PREVIEW:CLAIRWOOD - WEDNESDAY 1 AUGUST 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 17h30 Tuesday 31 July 2012.

RACE 1:Maiden Plate (3-Year-Old) 1000m Straight

Watch the betting on the first timer, FESTIVAL OF FIRE (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech). CAVIAR was a distant second on debut. Should improve. RUN WEST was a distant third on debut last time. Should also improve. Another two first timers to consider may be PENNY FARTHING (Dennis Drier) and CUP OF RUBIES.

SELECTIONS: 1st - FESTIVAL OF FIRE * (7); 2nd - CAVIAR (2); 3rd - RUN WEST (13); 4th - PENNY FARTHING (11); 5th - CUP OF RUBIES (4)

RACE 2:Maiden Plate 1200m Straight

OVERBERRY (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) has had two good seconds in his last two starts. Should go close. Keep an eye on three first timers, HAMMIE'S FLYER (Mike Bass/Anton Marcus), AFRICAN SMILE (Glen Kotzen) and TAKADUM (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech). CAGE FIGHTER (Sean Tarry) should improve on a moderate debut.

SELECTIONS: 1st - OVERBERRY * (1); 2nd - HAMMIE'S FLYER (13); 3rd - AFRICAN SMILE (5); 4th - TAKADUM (18); 5th - CAGE FIGHTER (6)

RACE 3:Maiden Plate 1450m Bend

UMBRELLA THORN (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) was slow on debut last time but ran on well to finish a creditable second. EVERLAST (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) also made a decent debut last time. STONE REEVES has improved in his last three runs. Has been finishing strongly. SANGREAL improved by nine lengths last time when running on. Respect. FRIEND OF FREEDOM is another who showed encouraging improvement last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - UMBRELLA THORN * (14); 2nd - EVERLAST (12); 3rd - STONE REEVES (2); 4th - SANGREAL (1); 5th - FRIEND OF FREEDOM (4)

RACE 4:MR 73 Hcp (F & M) 1450m Bend

RA RA RA has good form. Chance if not fading. FOREIGN GAL must be a contender on an improved latest effort when running on well over 1600m. WOODEN GOLD is never far back and current form is decent. RUBY QUEEN may find a place. PARTY QUEEN could benefit from an apprentice claim of 4kg.

SELECTIONS: 1st - RA RA RA * (5); 2nd - FOREIGN GAL (4); 3rd - WOODEN GOLD (13); 4th - RUBY QUEEN (10); 5th - PARTY QUEEN (8)

RACE 5:MR 74 Hcp 1000m Straight

BWANA MACUBE is holding form well. Apprentice claim of 4kg is sure to assist. BOLD ALLIANCE has improved in his last two. Is ideally C & D suited. Anthony Delpech has the ride. WOZA FRIDAY (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) raced in a pinnacle stakes on Durban July Day last time. Could improve this company. TWO TONE ROCKA could be improving again. NIKITA BROWN is too inconsistent to be back with any confidence.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BWANA MACUBE * (6); 2nd - BOLD ALLIANCE (2); 3rd - WOZA FRIDAY (3); 4th - TWO TONE ROCKA (4); 5th - NIKITA BROWN (1)

RACE 6:MR 93 Hcp 1600m Bend

DANCE AT DAYLIGHT does not have the best of form but he does take a slight drop in class. he is also well suited to this C & D. ROMAN WALL (Sean Tarry/Brandon Lerena) faced slightly stronger over 2200m last time. Chance on best form. ICE MACHINE has the form to go close. AUTO PILOT (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) faded late over this C & D last time. Chance on earlier form. DARK WIND (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) may be ready to improve. Respect trainer/jockey combination.

SELECTIONS: 1st - DANCE AT DAYLIGHT * (2); 2nd - ROMAN WALL (1); 3rd - ICE MACHINE (3); 4th - AUTO PILOT (6); 5th - DARK WIND (5)

RACE 7:MR 76 Hcp 1600m Bend

GO WEST (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) won well on debut. May need to confirm but appears promising. RADIO WAVES won well last time. Stayed on well. Has won this C & D. GIDA sets a good pace. Has held on before. LORD HAWKE stayed on well last time when finishing a close up sixth. One to respect. Of the balance NITRO NORI shows good pace. Must have a definite place chance in this field.

SELECTIONS: 1st - GO WEST * (6); 2nd - RADIO WAVES (10); 3rd - GIDA (1); 4th - LORD HAWKE (7); 5th - NITRO NORI (12)

RACE 8:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1600m Bend

LYFORD CAY (Gavin Van Zyl/Brandon Lerena) made a good enough debut last time to suggest that she should pick up her maiden win very soon. The extra trip for ABOVE EMERALDS (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) may not suit but her two runs have been good efforts. SPORTY THONG runs her best races at this track. Latest effort was her best to date. OLIMPIC MADAM (Dennis Drier/Sean Cormack) rarely runs a bad race. Should be right there. CLEAR APPROVAL may improve.

SELECTIONS: 1st - LYFORD CAY * (13); 2nd - ABOVE EMERALDS (8); 3rd - SPORTY THONG (2); 4th - OLIMPIC MADAM (4); 5th - CLEAR APPROVAL (6)

BEST BET:                    RACE 3 - NUMBER 14 UMBRELLA THORN (1/3)

VALUE BET:                RACE 8 - NUMBER 13 LYFORD CAY (3/1)

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 5 - NUMBER 3 WOZA FRIDAY (11/1)

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)