Fellow for a flying PE debut

Rain brought an early end to racing at Fairview on Friday but they return to the Polytrack this afternoon and, hopefully, the weather will play ball.

Flying Fellow makes his debut in the Eastern Cape for the Gavin Smith stable and could be the runner they will all have to beat in Race 5, a MR 80 Handicap over 1600m. The five-year-old gelding is a three-time winner and has had the advantage of racing on the Polytrack at Greyville. His record on the surface was fairly moderate as in 11 starts on the surface he ran fourth on five occasions, though he did run a useful 1.30-length third behind Poivre in his last at the end of March.

That was over 1600m in a MR 88 Handicap so with further improvement, and perhaps as slight drop in class, the son of Ravishing could make a winning debut in the province. Warren Kennedy takes the ride and they jump from barrier No 6.

Of the local runners, the main threat looks to come from Justin Snaith-trained Grape Vine who has won two of his four starts on the Polytrack at Fairview. He is one of those horses who is equally suited to both Polytrack and turf as, last time out on the grass, he finished a fast-finishing one-length third behind Political Playboy over 1600m.

He will have to overcome No 11 draw and will also have to concede 7kg to Flying Fellow. Robert Khathi, who has ridden him in two of his last three races, takes the ride.

One always has to respect any runners with S’manga Khumalo aboard so one has to take cognisance of Snaith’s other runner, Naval Intelligence. The five-year-old son of Trippi has been racing over further but did not do badly when reverting to 1600m in a MR 88 Handicap last time.

He had to be steadied close home so his 4.10-length sixth behind King Of Indians was not a bad effort. They also have the advantage of jumping from No 2 draw.