PREVIEW:SCOTTSVILLE - 17 JULY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 11h30 Sunday 15 July 2012.

RACE 1:Maiden Juvenile Plate (F) 1200m Straight

YOU'RE AMAZING (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) showed good improvement in her second start last time and should be the one to beat. HUNTING BLUES lost three lengths at the start on debut last time. Still managed to recover to stay on for a distant third. Sean Cormack rides again. Watch for improvement on a horse that did not show on debut last time, RAD ROCK. Watch the betting on the first timer, SLEEK JET, daughter of Jet Master and she cost R150 000. Another first timer to consider in the opener of the day could be MISS TIGER EYES from the Donovan Howells yard.

SELECTIONS: 1st - YOU'RE AMAZING * (14); 2nd - HUNTING BLUES (4); 3rd - RAD ROCK (10); 4th - SLEEK JET (12); 5th - MISS TIGER EYES (8)

RACE 2:Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m Straight

This could be a race between TIGER STORM (Glen Kotzen/Anton Marcus) and LORD AL (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack). The former may have found his latest trip a tad too far and could prefer the shorter trip. The latter has had three steady runs and must have a chance in this mediocre field. ALDRIC raced green on debut last time. Look for improvement, however small it may be. The first timer, CREST OF PEARLS, the only filly in the race, has been well bred and must warrant some interest. Watch the betting on him, especially with an apprentice claiming 4kg. FAST WILLIAM is another first timer that could be worth considering.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TIGER STORM * (8); 2nd - LORD AL (5); 3rd - ALDRIC (1); 4th - CREST OF PEARLS (9); 5th - FAST WILLIAM (3)

RACE 3:Maiden Plate 1000m Straight

Anton Marcus has been given the ride on the well bred AL ROMANOV. Whether it is in a bid to chase the jockey championship or whether stable jockey for Dennis Drier, Sean Cormack feels that he has a better chance on BUTLER YEATS, remains to be seen. Watch the betting on the first timer. ARGYLE BAY made a very good debut last time when unsupported in the betting. Lost four lengths at the start but ran on strongly to finish a creditable third, way less behind than the four lengths he lost at the start. CAPE VESTA (Pat Lunn) is consistent. Takes on the boys but is never too far back. WESTHAMPTON may improve on a dull debut last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - AL ROMANOV * (6); 2nd - ARGYLE BAY (7); 3rd - BUTLER YEATS (1); 4th - CAPE VESTA (5); 5th - WESTHAMPTON (8)

RACE 4:Maiden Plate 2400m Bend

REGAL RACER was returning from a five month rest last time. He would have needed that run and should be a far fitter horse this afternoon. Has placed second this C & D and Anton Marcus has the ride again. Stable companion, DICHOTOMA, could be ready to improve again. Is also C & D suited. CAPTAIN CHARLIE (Pat Lunn) did not show when racing wide at Greyville last time. Has a chance on earlier form. Both NOBLE GANDER and OUTCAST ROMEO showed good improvement last time and ought to be respected.

SELECTIONS: 1st - REGAL RACER * (5); 2nd - DICHOTOMA (2); 3rd - CAPTAIN CHARLIE (1); 4th - NOBLE GANDER (3); 5th - OUTCAST ROMEO (4)

RACE 5:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1600m Bend

Anton Marcus has another potentially winning ride on today's card when he partners LONDON FEVER in her third career start. She did her best work late when finishing second over slightly shorter at Clairwood. That was a vastly improved effort and if repeating should be the one to follow home. A QUEENS TALE has shown improvement in her last two starts. Has placed second this C & D and should be finding a good finish late. Anthony Delpech rides. CHARMING ROEKEYA improved by just over eleven lengths in her third start last time when finish a length back in third this C & D. Respect. SIBYL (Duncan Howells) made a decent debut last time. Should improve. SUCCESS may be improving. Money chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - LONDON FEVER ** (8); 2nd - A QUEENS TALE (1); 3rd - CHARMING ROEKEYA (2); 4th - SIBYL (10); 5th - SUCCESS (7)

RACE 6:MR 91 Hcp 1600m Bend

RANSOM OF CHOICE (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) takes a drop in class. Did not race with alumites last time. They go on this afternoon. Chance if returning to earlier better form. Loves this distance. PESSOA (Alec Laird) has good form but takes on slightly stronger. Yard in very good form. ALWAYS AL (Sean Tarry/Anthony Delpech) has the form to win. Sets a strong gallop but tends to fade rather late. ROLL COUNT (Alec Laird/Stuart Randolph) has lost form. Any form return could see him win. CLASSIC ILLUSION could be returning form but takes on stronger. Kevin Shea rides for Gary Alexander.

SELECTIONS: 1st - RANSOM OF CHOICE * (3); 2nd - PESSOA (12); 3rd - ALWAYS AL (1); 4th - ROLL COUNT (2); 5th - CLASSIC ILLUSION (6)

RACE 7:MR 76 Hcp 1600m Bend

TURNING TIDE won very easily last time over 1900m. He has run five times for two wins, two seconds and one third. Runs on over any distance and should be right there again. You guessed it, Anton Marcus rides. SOLERA (Duncan Howells) also has very good form but tends to fade late. Has won twice over 1600m. Should go close. SUNCAT took nineteen runs to break his maiden.  Followed that up with a good post maiden run. Can go on from here. BOLD AL has steady form but nothing about one can get excited. AFRICA (Pat Lunn) has been running well with the apprentice claim of 4kg. The allowance will assist this afternoon as well.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TURNING TIDE * (2); 2nd - SOLERA (1); 3rd - SUNCAT (10); 4th - BOLD AL (6); 5th - AFRICA (8)

RACE 8:MR 74 Hcp 1000m Straight

BOLD ALLIANCE improved by almost forty eight lengths last time. Is well suited to this C & D and will be right there. NIGHT CLUB (Pat Lunn) ran a fair sort of post maiden last time. This two-year-old takes on older company but can win this. Apprentice claim of 4kg can help. Won maiden this C & D two runs back. BWANA MACUBE (Duncan Howells/Anthony Delpech) won over a bit further last time. Only wins have been at this track. Can repeat. NIKITA BROWN has improved in his last two starts. ran on to win this distance at Clairwood last time. FRIAR TUCK is also one to consider.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BOLD ALLIANCE * (3); 2nd - NIGHT CLUB (9); 3rd - BWANA MACUBE (11); 4th - NIKITA BROWN (1); 5th - FRIAR TUCK (7)

BEST BET:                    RACE 5 - NUMBER 8 LONDON FEVER (14/10)

VALUE BET:                RACE 6 - NUMBER 3 RANSOM OF CHOICE (66/10)

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 1 - NUMBER 10 RAD ROCK (20/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 2 - 8

PICK SIX: RACES 3 - 8 (Couplings taken into account)

JACKPOT: RACES 4 - 7 (Couplings have NOT been taken into account)