Cliff Top to show true form

Jack Milner

This year’s Listed East Cape Nursery looks a fascinating affair, and we could be hearing a lot more about many of these runners.

It is a strange race that pits Western Cape trainer Brett Crawford against the two Eastern Cape heavyweights, Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith.

Crawford has brought Alpine Challenge to take on six locals – three trained by Greeff and the other three by Smith.

It is easy to make a case for many of these runners but maybe one needs to forgive Cliff Top his last disappointing run. The Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner is the pick to restore his reputation.

The talk was out about this son of Canford Cliffs even before the nominations were out for the Kenilworth race on Cape Town Met day. He was easy to back at 16-1 early on but by the time the starter sent them home Cliff Top was at the top of the bookmakers’ boards at 4-1.

That form line has been remarkable with four winners from nine runners coming out of that race.

No surprise that when Cliff Top had his comeback race at Fairview, he went off a very short favourite but disappointed, fading out of contention to finish five lengths behind reopposing Mur Mur.

That run was all wrong and one has to believe we will witness a very different animal in Race 7 over 1000m on Friday. Greg Cheyne is back in the irons.

Alpine Challenge won his only start with ease at Kenilworth and Crawford has not brought him to Port Elizabeth for the surf report. Louis Mxothwa takes the ride.

Cruise Control beat Cliff Top in their debut run but in Cape Town Cliff Top proved superior. Back at Fairview Cruise Control won with ease and needs to be respected.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 11 Tufaan, 4 Echoes Of Winter, 10 Sugarberry, 6 Lady Sheeva

Race 2: 9 Honest Quest, 2 Maradiva, 1 Abayyaan, 5 Dawn Raider

Race 3: 1 La Vida, 3 Sailaway With Me, 7 Miss United States, 4 Back To Formentera

Race 4: 5 Line Of Duty, 12 Il Lungo, 6 Coffee Break, 10 Notorix

Race 5: 2 Grazinginthegrass, 4 Somerset Maugham, 5 Legitimate, 6 Tarantino

Race 6: 14 Almighwaar, 3 Last Of The Legend, 2 Assured, 7 Ellis Island

Race 7: 2 Cliff Top, 1 Alpine Challenge, 3 Cruise Control, 4 Forest Spy

Race 8: 5 Slings And Arrows, 6 Storm Chaser, 1 Captain’s Knot, 3 Herrin

BEST BET: Race 3 No 1 La Vida

VALUE BET: Race 8 No 5 Slings And Arrows

BEST SWINGER: Race 4 5×12

BIPOT (R100)

Leg 1: 4, 11

Leg 2: 2, 9

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 5

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 2, 3, 7, 8, 14

PLACE ACCUMULATOR (R192)

Leg 1: 9

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6

Leg 5: 2, 3, 7, 14

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3

Leg 7: 1, 3, 5, 6

PICK 6 (R1260)

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 5, 12

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11

JACKPOT 1 (R210)

Leg 2: 5, 12

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

JACKPOT 2 (R630)

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11