Daily tips for August 4

Racing for August 4

Horse racing: Kilmore (Vic – abandoned), Gundagai (NSW), Sunshine Coast (Qld), Pakenham (Vic), Muswellbrook (NSW), Kalgoorlie (WA), Launceston (Tas), Carnarvon (WA). Harness racing: Cranbourne (Vic), Dubbo (NSW), Hobart (Tas). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Canberra (ACT), Gawler (SA), Healesville (Vic), Sale (Vic), Sandown Park (Vic).

Tips

Gundagai R3 #10 South The Alert (E/W) 1st ($11.90/$3.20)

Gundagai R5 #12 Jo Jo Girl (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Gundagai R6 #3 Areteare LOSE (U/P)

Muswellbrook R2 #1 Blind Alley (win) 1st ($2.00)

Muswellbrook R5 #1 Net Worth (E/W) 1st ($6.30/$2.40)

Sunshine Coast R2 #10 Wish Upon A Star 1st ($1.60)

Sunshine Coast R6 #3 Ten To Zero LOSE (4th)

Kalgoorlie R5 #5 Massivo (E/W) 3rd ($1.60)

Kalgoorlie R7 #6 Car Park (win) 1st ($2.60)

Harness racing tip: Cranbourne R2 #2 Melita Bromac (win) 1st ($1.40)

Greyhound racing tip: Sale R5 #3 Kiss Me Ketut 1st ($1.90)

NRL (R21) for August 4

Canberra Raiders (10-8) v Melbourne Storm (11-1-6), Canberra Stadium, Sunday, August 4, 2pm

It’s been a rough month for Melbourne, who come into this clash on the back of three losses from their past four games and desperately needing a win to steady the ship. It’s not the end of the world of course. Any side boasting the likes of Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk is bound to bounce back eventually. And they found themselves in a similar position last year when they dropped five in a row between Rounds 16-21 before winning their next eight games to claim the title. But the Storm will be keen go turn the tide sooner rather than later. With South Sydney waiting in the wings for Melbourne next weekend, that makes this trip to Canberra very much a must-win if they are to look to another premiership charge. Canberra have had Melbourne’s measure of late, having won their past two encounters including a hugely impressive 24-20 win at AAMI Park in May. They are also riding a 12-game winning streak at Canberra Stadium dating back almost exactly 12 months. For the Raiders, this game also looms as a significant one as they look to cement their spot in the top eight.

Poised delicately in seventh spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder on 24 competition points, they will be acutely aware of the Knights and Warriors breathing down their neck – and the chasing pack just a few points further back. They also face a nightmare run home with this week’s Storm clash followed by games against the Roosters, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Warriors and Sharks. With that in mind, every home game is vital. There have been some good signs for Canberra of late. The decision by coach David Furner to move boom rookie Anthony Milford to full-back has worked wonders with his ability to conjure a decisive play. And with their backline starting to find form they certainly boast the strike power to trouble any side in the NRL. Both sides have named identical sides to the 17 that took the field in their respective matches last week. Only once have the Raiders defeated Melbourne twice in a season – way back in 2000. However, they have a great chance to do just that this week given that they have averaged 28.4 points per game in Sunday home fixtures over the past two seasons. They will be hard to beat if they equal that average here. (Preview thanks to NRL.com)

Suggested bet: Raiders +4 (two units @ $1.91) LOSE (4-68)

AFL (R19) for August 4

Footscray (5-12) v Sydney (13-3), Etihad Stadium, Sunday, August 4, 1.10pm AEST

Recent history between these sides is scattered with fixtures played in Canberra and the SCG but the last one was played at Etihad with Sydney cruising home by 82 points in round 21 last year. Like Freo, the Swans have excelled despite a long list of injuries this year and turned in a sublime performance against the Tigers last Sunday. Footscray gave their long-suffering supporters something to cheer with a solid win over an injury-decimated West Coast in round 18 but they remain lumbered with a list that trails the other 17 clubs by some margin. The Swans on-ballers’ ability to win the ball from beneath ruckman Shane Mumford and Mike Pyke is remarkable (take a look how close they’ll position under their ruckman at stoppages) and they’ll enjoy the dimensions of Etihad, which are not dissimilar to the SCG. If the Swans come to play, the line on offer is a gift and worth a play.

Suggested bet: Sydney -44.5 (two units @ $1.91) LOSE (99-134)

Adelaide v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium, Sunday, August 4, 3.20pm AEST

Ladder positions and form often don’t matter when it comes to the Showdown as evidenced by the 18-16 spread over the previous 34 meetings between the AFL’s two SA sides. Indeed, the underdog has outperformed the favourite by a scale of almost 2:1, and that was the case when the Power clawed their way back from a 31-point deficit to beat the Crows by nine points back in round 3. Adelaide is cast into the role of the spoiler here – Brenton Sanderson’s side is out of finals contention while Port have defied all the pundits and cling to a spot just inside the top eight. Rory Sloane is a big out for Adelaide but the return of Patrick Dangerfield more than makes up for his absence. I have a significant lean to the Power here – they’re virtually at full strength and, inaccuracy aside, have more attacking avenues available than the Crows, who’ll also be without Josh Jenkins and Shaun McKernan as forward options.

Suggested bet: Port Adelaide WIN (two units @ $1.82) WIN (103-107)

Collingwood (11-6) v Essendon (13-4), MCG, Saturday, August 3, 4.40pm AEST

One of four games for which coin-flip odds were posted, the latest meeting between old foes Collingwood and Essendon will carry some extra spice after allegations of the Magpies’ “biological superiority” were made as part of another week in never-ending drugs saga. Somehow, the Essendon players have been able to cast aside the off-field dramas when they’ve entered the field of play for the bulk of 2013, but cracks certainly started to appear in their 56-point loss to Hawthorn last week. It’s difficult to get a read on the trends in this fixture as their annual ANZAC Day clash often mocks the form of the day. The intangibles are likely to heavily play on the outcome of this match too. On pure form, I’d go with the Bombers although their win over the Magpies in round 5 was their first in eight outings. Despite their less-than-impressive showing against GWS last week, I suspect the Pies will be able to cast their own off-field issues aside and make a statement here.

Suggested bet: Collingwood WIN (two units @ $1.80) WIN, game total -182.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (133-54)

MLB for August 4

Chicago White Sox (40-67, 18-39 away) @ Detroit Tigers (62-45, 35-19 home), Comerica Park, Detroit, MI, Sunday, August 4, 9.10am

This is one of the most one-sided MLB games I’ve spotted for quite some time. Max Scherzer has been as dominant immediately following the All-Star break as he was before it, and he’s pitched extremely well of late against the lowly Chicago White Sox. Hoping to match his career high with a 16th win, the right-hander tries to help the Detroit Tigers extend their season-high winning streak to seven and send the visiting White Sox on their first nine-game slide in almost 22 years on Friday night. Scherzer (15-1, 3.01 ERA) suffered his first loss when he allowed four runs in six innings to Texas in his last outing before starting for the AL in the All-Star game. He's yielded two runs and five hits over 14 innings to win his first two starts after the break.

Pitching on his 29th birthday last Saturday, Scherzer became the fourth pitcher since 1979 to go 15-1 after he allowed one hit and struck out seven in six innings of a 10-0 victory at Philadelphia. Scherzer also has received a major league-best 7.64 average runs of support. The Tigers (62-45) improved to 6-0 on an eight-game homestand with Friday’s 2-1 win in the series opener. They’ve won seven straight at home and 10 of 11 overall. Chicago starter John Danks (2-8, 4.57) is 0-3 with a 4.86 ERA in his previous five starts overall, but he allowed one earned run and two hits in six innings while not factoring in the decision of a 3-2 loss at Cleveland on Monday. The White Sox, who have lost 11 of 12, last dropped nine in a row on August 19-28, 1991.

Suggested bet: Tigers -1.5 (three units @ $1.80) WIN (0-3)

Other tips

IL: D'backs WIN $2.35 LOSE @ Red Sox -8 $2.05 WIN (2-5)

IL: Royals WIN $1.75 @ Mets WIN (4-3)

IL: Indians @ Marlins WIN $2.14 LOSE (4-3)

IL: Yankees @ Padres WIN $2.05 LOSE -7 $1.97 WIN (3-0)

AL: Rangers WIN $1.94 @ Athletics LOSE (2-4)

AL: Mariners @ Orioles -1.5 $2.10 LOSE -9.5 $1.84 LOSE (8-4)

AL: Astros @ Twins -8.5 $2.00 LOSE (4-6)

AL: Blue Jays @ Angels WIN $1.61 WIN (3-7)

NL: Dodgers WIN $1.95 WIN @ Cubs -7.5 $2.00 WIN (3-0)

NL: Rockies @ Pirates -7 $1.91 PUSH (2-5)

NL: Cardinals WIN $2.49 LOSE @ Reds +8 $1.83 WIN (3-8)

NL: Nationals WIN $1.75 @ Brewers WIN (3-0)

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