Andrew Harrison

With the national power grid under pressure one hopes that the lights stay on at Hollywoodbets Greyville tonight where punters are faced with a turf card that could be trick or treat.

The treats could come in the first three races. In the first, Tony Rivalland’s charge Mccartney has improved with each outing and got going just too late when a close-up second last run and should enjoy the extra furlong. At his penultimate start he was a close-up third to the highly rated Kichakal on the Scottsville turf. Main danger could be Caramel Fudge who has put in two smart efforts to date and was narrowly beaten last time out. Ashton Arries has taken the ride in preference to His Master’s Voice who make marked improvement at long odds in a Qualified Maiden over course and distance last time out. Grande Lupo is coming along the right way and has put in two improved efforts over course and distance in recent outings and comes from an in-form stable. 

In the second, Chelsea Blue raced green in a promising debut over course and distance and can make the required improvement to turn the tables on the more experienced Edvige who was runner-up last time out and two lengths clear of Chelsea Blue. Can’t Catch Me has done well on this course over shorter. She had a tough draw last time out and is drawn one off the paint here while French Princess shows good pace on the poly and has improved in Maiden Handicaps. She takes on stronger here but has a 4kg claimer up and is not out of it. 

The third should be a ‘boat race’ between Take To War and The Green Gallant, the only two runners with any serious form. Take To War is lightly raced but has come into his own since being tried over ground and finished runner up over 2400m at his last two. That form looks strong enough for him to triumph here. The Green Gallant comes from an in form stable and showed up well first run back from a lengthy break without blinkers. He has been unlucky on occasion but stays well and should be right there. 

With Pleasure is due another win as he hardly ever runs a bad race. He is now 1.5kg better off with Queue Wing and should be good enough to turn the tables in the fourth. Sunday Island has been doing most of his recent racing on the poly but has been in good form. Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg claim could be invaluable and she is riding with plenty of confidence. 

The fifth is a tricky handicap but Capetown Beauty had her first run back after a nearly five-month break over a distance short of her best in strong company. She has some fair feature form to her credit and if anywhere near her best she should make a bold showing. Greengrowsthelilacs needed her last run. Dean Kannemeyer’s filly has a touch of class and has improved in blinkers. Bella Siccome bids for a hat-trick of wins and Paul Lafferty has booked a 4kg claimer to negate her rise in the handicap. Her best recent form has been on the turf and she must have a strong chance again. 

Wendy Whitehead sends out Boundless Bash in the sixth who is an improving three-year-old and has been taking on stronger since his maiden win. The stable is in form and with log-leading rider Keagan de Melo aboard he looks to be the right one here. Cape Eagle trotted up at his last start but got an eight-point hit in the handicap for his troubles. But he is a lightly raced older horse and the extra furlong could be in his favour. Captain Who has something of a disappointing record if one looks at his blue-blood pedigree but recently has been restricted to racing over shorter and the step up in trip may bring out the best. 

The seventh is a wide open handicap. Michael Roberts has three runners in the race and although stable rider Rachel Venniker would appear to be on the stable choice, she would not have been able to make the weight on Philispiel, the ride going to the 2.5kg claiming apprentice who has won on the horse before and will only carry 50.5kg. Philispiel as an out-and-out 1000m specialist who goes best on turf and from a good draw should be right there. Hooves Of Troy is long overdue another win and from the best of the draw and De Melo up, he should at least make his presence felt. Iron Bark has come good in blinkers but all of his recent form has been on the poly. Valiente has come good of late but all his form has been on the poly and the handicapper is catching up but he goes well for his apprentice rider. Chara Sands has good form on the poly and his rider is in supreme form at present. 

The last is another difficult handicap with much of the recent form on the synthetic track. Winter Journey goes great guns on the poly and is over her best trip from a good draw. The switch in surface should hopefully not trouble her. Girl Of Tregunter is back on her favoured surface but does have a wide draw to overcome. She showed plenty of promise in her first two starts and back on turf she could prove value. Morgan La Fay has drawn one inside of Girl Of Tregunter but has been in cracking form on the poly since her maiden win and she can go one better. Troubadix is a recent maiden winner on the turf where the form has held up. Her last effort on the poly may be best ignored but exotic players will do well to go wide in this race.