Cash in early at the Vaal

Racing takes place on the Classic track.

Two of the three early scratchings are most significant as they have made life a little easier for bettors. Race 1 and Race 4 looked as if they would be fought out by two horses but now Trying Times is out of the opening event and well-bred first-timer Captain Lannister has been withdrawn from Race 4, it has opened the door for Chariot Master and Love Lies respectively.

In addition, Irfaans Boy in Race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, has by far the best form of the raced runners. Ashley Fortune’s charge and Brief Crusade from the Roy Magner yard are the only runners with any racing experience so, unless there are some top first-timers in the line-up, Irfaans Boy will be very hard to beat.

It could be worth taking a TAB  All To Come with the three runners.

The quantity of debut runners in Race 3, the opening leg of the Pick 6, could also work in the favour of punters. Five of the horse have raced but the three with the best form are Eternity Ring, Franca and Stolen Kisses.

If one takes just those in the Pick 6 – a bet where if the winner is a first-timer, the best-placed horse who has previously raced also counts – one will be very well covered.

Paul Peter-trained Love Lies has the form to win Race 4 and looks to be a Pick 6 banker in the second leg, but from then on it gets a lot tougher.  

When racing on the Classic track, draws in events over 1450m often play a part. In Race 7, a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares, Bella Rosa looks the form horse but once again Stuart Pettigrew’s charge has been cursed with a wide draw.

This filly, owned by HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco, seems to have no form when it comes to luck of the draw, but at least she does get 2.5kg taken off her back as apprentice Philasande Mxoli gets the ride.

However, there was a lot to like about the performance of Mode over this course and distance last time when a 1.50-length third behind Say When.

Nathan Klink took the ride for trainer Stephanus Botha last time and is back up again, so from No 2 draw could provide good eachway value to punters.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Chariot Master, 7 Sudden Break, 6 Pin It, 5 Pomelo

Race 2: 7 Irfaans Boy, 9 Miss Magician, 2 Brief Crusade, 8 Letsdoit

Race 3: 1 Eternity Ring, 2 First Encounter, 5 Meteoric, 4 Franca

Race 4: 1 Love Lies, 2 Trust The Fire, 5 Night King, 6 Lil Wahoo

Race 5: 1 Country Mile, 5 Talladega, 8 Aunty Lizzy, 9 Silvery Blue

Race 6: 3 Imperial Master, 4 Trend Master, 2 Prospector, 5 Romeo’s Magic

Race 7: 10 Mode, 9 Louvain, 2 Bella Rosa, 8 All Aglow

Race 8: 4 Riveting, 1 Cast The Dice, 3 Fasinada, 12 Galaxy Raider

BEST BET

Race 1 No 1 Chariot Master

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 10 Mode

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 1×2

BIPOT

R80

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 5, 8

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4

Leg 6: 2, 9, 10

Leg 7: 1, 3, 4 

PICK 6

R1500

Leg 1: 1, 4, 9

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 12, 14

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10

JACKPOT 2

R500

Leg 1: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 12, 14