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Horse racing tips

Richard Lowther with his best bets on an intriguing Fairview card

South African racing takes place on Friday
South African racing takes place on FridayCredit: Neville Hopwood

Mary Lee
11.40 Fairview
2pts win

Just My Style
12.15 Fairview
1pt win

Delicasea
2.10 Fairview
1pt win

Torio Lake
2.45 Fairview
2pts each-way

Fairview, in Port Elizabeth, is a right-handed circuit of about 1m5f, with a 4f run-in. Races over 6f and 5f are run on a straight track which begins in a chute before joining the main course, and the straight is mainly downhill. Contests are usually run at a true gallop and hold-up horses tend to do well. High numbers are favoured in races on the straight track, but the draw has little effect on the round course.

Pick of an interesting card looks to be the Listed fillies' nursery (2.10). Delicasea represents top-flight trainer Alan Greeff, who won this prize (with a newcomer) in 2018 and has four runners this year.

Greeff is Mr Fairview - he has a strike rate there of 18.4 per cent this season and rarely has runners anywhere else. This filly is unbeaten in two starts, both of them here, and it's her win last month which looks to be key form. She's taken on again by four of the next five home, namely Sloane, Herrin, Sweet Spring and Cecca, but she was pulling away as the line approached and the extra furlong should suit her more than most of the others.

Eternal Hope looks the most likely danger. She won nicely here on her debut in January but finished down the field in a Listed race next time. With a tongue-tie applied she could be a different proposition.

Trainer Sharon Kotzen looks to have a couple of live chances in the 1m4f maiden (11.40). Ideal Dancer could go well, but top jockey Richard Fourie rarely rides for this stable and his booking for Mary Lee looks significant. The filly finished third of four on Polytrack on her yard debut, but the runner-up has won since and the step up in trip looks likely to suit.

The 1m4f conditions stakes (12.15) has an obvious favourite in Alan Greeff's Meryl, who won on the Fairview Polytrack last time, but she could meet her match in Just My Style. The selection has three course wins to her name but a steady gallop here last month didn't suit her. Third that day, she still beat three of today's opponents and this longer trip should see her to better effect.

There's a big-field 7f handicap to close the card (2.45) and while last-time-out winners Leprechaun and Beethoven will be popular, the selection is Torio Lake. He ran into one when runner-up on Polytrack here this month, but the third has run well since and this represents a drop in class.


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Richard LowtherRacing Post Reporter

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