NEWS

  1. Home
  2. News

Hollywoodbets Durban July 2022: Everything you need to know

1 Jul 2022

Linebacker has been backed into joint-favouritism for the Durban July during the course of the week. Last year's runner-up has joined Safe Passage at the head of the betting, with Pomp And Power coming back into 7/1 over the last 24 hours.
 
Another notable market mover is Aragosta, who's been cut into 9/1 from 16/1 since Monday. Mike de Kock's three-year-old now sits fourth in the market, ahead of Sparkling Water, who's drifted out to 10/1.
 
One interesting aspect of this year's Durban July is the lack of a real pacemaker. 
 
Aragosta may have to be ridden prominently from stall one, but if he misses the kick - as he has done in the past - there's a chance he could get boxed in on the rail. Pomp And Power is a head-strong sort who often makes the running. Yet, when Justin Snaith spoke to the press, he reiterated the team's desire to hold Pomp And Power up and find some cover, so there's a chance that the field could be taken along at a very slow early pace.
 
If they do go slow, then those drawn low could get swamped as the high-drawn runners move into contention. This could inconvenience Do It Again, Hoedspruit and Linebacker - unless they can find a prominent position turning into the straight.
 
Three-year-olds have a huge advantage at the weights in the Durban July. Even Safe Passage, who will have to give a kilo-and-a-half to the other three-year-olds, could be very well-handicapped with just 54.5kg to carry.
 
Kommetdieding and Jet Dark will have to shoulder 60kg - a weight which didn't stop Marinaresco and Do It Again from winning in recent years. Do It Again will carry 58.5kg into his fifth Durban July, while 2020 winner Belgarion has been lumbered with 1.5kg more than last year, despite struggling for form and fitness since his Greyville triumph.
 
Ashwin Reynold's star ran out an impressive winner of this race 12 months ago and started the season in excellent style by winning the Cape Town Met. His last two runs at Turffontein were poor, but that was the first time he'd been taken up to the highveld for an autumn campaign and he clearly didn't appreciate the change of scenery.
 
Kommetdieding has blossomed since returning to KZN. Michelle Rix's star was the stand-out performer during the public gallop. Gavin Lerena's mount looks a bigger, stronger animal than last year and I'm confident that top-weight won't stop Kommetdieding from contending once again.
 
You simply have to back at least one three-year-old in this year's Durban July and, considering he finished alongside both Aragosta and Pomp And Power in the Daily News 2000, WATERBERRY LANE offers plenty of each-way value.
 
Dean Kannemeyer's gelding showed plenty of promise as a juvenile and marked his return to action as a three-year-old with an emphatic victory in the Group Three Byerley Turk over seven furlongs. Keagan de Melo's mount was then very keen throughout the WSB Guineas here at Greyville. Those antics meant Waterberry Lane had little petrol left in the tank to mount a winning challenge, but he still wasn't beaten all that far back in sixth.
 
In an effort to help his mount settle, de Melo dropped Waterberry Lane out the back in the Daily News 2000. On what was his first start over ten furlongs, Kannemeyer's runner tracked Safe Passage into the race and crossed the line powerfully back in fourth.
 
Many experts are tagging Waterberry Lane as a non-stayer going into the Durban July. I, however, thought he was doing his best work in the closing stages of the Daily News and, if they do indeed go slowly in the early stages on Saturday, then that should help Waterberry Lane see out the extra furlong.

https://www.freetips.com/horse-racing/durban-july-handicap/durban-july-2022-odds-draw-and-final-tips-20220630-0012/