Durbanville 11 Oct

After disastrous Vaal selections - reverting back to kind.


Race 1: On form Night Winter and Hadarat look to have the field held with nothing to seperate them. Red Eight however showed immediate improvement when brought back to 1200m, and should be able to improve beyond this. Byleveld opting for this one suggests he's the better of the two, and so should be able to win this. This is not very strong form though.

Race 2: The Secret Is Out has a lot to recommend, along with Gold Image. Royal Chian, Red Light Girl and Scandola also have some claim. The Secret Is Out should be way too good for this field - only danger would be condition after
the rest. Royal Chian may be the one applying the pressure.

Race 3: Spam Alert has been perfectly placed and should improve with the extra. Star Of London is likely to improve over this trip, and one cannot ignore the massive betting move LTO - Star of London gives the impression that it won't be in the maidens for long. Believethisbeauty also makes some appeal - i will be guided by the odds here , If too short on Star Of London - the race might be for sitting out and assessing.

Race 4: Very tough to call a winner here. Very poor form shown to date from this lot.

Race 5: A good quality field, and quite competitive - but a bit difficult to assess since most appear out of form. I would prefer to sit this one out as well. The Nordic Chant form is the benchmark to be beaten, and that gives made to conquer some work to do - King Of Aces and Mr Lover Boy set those benchmarks. Fujin also in form - prefer to see whhat Made to Conquer can do, or what form emerges from the race.

Race 6: Obvious contenders here are Evelina, Stream Of Kindness and Seattle Sound. Bushy Park, Bridal Party, Super Sparkle and Royal Fleece have some claims. Of the Maiden Winners Stream Of Kindness impressed most, and can win here if going on with that effort or just holding condition. Bushy Park has some credentials off run behind Lanark, While the low weight and apprentice claim could assist Royal Fleece. Stream Of Kindness looks to hhave the most potential here.

Race 7: Form horses are Hithimagainchuck - with strong recommendations, Pen-Chan and Meteorite. Cortada, Western Storm and Firewalker make some appeal. Pen-Chan is impressive if LTO in MR80, Yielding going is discounted, should be more competitive at this MR72 level. If that last run is discounted it's hard to look beyond Pen-Chan.

Race 8: As always, very competitive last race, any number of runners have recommendations.REMEMBER THIS,KNOW THE ROPES.PLATINUM CLASS.SHANGRI LA all having claims and most rested for a long time. Throw in BON BON, EMERALD CROWN,QUEEN MOIRA AND WICKED KISS and almost the entire field comes in to contention. We can how ever single out Know The Ropes oon beating White Rose and looks set to score the hat-trick



Race 1: Red Eight
Race 2: The Secret Is Out
Race 3: Star Of London
Race 4: ----
Race 5: ----
Race 6: Stream Of Kindness
Race 7: Pen-Chan
Race 8: Know The Ropes

Marshall/ Byleveld first three

Since everyone is basically in agreement, which is always a concern when it comes to horse-racing, I will offer an experimental alternative selection to the one I think should work for the day – this was way off yesterday, only recovering to a slight loss in the last race when I backed all three of Azkur, Subtle Force and Tobesuretobesure. To win.

EW Selections

Race 1: What A Summer
Race 2: Scandola
Race 3: Four’s A Crowd
Race 4: Gibraltar Greeen
Race 5: Best Nut Ever
Race 6: :Stream Of Kindness
Race 7: Pen-Chan
Race 8: Remember This

Let’s see how it goes.

R7 Hithimagainchu ( Mutzi )
good last rckun to Greenflashsunset and that form looks strong as the winner was a subsequent runner up to Bobby Dazzler (second to Argo Solo in a 77 mr and that won first up in Mauritius after a six month break)

R5 Cardiff Castle
A lovely contest awaits us.
Burger and Van Reenen slaps on a set of blinkers on Soaring Past and Wes could set a good gallop up front.
This should play into the hands of my selection and could light them up over the last hundred
This Dylan Thomas offspring is the class in the race and caught the eye over the marathon last time

Fujin is a shrewd entry and will enjoy the 5,5kg weight advantage over the favourite and looks to be the danger

King Of Aces ,Best Nut Ever ,Mr Lover Boy and Piracy could fight out the minors

bayern wrote: Getting back to my pick on the card, R8, Know The Ropes (33/10 out to 4/1).

I see there has been solid support for Emerald Gal (13/2 into 3/1). It's fair to say that her MR has been achieved over 1200m, has had one attempt at 1600m and finished 6th, 7.00 lengths off from a wide draw. Has a decent draw and appears to have been running on last time out over 1200m. Breeding suggests she should get the extra comfortably, but not for me.

Know The Ropes to me is likely to improve further. Since being fitted with blinkers, she is a different proposition, and not being thrown in the deep end again by taking on a higher merit rated division than her last outing. I think they placing her correctly. The draw is a bit of a concern, but if overcoming that hurdle from the jump, she'll be the one they all have to beat.

Fancy the double with The Secret Is Out in the 2nd. She is well in under the race conditions and whilst not racing fit, her class may pull her through.

Bayern i know you know your stuff but at best Know the Ropes is a 66 and currently rated a 71, effectively she has been 'stopped' unless she improves drastically.

My fancy in the race is Glennie whom i believe ran to a 62 in March and has since tumbled to a 53 plus a 2.5kg claimer today. i'll cover with Emerald Gal, Queen Moira, Oakley Court and Remember This since they are all well handicapped in this race.

this card looks too open to me i'll be going wide in every race...

R1 4,5,6
R2 1,3,7
R3 4,7,6
R4 5,7,6,2
R5 Field
R6 10,7,4,1
R7 6,5,9,8,2
R8 7,12,9,5,4

anyone for DAISEY'S DOCK R4
lovely price ,can win

Sunny day, gentle breeze expected, SE changing to SW. Pen 21. Going will be firm and fast.
Race 1: Red Eight looks the right one after a good run this CD last time and a nice draw. What a Summer is the main danger if overcoming the draw.Norse God is consistent and could earn a cheque. Love of India wide draw but on the up. The two first timers have a tough task from their draws.
Race 2: The Secret is Out is the class horse and will win if fit enough. Red Light Girl has the benefit of a recent run and is worth putting in bipots. Clifton Sunset and Gold Image are decent sorts but both lack recent runs.
Race 3:Believethisbeauty has solid form and ran well after her break, but this race is more open than the betting suggests and 2/1 looks too short. Spam Alert is on the upgrade and she and Fours a Crowd are lively contenders but have wide draws. Muscari improved last time and is also in with a shout. I have Bikini Model running- she is fit and well and will enjoy the step up in trip, but needs to improve to win and has a tough draw to overcome. Realistically, just a place chance.
Race 4: A weak field and nothing stands out. If Cape Extreme stays, he may be the right one. Need to put quite a few in for the exotics.
Race 5: Made to Conquer is another favourite that looks too short at even money. The value horse is Fujin- it is good to see a trainer enter a maiden with a lowish MR in a weak handicap- more should do this. Quite a few with chances.
Race 6: Evelina won well last time and could follow up here. Seattle Sound and the consistent Super Sparkle look the dangers.
Race 7: Hithimagainchuck was unlucky last time and is the one to beat. Meteorite looks very promising and is the value play with Aldo up. The Puller pair are both capable and get good draws.
Race 8: We have Bon Bon running. She had very poor draws in Durban otherwise I think she would have won more than one there. She will need this run after her break as she has not been able to get a grass gallop. Know the Ropes was very leniently treated by the handicapper after her maiden win and duly won again against some useful fillies. She has a chance again even though raised 5 points this time. Platinum Class looks useful and will enjoy the step up in trip, but has a wide draw to contend with. She is nonetheless my first choice. Queen Moira took a long time to crack her maiden but with a good draw and a competitive weight must be respected. Emerald Gal is consistent and on her breeding it is surprising that she has been sprinting- I would expect her to enjoy the trip. The lightly raced Shangri La has ability but will probably need this run.

Cryptic tip for today “Form Fundi”

Good to see so many people in agreement. I cant help but think MJ is enjoying a great run of form and should do well to take home the first 3 on the card. Red Eight seems to be a bit of shirker so he will have to be at his best to bring this one home. RUN RED is well bred and should give a decent account whilst the 3/1 first four place on Night In Winter also from the Marshall yard makes the most appeal. The Secret is out is all class and should come home lonely. The best bet of the 3 in my opinion is BELIEVE IN THIS BEAUTY. The form is great, draw is fair and set to the exit the maiden ranks. A VISION in race 4 will run in blinkers today and Crawford expected a great run last time over the 2400 which could have been a tad far. I think today in this field looks an exciting prospect. PIRACY will be a tough nut to crack in race 5 with GVN aboard. Lastly if you not in the camp of KNOW THE ROPES I would suggest the field in the exotics. In my opinion KTR is the right one and looks ahead of the handicapper so should reel of the hatric!

With stronger handling and a better draw norse god could finish much closer to red eight today and may be better to take bigger odds to place top 4 than red eight to win outright

that would be
R5 2
because R4 3 is taken