On the face of it, the addition of blinkers would account for My Pal Al’s current good form but Alistair Gordon was not so sure.

There is little doubt that National Key is a tough customer. Five seasons and 59 races under his girth, Brian Wiid’s runner is still going strong and can put a seventh victory behind his name when he lines up in the Kas Govender Memorial Handicap (1200m) that headlines the eight programme Greyville-All Weather meeting on Sunday