Durban July Horses 2026: Full List of Runners
The 2026 Durban July final field is now confirmed. The official announcement and barrier draw confirmed 18 runners and two reserves for the R10 million race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 4, 2026. The table below lists the confirmed runners and reserves with their current Hollywoodbets win odds.
| Horse | Current Win Odds | Horse | Current Win Odds |
| Star Major | 3.57 | Native Ruler | 16.67 |
| Note To Self | 4.55 | Zeitz | 16.67 |
| Wish List | 5.56 | Gladatorian | 20.00 |
| Regulation | 6.25 | Aladdin's Lamp | 20.00 |
| Viva's Liberte | 14.29 | Legal Counsel | 20.00 |
| Isivivane | 20.00 | Hazy Dazy | 25.00 |
| King Pelles | 25.00 | Mocha Blend | 25.00 |
| Minogue | 33.33 | I Salute You | 40.00 |
| The Ultimate King | 40.00 | Olivia's Way | 50.00 |
| Choisaanada | SP | Curious Girl | SP |
The final field and barrier draws were confirmed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Star Major is the current race favourite at 3.57 from draw 4, while Regulation made the final 18 from draw 2 and is priced at 6.25. Choisaanada and Curious Girl are the two reserve runners and are currently listed at SP.
Top 5 Durban July Favorites
The final field is now locked in, which gives punters a clearer picture of the strongest runners, official weights, barrier draws and current Hollywoodbets win odds. Here are five horses currently leading the market.
Star Major
This three-year-old colt trained by James Crawford became the race favourite after a dominant win in the Daily News 2000 over 2000m at Greyville. He has drawn gate 4, carries 57kg, will be ridden by Mickaëlle Michel and now leads the board at 3.57.
Note To Self
This three-year-old gelding for Justin Snaith remains one of the shortest-priced runners in the final field. He carries 55kg from draw 11 and is currently priced at 4.55 in the Hollywoodbets market.
Wish List
This three-year-old filly from the Snaith yard is partnered by Andrew Fortune. She carries 54.5kg from draw 7 and sits at 5.56 in the current market.
Regulation
This four-year-old gelding for Snaith made the final field after some suspense during the announcement. He has drawn well in gate 2, carries 52kg, is officially 1kg under sufferance and is currently priced at 6.25.
Viva's Liberte
Viva's Liberte is another runner to note after landing draw 9 with 53kg. Priced at 14.29, he sits ahead of several better-known names in the current Hollywoodbets market and could attract attention from punters looking beyond the main favourites.
Durban July Dark Horses and Challenges
A dark horse is not really a favorite, but it has enough quality, form, draw position, weight value or odds value to surprise the market on race day. With the final field now confirmed, these are three names and race-day challenges worth checking out.
Zeitz: This four-year-old gelding has been part of an important collateral formline with Regulation. He carries 53kg from draw 12 and is priced at 16.67, making him one to assess closely when comparing weights, recent form and market odds.
Legal Counsel: Legal Counsel is the 2026 topweight at 62kg and is priced at 20.00. His draw 5 is favourable, but carrying the highest weight in a straight handicap makes him a key runner to assess carefully.
Aladdin's Lamp: Trained by Mike and Mathew de Kock, Aladdin's Lamp carries 53kg and is priced at 20.00, but faces the widest draw of all in gate 18. That makes him an interesting runner to monitor, especially if the market offers value before race day.
How to Compare Durban July Horses Before Betting
We have done the research for punters who need a defined approach before staking funds. Here are things to check before backing a horse:
Current form and recent Grade-level performances.
Weight carried under the 2026 straight handicap.
Barrier draw, which is now confirmed for all 18 runners and two reserves.
Jockey booking, especially for riders confirmed after the final draw.
Distance record and suitability over 2200m.
Current odds across bookmakers.
Final field status, including whether the horse is a confirmed runner or a reserve.
For a more detailed look at how weights are allocated, see our Durban July Handicap guide.
Related Durban July Betting Guides
After completing our registration on the site, our team studied markets across several operators to help punters get the full picture. Check our:
- Durban July Betting Sites Guide to compare bookmakers.
- Durban July Ante-Post guide to understand early odds.
- Durban July Handicap page to read handicap weights.
- Durban July guide to follow the last information about the event.
FAQ
How many horses run in the Durban July?
The Durban July final field consists of 18 confirmed runners plus two reserves. For 2026, Choisaanada is Reserve 1 and Curious Girl is Reserve 2.
Who are the favorites for the Durban July 2026?
Star Major currently tops the Hollywoodbets market at 3.57, followed by Note To Self at 4.55, Wish List at 5.56 and Regulation at 6.25.
What is a dark horse in the Durban July?
A dark horse is a runner outside the main favourites that has enough form, weight value, draw advantage or odds value to surprise on race day.
When is the Durban July final field confirmed?
The Durban July 2026 final field was confirmed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, after final declarations closed on Monday, June 22, 2026.
What should I check before betting on a Durban July horse?
Compare current form, official weight, barrier draw, jockey booking, distance record over 2200m, final field status and current odds before placing a bet.