BETTING WORLD'S DURBAN JULY BETTNG: 4-1 IRISH FLAME (FROM 9-2); 6-1 (FROM 5-1) BOLD SILVANO; 65-10 RIVER JETEZ; 10-1 (FROM 15-1) ANCESTRAL FORE, POCKET POWER (FROM 9-1, THEN  7s); FORT VOGUE (FROM 8s); 14-1 ORBISON; 14-1 HAPPY VALLEY (FROM 15s); 16-1 ASLAN, LIZARRE; 18-1 RUSSIAN SAGE; 33-1 FLYING TRISTRAM; 60-1 RUDRA; 66-1 GOAT; 75-1 CAPTAIN SCOTT, RED RAKE, SERVICE ACE; 80-1 LOVE IS IN THE AIR, VERTICAL TAKEOFF.

Durban July is as open as ever, but Irish Flame is the most popular choice THE big day has arrived! Mike de Kock will saddle a record seven runners in the 2010 Durban July and while he has stressed that the result is most certainly not clear-cut at the set conditions, most racing editors have sided with the three-year-old brigade and its proven star, Irish Flame. Jack Milner's review here.

MHB's 2010 Super Sale establishes a good base for future trading of top bloodlines MICHAEL Holmes Bloodstock's 2010 Super Sale, held at Greyville, followed the Reduction Sale concept by which a proportion of the stock owned by the biggest owners are made available to the middle market buyer. MHB's  sale turned over in excess of R3,7 million, with all lots sold. Top price was R340,000, paid for Street Cry gelding Eight Street.  Read more.

Mike gives advice on all runners carded at Greyville on Saturday MOST of the hard preparation has been done at Summerveld and now it's action time for the De Kock team, performing all the pre-race duties to wrap the 2010 KZN Champion season with a host of runners carded to race on Durban July Day. The Citizen's Racing Express made notes of Mike's comments on all his runners on SA's greatest race day. Read them here.

Muzi the “ghetto kid“ won't take nonsense in Saturday's big race! JOCKEY Muzi Yeni says that ''growing up in the ghetto'' made him tough and that he won't be intimidated when riding Happy Valley in the Durban July at Greyville on Saturday. He talks about his great season and the big race. Read more.

Delpech bids for third win in the big race JOCKEY Anthony Delpech has two Durban July's to his name, but he is hungry for a third and believes Bold Silvano is the right horse to do it. “The faster they go the better but if they go slow it won't matter as he has a turn of speed“ he says.. Read more.

Business magnate Graham Beck (80) dies BUSINESS tycoon Graham Beck, one of the most active racehorse owners and breeders in the history of South African racing, has died in London, aged 80. He suffered from lung cancer and passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 27 July. Legendary for his business deals and investments, Beck was a self-made multi-millionaire with interests stretching from coal mines to wines, yachts, stud farms and property all over the world. Beck’s familiar brown-and-white silks were seen in the winner’s box hundreds of times and his host of top racehorses included champions Zatopek, The Rutland Arms, Bush Telegraph, Free My Heart and more recently National Currency, Overarching and Dancer’s  Daughter. Beck is survived by his wife Rhona, son Antony, daughter-in-law Angela and five grandchildren.

Winning July like your first kiss, says Mike WINNING the Durban July is “like your first kiss“, Mike de Kock tells Nicci Garner of Racing Express. He's won the big race with Ipi Tombe (2002) and Grey's Inn (photo, 2004), and elaborates on the build up to the 2010 renewal, this Saturday. Read more.

Lizard's Desire fights laminitis in Dubai STABLE star Lizard's Desire, runner-up in the 2010 Dubai World Cup and winner of the 2010 Singapore Cup, is fighting the dreaded hoof disease laminitis at his base on owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's estate in Dubai. Read more.

Impressive stretch-outs at Durban July gallops Bold Silvano put up a solid public galllop on Thursday, 22 July. Read DAVID THISELTON's report here.

Mike studies puzzling 2010 July form GOLD Circle's ever-busy racing reporter David Thiselton asked Mike de Kock to assess the Durban July form. At the set weights, the race is as puzzling as ever, but Mike comes to a few conclusions. Read more.

FINAL FIELDS FOR SUPPORTING GRADED FEATURES, JULY DAY. Here.

No clear-cut winner in strong Durban July THIS year's Vodacom Durban July – to be run at Greyville on July 31 – sees one of the strongest fields ever lining up and pundits are going to have a very difficult time with their selections. The strength of the field is due to there being a top class crop of three-year-old colts and there are also a number of Grade 1 winning older horses. DAVID THISELTON gives his early views of the race, here.

Durban July judge explains new-age photo technology THERE has been controversy following a number of Durban July photo finishes, David Thiselton investigates. More.

Mike will saddle seven in 2010 Durban July THE De Kock stable's best-fancied runners, Irish Flame and Bold Silvano (photo), both drew well when the final field fir the 2010 Durban July was announced on Thursday. Mike will saddle a record seven runners in this year's event. He won in 2002 with Ipi Tombe and 2004 with Grey's Inn. More.

Durban July 2010: Panel bunkers down to make final decisions! THE panel that decides upon the final Vodacom Durban July field, will be in deep thought and serious discussions over the next several hours. They have to trim 29 contenders down to a 20-horse field and there are several “borderline'' cases, horses with almost equal chances of grabbing a late spot in the line-up. The final 20 will be announced at a function at Greyville on Thursday. The De Kock stable's Here To Win (photo) could get lucky. More.

Top Mark should make amends  at Scottsville on Wednesday HIGHLY regarded import Top Mark (nearest camera)  suffered a surprise defeat over 1200m at Scottsville last week, but looks set to make amends at the Pietermaritzburg track this Wednesday when he lines up in Race 4 over 1600m.

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