After a quick trip to Ireland for a bet on Friday, where we landed yet another double figure place in a hotly contested race, we head back to Dubai for our interest on Saturday as we wait for the UK flat racing season to get underway.
Our focus comes at Meydan where there is a decent six-race card on show. We’ve had a good scour through the meeting and have come up with a couple of bets among the four handicap races which are taking place.
2.40 Meydan
Preview
16 runners head to post for this mile handicap on the dirt where low numbers are surely favoured. There’s lots of horses taking each other on again so it looks a difficult puzzle to solve but the race to concentrate on is the course & distance handicap run 2 weeks ago won by Twelfthofneverland. The 3rd & 4th that day, Celtic Prince & Majestic Thunder, are 2 of the 3 market principles & both look sure to be on the premises again. The former ran a good race after being put up 3lb for a win 2 weeks prior whilst the latter was a length further back but is the market leader which is a little surprising. His best form has been at Jebel Ali too.
Betting
However, it’s the horse that was 6th that day, Monoski, that will be carrying our money. He has a poor win rate, admittedly, but today looks to be his day. A 2 year old good enough to mix it in Group 1 company, he’s never quite gone on but that has seen his mark fall considerably before moving from the UK at the start of this year. He’s raced 3 times, improving on each start. 2 starts ago here over a furlong shorter, he ran 6th of 13 going on at the end so a step up in trip looked a good move. Last time out in that race mentioned earlier, he was 6th of 15, just half a length behind today’s favourite but his performance can be upgraded. He stumbled out of the gates but then worked his way to the front & looked like he might just last home before giving way inside the last. Eased 1lb in mark, with a top jockey on board & a first time tongue tie, he’s sure to hit the frame & could record his 2nd career victory from the lowest mark he’s encountered.
Tips
WON – Back Monoski (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Betfair Sportsbook (⅕ odds 1-5)
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3.15 Meydan
Preview
Back on the turf, this 9 furlong handicap has attracted a field of 16 with Godolphin again heading the market. Al Maysan ran pretty well after a 200 day absence last time out & looks worth his place at the head of affairs but 2/1 isn’t a price to plough into. Mystery Land won over a furlong shorter last time out here with Al Salt 2nd and Trolius 4th. At the weights, it’s hard to split them but it’s another from that race that grabs our interest.
Betting
Above Normal was 6th that day and has been 2lb in mark, yet is priced up at a ridiculous price. He broke very slowly from the gate so it’s with some credit that he worked his way well into contention widest of all before his effort flattened out. Last year, he ran some super races, none more so than when a head 2nd over this trip in a valuable handicap off a 4lb higher mark than todays. It feels like his excellent trainer has been playing some games in a bid to get his mark down, starting him off over 1 mile 3 furlongs before dropping him a full three-quarters of a mile to race him over the minimum trip. He was then pitched into a Group 3 contest before his promising effort last time out. He looks the one most likely to appreciate the extra furlong in trip here, is drawn well in 7 to get a good early position &, with 6 places on offer, he’s too big a price to ignore in a race I’m not sure is all that strong.
Tips
Back Above Normal (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 23.00 Skybet (⅕ odds 1-6)
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