The dogs have been barking about Captain Marmalade and seemingly with good reason. “This is a nice horse and he can run,” confirms Justin Snaith whose two-year-olds have been in such sparkling form during the Cape season.

The Captain Al colt makes his debut in the opening Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth today and he was understandably favourite yesterday with World Sports Betting opening him at 12-10.

Second favourite at 28-10 is Gregorian Chant, a Trippi colt whose dam won five including a Grade 3, but there does not appear to be any great expectation about toppling Captain Marmalade. “If he doesn’t run green I think he will be in the first four,” is Dean Kannemeyer’s assessment.

Mike Bass runs three including the R500 000 Philanthropist colt Barak Lavan whose dam won the Champagne. “”They are not well tried – I put three in to save the race – and the Horse Chestnut (Bombs Away) is the most forward,” says Candice Robinson.

Bombs Away is the shortest priced of the trio at 5-1, the same mark as the R250 000 purchase Starflash. This is a Pathfork colt but Vaughan Marshall is playing his cards close to his chest and saying nothing beyond a knowing smile. Does that mean he is holding a fistful of aces? If the horse is still 5-1 when they are down at the start it would be safe to assume that he isn’t!

Joey Ramsden indicates that his R140 000 Great Britain colt British Fairy will need the run but, even so, it is rare for a two-year-old newcomer from his stable being on offer at 20-1.

On The Right Path (6-1) is the only one to have run before and Carl Burger is taking off the blinkers which proved a disaster on Queen’s Plate day – “He didn’t know what was going on and all that smoke also bothered him.”

Captain Marmalade is the selection and Purple Mountains (3-1) gets a tentative vote in the Graduation Plate although this is a tricky-looking contest.

Kemal Kavur has a favourite’s chance at 22-10 on his Cape Derby run but this is two furlongs shorter (Marshall: “I was looking for a race over 1 800m but there isn’t one. I would be wary about a mile.”)

Mambo Mime was reported not striding out freely on Met day and, although fine when checked out by the vet the following day, he has been scratched. However stable companion Lord Marshal (7-2) could certainly pose a threat   “This is Lord Marshall’s first run after being cut – which needed doing – but he will be ready,” says Dean Kannemeyer.

Little has gone right for 7-2 shot Eighth Wonder since he won the Magnum Cape Classic but, says Greg Ennion: “His work is good and Bernard Fayd’Herbe has been impressed with him.”

The two Brett Crawford runners look too far out at the weights but the stable can take the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap with Carrie Bow Cay who came in for some support yesterday and is now favourite at 28-10.

Half the punters in the country were waiting for Jingle Belle who had the Soccer 1 Maiden Plate at her mercy. Sadly she was scratched shortly after 11.00am yesterday as she has been put on medication. Newcomers Londalozi and Carolina Sky head the market but maybe Persian Silk should be given another chance at 6-1.

BLOB Michael Clower won with four of his five selections last Saturday. He also had two out of four at Durbanville and is showing a R97 profit to a R10 level stake so far this month.

By Michael Clower