Anton Marcus consistently tops statistical logs and it’s no surprise that his win strike rate this season of 27,34% (or 70 wins from 256 rides) is almost identical to his overall strike rate from last season (27.30%). His numbers become even more impressive when paired with certain stables and his 100% (4 from 4) win strike rate for Alistair Gordon stands out on this list. The pair have a good chance of keeping the streak going with My Pal Al in the fifth at Greyville tonight.

My Pal Al was an easy maiden winner over 1400m on the Greyville polytrack in his second start as a gelding and impressed next time out when just touched off by the highly-rated Roy’s Magic. Both three-year-olds then made the trip up north to contest the Dingaans but My Pal Al did not appear to enjoy the soft going and faded out in the final furlong.

The Turffontein run is probably best ignored, for a number of good reasons, and closer inspection of his run to Roy’s Magic (rated 87) suggests that My Pal Al is likely better than his current mark of 80. He returns to 1400m on the polytrack tonight, jumps from an inside draw, has Marcus up and a set of blinkers have been slapped on to keep him focused. To say My Pal Al has plenty in his favour would be an understatement and he is worth chancing as a banker in smaller perms.

Anthony Delpech was a noticeable absentee around the KZN tracks over the last month after breaking his collar bone in early December. He eases his way back with four rides at Greyville on Friday night and all of them have winning chances.

Delpech has an impressive strike rate (28% winners, 50% first two) when linking up with the Dean Kannemeyer stable and the combination can improve their stats with the consistent Gusheshe in the second – a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m. The drop back in trip is a slight concern for Gusheshe who tends to run on after the fact but this is negated by an inside draw which is a crucial advantage over this track and trip.

Gusheshe’s primary opponent is the Duncan Howells-trained Roy’s Kaitrina who jumps from pole position but the latter is not the most fluent out of the gates and this drop back in trip may not be ideal after running on stoutly over a mile last time out. The lightly raced A-Rod will also have his followers, with Anton Marcus in the irons, but Gusheshe has most in her favour and could be worth chancing as a Bipot banker.

Delpech teams up with Kannemeyer again with Arran Isles in the third and the lightly raced son of King’s Apostle has more scope for improvement than most of her rivals. With precious little form on offer, Arran Isles stands out in this line-up and should see you safely through exotics bets.

The luckless Last Tiger gets Delpech back on board in the fourth, the first leg of the Pick 6, but this is a competitive handicap with a number of runners capable of making the frame. An inside draw will help his chances but Last Tiger, cramped for room in two of his last three starts, will need quite a bit to go his way to fend off Cutting Edge who looks well in here back on handicap terms after going close when under sufferance at the weights in a Pinnacle Stakes last timeout.

Cutting Edge does have his problems and there is no guarantee he will reproduce his improved latest effort. With this in mind, the likes of Just Ask Me, Silver Spring and Mumsy’s Jet warrant consideration.

Delpech takes a break in the fifth and it’s probably best as Marcus and My Pal Al look difficult to oppose.

The sixth looks tricky but the one to keep an eye on is Duncan Howells’ recent recruit His Legacy who is down in class and most likely better than rated. This does look a touch on the sharp side for the former Geoff Woodruff runner but His Legacy went into many notebooks after showing a good turn of foot to win his first two starts and is one to follow.

Delpech completes his night on Delicious Damowin in the seventh who ran on strongly over the minimum trip last time out and has two wins over this track and trip (1200m). He also jumps from an inside draw for a change and should be fighting out the finish. The main danger could be Russian Speed who has dropped dramatically in the ratings (87 > 55) and gets a good draw after staying on well on his poly debut from the widest gate of all.

The eighth is a minefield and recent maiden winners Patroclus and Portman Square, together with Rockefeller (rating slide), are preferred.

The younger Fit For Fun and Quality Matters will be popular choices in the last but the more experienced Disrupt may have the edge from a decent draw and with the confidence of Marcus in the saddle.

By Brendan Pather