Horse Racing Tips: Charles Dickens To Make Easy Pickings Of Gold Challenge Field

There’s plenty of horse racing features this weekend, including the Gold Challenge on Saturday, as well as Sunday’s meeting at Turffontein!

Scottsville (Saturday)

Race 4 – Gimmeanotherchance

Gimmeanotherchance looks to be one of the better bets on the card on Gold Challenge day with Keagan De Melo and Mike De Kock teaming up yet again to guide this son of Gimmethegreenlight over the finish line. He tried the step up in distance to go over 1450m in his last start, which proved profitable as he ended up winning by five lengths. The formline has been franked, and from draw 1, he does look tough to oppose.

Race 5 – Rockpool

Last week, Richard Fourie stole all the limelight by teaming up with Sean Tarry. This week, he’ll be looking for a similar feat with Justin Snaith with Rockpool finding early support in the betting market. The son of Futura ran on from far back in his comeback run and is well-thought of by the stable who have entered him in this year’s Durban July. He should make his presence felt in this line-up.

Race 6 – Going Up

The combination of Aldo Domeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson will be worth following on the day as they hold all the cards in the main race later in the day. Going Up has shown in her career that she has an abundance of class about her and won an impressive race last time out in a Listed event. Her last two wins have come under the reins of Domeyer and the pair show plenty of value here.

Race 7 – Gold Challenge (Grade 1) – Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens looked at home when running at Greyville for the first time, winning the Guineas, and beating the current Durban July favourite, See It Again, by 2 lengths. The son of Trippi made easy pickings of that field and should do so yet again in the Gold Challenge. A stable companion, Trip of Fortune, is the biggest danger.

Race 9 – Our Emily

Our Emily goes for an emphatic sixth win in a row and it certainly looks on the cards. Yet again, Rachel Venniker rides this daughter of Rafeef and carries a suitable weight compared to some of her market rivals. She is also drawn in a favourable spot of barrier gate 2 and should utilize her frontrunning tactics to hold off this field to get past the post first.

Turffontein (Sunday)

Race 1 – MK’s Dreams

The well-related MK’s Dreams produced an eye-catching debut, finishing second behind a horse called Red Bomber, who looks to have loads of ability. The form line of that run has also been franked, and taking on this maiden field, he should be able to get his first career victory.

Race 4 – Feather Boa

Race 4 looks to be a match race on Sunday with Feather Boa and Bless My Starts looking as the obvious threats. The distance suits Feather Boa more, who is also yet to run a bad race on this course. The form of his recent form lines has also been franked. He gets the services of Gavin Lerena aboard and should take the power of beating.

Race 7 – Puerto Manzano

Puerto Manzano is the undeniable class of the race, winning the Summer Cup and Premier’s Champion Challenge. The 5-year-old gelding is also unbeaten over this course and distance and should make his presence felt once again. Keagan De Melo is in fine form and is passed 250 winners for the season. The pair look worth a strike yet again.

BET Contributor