Punters will have plenty of horseracing to bet on this weekend but will need their wits about them because the racing around the country will generally be of a competitive nature.

Tonight’s Greyville poly meeting is a case in point and it won’t be any easier at either Turffontein on Saturday or Scottsville on Sunday.

Tonight kicks off with an intriguing Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, as it sees Hello Mah and Dance City Queen renewing rivalry after finishing on top of each other over the Scottsville 1200m. Hello Mah is given the vote despite her much tougher draw as she looks to have scope, while Dance City Queen wasn’t perfectly settled in the running last time and might still be green first time around the turn.

The second is a handicap over 1600m and is ultra competitive. Spirit Of Dover loves the course and distance and is an honest type so has been tipped to win, but not with a lot of confidence. Team Guys has begun fulfilling the high regard he has always been held in and has won his last three on the trot and all of them have been over this course and distance. He is a strongly built sort and even a maximum eight point merit rated raise for his last win, meaning he has to give the one year older Spirit Of Dover 6,5kg, might not be enough to stop him. Cat In Command will also be a big runner, having finished just a head behind Mumsy’s Jet last time over course and distance with the latter then going on to finish second in the Gr 3 King’s Cup.

In the third race over 1600m Seattle Wolf improved with cheek pieces last time over course and distance, but is quite exposed.  Stablemate Roy’s Gale jumps from a plum draw with Anthony Delpech up and has scope for improvement, having finished third over course and distance last time out in just his second career outing. He is solidly built so will inspire more confidence than his stable companion, although his time over course and distance was slower than Seattle Wolf’s. On paper it looks to be between those two but this race could throw up an upset. Leonard should be staying on and possible improvers include Cozzens Prince and Imagination.

In the fourth race over 1900m, Live On The Moon should go close, but the value might lie with Grey’s A Rockin, who was unlucky over 1600m last time and looks to be off an attractive merit rating. She jumps from pole position over a trip she will relish. The progressive Chesa could also be a contender.

The fifth over 1900m could be dominated by Dean Kannemeyer. Cape Speed was a bit disappointing overall in the Cape summer, but Delpech is aboard tonight and if this horse carries on from where he left off in Durban last year he could beat home stablemate Solid Speed. None of the runners in the seven horse field can be ignored.

The sixth should set up well for Buster Brown, who has a fine turn of foot and will love running on from behind a strong pace. He is the sort who needs to get there as late as possible and Peter Piper, who has relished the step down to this trip, is not going to be easy to catch.

The seventh over 1200m should see the speedy Brigtnumberfour making a bold bid from pole position off a rating 30 points lower than her sand rating. The race could also set up nicely for the well drawn La Gitano, who is likely to enjoy staying on from a handy position off a strong pace.

The last over 1200m is very competitive and the five who make most appeal are Moonlite Mist, Miss Brody, Royal Kaitrina, Quintella and Bee My Honey.

A strong Graduation Plate race over 1600m is the highlight of the Scottsville meeting on Sunday and could be won by the Kannemeyer-trained Mambo Mime, who has had tough tasks in Kenilworth handicaps in his last two off a merit rating in the high 90s, but is now the officially best weighted horse in this race.

At Turffontein, Trippi filly Shatoosh is an exciting prospect and could follow up on her eyecatching debut victory by winning the 7^th race over 1200m off a lenient looking merit rating of 75.

By David Thiselton