There’s a feast of local and international racing this weekend including the second and third days of Aintree’s jump-racing showpiece featuring the world’s most famous steeplechase, and a flagship meeting at Randwick in Sydney on which you can bet in Hong Kong’s World Pool tote. Locally Saturday offers a double header at Turffontein and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. There are no outstanding bankers at either meeting, which presents a greater likelihood of substantial payouts.
When trainer Alan Greeff tried his stable’s syndicated three-year-old Joy and Peace over further than 1600m for the first time at Fairview last month, she scored a runaway win in the Oaks Plate over 1800m. That was a good pointer to this Friday’s Listed East Cape Oaks over 2000m, in which she meets a field of similar quality including Public Benefit, who was more than five lengths behind her that day and is unlikely to turn the tables. The biggest danger is Cape raider Epikleros, who has also proven her liking for ground and has good form. Note that this meeting has been moved from turf to the Polytrack.
This Friday is Day 2 of a three-day jump-racing spectacular at Aintree in England, which culminates tomorrow with the famous Grand National steeplechase first run in 1839. There are four Grade 1s today and another three on Saturday, and for jump-racing fans this is as good as it gets. Top jumps trainers Willy Mullins and Gordon Elliott have several well-fancied runners. Elliott has strong winning chances with Firefox (Race 3) on Friday and with recent Cheltenham runner-up Found A Fifty (Race 6) on Saturday. Mullins will fancy his chances of winning on Friday with Readin Tommy Wrong (Race 6) and on Saturday his charge I Am Maximus looks worth a punt in the Grand National. His obvious dangers in the big one are last year’s hero Corach Rambler and Mahler Mission.
There are four Grade 1 contests at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Stakes meeting at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday. They include the Schweppes Sydney Cup over 3200m (Race 7) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m (Race 8). This is a World Pool meeting and TAB Win, Place and Trifecta bets on Races 3 to 10 will go directly into the massive Hong Kong pools. Via Sistina looks a standout bet in the Queen Elizabeth at 07:55 and there’s big money to be won by those who study form and rise early!
Steven Burridge-trained Ghalib is the horse to beat in the Kranji Stakes over 1100m on the Polytrack. The son of I Am Invincible beat a similar field on 17 February and with Manoel Nunes retaining the ride, this rising sprint star should make it six wins from 10 career starts. The five-time Singapore champion jockey said: “I rode Ghalib in his trial on 4 April and he ran very well. I galloped him Tuesday and he looks in very good shape.” The meeting starts at 6.30am.
Lucky Houdalakis-trained Dreamland has good winning credentials in Saturday’s Mythical Flight Sprint over 1100m on the Standside track at Turffontein. He has improved since fitted with a tongue tie and, on paper, looks best suited to this distance. He brings the right pedigree to the race. He is a grandson of South Africa’s erstwhile sprinting star Val De Ra who, as a matter of interest, won her only 1100m start by 7.25 lengths. At the official merit ratings Mount Pilatus, Just Be Lekker and Richard The First have claims, but they’ve shown their best form over slightly further.
SUGGESTED R4,680 PICK 6 (R460,80 for 10%):
Leg 1: 1, 3, 5
Leg 2: 2, 3, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 9
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg 5: 5, 8
Leg 6: FIELD (1-12)
When trainer Eric Sands tried different tactics with Solomons Seal in a handicap over 1400m on 23 March, the gelding stormed up late and got within half-a-length of beating promising San Pedro. It appears that Solomons Seal is better when ridden from off the pace, a strategy which may be employed again in Saturday’s Taking The Reins Handicap over 1600m. On the evidence of his powerful finish, Solomons Seal should enjoy the trip and looks well weighted. His strongest rival could be Innamorare, whose recent form does not reflect his liking for 1600m. Computaform shows that he is unbeaten in two earlier starts over this trip and he, too, is handily weighted.
Five-year-old Bundle Of Charm came from the back of the field to win the recent Anniversary Cup Handicap over 1200m at Sha Tin. He looks set to follow up in the Jinbao Street Handicap over the same course and distance on Sunday. John Size’s chestnut gelding has enjoyed an excellent year so far, having earned five times from six starts. He has the best current form in the race. Zac Purton, who is 30 winners clear of Karis Teetan on the Hong Kong jockeys’ table, has another good book of rides on the day. They include recent eye-catchers Ka Ying Warrior (Race 6), Lucky Touch (Race 7) and Top Scorer (Race 8). The meeting starts at 6.30am.
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer spoke highly of Ponte Pietra on his return to the track after a rest for the Jamaica Stakes at Kenilworth on 24 February. While he drifted in the betting that day, Ponte Pietra ran on strongly and caught the eye of punters and the stipendiary stewards, who felt that jockey Craig Zackey left his finishing effort too late. Back to his favourite Hollywoodbets Scottsville track for Sunday’s Listed WSB Sledgehammer over 1750m and re-united with Zackey, Ponte Pietra is expected to show the benefits of that experience. He’s the only course-and-distance winner in the race and should be too good for his five rivals.