2.40 Haydock
A competitive renewal of this 3 mile handicap hurdle with Lucy & Sue Gardner’s consistent 7 year old Astronomic View heading the market. He’s rarely out of the frame & got off the mark over hurdles last time out on very soft ground but an 8lb rise & less testing conditions may find him out. On a hat trick, Shoeshine Boy is likely to go very well but Judicial Law is marginally preferred. He has a good win record & hails from a yard with a very good record in the race so is likely to have been targeted at this. He was running really well at the back end of the 2023, placed in a couple of Class 2 handicaps (this is Class 3) & winning in this grade off a 5lb lower mark. He took well to the returning cheekpieces last year & interestingly they were left off for his only run this calendar year when just over 7 lengths 5th at Newbury behind Emitom. He was bang in the mix coming to the last but faded in the final furlong but heavy ground didn’t help as he clearly favours better ground. Whilst it’s riding soft currently, there’s good to soft in places & the continuing dry conditions today will help. He’s dropped 1lb from his last run & with the reapplication of headgear likely to suit, it’s hard to see him not running a massive race.
Tips
Back Judicial Law (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 Betfred BOG (1/5 odds 1-4)
4.00 Meydan: Dubai Sheema Classic
You don’t get many better races than this renewal of the mile & a half Sheema Classic with Auguste Rodin, the winner of 4 Group 1’s last year at the top of the market. Wins in the English & Irish Derby’s, plus the Irish Champion Stakes & Breeders Cup Turf are hard to overlook but his price is skinny against this opposition. At a nice each way price, we’re siding with the Japanese raider Justin Palace. He has speed & stamina with form over 2 furlongs shorter but equally at up to 2 miles. Last year, he started by winning a Group 2 & then following up in a Group 1 before twice finishing behind Equinox who was named the World’s Best Racehorse in 2023. That form has a real solid look to it & was enough to see him made favourite for Japan’s biggest race, the Arima Kinen. Whilst he only finished 4th, there was a slow tempo set so the fact he likes to come from behind did not help. Finishing as fast as anything, he was only just over a length & a half behind at the line. With a faster pace almost assured & a very eyecatching jockey booking taking the eye, he’s the one most likely to give the excellent Auguste Rodin most to do.
Tips
Back Justin Palace (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 Betfair Sportsbook (1/5 odds 1-4)
4.35 Meydan: Dubai World Cup
The top class races continue with the World’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, the last on a superb Meydan card. With the exception of home hope Kabirkhan, it looks to be a straight match between the Japanese & the Americans. Last year’s winner Ushba Tesoro is battling for favouritism with Dermo Sotogake & they both contested last month’s UAE Derby but it’s the winner of that race, Senor Buscador, that we are with today. He’s a horse that gets behind, and behind by some distance, in his races but he finishes off in great style. Because of that, he needs a fast pace & that can be put down as the reason he’s never actually won over this trip. Twice he was defeated in races over this trip where the winner made all & in the other, 3 of the first 4 home sat in the first 4 throughout the race. It’s unlikely that will be the case here & a fast pace is almost assured. He was 2nd in Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream 2 starts ago where he failed by a neck but then somehow landed that UAE Derby race having been miles back even a furlong out. He ate up the ground & got up on the line to deny Ushba Tesoro & the extra furlong here plus the long open straight will be in his favour. At the prices, he’s the best each way option here.
