PREVIEW:VAAL (TURF) - 23 FEBRUARY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 18h00 Wednesday 22 February 2012.

RACE 1:Workriders Maiden Plate (F & M) 1000m Straight

SEA BOMB has been very consistent in recent times, Races handy and is never far back. LIDO DE PARIS showed good improvement last time. Could be on the right track now. KIWI ISLAND has only placed over the distance and also in Kimberley. BELLA CASA has some moderate form. Has only placed this C & D. FLYING CAESAR was moderate on debut. May improve.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SEA BOMB * (1); 2nd - LIDO DE PARIS (6); 3rd - KIWI ISLAND (3); 4th - BELLA CASA (5); 5th - FLYING CAESAR (11)

RACE 2:Maiden Plate 1200m Straight

EXCEPTIONAL DREAMS (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd) made an excellent debut last time. Was running on very well to finish a head back in second. Has to be the one to beat. AWESOME JOSH has had two fair runs. Richard Fourie rides again for Paul Peter. MARIUS lacks finish but is never that far back at the finish. ACAPELLA has been gelded since his latest run. Could improve. HELL ALLEY makes his debut. Watch the betting.

SELECTIONS: 1st - EXCEPTIONAL DREAMS ** (7); 2nd - AWESOME JOSH (5); 3rd - MARIUS (4); 4th - ACAPELLA (1); 5th - HELL ALLEY (9)

RACE 3:Maiden Plate 1200m Straight

SKITT SKIZZLE (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd), son of Jet Master, makes his debut this afternoon. Watch the betting. CELTIC KING stayed on well last time when showing improved form. REGAL PRESS is never too far back. Chance if staying on. DADDY'S DOLLARS is inconsistent but can win a race such as this. SHAREEFA'S JET may be coming to hand. Ran his best race in eleven starts last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SKITT SKIZZLE * (14); 2nd - CELTIC KING (1); 3rd - REGAL PRESS (4); 4th - DADDY'S DOLLARS (3); 5th - SHAREEFA'S JET (7)

RACE 4:MR 90 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Straight

PACIFIC DYNASTY is not a confident choice but she has won and placed this C & D. She also won against a similar field last time when running on. COME WITH ME has excellent recent form and will be doing good work late on. SUPER PURSUIT ran a good post maiden run last time. MACLAINE has lost form but is well suited to this C & D. FAIR ROSALIND has steady form and has faced stronger in feature races.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PACIFIC DYNASTY * (5); 2nd - COME WITH ME (8); 3rd - SUPER PURSUIT (6); 4th - MACLAINE (4); 5th - FAIR ROSALIND (1)

RACE 5:MR 73 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Straight

WOLLONDILLY won her first two starts and then went badly off form. She looked to be coming back to form last time when staying on against far stronger. Could cause an upset and one to be aware of. LYRIC'S WONDER (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd) won on debut last time when heavily backed. Can strike again. MAGIC POTION is holding form well. Should have a shout. Anthony Delpech rides for Gary Alexander. LAUREL CANYON is also holding form well and has the in-form Gavin Lerena riding. CASA NOSTRA will be doing her best work late.

SELECTIONS: 1st - WOLLONDILLY * (2); 2nd - LYRIC'S WONDER (9); 3rd - MAGIC POTION (1); 4th - LAUREL CANYON (4); 5th - CASA NOSTRA (8)

RACE 6:MR 93 Hcp 1200m Straight

PAELLA has excellent form this C & D and will be running on late. He comes down a bit in class and should be the one to beat despite the 60kg he has to carry. EDICT cannot be faulted on his current form and was an unlucky loser by a length last time as he was badly baulked at a crucial stage but still managed to run on. ALWAYS AL is back in form but needs a more sustained finish. VALOR has nice form. tends to fade late. HIDDEN RAVE has steady form but could fill a placing at best.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PAELLA * (1); 2nd - EDICT (8); 3rd - ALWAYS AL (7); 4th - VALOR (3); 5th - HIDDEN RAVE (5)

RACE 7:MR 77 Hcp 1200m Straight

WHERE'S MY CHOP ran on well to win at this C & D last time. Has every chance of repeating that run. UP AND RUNNING (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) has decent form but may need more to win, even at this level. Takes a slight drop in class. TONY'S TIPPLE faded badly over further last time. Chance on best form. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE made his Gauteng debut last time when racing on the sand. ignore that run. Chance back on turf. DAN'S APPROVAL has been improving again.

SELECTIONS: 1st - WHERE'S MY CHOP * (5); 2nd - UP AND RUNNING (2); 3rd - TONY'S TIPPLE (6); 4th - NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (4); 5th - DAN'S APPROVAL (9)

RACE 8:MR 80 Hcp 1400m Straight

COMBATTIMENTO (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) won on debut and has followed that up with two decent post maiden runs in which he has not been too far behind. Generally he runs on well and should be right there again this afternoon. RYAN'S A LION has good form and should fight this one out. Is well suited to the C & D. MARKET DRIFT (Paul Peter/Piere Strydom) raced against stronger last time and showed good improvement. A strong contender this afternoon. ACE OF HEARTS has steady form, loves this C & D and will be doing good work late. AHOY CAPTAIN stayed on well in a workriders race last time. Can earn.

SELECTIONS: 1st - COMBATTIMENTO * (3); 2nd - RYAN'S A LION (2); 3rd - MARKET DRIFT (1); 4th - ACE OF HEARTS (6); 5th - AHOY CAPTAIN (8)

RACE 9:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1400m Straight

TERRA MARIANNA (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd) has good maiden form and looks to be the one. Ran on strongly when finishing a neck in second this C & D last time. Looks hard to beat. PERFECT WINTER has shown good improvement in her last two starts with Piere Strydom up. Anthony Delpech rides this afternoon. Has a good shout. FLIGHT ZONE has shown encouraging signs in her two starts to date. Gavin Lerena rides again. KING'S SECRET (Mike De Kock) makes her debut. Watch the betting. MER DE MIESQUE stayed on well this C & D when showing improvement last time. Place chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TERRA MARIANNA * (1); 2nd - PERFECT WINTER (7); 3rd - FLIGHT ZONE (12); 4th - KIN'S SECRET (13); 5th - MER DE MIESQUE (3)

BEST BET:        RACE 2 - NUMBER 7 EXCEPTIONAL DREAMS

VALUE BET:    RACE 5 - NUMBER 2 WOLLONDILLY

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9