WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 20 - 22 December

A FEAST OF FESTIVE JACKPOT CARRYOVERS

There are R250,000 Jackpot One carryovers at all South African meetings this weekend - Fairview Friday afternoon, Hollywoodbets Greyville Friday evening, the Vaal on Saturday and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. Total pools of some R1 million are expected and competitive fields offer super opportunities to win big on this popular four-legged bet. There are potential bankers in both carryover Jackpots on Friday, but fractional bets may be the way to go in Saturday and Sunday’s carryover Jackpots.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: RELY ON IMPROVING ARABIAN RED IN JACKPOT

The best Jackpot One banker on recent form is Alan Greeff’s improving filly Arabian Red (Race 6). She’s unbeaten in two starts over the course and distance and is at the top of her game. The other three legs could yield surprise results, so a decent dividend is likely even if Arabian Red wins.

SUGGESTED R528 JACKPOT PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 14:15):

NOTE: Average Fairview Jackpot One payout 20 September to 14 December (14 meetings): R4,001. Biggest payout: R25,976 

Leg 1: FIELD (1-12)

Leg 2: FIELD (1-11)      

Leg 3:  1      

Leg 4: 1, 7, 9, 10

ASCOT UK: JOHNNYWHO CAN CLAIM FIRST GRADED WIN

Johnnywho, who beat Grade 1 rivals when he won his chasing debut at Carlisle in October, looks a strong contender in Race 5 over 3800m. This is his peak run for Jonjo and AJ O’Neil, who have saddled five winners this last fortnight.

MEYDAN DUBAI: MESHTRI THE PICK IN MAKTOUM MILE

Racing in the Emirates cranks up a gear with a quality card and Race 5, the Group 2 Maktoum Mile, has drawn a select field of six. Well-performed Artorius, formerly trained in the USA, makes his debut for Bhupat Seemar, but there are fitness concerns about him after a 162-day break. Meshtri, trained by Michael Costa, may have more to offer. He is lightly raced and fit and well after his win over Walk Of Stars in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile last month. The meeting starts at 15:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: COUNT ON KANNEMEYER IN CARRYOVER POT

Dean Kannemeyer’s Mr Master Starter has seven good places to show from his last 10 starts, the latest a narrow defeat at this track last Friday. He runs on well, his winning turn is close and he looks a suitable Jackpot banker in (Race 7) with two tough middle legs. The first race is at 16:20

SUGGESTED R352 JACKPOT PERM (Leg 1 Race 4 @ 18:05):

NOTE: Average KZN Jackpot One payout 27 October to 13 December (14 meetings): R2,230. Biggest payout: R8,902

Leg 1: 4, 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: FIELD (1-8)

Leg 3:  FIELD (1-11)

Leg 4: 7

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

VAAL: FABIAN AND FOURIE PERCENTAGE PLAY COULD BE KEY IN TESTING JACKPOT PUZZLE

Jackpot players face a testing challenge with four competitive races in Jackpot One, including 24 runners in Race 7, the R500,000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage over 1475m. With chances to many, this Jackpot may require a wide spread in each leg and fractional betting may be the best option.

Trainer Fabian Habib has notably booked Richard Fourie for his much-improved Captainofthegreen in the Grand Heritage and promising Confederate in the 1475m consolation (Race 8). This is a clear indication that the stable means business and for Fourie followers a Field x Field x 12 x 5 Jackpot perm looks the right play.

The handicapper, however, has ensured several closely-contested finishes with longshots almost certain to be in the firing line. Red Maple is weighted to win Race 5 over 2000m, in which best outsider Arumugam debuts for his new stable. One Fell Swoop is arguably the best sprinter in Race 6, but her recent form is not inspiring. Pomodoro’s Jet, Radicchio, Max The Magician and The Africa House are the main dangers to Captainofthegreen in the Grand Heritage with Brave Viking a good roughie on his fourth in the race last year. Count Invicto and Warhawk Bomber are likely to make their presence felt in Race 8, in which Key News could be the joker in the pack.

SUGGESTED R490 (33%) JACKPOT PERM (Leg 1 Race 5 @ 14:35):

NOTE: Average Gauteng Jackpot One payout 2November to 16 December (14 meetings): R7,767. Biggest payout: R50,636

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Leg 3:  3,12,13,14,17,19,23

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11

ASCOT UK: STRONG LEADER THE RIGHT ONE IN LONG WALK

Ten runners are entered for Race 4, the Grade 1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle over 4800m. Gordon Elliott’s handicapper The Wallpark has won four of six races this term and bids for five wins in a row, but Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader could interrupt the winning sequence. He showed his well-being with an easy success in last month’s Coral Long Distance Hurdle and is deadly effective at this trip.

ABU DHABI DUBAI: GET SET TO POUNCE ON DESERT SNAKE

Desert Snake produced an improved effort after an eight-month layoff when defeating State Of Desire on his seasonal debut here on 15 November. He should be even fitter now and looks set to follow up in Race 6. The meeting starts at 16:00.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SHA TIN HONG KONG: GIVE BOTTOMUPTOGETHER ANOTHER CHANCE

Race 10, the Poinsettia Handicap over 1200m, looks ideal for Bottomuptogether, who put up a determined effort mid-October when narrowly beaten by Wunderbar over this track and trip. He then stepped up to 1400m but pulled up with blood in the trachea, the reason for a below-par performance. From an inside gate and 3.5kg better off at the weights, he can turn the tables on Wunderbar, who has drawn wide this time. Race 1 is at 06:45.

SELANGOR: HANDSOME JOYFUL TO EXTEND CHOI’S WINNING STREAK

Trainer Ricky Choi, who landed a treble last Sunday, looks set to continue the stable's golden run in Race 1 with Handsome Joyful. A four-time winner in Macau, he was heavily supported on his local debut, but was caught late and beaten into third. He followed with a second place, beaten only 1.50 lengths, and looks likely to break his duck at Selangor, despite a deep draw. The first race is at 07:30.

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH: ACES HARD TO FIND IN JACKPOT PACK

A quality card with chances to numerous runners in all Jackpot One legs. In-form Justin Snaith’s Bounceback (Race 5) is Richard Fourie’s choice ahead of Victor Hugo and Ariovistus, but any of them can win. Up-and-coming Dawn Till Dusk looks the right choice in Race 6, in which Solomons Seal and Promettere won’t go down without a fight.

Fast-improving Meu Capitano is weighted to outsprint formidable older rivals Surjay, Seeking The Stars and At My Command in the Grade 2 Cape Merchants (Race 7). Fourie’s mount King Of The Gauls and Southeaster Sprint winner Dance Variety are also in the mix. There are five fillies with good chances in Race 8. Snaith’s filly Swiatek looks destined for the higher divisions and should go close, but cover with useful All Is Green, La Divina, Sweetie Darling and Miraculous.

SUGGESTED R480 JACKPOT PERM (Leg 1 Race 5 @ 14:40):

NOTE: Average Cape Jackpot One payout 19 October to 14 December (14 meetings): R2,000. Biggest payout: R8,900

Leg 1: 1, 6, 11

Leg 2:  1, 6, 9, 10

Leg 3:  2, 4, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19

Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9