Best bets and value tips for racing from the Vaal on Thursday 17th August with selections provided by Winning Form as well as their back page tipster, Magic Tips.

Winning Form Best Bets

Race 1: TAPENZEE(1)

Race 2: LA GIRONA(11)

Race 3: PIPKIN(5)

Race 5: JACKMAN(10)

Magic Tips Best Bets

Race 3: BURGUNDY ROSE(1)

Jockey: Juan-Paul v.d.MERWE - Trainer: Leon ERASMUS 

BURGUNDY ROSE prefers racing up the straight which explains her disappointing last showing after a good run of form. She easily beat PIPKIN over this c & d in her penultimate start and should be an entirely different proposition today. The latter is favourably drawn and is an obvious contender on recent form.

TOP BET

Race 4: MARMOOK(1)

Jockey: Callan MURRAY - Trainer: Mike DE KOCK

The imported colt MARMOOK expectedly showed his above-average ability when he quickened smartly to shed his maiden tag over this distance at Turffontein second time out. The minimum trip undoubtedly suits his impressive turn of foot and the Mike de Kock inmate clearly has much more to offer. He takes on many hard-knocking handicappers with a hefty mass but could prove equal to the task at hand and is worth following. 

Race 5: DUZI MOON(9)

Jockey: Ryan MUNGER - Trainer: Geoff WOODRUFF

DUZI MOON races fresh after his decent last victory over some improving types that included subsequent winners West Coast Warrior and stablemate Pilou. The five-year old was hiked just three pounds and he is a definite contender despite the slight rise in class. He finished close-up behind Wild Brier over this c & d in his penultimate run

Race 6: CRAZY VISION(3)

Jockey: Randall SIMONS  - Trainer: Alec LAIRD

This is a most intriguing handicap, solely due to the fact that the principle contenders squared off against each other over this c & d exactly one week ago. CRAZY VISION was having his first run as a gelding and he performed best of all when finishing runner-up to the smart three-year old Surcharge after looking menacing at one stage. That said, he finished just under one length in front of a rather 'luckless' LAUREN OF ROCHELLE (beaten 2.30 lengths into 4th) and of course the pair meet on similar weight terms today. Top jockey Weichong Marwing knows the latter better and that could make a difference.

VALUE BET (EACH WAY) FOR TODAY:

Race 7: JIM CABLES(10)

Jockey: Callan MURRAY - Trainer: Paul PETER

The speedy JIM CABLES has improved his formline in recent efforts and he only tired late after casting a shoe over this c & d four weeks ago. He continues to plummet in the merit ratings and is a huge contender in today's line-up. The Toreador gelding has the gate speed to track over from his unfavourable inside barrier. 

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