Andrew Harrison

PUNTERS face another competitive card on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday where the scratching of the mare Flichity By Farr may have reduced the Trackandball.co.za handicap, seventh on the card, to a match race.

Matterhorn has made major improvement at recent outings, winning his last two, but climbing the ladder makes things all that more difficult. His task was made that much easier with the scratching of stable companion Flichity By Farr, close-up in two recent long-distance features including the Gold Cup, but off her food this last week and is an addition to the scratching’s list 

Matterhorn has come good since being send over ground and although he goes this trip for the first time, he should see it out comfortably.

Biggest threat will be from Anse Lazio who comes with some fair Cape staying form and although he takes on stronger here, he only has 52.5kg to shoulder which will make him extremely competitive. The Andre Nel satellite stable, overseen by Byron Foster, has hit a purple patch of late with a brace of winners last Wednesday, and he is confident of a big effort.

Of the balance, Clouds Of Witness has been a little disappointing of late but did lose his jockey at the start of his last race and can do much better here.

The experiment of introducing ‘conditional’ Graduation Plates with weights allotted in bands according to merit ratings in an effort to boost field sizes, has obviously failed first time out with only nine runners lining up in the seventh.

The merit rating system has been gerrymandered to a point where it is often worthless as a handicapping guideline.

Give punters – and owners and trainers – a break. If a two-time winner carries the same weight, irrespective of its 110 MR, against another two-time winner with a 74 MR, so be it.

The owners get a win and punters get an exotic bet banker.

Mostly trainers are afraid to run their half-decent horses in these races in fear of incurring penalties for their next handicap appearance.

 If the stakes were worth it, the risk would not be so bad, but on the flip side, these are also great races to give the weaker horses a good public gallop without fear of incurring a penalty.

In the days before Merit Ratings, punters had to rely on their intuition as to whether one horse was better than another at level weights with no ratings to guide them.

In a time where the powers that be are making it more and more difficult to win with a decent horse, it is no wonder that new owners are becoming like hen’s-teeth.

Be that as it may, Special Blend and African Sunrise look the pick of the seventh. They are at the top of the ‘handicap’ band and meet at level weights.

There was two lengths behind them when last they met with Duncan Howell’s runner two lengths to the good. The two step up in trip and drawn alongside of each other should make for an interesting tactical race between Lyle Hewitson on Special Blend and Anton Marcus taking over from an indisposed Donovan Dillon on Wendy Whitehead’s runner.

Exotic bet bankers could be difficult to find but two that appeal are Jay’s Dancer in the opening leg of the PA and Chewbaca in the next.

Tinnie Prinsloo has not had much luck of late with his runners in the money but not able to convert but Jay’s Dancer could set that straight. Jay’s Dancer has been knocking at the door for some time now and goes very well over course and distance. He must have a change of fortune soon.

Dangers! Trumps Express, having his first run for a new stable, has shown some promise on the Highveld and can do better here while Bernie’s Dream found strong market support on debut and did not finish far back. He should come on from that run.

Lightly raced gelding Chewbaca has been a touch disappointing had had a wide draw last time out.  He can make amends in the opening leg of the Pick 6 and appeals as the best bet on the card.

Upset chances go to Gonetravelin and Tiger Tank, who has his first run for a new stable and is capable of a surprise.