Get in early at the Vaal

There has been a lot of rain on the Highveld but the last two days the sun has comes out and the meeting looks likely to go ahead.

However, there is likely to still be some give in the ground when they race on the Vaal Classic track on Thursday.

There are a number of unraced horses in Race 1 over 1000m but of those who have raced, the best looks to be Alec Laird-trained Midnight Show with Calvin Habib up.

The two-year-old son of Declarationofpeace shaped with promise when finishing third on debut on the Turffontein Standside track over the same trip. With that experience under the belt and facing largely unraced opposition again, natural improvement should make him tough to contain.

Keagan de Melo takes over the narrative in Race 2 where Lanzarote, from the yard of Johan Janse van Vuuren, drops back into maiden company after acquitting herself admirably against winners in Listed company over 1000m last time. Back against her own generation over the same distance, she brings the best form into the race and looks primed to capitalise.

Race 3 presents a similar opportunity for Sean Tarry and The Reason, a daughter of Skit Skizzle who has been knocking firmly at the door. She won’t need to find much improvement to shed her maiden tag over 1450m and appeals as one of the more solid bets on the programme.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 3 Midnight Show, 2 Gimme Some Luck, 1 Expert Witness, 6 Sheriff Bill Brown

Race 2: 4 Lanzarote, 3 Lady Harlequin, 9 Verdandi, 1 Hoc Est Vita

Race 3: 1 The Reason, 2 Onceinabluemoon, 3 Lanteri, 5 Baby Red

Race 4: 10 Night Skizzle, 6 Arizona Magic, 2 Shoreybomba, 1 Beach Walker

Race 5: 4 Euphrates, 8 Pomozelous, 10 Full Go, 7 Nuclear Force

Race 6: 7 Free In Seattle, 8 Warning Sound, 5 Woman's World, 9 Kissing Machine

Race 7: 12 Royal Engagement, 3 Sky Pillar Rock, 1 Dark Silver, 13 World Of Royalty

Race 8: 3 Special Star, 5 Pearl In Her Crown, 1 Azaleas For All, 2 Surprise Party

BEST BET

Race 1: 3 Midnight Show

VALUE BET

Race 6: 7 Free In Seattle

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 1x2

BIPOT

R54

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 10

Leg 5: 4, 8, 10

Leg 6: 5, 7, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R108

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 10

Leg 4: 4, 8, 10

Leg 5: 5, 7, 8

Leg 6: 1, 3, 12

Leg 7: 1, 3, 5

PICK 6

R1125

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3

Leg 2: 10

Leg 3: 1, 4, 7, 8, 10

Leg 4: 2, 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 12, 13

Leg 6: 1, 3, 5

JACKPOT 1

R125

Leg 1: 10

Leg 2: 1, 4, 7, 8, 10

Leg 3: 2, 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 12, 13

JACKPOT 2

R375

Leg 1: 1, 4, 7, 8, 10

Leg 2: 2, 5, 7, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 12, 13

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5