Mike's pointers on July-day runners Diamond Game: Rested, doing well. THE R3-million Vodacom Durban July has been billed as the most competitive in years and many of the other races on the card are as difficult to decipher. Racing Express jotted down Mike de Kock's runner comments: Mike de Kock (Rudra, Irish Flame, Bold Silvano, Red Rake, Ancestral Fore, Happy Valley and Lizarre - Vodacom Durban July; Kavanagh, Zanzamar, Perana and Sky Link - Premier’s Champion Stakes; Diamond Game - Durban Thekwini Stakes; Here To Win and Flirtation - Garden Province Stakes; La Foce - Schweppes 2200; Equiparada – Mercedes-Benz Gold Vase): IRISH FLAME has only won against three-year-olds but I don’t see that as a problem. Horses like Bold Silvano and Happy Valley have raced in open company, which brings the collateral form into play. Both have beaten the older horses and Irish Flame has beaten both of them. His Daily News 2000 win was far more impressive than his Derby win. I thought 2000m at Greyville would be too sharp, but he jumped out, raced up with the pace and quickened away at the top of the straight. He doesn’t show you at home what he brings to the track. This is extra 200m is right up his alley. The distance could be a problem for BOLD SILVANO. I think he’s very comfortable up to 10 furlongs (2000m). He’s a classic World Cup horse and that’s why I’m taking him to Dubai. He got too far back in the Champions Cup but was the only horse in the race to make up ground. He does not have to run that way. Only reason we ride him like that is because that was how he won the Betting World 1900. He’s going to be closer to the front this time because we’re not going to give away No 2 draw. ANCESTRAL FORE is a smart horse - and don’t think he’s Mister Plod. He is well suited by the trip but will need a good pace. That said, I believe he’s capable of winning over a mile (1600m). I’ve kept him away from the other three-year-olds because there is no reason for him to clash with them. However, the form would suggest he is in that class. He’s very similar to Irish Flame in that he won’t give you the best form in the morning but will do his best on raceday. HAPPY VALLEY is a very good horse and he’s going to Dubai as well. When Happy Valley beat Saluki, he was half well and Saluki was just behind Flying Tristram, Fort Vogue and Rudra in a Pinnacle Plate recently. That puts Happy Valley’s form in perspective. He will stay and should have no problem with Greyville. LIZARRE has a nice pull at the weights with the other three-year-olds. He is also a smart horse and he’s come on plenty since his last run in that Pinnacle Plate. It was a very good run at the weights and now he has a pull on everything in that race, barring (winner) Flying Tristram. He’s a factor, despite No 20 draw. Running wide is not as bad as people think, especially at Greyville where there’s a camber coming into the straight. Piere Strydom gets the ride and he has the experience to deal with that draw. I’m not going to give him any instructions. I want his mind to be blank. He’s a professional and must ride the race according to what he’s presented with.  I can’t tell you much about RED RAKE. I’ve put him in the race and what he does, he does. RUDRA has been buried by the handicapper. He’s only rated one pound (0.5kg) below Pocket Power. He’s a solid horse, but he’s not Pocket Power. KAVANAGH is doing very well and I’m confident he will see out a mile (1600m). I’ve always rated him highly and think he will turn out to be a brilliant miler. This is his fourth run at his fourth different racecourse. PERANA is a big runner. He galloped very well the other day but I think he’s going to want a mile and more. This is his minimum trip. ZANZAMAR is another very smart horse but he’s drawn in the bush. He’s also going to Dubai and should do well in the classics. SKY LINK has been unimpressive and hasn’t shown much recently. DIAMOND GAME is a very nice filly but she’s drawn badly. She tore a muscle in her hindquarters in Johannesburg so we couldn’t run her. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her in the first four in an open race. HERE TO WIN is coming in quite fresh. I brought her into the Gold Circle Oaks needing the run. I think she has enough pace for the mile. Both she and FLIRTATION probably did not get the trip. I put (reserve runner) CANDY SINGER in on her run to Autumn Gold (over 1400m last time out). It seems a fair form-line and this is not the strongest field I’ve seen. I’m struggling to get the best out of LA FOCE. He’s a hard horse to work out. He did well to run second in the Lonsdale but was very well ridden that day. EQUIPARADA is a classy stayer and I don’t believe the field is that strong. AYTEB (Race 2) needed his last run. He’s a lazy horse but we’re putting blinkers on him and are expecting a big showing from him. I think he’s a runner. The 1200m (Race 11) is more MELTAWAY’S distance and I think he will be right there while (in the same race) KENTUCKY TRAIN ran a good first race for the stable and I think he’s come on. This is a very good coupling for the second Jackpot.