12:05 Greyville

Monday 1 January 2024

All10:2010:5511:3012:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:00

www.tabgold.co.za Novice Handicap

Off time: 12:06 | Winning time: 1m 37.67s

(1)

Common Grounds⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Calvin Habib| T: Darryl Moore| BF| C

9/4

Course winner. Winner here in October. Creditable second of 11 in handicap at Scottsville (8f, good to soft, 7/2) 43 days ago.

Form: 68212-

(2)

Ancient World⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Tristan Godden| T: Michael Miller

2/1

Winner at Scottsville in August. 9/2, good third of 12 in handicap at Scottsville (9.7f, good) 51 days ago.

Form: 53173-

(3)

Galaxy Explorer⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S Veale| T: Tony Rivalland| CD

8/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, improved to win 10-runner maiden (11/10) at this C&D (good to soft). Off 92 days. Makes handicap debut. More needed.

Form: 475531-

(6)

Ebony Bay¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: A Mgudlwa| T: Doug Campbell| D

40/1

50/1, seventh of 9 in handicap at Greyville (8.4f, AW) 14 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 800857-

(7)

Johnny The Thief⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Deryl Daniels| T: Matthys Odendaal| BF| CD

15/2

C&D winner. Winner here in October. 5/2, last of 6 in handicap at Greyville (9.4f, AW) 75 days ago.

Form: 222216-

(8)

The Shepherd¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R Fourie| T: Peter Muscutt

5/2

14/10, didn't need to be at best when winning 10-runner maiden at Scottsville (7f) 19 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Leading claims.

Form: 5331-

Non-Runners

(4)

Celtic Beauty³³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: Tony Rivalland J: Mathew Thackeray

(5)

Canford Ice⁶⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Robbie Hill J: Serino Moodley

Forecasts

Ancient World (2/1), Common Grounds (9/4), The Shepherd (5/2), Celtic Beauty (7/2), Canford Ice (6/1), Johnny The Thief (15/2), Galaxy Explorer (8/1), Ebony Bay (40/1)

THE SHEPHERD stands out by some way on form and looks to have a straightforward task. Ancient World is the most pragmatic second option, while Johnny The Thief enters calculations for third place.