Some good early bets at Scottsville

Jack Milner

With the dust of the Hollywood Durban July now starting to settle, racing in KwaZulu-Natal gets back to more mundane racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.

Bettors should be able to get off to a fair start with Opera Fan in Race 1 and Next Of Kin in Race 3.

Opera Fan has now run well at three different tracks. The Paul Matchett-trained youngster should have won her local debut on the Polytrack after making the trip from the Highveld to KwaZulu-Natal last time but had things go wrong. She was also only beaten 0.40-lengths courtesy of a clever ride from Calvin Habib who kept Mrsglittersparkles going in front over 1400m.

Habib now rides the daughter of underrated stallion Horizon in a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1600m and from gate No 1 the pair could lead a largely inexperienced field to the end.

The biggest threats are Cassandra, who was most disappointing in her Polytrack debut, as well as improving Omnia.

Race 3 is a Maiden Plate over 1200m and unless there is a decent unraced horse, it should be a match race between Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Next Of Kin and Sean Tarry’s charge Xenophon.

Next Of Kin was friendless in the betting market on debut, drifting out to 14-1 after opening at 15-2 in a race over this course and distance

Unfortunately, they bumped Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmie Rules who was super impressive on debut. He is a full brother to top sprinter Gimme A Prince and Durban July champion The Real Prince.

Next Of Kin was second best, but this form line could be a good one and he must rate as the best bet on the day.

Xenophon was beaten as odds-on favourite over 1400m but the drop in distance should suit and that could suit the son of Vercingetorix with Gavin Lerena up.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Opera Fan, 6 Cassandra, 5 Omnia, 4 Gathering Winter

Race 2: 4 Master Spy, 10 Bruh, 2 French War Lord, 9 Lunar Descent

Race 3: 4 Next Of Kin, 10 Xenophon, 1 Kanaal Skater, 8 Cardinal Chief

Race 4: 9 Celestial Diamond, 16 Lucienne, 5 Trail Runner, 6 Aurelian

Race 5: 5 World Of Royalty, 1 El Capitan, 9 Queen Of The Air, 8 Limelight Legend

Race 6: 3 Hodgepodge, 9 Another Dream, 10 Elembee, 6 Ideal Gift

Race 7: 6 Lock And Key, 2 Royal Invitation, 5 Tirpitz, 3 View Of The World

Race 8: 4 Major Tommie, 10 Rafa's Boy, 2 In The Bag, 9 Smorgasbord

BEST BET

Race 7: 6 Lock And Key

VALUE BET

Race 8: 4 Major Tommie

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 2x4

BIPOT                          

R162

Leg 1: 1, 3, 9

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 4

Leg 5: 1, 5, 7

Leg 6: 2, 3, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R144

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 5, 7

Leg 5: 2, 3

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 2, 3, 4, 7

PICK 6

R720

Leg 1: 4, 10

Leg 2: 5, 9, 16

Leg 3: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 4: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 5: 6

Leg 6: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 5, 6, 9, 15, 16

Leg 2: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 4: 6

JACKPOT 2

R120

Leg 1: 1, 5, 8, 9

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 3: 6

Leg 4: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12