TAB WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 13 - 15 MARCH

COLOURFUL WEEKEND AHEAD WITH SEVERAL GOOD BETS

Saturday’s meeting at Turffontein features two Listed races with the Oaks Trial heading the undercard. The fields are highly competitive and exotic bets will take some figuring out, but there looks to be a solid Pick 6 banker and a good-value bet to assist punters.

There are three exciting meetings this Friday, headlined by the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the greatest contest in jump racing, on the final day of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. A British soccer legend owns one of the fancied contenders. Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville feature looks a good opportunity for a top-class runner who recently changed stables. All told, a colourful weekend with plenty of opportunities for a big win with TAB.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: MARCHLAND AND CHATTERBOX SET TO DUEL

Kelly Mitchley’s Marchland and Alan Greeff’s first-timer Chatterbox can fight out the finish of Race 7, the East Cape Fillies Nursery over 1200m. Mitchley said her runaway debut winner Marchland is “really special” and has improved leaps and bounds since. Greeff said that Chatterbox hasn’t had an ideal prep but is a “really nice and speedy” filly. He clearly believes she will hold her own in feature-race company first time out. Take Exactas and Swingers!

MEYDAN: KING’S CHARTER IS THE PICK OF APPLEBY TRIO

Charlie Appleby holds a typically strong hand with three runners in Race 5 over 1600m, the most valuable contest on the card. There are 15 runners and riding arrangements suggest that Richard Mullen’s mount King’s Charter is the pick of the Godolphin-owned trio. A winner of four of his six races, he showed improved form when splitting Dividend and Archivist in a handicap over 1800m here last month. The winner gave the form a major boost when finishing second to Quddwah at Group 2 level in the Singspiel Stakes on 28 February.

CHELTENHAM: HARRY HOPES JUKEBOX WILL PLAY IN CUP

There are three Grade 1 races and a Grade 2 contest on the final day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. They include Race 5, the prestigious Grade 1 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase over 22 fences and 5300m. Following the withdrawal of Galopin Des Champs, Willie Mullins-trained Gaelic Warrior has been priced up marginal favourite and is reported to be in “tip-top” order. His market rival is The Jukebox Man owned by soccer legend Harry Redknapp, who is excited about his first runner in the Gold Cup. The Jukebox Man’s trainer, Ben Pauling, commented: "I firmly believe he will be much more effective over this longer trip than three miles (4800m). Having a horse of his calibre in such good form going into the Gold Cup is extremely exciting.”

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

PERAK: AI ROCKET LOOKS ON COURSE FOR A HAT-TRICK

Progressive four-year-old AI Rocket is on target to complete a hat-trick in Race 6 over 1300m at Ipoh. He arrived after winning a maiden in South Australia in May last year and has made an immediate impact on the local scene, recording two wins from four starts. AI Rocket defied a rise in class to defeat a handy Class 3 field last time and looks capable of continuing on his winning way on his first visit to this track. The meeting starts at 06:45.

TURFFONTEIN: LAIRD’S DAIMYO LOOKS VALUE IN AQUANAUT

Alec Laird can win Race 7, the Listed WSB Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m, with his smart and lightly-raced stayer Daimyo. The five-year-old campaigned unsuccessfully in the Cape summer season alongside Fire Attack and Sunset Riot, who have both won smartly on their return to Gauteng. A facile course and distance winner of last year’s Listed Java Stakes, Daimyo performed well in his 1800m prep recently and will be spot on for this contest, for which his opening price of 14-1 looks big value.

Mike and Mathew de Kock’s improving filly Councillor is weighted to win Race 6, the Listed WSB Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m. She is considered promising enough to bypass the Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial in favour of a clash with the males, which should give her followers some confidence.

The Ultimate King is the day’s Pick 6 banker in Race 8 over 1800m. He stumbled and received a bump when finishing a close second to Fire Attack in the London News Stakes and should atone against slightly weaker opposition.

SUGGESTED R358,40 (10%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @13:35):

Leg 1: 1, 3, 6, 8
Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 9
Leg 5: 1
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 8

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR: STORM TITAN SET TO MAKE ALL AGAIN

Promising four-year-old Storm Titan has a strong chance of maintaining his winning streak when he resumes in Race 5 over 1100m at Kuala Lumpur. He improved with racing during his first campaign and his six starts culminated in a hat-trick. The gelding’s abundance of early pace has been a valuable asset and he made all in his three successive victories, twice scoring by 3.75 lengths before a 1.75-length victory in his last start. The meeting starts at 06:10.

SHA TIN: ROMANTIC THOR LOOKS READY TO STRIKE

Romantic Thor looks the part in Race 8 over 1650m, the day’s topliner. Zac Purton’s mount took a clear step forward when third behind Sky Vino last time. A good trial since has him primed and No 2 draw sets him up for the run of the race. He looks ready to win. Sky Vino is an obvious threat. He ran a solid fourth over 2000m last time and reverting to this track and shorter trip should suit him. What’s against him is No 12 draw. The meeting starts at 06:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: MADISON VALLEY CAN RULE

Justin Snaith’s Okavango is the highest-rated runner in Race 7, the Listed King’s Cup over 1600m, and he’s arguably the best 1600m runner in the race. But he faces a stiff task under 63kg from a wide draw and perhaps versatile Madison Valley can take advantage. He enjoyed a good pipe-opener in the recent Fever Tree Stakes and has enough pace to contest the finish, evidenced by his easy win over On My Honour in a 1400m contest at HWB Greyville last November. King Pelles prefers further, but is a class act and cannot be ignored.