Keeping a close watch on Gold Circle’s latest round of the KZN Chapter Challenge Series could pay dividends for punters as the race amongst trainers for the R35 000 incentive bonus comes to a close.

Qualifying races come to an end this month. At this stage it is once again Patrick Lunn who has his head in front for the R20 000 first prize.

The KZN Chapter Challenge Series is open to all horses competing in qualifying handicaps except feature events run in the province and earn points ranging from seven for winning to one for finishing sixth. At the end of the qualifying period, the three trainers whose horses have earned the most points will share the R35 000 on a R20 000, R10 000 and R5 000 scale.

The finals of the Series, over 2 000 metres, 1 600 metres and 1 200 metres, will be run at Clairwood Racecourse on Saturday, June 11.

At this stage 17 horses have a chance of overhauling Lunn’s Gallant Caesour if he does not score more than the 22 points he has now. As each runner is not likely to run more than once before the end of the month, the outcome of the competition is likely to go down to the wire.

Lunn’s lead is already under threat as three of his closest rivals are due to race at Clairwood on Wednesday (May18). Tony Rivalland’s Irish Affaire is just two points behind Gallant Caesour and Mark Dixon’s Burnished Armour is five points behind. Irish Affaire only needs to finish in the first five to take the lead with 23 points but Burnished Armour will need to finish in the first two to improve his position from 17 points to 23. The other horse carded is Selvan Moodley’s National Code and a win for him would put him in the lead on 23 points.

Punters should take note of the horses that now have 16 points or more and keep them in mind if they run before the end of the month – they could be good each way bets to finish in the money.