Go with Bob in Vaal handicap

Jack Milner

Bettors are faced with a tricky card at the Vaal on Thursday but that means there is excellent value on offer for those who can get it right.

One of the more interesting races on the card comes up in Race 6, a MR 96 Handicap over 1800m. With only nine runners carded, this is one of the smaller fields on the day and it could pay to follow Bob’s Your Uncle, trained by Lucky Houdalakis.

This son of Uncle Mo has been lightly raced, only starting to compete more than halfway through his three-year-old season.  

He made his debut in February over 1200m which was clearly too short, and then, based on his starting price of 33-1, must have surprised his connections when winning narrowly over 1400m on the Standside track at Turffontein. He led all the way and then fought on gamely to hold off Gimme A Diamond by a short head.

That form line proved to be really strong as five runners went on to win their next starts, including Bob’s Your Uncle. His was over 1600m on the Vaal Classic track and once again the gelding found no support. He opened at 4-1 and went off at 10-1 but once again battled gallantly to get the better of Napoleon by 0.20 lengths.

He was narrowly beaten in his next two starts, one of them by Celestial City, whom he came up against in his last start. Once again, he went to the front over 1600m at Turffontein but faded over the final 400m to finish but although finishing sixth, was only beaten 3.75 lengths by Celestial City.

There were excuses as he was reported not to be striding out.

He does take a rise in class but with it comes a commensurate drop in weight and he comes into this event with just 53.5kg on his back, 6.5kg less than he carried last time, which will suit his frontrunning tactics.

Kaidan Brewer takes the ride this time.

Once one looks beyond Bob’s You Uncle there are many with chances. River Romeo is an interesting runner as his last two runs were in feature races – the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the Grade 2 Durban July Consolation race – both at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

He did receive an 11.5kg penalty for finishing sixth behind See It Again in the Daily News 2000 but that was reduced 2.5kg after his unplaced effort in the Consolation race.

He does have to carry 62kg in this event, but it will be interesting to see how Paul Matchett’s charge performs in this company.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Siracha, 6 Potato Salad, 3 Arctic Commander

Race 2: 9 Universal Love, 1 Wilkies, 7 Mia Barca, 3 Dakota Cat

Race 3: 13 King's Ransom, 12 John Wick, 5 Circle Of Grace, 16 Royal Edition

Race 4: 7 Mount Etna, 6 Villa Semaya, 5 Leonessa, 2 She's A Klawer

Race 5: 7 Diesel's Shadow, 5 Breath Of Magic, 4 Halberdier, 10 Mondial

Race 6: 8 Bob's Your Uncle, 1 River Romeo, 4 Opera Glass, 5 The Kop

Race 7: 2 Ryan's Dream, 7 Nothingelsematters, 1 Youre My Sunshine, 12 Indian War Dance

Race 8: 4 Back To Basics, 1 Mini Coop, 9 Waqaas, 11 Whorly Whorly

Race 9: 8 Tuscan Gold, 2 Robert Burns, 7 Lulu's Boy, 3 Fully Loaded

BEST BET

Race 9 No 8 Tuscan Gold

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 2 Ryan’s Dream

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 12x13

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 1, 9

Leg 2: 13

Leg 3: 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 4, 5, 7

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 13

Leg 2: 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 4, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 7

Leg 6: 1, 4, 9

Leg 7: 8

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 4, 5, 7, 10

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 7, 12

Leg 5: 1, 4, 9, 11

Leg 6: 8

JACKPOT 1

R400

Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 10

Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 7, 12

Leg 4: 1, 4, 9, 11

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 7, 12

Leg 3: 1, 4, 9, 11

Leg 4: 8