Dubai Millennium Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

IN SUMMARY: FOLKSWOOD has been taking on some very smart types, only narrowly denied in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta when last seen in Dubai. He ran against the likes of Winx when competing in Australia last Autumn and should take plenty of beating. Light The Lights beat Leshlaa two starts back, he was disappointing last time but from five pounds better off, he should confirm the places and looks the biggest threat.

1 FOLKSWOOD – Only beaten a neck by Decorated Knight in the Jebel Hatta when last seen in Meydan, he has been taking on the likes of Winx in Australia most recently. This will only be a prep run for a tilt at further Group 1’s later in the carnival, but he still boasts a leading chance.

2 CARRY ON DERYCK – Two years since he last got his head in front, he has not been at his best in a pair of starts in Meydan so far in 2018. Conditions suit him well, but his very best form has come at slightly shorter than this. Can only be watched on this occasion.

3 LESHLAA – Course and distance handicap win earlier in the month was a career best. Behind Light The Lights the time before, he will need to be considerably better than that from five pounds worse off at the weights now.

4 GILT COMPLEX – Winner of the Listed Singapore Gold Cup in November over an extra furlong, he was miles below that level in his sole run here. A long way behind Leshlaa on that occasion so he will have to make a huge leap forward if he is to get involved.

5 TEAM TALK – Looked a potentially smart recruit when claiming a Listed prize at the end of 2016 but he missed the entirety of last year, not beating a rival home when finally making it back to the track. Should do better with the cobwebs blown away but still hard to support on the back of that.

6 EARNSHAW – Won the first two starts of his career, not able to get his head in front in twenty-one starts since. Kept warm company here in 2017, that level of form would give him a shout, Not close to that this time around and well behind Leshlaa last time. Work to do.

7 JUBILANCE – Another in the contest to be well beaten by Leshlaa last time he was seen, he has shown nothing in either start in Meydan in 2018. Comfortably the lowest rated in this field, he has a mountain to climb if he is to make his presence felt.

8 SPECIAL FIGHTER – Better known as a dirt horse, winning the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge last March. A long way short of that level on turf, he is very hard to make a case for against a field who will appreciate the demands of this test considerably more than him.

9 AL SAHEM – Rock solid in his native South Africa, winner of their Derby as well as an excellent runner-up bid in the Durban July. Too keen to do himself justice when making his return here last time, he would appear to be the lesser of the two Mike de Kock runners.

10 LIGHT THE LIGHTS – Looks the first string for his connections, unable to cope with the smart Benbatl twice this year. Doesn’t meet anything of quite that class here, but has ground to make up with Folkswood on their meeting in the 2017 Jebel Hatta.