Air of excitement as July draws near

THE Fairview track has not been punter-friendly at recent meetings.

It has been tough out there, with especially the Pick Six a nightmare for racing fans.

We did tip you the Place Accumulator over the last two meetings and will be going for three in a row in yet another competitive Port Elizabeth meeting.

There is no feature race on the card and also no readymade banker to help us. Limpopo River is a very short-priced favourite in race 4, the first leg of the jackpot.

Limpopo River has the form to win this, but is trying the challenging distance of 2 000m for the first time, which makes one a bit wary.

Rock Deejay won very well earlier in the month and looks a banker in the first race, which is also the first leg of the Bipot.

Other possible bankers are Leopard Orchid (race 2), Seattle Light (race 3), Dreamforest (race 5) and Temple Rock (race 6), but you will no doubt be a nervous ticket-holder.

Although PE has no big race today, there will be an air of excitement as it is getting closer to the Vodacom Durban July on July 2.

The past few weeks were full of drama, showing that this is the race everyone wants to win.

Even before the announcement of the final field in Durban on Tuesday, we saw some strategic moves by trainers and owners to give themselves the best chance of winning the big one.

The draw was not for the fainthearted.

After Joey Ramsden showed what he thought of a bad draw at the J&B Met, some were quietly hoping one of his would get a bad draw again.

It happened – it was quite a sight to see the heartbroken trainer calling the draw “the toughest job in racing”.

There was a bit of a bonus as partowner Rika van Vuuren did a song and dance over Abashiri’s nice draw. Keep an eye on Rika if Abashiri wins the race.

Punters’ Pal tips: PA R 288 5-7/1-17/1/4-6-8/6-13/1-4-8-12/2-3-6 PICK 6 R 3000 1-3-17/1-3/4-6-8-9-10/5-6-8-12-13/1-2-4-8-12/2-3-6-11