Snaith star in July line-up

PERFORMANCES: EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN ATTEMPTS TO ADD DURBAN JULY TO CAPE MET SUCCESS

- Jack Milner

Those punters who had backed three-year-old Eight On Eighteen in ante-post betting must have been thrilled to hear the name of the brilliant three-year-old when the 18 runners and two reserves for this year's Hollywoodbets Durban July were revealed yesterday.

The Grade 1 race over 2200m with a stake of R5 million will be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 5 July.

Trainer Justin Snaith kept the punters guessing until the last minute but the son of Lancaster Bomber has accepted to run and will have champion jockey Richard Fourie in the irons. Snaith looked a little perturbed when he pulled No 11 draw for Eight On Eighteen but master of ceremonies Graeme Hawkins was quick to point out that last year's winner, Oriental Charm, jumped from the No 11 stall.

The concern is the weight of 57kg as three-year-olds recently have been unable to win with that weight.

Ironically, Oriental Charm, one of two runners from the James Crawford yard, will jump from barrier No 1.