Best bets for the racing from Meydan and Chelmsford City Thursday 3rd January 2019
The 2019 Dubai Carnival at Meydan out in Dubai gets underway on Thursday 3rd January running up to Saturday 9th March – Super Saturday as it is known. The Carnival of course ultimately builds to Dubai World Cup night, this year on Saturday 30th March, with some top quality horse racing all the way.
I really enjoy the meeting and will again be getting involved every week starting with a couple on the first afternoon.
At 3.05 they are on the dirt track for the 7f UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Presented By Longines La Grande Classique. Dubai Beauty looks the pick of the Godolphin runners based on her run in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc day. That said it was a bunch finish and you can question the strength of the form plus she breaks from stall 12 which isn’t ideal. Nashirah for Charlie Appleby hasn’t any Group form but did win over six at Yarmouth on her third start and should progress. Stall one looks ideal for her style of running and I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t at least place-up. At the prices, I took 3-1 bpg late last night, she is the pick.
The Group Three Dubawi Stakes Presented By Longines Ladies Master Collection over 6f is also on the dirt track at 4.15. Drafted clearly likes it here and two of his three wins have come over this track and trip including a Listed heat last month, Ravens Corner and High On Life fourth and fifth. He had to come wide and late in that and showed some fighting spirit to get up in the shadow of the post. I think the grey can follow up and have 5-2 with Paddy Power.
They go over 1m1f on the turf for the Group Three Singspiel Stakes Presented By Longines V H P Collection at 4.50 and this race looks wide open. Godolphin through six darts and you can make a case for all of them as well as Deauville, Degas and Light The Lights. It’s best watched for possible pointers for later in the Carnival as far as I am concerned.
Here in the far chillier UK John Gosden has one at Chelmsford City well worth a look. The yard had a winner for me on Wednesday (Military Law) and Holy Heart has a chance for the stable off top weight in the mile handicap at 5.20. The gelding ran well at Newcastle after nearly a year off in November before winning at Kempton last month, form that has been franked with the second and fourth winning since. Reportedly doing some good work on the Al Bahathri Polytrack recently it is hoped he can pop out of stall 7 and get a nice prominent position. I took the 5-2 that's about.
Be lucky