Macca

I'm going for some real value with 2 of Europe's best DZ ... EPL Monday 1.30am Liverpool vs Manchester City Win & Match Score +2.5 Goals $3.75 La Liga (Spanish League) Monday 4.45am Valencia vs Barcelona Win & Match Score +2.5 Goals $2.25 That gives us combined odds of 27-1 (so far)

Best Bet Flemington Race 7 No.1 Avilius $2.35

I've picked out 10 races that have got my interest in terms of the exotics and with regards to being decent betting races ... including the Turnbull Stakes with Winx as the red-hot favourite. A First4 in the Turnbull might still pay ok with the right combo. The most wide-open races look to be the Roman Consul Stakes (R6 Randwick), Spring Champion Stakes (R7 Randwick) & the Gilgai Stakes (R6 Flemington) Anyway, here's the racenet.com links to all the racing at Flemington & Randwick with the aforementioned 10 specific races to maybe look out for. Races 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9 Flemington Races 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 Randwick

I've quite literally only seen some highlights of the bloke ... missed yesterday's game so will have to wait until week 6 when KC are at the Pats (SNF) to watch him in a full game.

The Champions League Group games usually throws up a stack of goals with the big clubs often being involved. There's a few potential one-sided games coming up over the next 2 mornings. A 4pick is about my limit though. Juve & PSG both involved in home games against weak opposition look very likely.

Damn ... forgot to record today's game - hate that. Did the whole media blackout etc, just got home, turned on the tele and there's nothin'. Not gonna make it til 11.30pm so I'll just have to make do with the highlights. Must have been some kind of comeback by KC led by Mahomes yeah? Leaderboard in the Comp 1 - Dr. Gonzo, Clintosaurus, Dappa Dan 0 - The usual gang A big 2 points up for grabs for week 5 ... I'm posting up the games early to get it all out of the way. Tuesday evenings it will be then - probably late in the evening generally. Not sure there's many standout road winners though (again) Guess the Lines Week 5 With Cousin Sal | The Bill Simmons Podcast (Ep. 422)

The Hill Stakes was run over 1800m and Ace High could run in the Caulfield Stakes over 2000m a week before the Caulfield Cup. But who knows? The Caulfield Stakes is worth $1Million so it might be a starter. Good field but it's early doors. I reckon a number of decent horses will run in the race and not the Turnbull thus avoiding a clash with Winx. The Turnbull is worth $500k. Ace High is showing 15-1 in the Caulfield Stakes & 8-1 in the Caulfield Cup. Winx wouldn't be starting in the Caulfield Stakes as it's in the Turnbull this week. Of the WFA distance classics, it's one of least recognisable. Was called the Yalumba Stakes for a time. Australian Group & Listed Races Best Bet Strike Rate 32: 9 - 5 - 6

The bottom line is that Tommy probably isn't going to be offered the deal of a lifetime as I suspect Jesse has been offered. Of course, we don't know that for sure with T-Mac but it's unlikely. At a guess I reckon Tom would be on 400k-500k per year whilst Jesse is reportedly being offered a long term deal at $1.2Million per year. Jesse is formally from WA so the deal makes sense given Fremantle's situation & standing. From all accounts Jesse has been well looked after at Melbourne & well remunerated so if there is a parting of the ways then it would be hoped that we are more than well compensated.

You know this for sure? Did Tom utter these words to anyone?

No, wasn't at all concerned with that 2 year deal for Tommy. It is not one size fits all. Different player and a different type and the circumstances are and were entirely different. As it's turned out, those people who were concerned about the 2 year only extension with Hogan look like they were rightfully concerned. As I stated in an earlier post, we are behind the times here in Oz but we're catching up ... big name players on big money need to be stitched up on long term deals so as to satisfy the clubs needs and the players needs. And if the info is correct, Hogan is on a reportedly $850k per year with us. That is decent coin. That sort of money would normally involve a longer deal especially for a player who was only 21 years old at the time. At least 3 years but more like 4 or 5 years

Let's face it, the 2 year only extension was the 'tell' ... I felt like saying something here at the time but who needs an ongoing argument with half the site? I reckon many were grateful that he'd decided to stay back then but 2 years down the track, the landscape has changed. Anyway, a pro sportsperson is entitled to do as they wish ... keeping one's options open is fine by me. The whole ownership business is a 2-way street. We had the option of offering Jesse an offer he couldn't refuse back 2 years ago which might have got his signature. That might have happened anyway - who knows? Away from the internet just about everyone I know was questioned the 'short' deal. Not that it matters all that much in the whole scheme of things ... he was either a player for us or an asset we could sell for other assets. And that is where we've landed.

I'm guessing someone else ... been here before though.

Got the highlights package recorded GV so will keep an eye out for the Sturridge goal. Top of the table clash next Monday morning (1.30am) ... Liverpool vs Man City. Should be a ripper from a neutral's viewpoint. And if Man Utd keep dropping points then you'd reckon there could be casualties sooner rather than later. Jose is in his 3rd year there and history tells us that his 3rd year anywhere doesn't always end well. Meanwhile, your Spurs keep winning along with the Gunners & Chelsea to keep it all interesting. Man City are still the team to beat though.

If it was later in the season you'd maybe understand the call but a half a win can act as a win with the tiebreak rule. They possibly don't see the Texans as a threat so a case could be made. I would have taken the tie though .. they are now 1 & 3 and staring down the barrel in that division. Reckon it's the Jags division to lose the way they're playing.

With the scores tied and with less than a minute to go in overtime the Colts elected to make a play on a 4 and 4 on their own 43 yard line. The play was broken down, Houston then got the ball back on downs and a play later scored a field goal. They should have punted and been happy to take the tie. But maybe their thinking was that it's wins or nothing with 2 of their division rivals now sitting at 3 & 1.

Not quite Dappa Unless you've inked in the KC win ... are we all Denver fans all of a sudden! And what were the Colts thinking? Crazy!

Here it is ...

And the other 3 ...

6 replays from the weekend. Thanks to 'Ace' via youtube. I make a point of liking his uploads Anyway, here's the first 3 ...

Nakeeta Jane is duly Blackbooked (via racenet) Yesterday I was cursing it ... but such is the nature of racing that no grudges can be held in the interests of the folding stuff GTB. Mind you, if Miss Fabulass holds on for 3rd the trifecta would have only paid 200-300 with Oohood winning. All of the first 4 across the line are probably worth following. Especially the Frankel filly (Miss Fabulass) The NRL GF was a fizzer ... defense wins Championships hey! Roosters were deserved victors.

My tips are Philadelphia, Seattle, Chiefs Paging @Dr. Gonzo @titan_uranus @DeeSpencer Remembering we're looking for road winners only ... the games are listed in an above post. Good luck! From here on in every odd numbered week carries bonus points - week 5 carries 2 points for instance. We get another classic match-up with SNF this week and the MNF game is a good match-up too.

Yep, they might find 1 run for Grunt as the Cox Plate is 4 weeks away. And I just remembered that there are a couple of feature races at Sha Tin tomorrow DZ - the 2 main races tomorrow have got a number of top-raters running around so I'll probably have a couple of 'multiple' F4's looking for a decent dividend. I usually work on just the 2 choices for the win unless there is a 3rd that jumps out at me. Boxing in a F4 is too pricey. Here are the 2 features (the racing from Sha Tin will be on the free-to-air channel as well) The National Day Cup 1000m Group 3 The Celebration Cup 1400m Group 3

I watched Grunt from the barrier and it didn't seem to have to work hard to get to the lead but It's hard to know for sure without times & sectionals. They run up the hill a bit at Caulfield in the distance events so it could be that? Is its next run in the Cox Plate? There's a few other races at Caulfield or even next week at Flemington that it could run in but Mick Price might want to freshen the horse up ... 2nd in the Cox Plate picks up a cool $1Million. Ended up even for the day after all that - went awfully close with 4 or 5 trifectas. Anyway, we class breaking even as a win don't we DZ! ha ha

Grunt run out of the Underwood and Blair House never really threatened although it did run 4th. Homesman won well though with Tosen Basil running on well. Humidor was honest as usual in 3rd. The first 2 are worth following up on although Homesman always seems to get into the finish so you therefore get a run for your money. Grunt just doesn't like Caulfield but is fabulous at Flemington.