Best bets for the horse racing at Meydan Friday 21stJanuary – The Dubai Carnival

The Dubai Carnival hasn’t been that kind to me thus far, there have been a few strange results over at Meydan. That said I have found a few winners and it’s another good card out there this Friday with some bets to be had. I also have one worth a look here in the UK at Lingfield.  

Best bet for the horse racing at Lingfield Park  

Back on Monday I noted Nazca in the entries for the Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Novice Stakes at Lingfield due off at 4.20 over 1m2f. He had one run at a two-year-old over 7f up at Southwell in December finishing tenth of eleven probably unnoticed by many. The son of Oasis Dream looked pretty green from a wide draw and it appeared things might have been happening a bit too quickly for him. Significantly up in trip here I think he is worth an investment at the 13-2. Addingham looks the danger.  

Best bets for the horse racing at Meydan – The Dubai Carnival  

Frankie Dettori is on the side-lines apparently after testing positive for Covid. I could make a case for several in the 1m6f Al Khail Trophy Presented By Dubai Hills Estate By Emaar Listed Stakes at 3.10 but have backed Kemari. I have talked about this gelding a couple of times in the past and backed him last season in the G.2 Queens Vase at the Royal meeting which he won and G.2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in which he clearly did not enjoy the drop in trip. I think this one might be a potential Cup horse for Godolphin this year and back up to 14 furlongs today should be backed at the 6-4. As a relatively lightly raced four-year-old there is hopefully more to come from him. Dubai Future won well a couple of weeks ago but has to give them all weight here whilst Siskany is trying the trip for the first time.  

The Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Presented By Dubai Marina By Emaar Listed Stakes looks like a ‘penalty kick’ for Shahama on form and it’s no surprise she’s odds-on.  

It will surprise no-one that Godolphin have a very strong hand in the 1m2f Zabeel Turf Presented By The Valley By Emaar Listed Stakes at 4.20. Wirko let me down the other week and was a long way behind stablemate Star Safari in the 1m4f Dubai Racing Club Classic. I said at the time he perhaps hadn’t got the trip when tried over 1m4f at Chester last season and clearly, he doesn’t as he was out on his feet here turning for home a fortnight ago. With the drop back to ten-furlongs seen as a plus and a fair draw in stall seven he can get back to winning ways in this. I have the 6-1. A slight concern is Buick has deserted him. Star Safari is the obvious danger off the back of his second-place finish in the Classic.  

One Ruler is another I backed earlier this month and was a disappointment. He goes again in the 5.30 the mile Zabeel Mile Presented By Emaar Beachfront Group 2 Stakes. He has become frustrating and really needs to find his mojo, he was of course my punt in the 2,000 Guineas last season and was one of the top three-year-olds at one stage last year. If his run here on the 7th in the Zabeel Trophy blew away the cobwebs and he finds the sort of form he was showing when running in the Guineas and Derby he’d have every chance here. Having watched the race back he was in a bot of trouble in running more than once and Bucik weren’t exactly hard on him when it was clear he was never getting to the leaders. It’s a speculative punt but I am giving him another chance at the 7-1. Real World improved leaps and bounds last season for running on Turf in Europe and is the obvious danger even with the 4lb penalty he has to carry. Path Of Thunder won the aforementioned Zabeel Trophy but had a far better run than most, in the box seat all the way, and may be flattered by that win. Buick has jumped on him here rather than the selection so hopefully it’s another choice he has got wrong.  

Lazuli was a member of the Girdys Gee Gees Dirty Dozen last year but only ran four times, winning once at HQ in the G.3 Palace House Stakes over five. I think this is a tricky heat, and as much as I want to back the five-year-old I am not convinced six-furlongs suits him. He may still fulfil his potential, I hope he does, but after his on-off campaign last year I will be watching to see how he looks in tis rather than betting.  

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