Vercicat looks a banker at HWB Durbanville

Jack Milner

A horse with speed usually has an advantage when racing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville as the course does tend to run fast. In addition the turns are quite tight at this track which is why there are some horses who do not enjoy racing there.

Punters face a typical midweek tricky card at the course on Wednesday and finding a banker on the day does not look an easy task. But when in doubt, focus on reliability, and few trainers and jockeys are more reliable right now than Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie.

With that in mind the best bet on the card could well be Vercicat who lines up in Race 7, a Class 4 Handicap over 1250m.

Proven form at this course is always an advantage and there was a lot to like about the manner in which this three-year-old gelding handled himself on his debut run at Durbanville over this distance last month.

Running in a Class 4 Handicap he finished second, beaten 0.50 lengths by Ireland Forever, However, the son of Vercingetorix was slightly unlucky as he and third-placed Catwalk King brushed twice owing to the fact that the winner shifted away from the crop close home. The final incident happened just 50m from the line.

That was also his second run back from a rest so he should be fully primed for this race, and with the experience of the last run under the belt, Vercicat could prove hard to beat.

A good draw is always an advantage at this track so jumping from No 2 draw should prove ideal. He also will be teaming up with Fourie for the first time so that should surely help his chances.

Piet Botha-trained Avignon comes off two successive wins, the first of which was over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, where he beat Vercicat by 0.75 lengths. However, this time the latter is 7kg better off and should easily reverse that result.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 6 Made In Chelsea, 4 El Cohete, 3 Lana’s Gal, 1 Sicily

Race 2: 6 Oh Isabella, 4 Final Say, 1 Victoria Cross, 2 Remuneration

Race 3: 2 Catch Me, 1 Zanfan Moris, 5 You Made Me Look, 6 Cannon Bolt

Race 4: 1 Master Coiner, 5 Born To Master, 10 Glenalmond, 3 Superhero

Race 5: 8 Loving Prague, 2 Cedar Point, 5 Sutherland, 10 United Front

Race 6: 2 Red Flag, 1 Meg’s Legacy, 3 World Of Secrets, 4 Ruby Rex

Race 7: 3 Vercicat, 5 Avignon, 6 Like Dynamite, 1 Gold Dust

Race 8: 1 Dreamworld, 4 Pink Pigeon, 8 Trois Sept Huit, 9 Shesgotclass

 

BEST BET

Race 7: 3 Vercicat

VALUE BET

Race 5: 8 Loving Prague

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 1×4

 

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 4, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 5, 10

Leg 5: 2, 5, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 1, 5, 10

Leg 4: 2, 5, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 3

Leg 7: 1, 4

 

PICK 6

R2160

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 1, 4, 8

 

JACKPOT 1

R190

Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 4: 3

 

JACKPOT 2

R90

Leg 1: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 4, 8