Best bets for the horse racing Friday 6th January - Dubai World Cup Carnival
It is that time of year as eyes turn east and we get to enjoy the
Dubai World Cup Carnival. 147 horses from 16 countries have been accepted to run at the Dubai World Cup Carnival this year apparently and it all gets underway on Friday
6th
January at Meydan Racecourse. With millions in prizemoney up for grabs across the ten meetings at the Carnival it promises some excellent action on the Turf and Dirt tracks. They race every Friday from now until March when we have Super Saturday on 4th March. It is of course all building up to Dubai World Cup night, which takes place this year on Saturday 25th March.
We are on the Dirt track at 3.10 for the Group Three Dubawi Stakes over 6f but I think that's tricky with several in with chances and I have decided to leave it alone whilst the Jumeirah Classic Trial on the Turf track is best watched with the rest of the Carnival in mind. The Group Two Al Maktoum Challenge R1 at 4.20 on the Dirt over the mile is another race I can make a case for several in so have left alone.
There is a bet to be had in the 7f Group Two Al Fahidi Fort on the Turf track but at a short price. I will be shocked if Noble Truth doesn't take this as I think there is more to come from the G.3 Jersey Stakes winner as a four-year-old. This lightly raced son of Kingman is turning out to be a bit of a seven furlong specialist and won't have any issues with likely faster ground conditions out in Dubai. The draw may have been kinder but I have the 11-10 happily. Alfareeq may give him most to think about. Charlie Appleby said on the Godolphin site “Noble Truth hasn’t raced since Royal Ascot but I have been happy with his prep going into this. Whatever he does on Friday, I would expect there to be a bit of improvement to come afterwards."
We stay on the turf for the 6f Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash. Lazuli is an old favourite of mine who has track and trip form but he aint getting any younger; that said the five is his ideal trip. William Buick has opted for Man Of Promise out of the Appleby pair but the drop back to five is a concern with him, all his wins have been over six. The Godolphin pair are drawn high which will help their chances and I have come down in favour, just, of Lazuli with James Doyle in the saddle at the 7-2. Again talking on the Godolphn website Charlie Appleby said: “Man Of Promise and Lazuli are Carnival veterans now and appear to be in good order. Five furlongs might be on the sharper side for Man Of Promise but he is fresh and well, while Lazuli likes racing over this course and distance. They both received favourable draws and should be very competitive.”
I have ended up with a Charlie Appleby treble which wasn't the plan when I started out but there you go. Hopefully Buick has picked the wrong one in the last!
Be lucky
Best bets for the horse racing at Meydan
There is an Arabian race at 2.00 so they get underway on the Turf track at 2.35 our time with the 1m4f Dubai Racing Club Classic. Godolphin have six-runners in the opener and they are the first six in the betting! First Ruler has never quite reached the heights I thought he would and was well held at Newmarket in October 7l behind stable mate Al Nafir. Walk Of Stars is another I have tipped before and he makes his seasonal reappearance in much calmer waters having been running in Group races last season including the Derby! This looks to me like Charlie Appleby is easing him back in before going after bigger targets and I have happily taken the 9-4.We are on the Dirt track at 3.10 for the Group Three Dubawi Stakes over 6f but I think that's tricky with several in with chances and I have decided to leave it alone whilst the Jumeirah Classic Trial on the Turf track is best watched with the rest of the Carnival in mind. The Group Two Al Maktoum Challenge R1 at 4.20 on the Dirt over the mile is another race I can make a case for several in so have left alone.
There is a bet to be had in the 7f Group Two Al Fahidi Fort on the Turf track but at a short price. I will be shocked if Noble Truth doesn't take this as I think there is more to come from the G.3 Jersey Stakes winner as a four-year-old. This lightly raced son of Kingman is turning out to be a bit of a seven furlong specialist and won't have any issues with likely faster ground conditions out in Dubai. The draw may have been kinder but I have the 11-10 happily. Alfareeq may give him most to think about. Charlie Appleby said on the Godolphin site “Noble Truth hasn’t raced since Royal Ascot but I have been happy with his prep going into this. Whatever he does on Friday, I would expect there to be a bit of improvement to come afterwards."
We stay on the turf for the 6f Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash. Lazuli is an old favourite of mine who has track and trip form but he aint getting any younger; that said the five is his ideal trip. William Buick has opted for Man Of Promise out of the Appleby pair but the drop back to five is a concern with him, all his wins have been over six. The Godolphin pair are drawn high which will help their chances and I have come down in favour, just, of Lazuli with James Doyle in the saddle at the 7-2. Again talking on the Godolphn website Charlie Appleby said: “Man Of Promise and Lazuli are Carnival veterans now and appear to be in good order. Five furlongs might be on the sharper side for Man Of Promise but he is fresh and well, while Lazuli likes racing over this course and distance. They both received favourable draws and should be very competitive.”
I have ended up with a Charlie Appleby treble which wasn't the plan when I started out but there you go. Hopefully Buick has picked the wrong one in the last!
Be lucky