Budapest can bounce back to winning form

The Gavin van Zyl-trained Budapest did not show his best form in his last start but is back over the distance that saw him win his best race to date, the Lanzerac Stakes at Kenilworth in November 2015 and he could regain some form by winning Race 6, an Allowance Plate over 1400m at Scottsville today.

Aggressive tactics have always worked best on Budapest and that is what jockey Warren Kennedy may well have to do, especially as he has to get Budapest over from the outside stall.

The race is full of decent horses who are out of form and the danger could come from anywhere.

Trainer Justin Snaith sends out two runners in Heartland and Lineker.

Jockey Anthony Delpech is aboard Heartland but it could well be Lineker who chases home Budapest.

Lineker did what was expected in his mission to Gauteng by winning a big stakes race at Turffontein in October and was fourth in the Dingaans so clearly he is capable of going close in this race.

His recent form has not been good but he may have been in need of his last start and he clearly did not like the soft going last time out.

Heartland has proven to be an unreliable Dynasty gelding and is giving weight away to the whole field which will make his task a tough one.

Jockey Anton Marcus continues to boot home winners at a regular rate, so Team Guys has to be considered.

This three-year-old was recently been gelded and this shorter distance is sure to suit him better.

The Alistair Gordon-trained Beat The Retreat has not lived up to his early promise but is capable of being in the money.

It is hard to see Nineteen Fourteen or Purple Mountains winning but they cannot be dismissed from being involved in the minor places.