Dubai World Cup: Best of the British

Dal Harraild – 12:50, Dubai Gold Cup

The Dubai Gold Cup looks a very interesting renewal, with the recent Nad Al Sheba Trophy one-two Rare Rhythm and Vazirabad currently heading the market. They also head the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, just 1 lb separating them, with the French-trained Vazirabad – who is looking for his third successive win in the race – coming out on top. It will be a much-anticipated rematch, as Rate Rhythm received an enterprising ride last time, and Vazirabad usually comes on for his first run back. However, it would be folly to discount the claims of Dal Harraild, who has long promised to develop into a pattern-class performer. It’s fair to say he probably didn’t progress as William Haggas had expected last season, but it was hard not to be impressed by the manner in which he put his rivals to bed in a minor event at Chelmsford on his return this month. Given the impression he made on his all-weather debut that day, he would likely be a short-priced favourite for the All-Weather Marathon at Lingfield on Good Friday, so it is interesting connections have chosen this admittedly more lucrative, but sterner test. On form, he doesn’t have much to find with the principals, and add to the mix that he is unexposed at two miles and has Ryan Moore in the saddle, odds of around the 10/1 mark look more than fair.

Brilliant to watch - Dal Harraild bosses the @awchamps Fast-Track Qualifier at @ChelmsfordCRC! pic.twitter.com/L6s90SXveq

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 10, 2018

Gold Town – 13:30, UAE Derby

Godolphin have won the UAE Derby a record eight times since its inception in 2000 and they again hold strong claims in this year’s renewal courtesy of Gold Town. He was no more than useful on turf in his two-year-old campaign in Britain last season, but he has proved a different beast since switched to dirt at Meydan this year, taking to the surface as his pedigree suggested he might. Gold Town easily won a minor event over seven furlongs on his reappearance in January and had no problem stepping up to a mile – improving for it in fact – when running out an emphatic winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas last time by ten and a half lengths from Gotti. His early speed enabled him to get a good position at the head of affairs, tanking through the race despite being harried, and he stormed clear of his rivals when asked. Admittedly, this is a much sterner test up against more solid opposition, and over an extra furlong, but such is the impression he has created on dirt so far, he is taken to complete a hat-trick before a possible tilt at the Kentucky Derby in May. Mendelssohn is perhaps the most interesting of his challengers, a half-brother to several winners in the US, notably top-class Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and dual Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Beholder, and he needs respecting now making his debut on dirt.

Different class – Gold Town wins the UAE 2000 Guineas at @DRC_Meydan! #DWCCarnival pic.twitter.com/bZEXVbmp5C

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 15, 2018

Blue Point – 14:05, Al Quoz Sprint

The Al Quoz Sprint was dealt a blow on Wednesday morning when the news broke that last year’s third Ertijaal would miss the race due to a stress fracture. He had beaten Blue Point over five furlongs in the Meydan Sprint in February and had since finished runner-up to Jungle Cat over six furlongs in a minor event. It’s fair to say that he is more effective over the minimum distance, but he would have likely still played a part here. His defection means that Blue Point is now an odds-on favourite, but it is very hard to see any chinks in his armour. He had several big efforts to his name last year – including a defeat of Harry Angel – and made a most encouraging return on his Dubai debut over an inadequate five furlongs in February. Connections have clearly had this race in mind for him, and he is entitled to strip fitter for that narrow defeat. The return to six furlongs is very much in his favour, too, and he can stamp his class on this field before going on to contest all the top domestic sprints. This race will likely be run to suit another British challenger in the shape of Librisa Breeze, who won the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot last time. He would probably desire the ground to be a little softer but he shouldn’t be underestimated; odds of 12/1 perhaps do so.

Benbatl – 15:35, Dubai Turf

Japanese-trained horses have taken three of the last four renewals of the Dubai Turf and they are again well represented with five runners, including 2016 winner Real Steal and last year’s victor Vivlos. Vivlos tops the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and is a general second favourite for the race following a below-par reappearance in the Group 2 Nakayama Kinen at Nakayama in February. However, this race will have been his main target, and a much better display is expected here. The favourite at the time of writing is Benbatl, who has won two of his three starts at Meydan this year, and wasn’t seen to best effect when finishing runner-up to Blair House in the Jebel Hatta over this C&D last time, forced wide throughout. Benbatl has always been well regarded – he contested the Derby and won the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot last season – and this race has been his main aim whilst out in Dubai. He is fully expected to reverse the form with Blair House and looks a very solid proposition here.