2024 Durban July Predictions - 12/1 selection worth Flagging up
- 2024 Durban July: Early bet on Flag Man (12/1).
- Flag Man recently acquired by Gareth van Zyl after impressive wins.
- Despite wide draw, he has ideal profile for Durban July.
Greyville races. (Getty)
This Saturday, South Africa's most popular handicap takes place at Greyville. The countdown to the 2024 Durban July is truly underway.
We normally wait until after the public workouts to publish my Durban July tips. However, we've decided to have an early bet on a runner that could shorten up in price before the main event.
2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July Tip 1 - Flag Man
The Durban July may be a Group One race, but it's also a handicap. Siding with lightly-raced sorts is a tactic that often proves profitable in handicaps and the runner I'm most keen to back in this year's Durban July is unexposed three-year-old FLAG MAN (12/1).
Gareth van Zyl and the ownership team moved to purchase this gelding from Garth Puller following an impressive maiden victory on his third career start in November. Flag Man made the perfect start to life with van Zyl by winning a handicap and went into the Daily News 2000 on the back of an easy stakes success here at Greyville.
Despite his relative inexperience, money arrived for Flag Man on the day of the Daily News 2000. Serino Moodley's mount was keen early on as he sat behind the pace and got caught on his heels as odds-on favourite Green With Envy mounted his challenge from the rear.
Green With Envy opened up a narrow lead turning for home, but Flag Man remained on his tail. As the leader carried both horses towards the inside rail, Moodley's mount rallied gamely and it was only a well-timed bob of the head from Green With Envy that saw the 4/6 favourite claim victory.
Flag Man's breeding makes for interesting reading. His sire, Flying The Flag is a full sibling to multiple Group One winners Magical and Rhododendron. Flying The Flag himself was a Group Three winner for Aidan O'Brien, before ending his career with Mike De Kock and becoming a sire in South Africa.
Green With Envy was only a short-head better than Flag Man off-level weights in the Daily News 2000 and Serino Moodley's mount will be getting 2.5kgs from the joint-favourite on Saturday. Being drawn out in stall 17 might not be ideal, but we've seen plenty of horses win and challenge from wide draws in recent years and Flag Man has the ideal profile for a race like the Durban July.
Verdict
Flag Man is our first selection in the 2024 Durban July. I've backed him each-way at 12/1.
R25 + 50 spins
Sign up bonus
Get a R25 sign up bonus + 50 free spins once your Hollywoodbets account is activated. T&Cs apply.
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
06 July 2024
- Los Angeles Knight Riders vs Texas Super Kings -
- Cricket
- England Tour to New Zealand Fixtures & Odds -
- Rugby Union
- New Zealand vs England -
- Rugby Union
- Australia vs Wales -
- Rugby Union
- Cheetahs vs Griffons -
- Rugby Union
- Middlesex vs Hampshire - Twenty20 -
- Cricket
- 2024 Durban July -
- Horse Racing
- Durban July Tips - Final betting tips and selections for the 2024 race
- 2024 Durban July Odds as of 2 July - See It Again joins Green With Envy as favourites
- 2024 Durban July Predictions - 12/1 selection worth Flagging up
- Durban July 2024 News - Final Field and Draw
- 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July Odds Update - Can anyone stop Green With Envy?
- South Africa vs Ireland 1st Test -
- Rugby Union
- England v Switzerland -
- Soccer
- Netherlands v Turkey -
- Soccer
- Argentina vs France 1st Test -
- Rugby Union
07 July 2024
- Western Province vs Bulls -
- Rugby Union
- India vs South Africa Women -
- Cricket
- COSAFA Cup Fixtures -
- Soccer
14 July 2024
- Euro 2024 -
- Soccer
Load More