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Vaal Thursday formguides and permutations

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R1

Preview: THEATRE OF DREAM (4) is improving and from a good draw over a slight step up in trip the blinkers come off. SPECTRAL (3) was two lengths behind Theatre Of Dreams last time and now has her third run after a layoff. NAZARETH (1) led last time over 1400m before fading late into third so the step down in trip is interesting. (David Thiselton 4-3-1)  

R2

Preview: FISTS OF FIRE (2) ran a good race last time from a possibly tricky draw down the straight over 1160m and he now has a fair draw in his third run after a layoff and gelding. BINGWA (5) made an eyecatching debut and with expected improvement this scopey sort can go close. BURNING ICE (6) was a bit cramped for room in the early stages on debut and ran out of steam late to be beaten 6,45 lengths by Fists Of Fire but he should do better here with that experience under the belt. (David Thiselton 2-5-6-1-3)  

R3

Preview: ATTENTIVE(1) needed his last start and before that over this sort of trip was a length ahead of Bravestarr. BRAVESTARR (3) drops back to a more suitable trip and is capable of a good finish which he will need to produce being drawn wide. FOREVER LIGHT (11) faced Nourbese last time and the latter subsequently won a Grade 2 so he can be forgiven that mediocre effort and he looks to have the ability to do better. (David Thiselton 1-3-11-2-5-9) 

R4

Preview: GAL GADOT (1) finished well from last in her last start and has a form chance in this uninspiring field. SERENITY (2) has a good draw and has just 1,75 lengths to make up on Gal Gadot. SEA ISLAND showed promise in a race over this trip last October and if the layoff has aided her she can be a contender here. (David Thiselton 1-2-8-10-9)  

R5

Preview: TRICKY BUSINESS (5) was not disgraced last time over this trip and now has another plum draw and the blinkers come on. FORT LOVE (6) showed some improvement over this trip last time and Khumalo is aboard. ROMANTIC ERA (1) went close over 2600m last time and has run a couple of decenta races over this trip. (David Thiselton 5-6-1)    

R6

Preview: CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (1) is a blossoming sort who has Strydom up over a step up in trip which should suit. SNORTING BULL (6) stays the trip and has a fine chance if finding cover from a good draw of five. ODD ROB (3) is well drawn and is a talented stayer who does have a few quirks. (David Thiselton 1-6-3)

R7

Preview: LOUVAIN (6) should be cherry ripe and on her favourite course should handle this distance from a good draw. ELUSIVE FORCE (3) went close over course and distance last time but does have a tougher draw. KAPAMA (4) has improved this year wit hold up tactics and is always dangerous. (David Thiselton 6-3-4) 

R8

Preview: WHIPPING BOY (1) tends to takes the foot off the pedal when hitting the front but he has ability and should be running on under a 2,5kg claimer after being dropped out from a wide draw. NOW AND FOREVER (12) has run two fair races since joining this in form yard and will be cherry ripe so can do well from a good draw. COUNTRY SQUIRE (9) won his only previous start over this course and distance and a six point drop should make him competitive. (David Thiselton 1-12-9)  

R9

Preview: SOUL OF WIT (2) has Strydom up in her return to a trip she did well over and she is well drawn. PERSICA (6) is capable of a strong finish so can go close if jumping better than last time. OLIVINE (went close in her only start over course and distance after staying on from a similarly wide draw to this one. (David Thiselton 2-6-3)

Place Accumulator: (R216)

Leg 1: 1,3,11

Leg 2: 1,2,8

Leg 3: 5,6,1

Leg 4: 1,6

Leg 5: 6,3

Leg 6: 1,12

Leg 7: 2

Pick 6: (R1500)

Leg 1: 1,2,8,10,9

Leg 2: 5,6,1,2,10

Leg 3: 1,6

Leg 4: 6,3,4,5,7

Leg 5: 1,12,9,7,5,2

Leg 6: 2

Jackpot: (R300)

Leg 1: 5,6,1,2,10

Leg 2: 1,6

Leg 3: 6,3,4,5,7

Leg 4: 1,12,9,7,5,2

Best Bet:

Race 9: 2

Value Bet:

Race 6: 6

VODACOM DURBAN JULY – HOW IMPORTANT IS THE DRAW IN REALITY?

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David Thiselton

Recent Vodacom Durban Julys point to the advantage or disadvantage of the draw being related to the pace of the race and to the type of horse jumping from the draw concerned.  

Another of the many keys factors in the race is the seemingly innocuous climb of about a metre in altitude from the 1600m to the 2000m mark, a hill which is not as well known as the four metre climb from the 700m mark to the straight, but which needs to be negotiated just as mindfully.  

Luck in running also plays a big role and so does weight.

Jockeyship, particularly tactical nous, is important too. 

Momentum into the straight is another key factor.

Statistician Jay August must once again be thanked for providing the statistics which allowed the sectional timing facts to be presented for the purposes of this article.

In the 2016 July draws 18 and 17 were the exacta positions and this year those two numbers finished third and first respectively.

In 2016 the pace was slow enough in the initial stages (74.08 seconds for the first 1200m) for The Conglomerate to ease his way into a handy position from draw 18 without expending too much energy under master tactician Piere Strydom. The luck factor in The Conglomerate’s case was that, having found a position one out and one back by the Drill Hall, the horse in front of him, It’s My Turn, opted to stay one wide without cover rather than move into the lead. The Conglomerate thus had perfect cover throughout. Furthermore, at the 1000m mark pacemaker Dynamic quickened the pace which meant The Conglomerate’s inherited stamina capacity was going to be maximised. Marinaresco, a hold up horse with a devastating turn of foot, had meanwhile been dropped out to the back from draw 17 and he would also have been grateful for the step up in pace. On the other hand the favourite Bela- Bela from a “good” draw of three was trapped on the rail and appeared to over race a touch during the moderately paced opening 1200m.  She was able to stride out after Dynamic stepped it up, but the pace slowed again coming up the final hill which affected her momentum. Meanwhile, both The Conglomerate and Marinaresco, near the front and back respectively, had space on their outside so were able to build their momentum coming off the false rail. The Conglomerate maintained a resolute finish and held on by a quarter of a length from a flying Marinaresco.

Piere Strydom had also ridden the winner from draw 18 in 2012 on Pomodoro. On that occasion the initial pace had appeared to be quick and Strydom’s expertise is shown in that he was handy early but did not chase his mount from out wide in that 400m uphill section on the back straight. As luck would have it he failed to find cover so a lot of credit has to be given to Pomodoro. who was handy without cover virtually throughout and yet won in a fair time of 133.19 seconds. 

In 2017 Marinaresco was drawn eight and was dropped out once again by Bernard Fayd’Herbe and yet won carrying topweight of 60kg as opposed to the 55,5kg he had carried as a three-year-old. The sectional times tell it all. The first 1200m was run in 73,13 seconds compared to 74.08 the previous year. They went 109.03 seconds through 1800m compared to 110.69 in 2016, 120 seconds through 2000m compared to 122,10 and the race time was 132.51 seconds compared to 133,50. Marinaresco’s strong finish was thus maximised and coming from near last he got up by a neck from Al Sahem. Early in the race the astute tactics of a couple of low drawn horses had effectively ended the chances of a number of widely drawn horses. In 2008 twice Vodacom Durban July-winning jockey Garth Puller, in an interview while walking the course, emphasised that when riding a low drawn horse who possessed stamina he would make an extra effort to keep the wider drawn horses out. The latter would then have to work up that 400m uphill section to get to the front and this would  expose their stamina limitations. In the 2017 renewal. in line with this strategy, Callan Murray maintained a strong gallop up the back straight from draw two on The Conglomerate and S’manga Khumalo drove the SA Derby winner Al Sahem up the inside rail in behind him. The fancied It’s My Turn thus had to work hard to reach the front and his finishing position decreased from fourth the previous year to eighth. Interestingly the horse that came from draw 17 and worked hard to lead by the Drill Hall was Krambambuli, who had won the Western Cape Stayers over 2800m, and he managed to stay on for fourth. 

In this year’s race the overall time of 132,4 seconds was the fourth fastest in the race’s 2200m history, but the sectional times were likely the fastest in history. Silvano’s Pride went through the 1200m mark in a blistering 69,36 seconds and after overtaking her Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat went through the 1800m in 107,46 seconds. Therefore, Belgarion, Do It Again and Got The Greenlight simply had to be dropped out to nullify their wide draws. The connections of Rainbow Bridge from a low draw had decided to go handy but they likely went too fast too soon and might also have chased too hard coming up the hill towards the straight. He was thus a sitting duck  for the aforementioned strong-finishing trio. However, Rainbow Bridge’s performance compared to Do It Again was actually the same as it had been the previous year, so he ran a fine race all the same. The fancied Vardy was taken to the rail from a nine draw and his momentum going into the straight was not as good as the first three finishers who were able to get the slingshot affect off the false rail into the outside section of the straight. Weight was the factor which allowed Belgarion to beat Got The Greenlight and Do It Again. 

The 2018 race was very slow throughout but the key was Anton Marcus managing to find cover on Do It Again in the back straight, despite jumping from draw 15. Luckily in mid race the horse in front of him, African Night Sky, kindly vacated his spot to go to the front, which brought Do It Again from the back half into the front half.  The big horse had space on his outside so was able to build momentum into the straight and his speed did the rest. 

The 2019 race was almost as slow but Do It Again once again had cover throughout from draw eight and was able to build up momentum into the straight thanks to an opportunistic move off the rail by Richard Fourie. Rainbow Bridge’s good draw of three was on that occasion advantageous as he found a perfect position in the vanguard for free. If the pace had been quicker it would have aided his cause so it was not surprising the same tactics were employed a year later with an expected quicker pace.

Warren Kennedy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Warren Kennedy discusses his July rides

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National champion jockey elect Warren Kennedy has a good book of rides at the Vodacom Durban July meeting on Saturday and among them is the joint favourite for the big one, the Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge. 

He commented on all of his rides. 

Asked how Rainbow Bridge was doing he replied, “Fantastic, I’m very happy with him. His prep has been beautiful, he’s feeling good, he’s in a good place. Ready to go.”

Warren Kennedy (Nkosi Hlophe)
Warren Kennedy

Asked if he was hoping for a fast pace, he replied, “Yes, look, he’s very versatile, last time I took him to the front. I’m sure there will be a decent pace on. If it’s a nice even tempo it will suit him, as long as it’s not a crawl, but we’ve got plans in mind in case it does happen, so we’re ready for any pace.”

He rides the Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Vernichey in the KZN Yearling Sale Million and he said about this Gareth van Zyl-trained Vercingetorix filly, “I feel she’s the best horse in the race, the only Group 1 winner there. It’s never ideal to be drawn out there (14 out of 14) but she’s got oodles of gatespeed and she’s very quick so I should be able to overcome it really easily, I don’t think it’s a major problem for her. She challenged from the 200m last time and fought that horse off so I have no doubt she will stay the trip.”

He rides the Paul Peter-trained Western Fort in the Grade 3 Campanajo 2200. He said, “He’s a lovely little horse. He ran a good race in the Derby, finishing fourth. His only race at Hollywoodbets Greyville he did win, so that’s a plus. He was nominated for the July and what I have felt of him, he’s capable, he’s a really smart horse. He’s a horse to keep an eye on for next season for sure. He tends to wander if he hits the front, so you have to chase horses down and get there as late as possible on him.” 

Western Fort’s last run when beaten over 17 lengths by Hawwaam in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge can have a line drawn through it as he does not enjoy setting the pace. Kennedy confirmed that he was “not a horse from the front at all.” This is an important point to note as his bare form in that race puts a serious dent in the three-year-old form, including to that of the July third favourite Got The Greenlight. 

Kennedy rides the Brett Crawford-trained Dynasty’s Blossom in the Grade 3 DSTV Gold Vase over 3000m and he said, “She’s doing really well, I’m very happy with her work. I feel she would have just about won the Oaks on the work she had shown me but she missed it after it was postponed because this race was coming just a week later. She’s a Gold Cup winner, she’s doing really well, she sees the trip out and I’m really happy with her, she’s fit and well and ready to go. She’s pretty simple to ride, she comes from off them as well, so that draw (12) is not a problem. She’s not far off her best, if not at her best, and she will be running on strongly.”

He rides the Glen Kotzen-trained Jasmine in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper and said, “It’s probably a little bit short for her, she’s a classic filly looking for a mile plus. She’s still learning, she’s very immature. In her last run she was running in snatches and her gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville she was still running in snatches, so we have put the blinkers on and there’s been an improvement in her work and her attitude. Caralluma looks the horse to beat the way she won last time but all things being equal I’m expecting a good run from Jasmine and she should give a better account of herself.”

He rides the Paul Peter-trained Portico in the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe from a wide draw of eleven and said, “He’s a lovely horse, he’s done nothing wrong. When I won on him first time I didn’t feel he was that great, but he’s furnished nicely and has proved me wrong so I’m happy about that. His form has held up really well too and he’s always improving so he could still be anything. I’m 100% sure he will stay the trip and Paul’s horses are firing, you can never discount them.”

He rides the Gavin van Zyl-trained champion filly Gabor in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. He said, “Her run last time was not that good but she really did need it. She has not quite hit the form of her two-year-old career which is a bit worrying and it’s also a very tough race, but hopefully she can recapture that turn of foot she had as a two-year-old and run into the money.”

In the Listed Thukela Handicap he rides Infamous Fox, who won this race last year, and he said, “He is well performed and has to be one of the top three selections, he shouldn’t miss a place.”

By David Thiselton

Following on from the NHA (National Horseracing Authority) press release issued late on Thursday 30 April, the Racing Operators confirm the following :- The Kenilworth race meeting on Friday 1 May has been abandoned. A decision on the Turffontein race meeting on Saturday 2 May will be made by close of business on Friday 1 May. In the event that the Turffontein meeting is not able to take place, the three feature races (SA Derby, SA Oaks and Horse Chestnut Stakes) will be moved to Sunday 10 May in a last ditch attempt to stage them. In similar vein, a decision on the ensuing race meetings from Sunday 3 May onwards will also be taken the preceding day pending government feedback. Entries and declarations for future race meetings will proceed as scheduled pending a decision – so that we are ready to resume immediately should the green light be given to do so. Further changes to the fixture list have been made as follows on the basis that the Kimberley race meetings on 11 and 18 May have now officially been abandoned :- • the Fairview meeting on Friday 8 May has been moved to Monday 11 May • the Kenilworth meeting on Saturday 9 May has been moved to Friday 8 May – leaving Greyville stand alone on Saturday 9 May • the Scottsville meeting on Saturday 16 May has been moved to Monday 18 May – leaving Fairview (East Cape Derby day) stand alone on Saturday 16 May Obviously all entries and declarations continue to be made for future race meetings on the basis that racing is given government approval to resume.

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Programme reshuffle

Notice to Online and Telebet Customers

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During the lockdown period we are operating all our systems and support services remotely and as a result our service levels and response times will be compromised – for this we apologise in advance.

ONLINE USERS –

The website will be available pretty much 24/7 and you should experience very little disruption to the betting experience. To deposit funds, we strongly suggest using the secure IVERI deposit option as your account will credit instantly as there is no intervention required on our part.

If you do not have a debit / credit card, we suggest one of our voucher options such as 1Voucher (available at Shoprite Checkers) as these too are instant deposits.

Bank EFT’s require administrative intervention on our side and with limited staff and remote access only, there may be delays.

For support please make use of our “live chat” option (the blue chat icon on your screen) or alternatively mail support@goldcircle.co.za.

TELEBET USERS –

We are offering a very limited remote service with a severely reduced workforce so service levels will unfortunately be compromised so we urge you to be please be patient when dealing with our team.

For now, this service will be available from 09:00 to 21:00 daily (but subject to change)

If you have not done so, we recommend linking your TeleBet account for online use provided you have access to a smart phone or PC. Please click on the “Link TeleBet Account” option at the top of the homepage (or on phone menu) and follow the prompts from there.

Linking your account will make the deposits of funds super quick and easy and the website is available almost 24/7.

For support please make use of our “live chat” option (the blue chat icon on your screen) or alternatively mail support@goldcircle.co.za.

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Convert telebet to online

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Gold Circle is pleased to advise that existing Telebet account holders can now seamlessly convert this very same account to the Tabgold online betting platform by using the new “Link Telebet Account” icon featured at the top of the Tabgold website landing page. Clicking on this icon and following the simple log-in process will allow Telebet customers to continue to place bets via the online platform.

Whilst the State Lockdown has brought horse racing in South Africa to a temporary standstill, Tellytrack (DSTV Channel 239) will continue to broadcast product from many countries where horse racing is ongoing. These, at the present time, include racing from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA while additional horse racing product will be sourced where possible.

Gold Circle strongly suggests that Telebet customers convert to the online platform as, although the Telebet facility will continue to operate, efficiencies will be negatively affected due to this service being operated “remotely” and with extremely limited capacity. Tabgold’s online betting platform is definitely the preferred and more efficient option.

For all additional information, including helplines and support, customers should refer to the Tabbgold website, www.tabgold.co.za.

TAB offers commingled Jackpot

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Following the successful launch of commingling into a Tabcorp Jackpot pool on the Flemington race meeting in Melbourne on Saturday, TAB will offer commingled Jackpot bets on selected Australian meetings daily as from yesterday, Monday March 8.

TAB online customers will be able to play a Jackpot (called a Quaddie in Australia) on one or more selected Australian meetings for thoroughbreds daily.

The vast majority of such meetings are run in the afternoon in Australia and Jackpot pools generally close from 06.30 to 07:30 South African time.

TAB will also operate a commingled Jackpot pool on a selected Australian harness meeting daily. Most harness meetings in Australia are run at night and Jackpots on such meetings normally close from 11:00 onwards South African time, enabling TAB in-store customers to bet as well.

“Commingled Jackpots on Australian races are an exciting opportunity for our customers and will provide the chance to bet into sizeable, and sometimes mega, pools,” said a TAB spokesperson.

The net pool on the Flemington Jackpot on Saturday was some R25 million.

The commingled Jackpot pool late in the morning will replace the existing Jackpot Quickmix ONE, which comprised Australian races only.

Going forward there will be three Jackpot Quickmixes daily – the first usually ending with Race 1 at the afternoon South African race meeting; the second starting with the last race at the same South African meeting and the third normally comprising UK races in early evening.

BLITZ Racing, which comprises the last three races at the afternoon South African meeting and the best four international races in a suitable timeframe, will continue as normal.

Horseplayers can bet a Place Accumulator, a Pick 6 and what is effectively a Jackpot Quickmix on the seven BLITZ races.

TAB customers must note that there is no fractional betting on comingled Australian Jackpot pools. The unit is R1 with a minimum spend of R6 and it is not possible to display tickets going forward or will pays.

– Phumelela.com

20200312-Sizzling-Punters-Challenge---Gold-Circle-Banner---Ver-2

Hollywoodbets Sizzling Punters’ Challenge

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Sizzling Punters’ Challenge brought to you by Hollywoodbets and tabGOLD

The Website is now live, visit https://punters.hollywoodbets.net/#/ to enter.

Hollywoodbets is excited to announce the launch of the Sizzling Punters’ Challenge brought to you by Hollywoodbets and tabGOLD, which will see total cash prizes of R100 000 being awarded to horse racing punters during March.

The competition is free to enter for all persons who have either an active Hollywoodbets or tabGOLD account. Punters with both accounts will have 2 entries.

The total prize money of R100 000 shall be shared amongst punters over the month of March:

•             Daily prizes totalling R45 000 made up of 9 x R5 000 for each of the scheduled 9 race-meetings at Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville, with R2 000 to the winner, and prizes up to 10th place (2nd – R1 250; 3rd R750; 4th R 400 and 5th – 10th R100)

•             The grand monthly prize of R55 000 with R20 000 to the winner and prizes up to 20th place made up as 2nd R12 000; 3rd R7 000; 4th R4 000; 5th R2 000; 6th -10th R1 000 and 11th – 20th R500.

The scoring system requires that punters make one selection for every race on the day’s card.

•             Points are awarded in accordance with the horses’ finishing positions i.e. in a 10-horse field, the winner will be awarded 10 points, 2nd 9 points and so on with the last horse being awarded 1 point.  Similarly, in a 16-horse field, the winner will be awarded 16 points and the last horse one point.

•             In addition, bonus points will also be awarded for every winner that a punter selects, these points will be based on the Hollywoodbets starting price of the winner.  For example, if the winner of a 12-horse race starts at 12.5/1 (13.5), then the punters selecting the horse will be awarded 25.5 points (being 12 plus an additional 13.5 points in this case). 

•             Should a punter’s selection be scratched, they will be given the tote favourite for the race.

The meeting’s entire selections must be made via the web portal and will be available to do until five minutes before the carded time of the first race of the meeting, where after the race meeting will be closed.

All cash prizes will be credited to either the winner’s Hollywoodbets or tabGOLD betting account. There are no conditions applicable to this payment and funds may be withdrawn or used for betting at the discretion of the player.

Hollywoodbets, Winning Form, Sporting Post and Gold Circle tipsters and team members have been invited to participate on the basis that any prizes they win will be donated to either the Coastal Horse Care unit or the National Horse Trust powered by Hollywoodbets. The full rules for the competition, as well as Terms and Conditions can be found on the Hollywoodbets website. The first race meeting for the competition takes place on Sunday 1st March 2020 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Terms & Conditions – Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle Punter Challenge

  1. The Challenge will run for the month from 1 March 2020 to 31 March 2020.
    1. This Challenge is open to all punters, registered as an account holder with Hollywoodbets and/or TabGold.  
    1. A single entry is free for registered players.  Players who are registered at both organisations shall be eligible for two entries. 
  • Players will have the option to enter with their given name (as per the details on their betting account) or to create a non-de-plume to disguise their identity.
    • This challenge applies only to racing at Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
    • Total prize money to the value of R100 000 shall be shared amongst punters over the month of March, with daily prizes for R5 000 for each of the scheduled 9 race-meetings as follows:

Winner                         R2 000

2nd Place                       R1 250

3rd place                       R 750

4th place                       R 400

5th to 10th place          R 100

and the top 20 punters at the end of the month shall receive R55 000 split as:

Winner                         R20 000

2nd Place                       R12 000

3rd place                       R7 000

4th place                       R4 000

5th Place                       R2 000

6th to 10th places        R1 000

11th to 20th places     R 500

Prize money will be paid into the winners’ Hollywoodbets or Gold Circle TabGold accounts only.  There are no conditions applicable to this payment and funds may be withdrawn or used for betting at the discretion of the player.

  • Points System

Every point counts!  Points are allocated according to the official finishing position of each horse in the race.  The number of points on offer is dependent on the numbers of horses participating (official runners) in the race. 

Points are awarded in accordance with the horses’ finishing positions i.e. in a 10-horse field, the winner will be awarded 10 points, 2nd 9 points and so on with the last horse being awarded 1 point.  Similarly, in a 16-horse field, the winner will be awarded 16 points and the last horse just a single point.

In addition, points will be awarded according to the price of the winner only.  The winning selection will get a bonus of the Hollywoodbets starting price.  If the winner of a 12-horse race starts at 12.5/1 (13.5) then the punters selecting the horse will be awarded 25.5 points (being 12 plus an additional 13.5 points for the starting price).

A horse/jockey combination must be declared a runner in the race to be awarded any points.

Where a dead-heat is declared for any position, then dead-heat rules will apply and the contestants will each receive half of the aggregated points on offer.  So, for example, a dead-heat for 3rd and 4th in the 10-horse race will see the affected horses each being awarded 7.5 points ((8+7)/2).

Cumulative points awarded will be updated after each race and each race meeting.

Points earned at each race meeting will be totaled and the punters with the highest aggregate number of points for that meeting shall be awarded the prize money as detailed above.  In the event of a dead-heat for any of the top four positions, then the dead-heat rules will apply.

Points earned at each race meeting over the month will be totaled and the punters with the highest aggregate number of points shall be awarded the prize money as detailed above.  In the event of a dead-heat for any of the top twenty positions, then the dead-heat rules will apply.

Failure to make selections for a race meeting will result in zero points.

  1. Scratchings and disqualifications

Any selection of a scratching will be assigned the official tote favourite for the race.

A horse disqualified after having run a race will be deemed to have run last and will earn one point, with each horse that finished behind it being promoted.

  1. Change of venue – if the venue changes (before 11 am on race day) then punters will have the option to retain their original selection or create new selections on a new selection grid.  Where no new selections are made, the original selections will remain as valid selections.
    1. Any race meeting rescheduled from its original date to another day in March shall be re-opened for selections prior to the rescheduled date.  The original selections shall be voided and only the reselected entries shall apply.
    1. Should the race meeting scheduled for 29 March be postponed beyond month end, all selections shall be void and the winner for the month shall be based on the results already processed.
    1. Entries will only be accepted up until 11am on race day.  The meeting will be closed at that time and no selections will be accepted after that time for any reason whatsoever.
    1. Once selections are saved, they are final and cannot be changed.
    1. The challenge is intended for recreational purposes only. Should any participant be suspected of abusing the spirit of the challenge, Hollywoodbets reserves the right to withdraw any prize money awarded. 
    1. Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle and their authorised agents reserve the right to vary, suspend, postpone or terminate the competition or any aspect thereof, for any reasons whatsoever and without notice. In such event, participants hereby waive any rights or expectations, which they may have against Hollywoodbets or Gold Circle or their authorised agents and acknowledge that they will not have any recourse or claim of any nature against Hollywoodbets or Gold Circle or their authorised agents.
    1. Queries can be addressed to punterchallenge@hollywoodbets.net
    1. Companies in the Hollywood Sportsbook Group and the Gold Circle Group are licensed betting operators. Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle supports responsible gambling. No persons under the age of 18 years are permitted to gamble. Winners know when to stop. National Gambling toll-free counselling line 0800 006 008.
    1. Every entrant participating in the competition shall be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted these terms and conditions and rules by virtue of their participation
    1. This competition is OPEN to any persons who are directors, members, partners, employees, agents or consultants of Hollywoodbets or Gold Circle or any other person who directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by Hollywoodbets or Gold Circle or marketing service providers, or spouses, life partners, business partners or immediate family members of all of the above.  However, any person associated with Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle as indicated above will donate their winnings to the National Horse Care Unit and/or the Coastal Horse Care unit.

The official tipsters in the Winning Form Group publications, Gold Circle and TabGold publications will also form part of this Challenge.  Should any of these tipsters win any prize, then that money shall be donated to the Horse Care Unit of their choice.