WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 27 - 29 December

BUMPER RACING ACTION ON LAST WEEKEND OF 2024

Horseracing fans are in for another exciting weekend with action across South Africa and beyond. Domestically, it’s a double-header delight on Saturday with Turffontein hosting Grade 3 and Listed features backed by a nine-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. UK racing fans can look forward to exhilarating jumps racing at Kempton on Friday and Newbury on Saturday, with some top jumpers tackling the fences. Whether you are trackside or tuned in, it’s a weekend packed with adrenaline and unmissable moments.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRVIEW: YOU MUST FANCY FIREALLEY AT THESE WEIGHS

Firealley has taken a new lease on life in Gqeberha and is poised for a hat-trick of wins in Race 7, the Fairview 1900. He had six of his nine rivals here behind him when winning the Founders Trophy on 6 December and now meets them on more favourable terms.  Firealley should also have the measure of the others - Cherry Ano is suspect beyond 1600m and Gavin Smith’s Fateful Day is the second-stringer to Bingwa, who is the highest-rated runner but, like Cherry Ano, has stamina doubts.

CHEPSTOW & KEMPTON UK: MARTATOR BIDS FOR SIX IN A ROW

A Grade 2 hurdle race at Chepstow and two Grade 2s at Kempton headline the menu in England this Friday, plus there are two Grade 1 contests at Leopardstown in Ireland. The Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase over 3200m at Kempton could be fought out by Boothill and Martator, although those looking for value may do better to side with Sans Bruit. Harry Fry’s nine-year-old Boothill has been the bridesmaid to star jumper Jonbon on a few occasions, but is a good horse in his own right. Younger rival Martator has won his last five, including a Grade 3 success at Ascot last month.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: NO MORE DELAY SHOULD BE ON TIME AGAIN

In-form six-year-old No More Delay is on track for another victory in Race 7 over 1100m at Kuala Lumpur. A two-time winner in Singapore, the gelding made a winning Malaysian debut over 1100m on 27 October and then cruised to an effortless success at Ipoh a fortnight ago, leading throughout on soft ground. He looks poised to strike again on home turf. The meeting starts at 07:30.

JEBELI ALI DUBAI: COSTA-COEN COMBO CAN STRIKE WITH ALHZEEM

Michael Costa and Ben Coen will be looking to continue their productive 2024 campaign with Alhzeem, who sets the standard in Race 5, the Shadwell Stakes over 1950m on dirt. His chief threat is Musical Dancer at the bottom of the handicap. He is a lightly-raced three-year-old by Dubawi and is trained by Bhupat Seemar, who saddled a treble at Meydan last week. Musical Dancer is open to plenty of improvement in a race where most of his rivals can be ruled out on recent form.

TURFFONTEIN: PISTOL PETE CAN SEND THEM PACKING IN LEBELO

Speedy Pistol Pete was collared late and beaten into second by Mount Pilatus in the Merchants Sprint over 1160m on Summer Cup Day, but he’s back over 1000m in Race 7, the Grade 3 Betway Lebelo Sprint. Unbeaten in two starts over the course and distance and nicely weighted, he is likely to be hard to peg back. Sheldon, who cast a shoe when fourth in the Merchants, looks the only one capable of troubling Pistol Pete. The Pick 6 appears winnable with just a few runners in each leg.

SUGGESTED R450 (50%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 - Race 3 @ 13:30):

Leg 1: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2:  2, 8

Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9

Leg 4: 4, 6, 9

Leg 5: 3, 5

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4

HOLLYWOODBETS WB KENILWORTH: PRINCESS IZZY LOOKS A VALUE BET

There is good value to be had on Brett Crawford’s runner Princess Izzy in Race 5 over 1600m. She has raced with significant success against stronger and, at an opening call of 6-1, looks worth an eachway bet. She won the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes in April and followed with two more Listed places and a third in September’s Grade 3 Diana Stakes. She has top weight, but her class could count in a race in which none of her rivals has won above handicap company.

NEWBURY UK: THE NEW LION LOOKS SET TO POUNCE AGAIN

The New Lion and Regent’s Stroll, both unbeaten in three career starts, face off in Race 6, the Grade 1 Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle over 4200m. Dan Skelton-trained The New Lion is a brother to the yard's talented mare Kateira. Skelton said: “He's right up there with the best of my novice hurdlers. We always thought he was very good - and I still think there’s more to come.”

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE: ZACKEY HAS THREE SOLID MOUNTS

Craig Zackey, in a tussle with Gavin Lerena at the top of the national jockeys’ log, has three quality mounts on a trappy card. Gareth van Zyl’s Terminal Velocity stayed on well for third recently in his first start after a rest and looks ready to win in Race 5 over 1600m. Dean Kannemeyer-trained Lucrative returns to her favourite track and trip in Race 7 over 1200m and looks the part. Zackey’s other choice ride is Peter Muscutt’s Cold Shine, who is coming along the right way and has his peak run following gelding in Race 8 over 1100m.

FUTURE ATTRACTION

Horseracing in 2025 gets off to a flying start with a R1-million TAB Pick 6 carryover at the L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting at Kenilworth next Saturday 4 January. A pool of R5 million is expected.