11:10 Vaal

Thursday 24 December 2020

All10:4011:1011:4012:1012:5013:3014:0514:40

Happy Festive Season Classified Stakes

Off time: 11:11 | Winning time: -

(3)

Major Return¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Calvin Habib| T: Mike/Adam Azzie| OR: 80| C

8/1

Course winner. 30/1, creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at Turffontein (9f, good) 12 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 531685-

(4)

French Leave^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S Khumalo| T: Jannie Borman| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2019. Eleventh of 14 in minor event (16/1) at this course (9f, good) 9 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 340330-

(9)

Wild Heritage¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lerena| T: Gokhan Terzi| C

18/1

Course winner. Winner here in November. 12¼ lengths ninth of 12 to So Long Spring in handicap (16/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 583419-

(5)

Veld Flower^b⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Barend Daniel Botes| OR: 70| C

13/2

Course winner. Latest win at Turffontein in December. Good fifth of 11 in handicap at this C&D (good to soft, 16/1) 7 days ago.

Form: 421715-

(7)

Ration My Passion^b³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Lyle Hewitson| T: Gary Alexander| OR: 61| CD

9/4

4-time course winner. 3 wins from 7 runs this year. Didn't need to improve to win 16-runner minor event at this C&D (good, 5/1) 37 days ago.

Form: 860131-

(1)

Shabba Ranks⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: C Maujean| T: Barend Daniel Botes| C| D

13/2

Course winner. Latest win here in September. Bit below form eighth of 14 in minor event (7/1) at this course (9f, good) 9 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Can make presence felt.

Form: 912668-

(6)

So Long Spring¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Jeffery Syster⁽³⁾| T: Tyrone Zackey| CD

11/1

Much improved when winning 12-runner handicap (50/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago by neck from Ideal Wolff.

Form: 809091-

(8)

Dancewithadragon⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Philasande Mxoli⁽⁵⁾| T: Luchelle Kruger| OR: 66

14/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2019. 25/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable sixth of 11 in handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 7 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 666666-

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 30p in the pound

Non-Runners

(2)

Ideal Wolff¹⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: Heather Adamson J: M Yeni

Forecasts

Ration My Passion (9/4), Shabba Ranks (13/2), Veld Flower (13/2), Major Return (8/1), So Long Spring (11/1), French Leave (12/1), Dancewithadragon (14/1), Ideal Wolff (14/1), Wild Heritage (18/1)

DANCEWITHADRAGON looks just about the pick on these terms and should go well. Veld Flower is probably the main danger, while Shabba Ranks also seems unlikely to be far away.