Durban July 2026 Build Up And All Race Day Bets

Durban July takes place at Greyville on Saturday 4th July, wanted to start a thread for early fancy's in the ante post market to take us right through to race day. R10m total purse this year.

Ante post betting right now shows Snaith yard with the first 4 favourites with Note to Self the 4/1 due to run in the Daily News at Greyville this Saturday, 30th May along with quite a few other July entries. Okavango was also prominent in the betting but will not be running in the July.

I've put a  Durban July Blog  together for market updates and general news and everyone is most welcome to contribute on this thread with final field to be shaped by many of the features in KZN season over the next few weeks.

All Durban July input is most welcome here

 

Thanks Chris for starting this thread. Been away with family for a week but will be watching CHRONICLE KING this weekend. About 66/1 for July, and around 16/1 for daily news tomorrow. Will have a nibble on the 16/1 and will add to racing thread. Horse loves greyville. 

Cheers South, just reading the Trust was taken out earlier this week as well as Okavango, was around 16/1 in the ante post market.

Latest Betting

Note to Self 4/1
See It Again 6.25/1
Eight on Eighteen 6.25/1
Wish List 7.14/1
Star Major 10/1
Jan van Goyen 12.5/1
Regulation 12.5/1
The Real Prince 14.29/1

20/1 and upwards the rest, click here for a full betting show from Lucky Fish
 

Thanks Chris, yeah was very close to punting Trust ante post but the price felt stingy and then that last run just didn’t really impress me. I believe he has been sold to race abroad in HK. 

going to have a proper July think next week, been without internet most week so some studying is overdue!

Following the Daily News 2000 at Greyville on Saturday notable scratchings from the July entries list include Jan van Goyen and Callmegetrix. Master Spy has also been taken out and at the time of this post that leaves us with 39 entries.


Coming up at Greyville on 6th June the Gold Challenge where we should see the likes of See It Again and Eight on Eighteen and perhaps The Real Prince. Many other July entries will be stepping out in the Gold Challenge or other races on the day. 

Latest Ante Post Betting
Star Major 3.57/1
Note to Self 5.56/1
Wish List 5.56/1
See It Again 7.14/1
Eight on Eighteen 7.14/1
Happy Verse 10/1
Regulation 12.5/1
The Real Prince 14.29/1
Mocha Blend 20/1

25/1 and upwards the rest

thanks chris. For first time in a few years i find myself with absolutely no early feel for the July. last year i really had The Real Prince as my one by this time, but i have nothing at the moment, at least no strong feel. One big priced outsider did catch my eye a few weeks ago - Holding Thumbs was baulked for a run the 1900, so at around 66/1 i'm keeping tabs on his potential participation, as i'm not sure gets in just yet. Yard did say in interview post his last win that the July was the target/hope.

 

i went looking around at some nominations a bit further down the betting board with 3 criteria - 

1. yard knows how to win a durban july,
2. is likely to be running this weekend in either gold challenge or cup trial - so a chance to boost odds of making july field,
3. horse has to have a real turn of foot, ala The Real Prince last year - something that can really change gears up the greyville short run-in.

1 horse that does fit the bill of above - La Pulga. He likely runs on sat, and i'm going to have my first ante-post nibble. 40/1. Interesting post race comment on 2nd to last run, Aldo reckoned then he would be a serious july contender if he got in. And if he did run, i think will likely carry a really low weight.

Always a risk with ante-post but i just can't resist an ap bet for the july and no harm at this sort of price.

Interesting at big prices South.

Found this on Sporting Post, weights if the July were run today

www.sportingpost.co.za/the-weights-if-we...s-durban-july-today/

Max field of 18 with 39 still holding their ground. Will be another shake up this week after Gold Challenge and Cup Trial plus any other races with July entrants. La Pulga runs in the Cup Trial on Saturday by look of it. 2nd round of July decs are due on Monday 8th June

 

Updated our July Blog, Monday will be interesting with latest round of decs which cold cause a bit of a shake up to the prices available this morning at time of this post.

The running of the Gold challenge at Greyville on 6th June saw Questioning (not a July entry) narrowly defeat Legal Council with Gladatorian and The Real Prince 3rd and 4th. See It Again ran seventh and Eight on Eighteen was way back in ninth. The Cup Trial was won by Zeitz ahead of I Salute You and JP's Palace with the favourite, Regulation running down the field. 

There is another round of declarations for the July due at 11:00 on Monday morning (8th June) which could have a big bearing on the July Ante Post market but as far as the betting right now is concerned we have a show below.

Star Major 3.57/1
Note to Self 5.56/1
Wish List 5.56/1
Happy Verse 8.33/1
See It Again 10/1
Eight on Eighteen 10/1
Regulation 12.5/1
Legal Council 14.29/1
The Real Prince 16.67/1
Gladatorian 16.67/1
Mocha Blend 20/1
25/1 and upwards the rest,

Next round of decs for the July today, 8 on 18 has been taken out, will keep an eye out for other scratchings and update the ante post betting later today

Other scratchings of note include The Real Prince and See It Again, 29 entries have stood their ground, Latest ante post betting with odds correct at time of this post is below.

Star Major 3.03/1
Note to Self 4/1
Wish List 5/1
Happy Verse 6.25/1
Regulation 8.33/1
Legal Council 12.5/1
Gladatorian 16.67/1
Mocha Blend 16.67/1
King Pelles 20/1
Zeitz 20/1
Native Ruler 25/1
Viva's Liberte 25/1
33/1 and upwards the rest, click here for a full betting show  
Odds are subject to change
 

thanks chris. the july picture is really confusing for me this year, just battling with any early fancies. But good to see Zeitz nominated after another good win. 

Was disappointed to see Holding Thumbs get scratched for a run on sat. One i think could sneak into final field as a big lurker. But no ante-post bet for me, will wait for final field now.

Chris wrote:

Other scratchings of note include The Real Prince and See It Again, 29 entries have stood their ground, Latest ante post betting with odds correct at time of this post is below.

Star Major 3.03/1
Note to Self 4/1
Wish List 5/1
Happy Verse 6.25/1
Regulation 8.33/1
Legal Council 12.5/1
Gladatorian 16.67/1
Mocha Blend 16.67/1
King Pelles 20/1
Zeitz 20/1
Native Ruler 25/1
Viva's Liberte 25/1
33/1 and upwards the rest, click here for a full betting show  
Odds are subject to change

 

Thanks Chris and also I have to agree with South's comments. Nothing really sticks out this year and I don't mean any disrespect to any connections, but if someone told me this was the 29 man shortlist for the Durban July consolation race I would have not had bat an eye, but for the actual big Durban July race....

Agree with South and Vinn, at one stage it looked like it was going to be a super strong field imo but doesn't have that feel now. 

We will get weights confirmed soon and although I think it still comes down to a panel decision for the final field I'm not sure those "who runs and who doesn't" calls will be all that big for anyone other than the connections of the horses who are borderline

Jockey bookings - Note to Self has been supported into 3.57/1 (from 4/1) and Richard Fourie will be taking the ride. Andrew Fortune will ride the stable companion Wish List. Away from the Justin Snaith yard Serino Moodley will ride Zeitz and Gavin Lerena will be on board Minogue. 

Latest full ante post betting for the Durban July (confirmed jockey bookings in  brackets)

Star Major 3.03/1
Note to Self 3.57/1 (Richard Fourie)
Wish List 5.56/1 (Andrew Fortune)
Happy Verse 6.25/1
Regulation 8.33/1 (JP v'd Merwe) 
Legal Council 12.5/1 (Callan Murray)
Gladatorian 16.67/1
Mocha Blend 16.67/1 (Tristan Godden)
Zeitz 16.67/1 (Serino Moodley)
King Pelles 20/1
Native Ruler 25/1 (Keagan de Melo)
Viva's Liberte 25/1
33/1 and upwards the rest, click here for a full betting show

thanks chris. the former kzn derby race on weekend one that will see a few make or break their chances of getting in. 

when you look at current remaining field there really is a feel of an upset on the cards, given how many top rated have been withdrawn. Could this be the year of a stayer winning, or an older horse?