While we wait for the big jumps meetings and the UK flat racing season to come along our focus for a couple of bets on Friday turns to the desert where Meydan are staging a decent card with some high profile races.
This card forms part of the build up to the Dubai World Cup Carnival next month so all races will be extremely keenly fought. We’ve had a good look through the card for Friday and come up with bets in two of the races.
4.20 Meydan
Preview
A decent Group 2 on the dirt over a trip just shy of a mile & a quarter, and there’s a red hot favourite in the shape of Hot Rod Charlie. His form in the US in top drawer having finished 2nd in the Breeders Cup Juvenile at 2 whilst his form at 3 continued with a 3rd in the Kentucky Derby, a 2nd in the Belmont Stakes & a 4th in the Breeders Cup Classic. His form is hard to knock but this is his first start outside of the US & odds at around 4/9 make him unbackable. However, that does mean there’s a bit of each way value around.
Kafoo, at odds of around 13/2, is next best and ran ok when 3rd here over a mile last time out. This is his first try at further and he could improve for it but he’s not been handed the greatest draw in 7. There’s not a lot to separate the rest of the field; Doug Watson runs 2 in Everfast & Thegreatcollection with the former marginally preferred based on jockey bookings whilst Seemar’s second string is Al Nefud ridden by Ryan Moore but he has an awful draw in 11. At 40/1, Eastern World could run a big race & I wouldn’t put anyone off his each way chance as he ran a great race to finish 3rd to Tuz 3 starts back.
Betting
At rewarding odds, I’m siding with For The Top. He comes here off the back of an excellent 4 lengths win in Listed company over course & distance when shooting clear of Remorse in 2nd. He travelled into the race really well and the margin of victory did not flatter. Previous to that, he’d been running on the turf where he is evidently not as good but the switch back to dirt & this trip brought about the improvement that saw him record the 2nd best RPR (based on last run) in this field. He likes to race prominently which is a plus on the dirt track & he’s been handed a good draw in 2. The draw is not to be underestimated with the first 6 home in this last year drawn in the lowest 6 stalls. Quite a few of those low like to be held up too so the race looks set up for him to be the closest challenger to the hotpot, Hot Rod Charlie, and at the odds, I’ve decided to play in the without the favourite market too.
Tips
PLACED – Back For The Top (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 21.00 Skybet (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back For The Top in the ‘without Hot Rod Charlie’ market for a 0.5/10 stake at 12.00 Bet365
Special Offer
Open up a BetVictor account and bet £10 to get £40 in bonuses to use on the upcoming horse racing! Click the image below to take advantage of this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware
18+ New customers only. Deposit, opt in and place a £10 qualifying bet on Horse Racing at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 3x £10 Horse Racing Free Bets, valid on set events only at odds 2.00 or greater. Plus, a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw a max of £250. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply, see below. Please Gamble Responsibly.
5.30 Meydan
Preview
10 line up for this Group 2 on turf over 9 furlongs & it’s like a Godolphin trial with the boys in blue having 6 runners & 6 of the first 7 in the market. The one out to spoil the party is Pevensey Bay who won a Group 2 here 3 weeks ago. She’s saddled with a 4lb penalty which might just be enough to prevent the follow up. Creative Flair for Appleby & Buick is the favourite and she’s been running well enough but she’s been off the track for over 4 months so she is opposable. Soft Whisper, the mount of Dettori, was last in the race won by Pevensey Bay when going off as Evens favourite but finished lame whilst Wedding Dance was 3rd after holding every chance.
Betting
It’s not uncommon for one of the Godolphin longer priced ones to pop up so I’m liking the chances of Stunning Beauty who is another coming here from that Pevensey Bay race. She was 3 lengths behind the winner that day but better is expected today. She was slow to break from gate 6 & that was almost her chance gone but she ran respectably in the circumstances. Having been off the track for over 4 months, she looked in need of the run & I expect her to strip fitter today. This is a trappy race & I wouldn’t want to be going in on one of the market leaders so her odds of 12/1, with bookies paying 4 places, are enough to recommend an each way play.
Tips
Back Stunning Beauty (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 Betfair (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back her here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2022
