Meydan Tips and Betting Preview 23/02/2017

It’s Thursday so it must be Meydan as the big guns start to head off to Dubai ahead of World Cup night, and with a couple of Group Three’s to work on the quality is there for all to see. The Meydan Win Lucky 15 is now LIVE on site where you can back it in 1-Click using our ready-made bet slips.

3.05pm Meydan Classic (Listed) – 7f Turf

All eyes will be on local heroes Godolphin here who seem to have this contest between them with both Fly At Dawn and Really Special carrying their colours. The first named carries their first colours for trainer Charlie Appleby and returned to action with a win here over this trip on the dirt and looks likely to be even better suited by the turf today. He is entitled to come on for that run and can get the better of his market rival despite having to concede her weight this afternoon.

4.50pm Nad Al Sheeba Trophy (Group Three) – 1m 6f 11y Turf

Named after the sorely missed old race track here in Dubai, this contest has attracted a very high class field and will clearly take some winning. Sheikhzayedroad won this last season for David Simcock and seems sure to go well, though he may improve for the run at the age of eight and may struggle to cope with the three years younger Vazirabad who is the top stayer in France. Trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre is in great form with five winers from his last eight runners here in Dubai, and if he is race fit after over three months off he will take all the beating here.

5.25pm Curlin Handicap (Listed)  – 1m 2f Dirt

A tougher one to call despite the betting, though if Mike De Kock’s Mubtaahij is three quarters ready then he is the one they all have to beat. He finished runner up in the Dubai World Cup last season when three and three quarter lengths behind California Chrome but hasn’t won a race of any kind since March 2015 here over and can’t be described as value, but is the best horse in the race at his peak, and for that reason is tough to oppose.