched to the level that led him to last season's success. The Rangers will counter with rookie Nick Tepesch, who had another solid outing Thursday after allowing one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 2-1 win at Minnesota.

Suggested bet: Texas Rangers WIN (two units) LOSE (5-2)

Other tips

Mets @ Marlins +8 WIN (7-6)

Pirates WIN @ Brewers WIN (6-4)

Phillies WIN @ Indians LOSE (0-6)

Reds @ Cardinals WIN WIN (2-4)

Astros @ Yankees -9 PUSH (4-5)

Nationals @ Braves WIN LOSE (2-0)

Red Sox WIN @ Blue Jays WIN (10-1)

Padres WIN @ Cubs LOSE (2-6)

Rays WIN @ Royals LOSE (8-9)

Rockies WIN @ Dodgers WIN (7-3)

Orioles WIN @ Mariners LOSE (3-8)

• Place a bet on the “head to head” market for any MLB match and if your team is ahead coming into the 9th but lose, our sports betting partner Centrebet will refund your first bet up to $100 cash!

NHL playoffs for May 2

Eastern Conference quarter-finals, game 1: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Boston Bruins, TD Garden, Boston, MA, Thursday, May 2, 9.10am

After a nine-year playoff drought the Toronto faithful will be rewarded as they take on one of the most talented teams in the Eastern Conference. Certainly the Leafs have their work cut out for them tonight after having dropped 11 of their last 13 games at the Garden

The Bruins missed a chance to finish second in the Eastern Conference by losing seven of their last nine games including the season finale to Ottawa but the drop to fourth seed isn’t too concerning given their dominance over the Leafs.

Also factor in that the Bruins played a gruelling schedule down the stretch with games cancelled due to the Boston Marathon bombings and consequently jammed into alternate dates. Nathan Horton returns, and the Bruins have had a decent breather so we’re happy to load up on the shorts being offered.

Suggested bet: Boston Bruins WIN (three units) WIN (1-4)

Other tips

ECQF1: Islanders @ Penguins +5.5 LOSE (0-5)

WCQF1: Sharks @ Canucks WIN LOSE, -5 WIN (3-1)

NBA playoffs for May 2

Western Conference playoffs, round 1, game 5: Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK, Thursday, May 2, 11.35am (Thunder lead 3-1)

Despite leading ahead of this crucial game 5, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a big problem that does not appear to have an immediate solution. Kevin Durant has been the driver of Oklahoma City's offense since fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook was lost for the remainder of the playoffs prior to Game 3. Durant has become the primary ball-handler, attracting even more attention from the Houston Rockets’ defence.

Meanwhile, the Rockets are heating up from three-point range, just in time to avoid playoff elimination. After setting a franchise record for 3s in the regular season, Houston has steadily improved its accuracy over the course of the series before hitting 44 per cent from behind the arc in a 105-103 victory in Game 4.

Suggested bet: Rockets +9 (two units) WIN, game total +208 (two units) WIN (107-100)

Other tips

E5: Celtics @ Knicks +182 (Celtics lead 1-3) LOSE (92-86)

E5: Hawks @ Pacers -7 WIN, -187.5 (series tied 2-2) LOSE (83-106)