Greg Cheyne, having bounced back to win on his return at Kenilworth on Saturday, can go in again on Emerald Gal in the Quinte Plus Maiden at the Cape Town course today.

The Darryl Hodgson-trained four-year-old steps up to a mile after three runs over 1 200m and the extra distance is significant. Although the Irish-bred is out of a six furlong winner by the sprinter Johannesburg she is by Galileo who wanted a mile and a half.

Her form so far suggests promise rather than proven ability but the extra distance could swing the balance. She is reasonably priced at 7-2 and the sahorseracing computer has her winning by a neck and the same from the three-year-olds Figure Of Grey and Keep The Faith. The former is favourite at 33-10 with World Sports Betting but is drawn widest of all so the Vaughan Marshall runner looks a bigger danger at 7-2. Silver Laurel (4-1) is the highest rated horse in the race.

Purple Tractor can get punters off to a winning start in the Welcome Maiden. He beat all except Power Grid on his last run and the winner really franked the form by going on to win convincingly on his handicap debut last Saturday.

Don’t be put off by Corne Orffer riding the stable’s newcomer Give It Away instead. Brett Crawford confirms that Francois Herholdt partners the 22-10 favourite because he rode him last time – and the colt will not want for anything from the saddle.

The Marshall horses are on song and evens favourite Rock Of Africa is hard to oppose in race two. He started slowly when second at Greyville and had the third over five lengths back when occupying the same spot at Scottsville. Crawford’s 5-1 chance Pop The Question looks next best.

Andrew Fortune thought he had got up when Logan finished strongly last time and the former champion’s mount appeals at 4-1 in the Play The Bipot Maiden.  William The Brave, a full brother to the  2010 Cape Derby winner Bravura, is 22-10 favourite but he is badly drawn, as is 3-1 shot King Of The Rally, while Edict Of Nantes (33-10) has losses to recover after racing green on the bend when starting favourite 17 days ago.

Overshadow is a warm order at 16-10 for the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap but Richard Fourie’s mount only got up on the line last time and has been put up 2kg. Top weight Waiting For Rain (5-2) has been raised 3kg for his win and so Kirumbo is suggested at 5-1.

The Marshall-trained Mr Jay (33-10) appeals in the last with Fortune in the irons. Boldly Respectable (7-2) and 11-2 chance I Travel Light look the principal dangers.

Michael Clower