Early Scottsville scratchings could benefit punters

Jack Milner

There are times when scratchings are a nightmare and in other situations they could be a godsend.

When you are relying on a particular horse to be your banker in all the exotics and that gets withdrawn, it tends to throw your plans into disarray and to use another corny expression, send you back to the drawing board.

However, if you believe a race will be fought out by only two runners and one of them bets scratched, that could work in your favour.

That looks to be the case at Hollywooodbets Scottsville on Sunday in both Races 1 and 2. Race looked to be a boatrace between Scott’s Bar and Tipperary, but the latter has been scratched and now Scott’s Bar looks a standout bet.

Trained by Mike and Mathew de Kock, this son of Malmoos has run twice, both over 1400m, and both were pretty average. However, he was gelded a few days after his last run and comes into this Maiden Plate dropping to 1200m, and looks ready to win.

Sean Veale takes the ride.

The same applies to Race 2, another Maiden Plate over 1200m, where Rocco’s Peace and Diaval looked set to fight it out. However, Rocco’s Peace has come out and now Michael Miller-trained Diaval could be hard to beat.

This first-timer by Master Of My Fate is a half-brother to Merryweather, who won her third race at Turffontein on Saturday. This gelding is rumoured to be quite decent and even Miller’s comment in Computaform – “will run well if not green” – is also pretty positive.

First stable choice Tristan Godden will be in the irons.

Both runners could be bankers in the BiPot and in the case of Race 2, the Place Accumulator.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Scott’s Bar, 2 Tipperary, 3 Theodore Rooseveld, 8 Maggiano

Race 2: 2 Diaval, 4 Xiphos, 7 Hello Handsome, 5 Gimme The Sun

Race 3: 6 Hop Hop Spinnekop, 2 Taylor’s Version, 7 Vaans Spirit, 5 Princess Trippi

Race 4: 5 Dreadnought, 6 Deonarie, 8 Judiciary, 7 Preux Chavalier

Race 5: 3 Parisian Walkway, 6 Captain West, 5 Bangladesh, 4 Powerandtheglory

Race 6: 2 Mister Nibbles, 11 Run To Rio, 5 Jazz Festival, 7 Twilight Warrior

Race 7: 3 Scarlet Macaw, 2 La Landonne, 7 Miss Ladyaterix, 4 Limitless Sky

Race 8: 11 Clair De Lune, 3 Scarlet Starlet, 7 Arverni Princess, 6 Fascination

 

BEST BET

Race 7: 3 Scarlet Macaw

VALUE BET

Race 6: 2 Mister Nibbles

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 3×11

 

BIPOT

R48

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 2, 6

Leg 4: 5, 6, 8

Leg 5: 3, 6

Leg 6: 2, 5, 7, 11

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R96

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 2, 6

Leg 3: 5, 6, 8

Leg 4: 3, 6

Leg 5: 2, 5, 7, 11

Leg 6: 3

Leg 7: 3, 11

 

PICK 6

R864

Leg 1: 2, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 7, 11

 

JACKPOT 1

R72

Leg 1: 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

Leg 4: 3

 

JACKPOT 2

R54

Leg 1: 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 7, 11