3.30pm Meydan Tips & Betting Preview 03/03/2018

IN SUMMARY : Galesburg will understandably be popular here after two good wins recently but he has disappointed at Meydan in the past and this drop back to 6f is not sure to suit. EJBAAR was a good second over this course and distance in January and his poor efforts either side of that run came over 7f. This trip is more like it for him and this looks a winnable contest off his current handicap mark.

1 SHAJJY – Cost 400,000 guineas as a yearling but didn’t quite live up to his potential when trained in France and has since switched stables. Makes his debut for this yard today and not raced since August so entitled to need this first run back. Winnable handicap though if he is ready to go first time up. 

2 FAROOK – Winner on his debut for this yard at Jebel Ali in December and backed that performance up with another win at Jebel Ali in January. Well beaten at Listed level last time but reverts to handicap company now and definite chance if this step up to 6f and return to Turf help him.

3 RIFLESCOPE – Returned from a break in good form this winter. A close 4^th over 7f here in January and was staying on over today’s course and distance later that month but could only manage 3^rd. Was disappointing last time back over 7f however and has something to prove on the back of that run.

4 DREAM DUBAI – Could only manage 13^th on his return over 7f here and then was last of 14 last month back over 7f here. That was a stronger race than he contests today but has to improve on them efforts if he is to challenge the best of these and this step back to 6f is not an obvious forward step.

5 INDESCRIBEABLE – Returned to Turf in January after a spell on the Dirt and ran better than the form suggests when 3^rd here over 7f. Stepped up to a mile later that month but was well beaten in 10^th. Drops back to 6f which is not sure to work here and his Meydan record now reads 8570.

6 PIRATE’S COVE – Kept to Dirt since joining this yard from Andre Fabre but well beaten on his last two Dirt starts and now returns to Turf. Won a handicap off a mark of 81 here in January but has struggled off a 10 pounds higher rating since and until dropped a little from this mark it is tough to make a case for him.

7 ROUND TWO – Classy 2-year old when trained in Ireland and was Favourite for the 2015 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Only managed 10^th in that race and has generally struggled for form since. Last seen finishing down the field in a Handicap over 1m2f he makes his debut for this yard with a bit to prove now. 

8 BIG TIME – Fairly useful handicapper when trained in Ireland and the UK but has struggled in two Dirt starts since joining this yard. Now returns to Turf with a lot more to prove than most of his rivals but has been dropped to a more realistic handicap mark and would not be a major shock to see him run well. 

9 GREEB – Started well on turf here but has not maintained that level of form. Returned form a break when 7^th at Abu Dhabi over a mile in November but only managed 10^th over 7f here in January. This drop back to 6f may help but even on his best form shown here he needs to improve.

10 ROI DE VITESSE – Record over 6f at Meydan reads 8672787 and last win came back in April 2016 at Doha. Joined a new yard this year but finished 12^th over 5f here and was beaten over 20 lengths over 7f last month. A lot of improvement needed on them efforts if he is to be competitive here.

11 BIRMANO – Fairly useful ex-Andre Fabre trained 4-year old who disappointed on Dirt on his debut in January when beaten over 15 lengths over 6f here. This return to Turf should suit today but a bit to prove now on the back of that run. Is unexposed compared the majority of this field however.

12 EJBAAR – Winner over 5f on Dirt at Jebel Ali in December. Was favourite for a handicap here over 7f after that but could only manage 8^th. Bounced back to form over 6f in January however when a close second to Ejaaby. Well beaten behind that rival when 10^th last time but this return to 6f will suit.

13 GALESBURG – In strong form this winter, was knocking on the door on Dirt but ran out an easy winner back at a mile and back on Turf at Abu Dhabi last month. Backed that effort up when winning very easily last time back on Dirt over 7f at Jebel Ali. Strong contender but up 8 pounds for that and has ran poorly here in the past.

14 HARCOURT STREET – Ex-Andre Fabre trained 4-year old who made his debut for this yard last month here over 1m1f but finished 7^th beaten 6 lengths. Back out over the same course and distance 2-weeks later but only managed 13^th there beaten 10 lengths. Drops significantly in trip here but others stand better chances.

R15 MUNSHID – A line of duck eggs by his name after some poor performances since joining this yard from Kevin Prendergast. Was a useful horse when trained in Ireland so has the ability to bounce back to form however tricky to be too confident even though this return to Turf and return to 6f should suit. 

R16 ALRAASED – Good winner at Al Ain on Dirt over 5f in December. Ran well back on Turf over 6f here in January when 4^th and was a good 2^nd back on Dirt at Jebel Ali last month. On the same mark as when 4^th over this course and distance and not discounted if getting a run here.