The Vaal has a nine race meeting tomorrow on the Classic Track and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters.

Muntahaa is selected as the best bet on the card. He runs in the third over 1700m and this good looking horse should relish the step up in trip from a good draw. In his last race over 1600m he had to be used up early to go handy from a wide draw and was then left flat footed at the business end. However, he was staying on nicely at the line. He now has a good draw in an uninspiring field and should outclass them.

Piere Strydom

The value bet of the day is Fish River Canyon in the last over 1500m. She over raced slightly when sent to the front from a wide draw over 1800m last time. However, she was soon in the box seat after others had gone around her. She then found a nice turn of foot to hit the front 400m out. However, she was run out of it late. By all accounts she should enjoy the step down in trip from a good draw off her competitive current merit rating.

In the first over 1000m De Nimes has generally had long gaps between runs, so has her issues, but she has talent. Last time she met a firecracker in Gratuity, but ran on well after a slow start. The lightly raced five-year-old by Fort Beluga should have come on from the run, so should confirm form with the main danger, Gotoluvher.

In the next over 1000m Twinkle Town is a nice looking type, who ran on well last time after a slow start over this trip. The only two concerns are her returning from a three month layoff and whether she can beat Street Life. The latter’s form on paper looks weaker, but she was not given a good ride last time over 1200m and could improve.

In the fourth race over 1700m, Half A Bar will be hard to beat if he settles. The zip he showed with first-time pacifiers on over 1400m last time is a slight concern over this further trip, because the headgear stays on. On the other hand he has pole position, which will give him every chance of finding cover. If settling he should mow them down as he has been thereabouts over 1600m and 1800m before, albeit without pacifiers.

In the fifth over 2000m, Arlington over raced over 1800m in his penultimate start with blinkers on. However, he still still finished quite close up, so considering his good turn of foot he is interesting here over 2000m with the blinkers now off and jumping from pole position.

My Treasure also makes some appeal from a good draw in the eighth over 1500m as he has turned the corner since blinkers were fitted. He can be excused his disappointing third last time as the saddle slipped. Piere Strydom has remained aboard, which is significant.

By David Thiselton