Macca

Hammers win again and now up to 8th after defeating the Gunners for only the 2nd time in the last 20 meetings between the 2 clubs ... close to 60k at the London Stadium too. Pellegrini has done a remarkable job with a squad that isn't exactly star-studded. Strange seeing Samir Nasri running around for West Ham but he played very well tonight and is a welcome addition. And the word is that Arnautovic could be leaving and the destination might be China. Spurs vs Man Utd is the feature EPL game on this weekend ... Monday morning at 03.30am. I'm tipping we'll see a few goals in the game. Might go 3 - 2 either way.

Paging @DeeSpencer @titan_uranus @DemonDave @Dr. Gonzo @layzie @WERRIDEE ... or anyone else who might like to participate in the post season tipping comp. Straight winners and (optional) scorelines only are needed. I point for each winner this week, 2 points for each winner in week 3 and a total of 5 points up for grabs for the SB winner (2 bonus points apply for the SB) Leaderboard (Post Season Tipping Comp) 4 - Gorgoroth 2 - Go the Biff, Dappa Dan, DeeSpencer 1 - JV7, titan_uranus, Clintosaurus, Macca 0 - TWSNBN Schedule Sunday 8.35am Colts @ KC (-6.5) Sunday 12.15pm Dallas @ LA Rams (-6.5) Monday 5.05am Chargers @ Patriots (-4.5) Monday 8.40am Eagles @ Saints (-8.5)

I'll add with 1 choice again this week DZ. Portuguese Premeira Liga Monday 07.00am $3.30 Rio Ave Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score vs Vitoria Setubal Amounts to 16-1 (boosted) ... 10 units will return 170 units if successful.

I was with Exhilarates ... I had to be after talking the horse up all week! Dubious just found one better DZ. Gallant in defeat and another one to watch. Unite and Conquer shouldn't be forgotten either - was 4 wide without cover and never really had a chance.

Another winner @Dee Zephyr ... you're on fire! I got on to Turnberry with the help of some bonus bets and Robbie Dolan did well to get the horse out. Winner/Winner. Strike Rate today 2: 1 - 1 - 0

'Exhilarates' wins the MM 2YO Classic ... came from the rear of the field and swamped them. Looks a real horse for the future - very impressive. Only a little horse but the closing speed is there to see. The James Cummings stamp obviously.

Chauffeur wins the 1100m sprint under a new trainer at good odds. Form was way below average but DK Weir does it again. He really is the master trainer. Wasn't on it but I did look at it ? My earlier tip at the Gold Coast 'Manicure' just got pipped but ran a good race for 2nd placing. Edit: Classic finish in the MM Guineas ... Boomsara holds out Bondi who were both running from wide barriers. Outback Barbie 3rd although there's a protest 3rd against 2nd. With $190k being the difference in prizemoney from 2nd & 3rd, I'm not surprised.

They went quite quick up front and 'Spirit of Nia' was a bit of a nuisance for a time. I thought El Mag ran very well and it boxed on to the line. It looks like they ran under 01:18 for the 1300m so the horse could be looking for further than just the 1000m. Still early doors but encouraging signs. Missed the F4 but only had a small outlay for a small percentage so no great loss DZ. Threw in a few roughies looking for the big dividend ... the theory only works if enough of the roughies get into the finish! One of them was 'Spirit of Nia' and it was looking good for a while there. And yeah, all Cranbourne trained horses won tonight according to Terry Bailey. Over to the soccer again now (leading 2 - 0)

The money has come again for El Mag @Dee Zephyr I've taken out a F4 in the race and just got the winner in the previous race with Pissaro thanks to a pre-race tip from Terry Bailey & Ben Asgari. Won well too but the horse did have some decent group racing history (4th to Ace High in a Derby)

Bumper crowd again in Adelaide tonight - the Stars could be chasing a few. Here's the table before tonight's game. Keep in mind the BBL is now a 14 game season. Michael Hussey reckons that 7 wins with a healthy net run rate could secure a finals berth.

CA receive upwards of $7Million from the BCCI for each one of the ODI's that we play against India. The ODI's aren't going anywhere. There is too much money at stake and it is always about the money. But I don't see why the players can't play in the Big Bash and the ODI's. Major League baseball players play a 162 game season with very few days off. They call it the 'Grind' over there but they all seem to manage ok. By contrast, a player playing in the ODI's, International t20's and the Big Bash would be playing 25 games max. No comparison really is it?

Before you know it we'll be a good side again ... and it may happen quicker than many think. Out of all these young blokes we only have to produce 2 or 3 gems and then away you go. Bancroft is in the mix as well whilst players like Maddinson, Silk and 1 or 2 others might make it. If our Demons can come good then so too can the Australian test side. After the Ashes are completed in September, Pakistan & NZ are here next summer for 2 & 3 tests respectively followed by 2 tests against Bangladesh in early 2020. A bit easier but ... there is a gap before India are here again in the summer of 2020/21 for another 4 Tests. If I recall correctly, we went to India twice in the recent past without a return series here in the middle of those 2 series. So that is probably the reason why we are playing them twice in a row on Aussie soil. By the way, CA make a stack of money selling the broadcast rights whenever we play India ... it is an absolute cash-cow in real terms. That is why we play them at International level every year. Business is business. And we'll be able to judge Paine better if he has a much better team to work with. Let's face it, Langer isn't being scrutinised that harshly as most have come to the realisation that we aren't all that talented (more so with the batting)

Best Bet Gold Coast Race 6 No.5 Manicure $3.20

Paine is an excellent keeper and would probably make more runs in a better side. As for the captaincy, there aren't any real alternatives. Smith is ineligible for another 15 months and Khawaja doesn't seem the type. Nor do any of the bowlers. The real issue is the batting and it is going to take quite some time to build a solid top 6. Because of that situation, the captaincy becomes somewhat of a non factor. "If it is to be it is up to me" has to be the motto for any batsman - anytime. For any team. The captain can't bat for them. Overall talent = Wins.

I like the look of the squad announced for the Sri Lanka tests with the additions of Burns, Renshaw & Pucovski and sticking with Labuschagne is also pleasing. Head has got a few technical issues but he is young enough to iron out those deficiencies. And Harris looks to have a future as well. The squad has a real youthful look to it but Pucovski is the only real pup. Renshaw at 22 is also quite young as well but he has been on the first class scene for close on 3 years now. He is another one with good technique. Burns deserves another chance whilst Labuschagne has got some talent as well. It has that Greg Chappell stamp about it as he has always been big on youth. Refreshing to see. But the Australian public need to be patient with these young blokes and let's hope that happens. 7 batsmen in the squad but the Ashes squad might only have 8 batsmen or even 7 batsmen only so with the return of Smith and the probable return of Warner, 1 or 2 might be in this squad for these Sri Lanka tests alone. I'd like to see the 20yo Pucovski play so that we can have a look at him and the reports are that he has a very good technique ... here is his cricinfo profile Test Squad Tim Paine Josh Hazlewood Joe Burns Pat Cummins Marcus Harris Travis Head Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Nathan Lyon Will Pucovski Matt Renshaw Mitchell Starc Peter Siddle

Colts 22 @ Chiefs 32 Cowboys 17 @ Rams 33 Chargers 24 @ Patriots 36 Eagles 17 @ Saints 28

Just a bit of further info on the barrier records for the MM 2YO Classic - the last 10 years 2009: 9 - 6 - 3 - 7 2010: 3 - 13 - 5 - 2 2011: 7 - 14 - 9 - 3 2012: 2 - 3 - 7 - 5 2013: 2 - 10 - 3 - 11 2014: 3 - 6 - 2 - 1 2015: 3 - 12 - 6 - 11 2016: 2 - 3 - 1 - 7 2017: 16 - 9 - 1 - 11 (Houtzen was the winner) 2018: 12 - 16 - 5 - 13 (Sunlight was the winner) By the way, gun sprinter 'Houtzen' is the $1.85 favourite for the MM Sprint ($1Million) on Saturday. And the horse that ran 2nd last year from barrier 16 is called 'Hello Beauty' ... started at 100-1 and now races out of HK. It has only had the 1 start up there and may have incurred an injury. The 10 year sample size shows that it is tough to even get into the finish from a wide barrier but it's interesting that we have 2 classy gallopers that have drawn an outside gate this time ... after the final field is settled 'Yes Yes Yes' will run from gate 16 whilst 'Unite And Conquer will run from the 14 alley. Another good performer in 'Hightail' will run from barrier 15. I can envisage an absolute mad scramble for that first 200m straightaway from the barriers until they start that long 600m bend to the 400m straight. Those caught wide without cover will find it hard to sprint down that 400m straight. Especially if it's a truly run affair.

I see that 'Exhilarates' has come into equal favouritism with 'Dubious' after the barrier draw Wadda ... all falling into place for Godolphin again. My strategy will be to take a box trifecta or box F4 though rather than a straight out bet. With the 2YO's a lot depends on the run of the race, barrier draw and closing speed. Good dividends can be had with the right combo. The horses with good closing speed that have drawn well are Exhilarates (9) & Dubious (7) 'Yes Yes Yes' & 'Hightail' both finish well but they've both drawn the carpark (21 & 19) whilst noted front runner 'Unite & Conquer' has drawn barrier 18. Tough to win from out there at the Gold Coast track. For a bit of value the Hayes horse 'Champagne Boom' is good odds and has drawn barrier 3. And if 1st emergency 'Rome' out of gate 8 gets a run it could give a good sight after nearly running down boom colt and late scratching for the MM Classic 'Sun City' at its last start. 'The Odyssey' (barrier 2) defeated Sun City two starts back so it has claims as well. But the wide barriers can be a real issue at the Gold Coast track as illustrated below - especially for the 2YO's unless they possess real class.

Foles is just a cool dude - never fazed (which is a talent all on its own) ... where as Luck is a bit of a nerd But you know what Dappa? I'd have either of them at Green Bay if Rodgers wasn't available. They are both really talented QB's - hands down. Yep, clipped the fingers which is enough to affect the kick which was possibly going to fade a few metres. So the angst against Parkey becomes uncalled for as he often fades his kicks. The iced kick just beforehand faded left to right so we could assume that he was going to repeat the same type of kick. But he'll have to cop it and then have to deal with it all. The Bears couldn't stop that final Foles drive and their trademark is stopping those types of drives with their D. So the game is decided in other areas as well as the talked-about last play. Still, it was a crushing loss for the Bears. As I would have been too - Foles seems unstoppable and I reckon if you can beat the Saints then you'll win the Lombardi again. But New Orleans are gonna be real tough in that dome. The key is to remain within striking distance so you'll need your D to stand up.

LaFleur has the credentials but being the head coach is a big step-up from being a Coordinater. I wish him well but the expectations will be to win now and make the playoffs first year in. It is not a Roos/Melbourne scenario.

Schedule For Next Week (all times AEDT) Sunday 8.35am Colts @ KC (-6.5) Sunday 12.15pm Dallas @ LA Rams (-6.5) Monday 5.05am Chargers @ Patriots (-4.5) Monday 8.40am Eagles @ Saints (-8.5)

Leaderboard (Post Season Tipping Comp) 4 - Gorgoroth 2 - Go the Biff, Dappa Dan, DeeSpencer 1 - JV7, titan_uranus, Clintosaurus, Macca 0 - TWSNBN

3 road winners out of the 4 and very nearly a 4th road winner with Seattle. And those Eagles just keep getting it done with Nick Foles at the helm. Amazing Trubisky had a terrific game for the Bears too. The field goal attempt by Parkey hit the upright & the crossbar. A game of inches indeed.

And Parkey misses the 3 pointer - hits the upright! A timely time-out by Pederson to ice the kicker. That's a heartbreaker for the Bears.

Foles marches the Eagles downfield to score a TD with a Golden Tate catch and then miss a 2 point conversion by centimetres to take the lead 17 - 16 with a minute left - what a finish!