Marion Belle to deliver

Marion Belle can recoup last month’s losses in the Twilight Meeting Handicap at Durbanville this afternoon.

Greg Cheyne’s mount was ultra-impressive when winning over this trip on her second and third starts but the step up to 1 200m at Kenilworth last time proved expensive. She started evens favourite but proved unable to quicken.

The Brett Crawford stable believes that the longer trip, coupled with her being ridden to get it, was the reason for her undoing. She is 15-10 favourite with World Sports Betting and, despite top weight, she should be able to resume her winning streak.

The unraced Dreams Of Love has been the subject of much speculation in the opening maiden.

The Querari filly is a half-sister to champion sprinter Cataloochee and was bought for R325 000 as a yearling. She opened favourite at 22-10.

“She has a lot of natural speed and she is very fast,” says Justin Snaith who adds much more cautiously: “I have only given her one gallop but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her run in the money.”

Capaill

Those backing her will want more than that and this is not an easy course for a newcomer but she is taken to beat Capaill (3-1) who has gone well in her last two starts, both of them here.

Ashfords Legacy caught the eye when running on well to beat all except the highly regarded Red Rascal in an otherwise modest maiden at Kenilworth ten days ago.

He can make the most of his fitness advantage to beat Photocopy and 9-2 chance Supreme Winter in the TAB Telebet Maiden.

Photocopy

Photocopy (2-1 compared with the selection’s 18-10) has not raced for three months.

“He was gelded and it was complicated because he was a rig,” explains Paul Reeves. “But he has had a gallop and I think he is ready enough.”

There is also Teutonic Knight to consider at 33-10 (Mike Stewart: “This might be a bit short for him but the bend will help.”) but Richard Fourie, who rode him last time, has decided to stick with Photocopy.

Brett Crawford, who trains Ashfords Legacy as well as Marion Belle, can also win the next with 14-10 favourite Due Volte who has Silver League (5-2) and Hadarat (33-10) to beat.

The last-named ran below form last time and Reeves explains: “He doesn’t quicken and he didn’t jump well so got a bit out of his ground.”

What A Summer,

What A Summer, 15-4 joint favourite with Macduff for the Betting World Handicap, may be able to beat 9-2 chance Shall Be Free off bottom weight but watch out for 6-1 shot Pillar Of Hercules who would have finished closer last time but for losing ground at the start.

Candice Bass-Robinson can follow up What A Summer by taking the St Patrick’s Day Handicap with 33-10 chance Oh Behave.