Best bets for the horse racing Friday 7th January 2022

There’s a few meetings here in the UK on Friday but I am concentrating out in Dubai where they race again, a little unusually, at Meydan on Friday afternoon. The weather is certainly nicer out there at the moment than here in Blighty and hopefully I have a couple of winners to warm the cockles. 

Best bets for the horse racing ay Meydan

It will surprise no one that Godolphin have a few engaged at Meydan and the boys in blue should have a winner or two. The first four races on the card are real tricky handicaps and I think best left alone. 

The first race to get involved with is the 7f Hatta Handicap at 3.45 on the Dirt track. Silent Film is one I have tipped up here in the UK from the yard of Charlie Appleby and the lightly raced four-year-old looks to have a serious chance in this. Last seen at Sandown in June he won what is looking like a very hot handicap that day. Second in the race Run To Freedom is now rated 99 and Zoffarelli, who was fourth, was subsequently sold to America and has a victory in a Grade Three at Del Mar to his name. A mark of 94 here, with likely improvement still to come, could prove very workable and I am on Silent Film at 13-8.  

The big race of the day is the mile Zabeel Trophy Presented By Al Safa Library Conditions Stakes on the Turf track at 4.55. Godolphin have thrown a few darts at it including ones I have tipped before. One Ruler was my bet in the 2,000 Guineas back in May (sixth) and he makes his seasonal debut as a four-year-old in this. The son of Dubawi has been given a nice break since finishing a close fourth in a Listed race at Deauville in August and interestingly has been gelded. With no future at stud now you can be sure Charlie Appleby will be looking to pick up some prizes with him this season. If the snips have done their job I think he might pick-up a nice race or two at the Carnival and have the 3-1 about him winning this. La Barrosa lost his way last season having finished second in the Craven in April and has also been gelded. Not seen since Royal Ascot he could be a danger to his stablemate if up for it.  

Be lucky