Dubai World Cup Carnival: Tips from a top card at Meydan on Thursday
THE Dubai World Cup Carnival rolls on with the UAE 2000 Guineas the big race on Thursday.
Our man Jack Keene loves a bit of racing in the desert at Meydan, and he has a strong fancy at juicy odds.
A cracking card ahead and it will be interesting to see how multiple Group 1 winner Benbatl goes on his dirt debut in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
He isn’t bred for it, and plenty of classy turf horses before him have flopped when experimenting on the dirt.
Stick with the proven sand lover in GRONKOWSKI (4.50 Meydan), who is only rated 5lb inferior to Benbatl.
He performed with great credit at the highest level in the USA for Chad Brown and was agonisingly denied by a nose when second to Thunder Snow in the Dubai World Cup last year for his current yard.
He’s had a pipe-opener and he will be tough to beat if bringing anything like his ‘A-game’ to the table.
In the following race, ART DU VAL (5.25 Meydan) looks the pick of the Godolphin foursome and the best bet on the card.
He had some smart form last year, winning impressively over C&D in a conditions race before landing a French Listed race on his return to Europe.
You can put a line through his defeat in the Group 3 Thorougbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, as he injured his face when restless in the stalls and was also badly hampered approaching the final furlong.
He was too keen on his return from a lay-off over 1m2f here (also weak in the betting, so clearly was expected to need the run), so this slightly shorter trip will suit.
William Buick gets back aboard and a big run looks on the cards off a tempting mark now the cobwebs have been blown away.
Meydan best bets
4.50 Meydan – Gronkowski
5.25 Meydan – Art Du Val NAP