I have had little time to prepare for the Dubai Carnival this year, though I still feel inclined to put forward my selections on what should be a thrilling multi million pound race day. The plan is that I will firstly post the selections for this afternoon and then before each race explain my choice and note any interesting betting opportunities occurring either in the UK or on the International Tote.
THE SELECTIONS
2.10 NO SELECTION
2.45 MIKHAIL GLINKA 7-1 - POSTPONED UNTIL LATER
3.25 MARITIMER 20-1
4.00 MARGOT DID 12-1
4.35 NO SELECTION
5.25 CITYSCAPE 11-1
6.00 ST NICHOLAS ABBEY 10-3
6.40 ROYAL DELTA 10-1
2.45 - Mikhail Glinka
Looks fairly solid in the betting market both in the UK and abroad and can improve on his recent form stepped up in trip to this longer distance. Has clearly improved his form of late when being fitted with both a visor and tongue tie and with those essentials fitted once more, he can outbattle the Godolphin brigade.
3.25 - Maritimer
Fortunately for myself, the previous race was abandoned due to Fox Hunt breaking down in awful circumstances. I flinched and turned away from the screen to avoid viewing the incident in full but knew instantly that there would be no way for the race to continue another circuit. This helped refund stakes on the selection who had drifted quite alarmingly five minutes before the off to more than DOUBLE his previous odds.
The selection in this race is rated as quite possibly Herman Brown's best chance on World Cup night yet is still rated an outsider with those projecting the odds. Maritimer was shortlisted for the Champion Two Year Old Award in Canada and comes here with some strong form behind him. I think he has a far better chance than his current 20-1 odds suggest. On the International Tote meanwhile his projected winning odds are just 14-1 suggesting that the UK has taken a chance on our selection not winning.
4.00 - Margot Did
From the widest draw of all very little is expected but last season this filly proved good enough to win the Nunthorpe (on debatable going, with an element of draw bias). I think this field has limitations and she can still prove successful. If placing any bets it could be worth making them on the International Tote where the odds are likely to be marginally more favourable.
PS. The earlier Gold Cup race is now set to be re-run after the Dubai World Cup with all bets placed to stand minus a rule 4 for the now deceased Fox Hunt. Totally disgusting and shows the incredulous greed of the owners who have travelled out to watch their specimens run. Sanity should make any caring owner withdraw their entry and treat the experience as a piece of ill-fortune.
5.25 - Cityscape
Quite possibly my most hopeful selection of the afternoon. All eyes will be on Amibitious Dragon but he will be on unfamiliar territory this time around and may find one too good. I think the one horse who has yet to face him who could prove his superior is Cityscape. Let us see.
6.00 - St Nicholas Abbey
A pleasant result in our previous race with a breathtaking performance from Cityscape who battered his rivals black and blue with a commanding performance. His run was so good that he had all the jockeys in behind looking fairly silly as they failed to spot his kick for home on the turn, where he was able to steal a decisive lead.
Our next selection is not a similarly attractive price but in my view he is clearly the one they all have to beat and his stablemate Treasure Beach can help set the fractions that will make this a stamina test at 1m 2f. I am once again, fairly confident of scoring a result in this race.
6.40 - Royal Delta
This one will go off quite a short price alongside fellow American Game On Dude on the International Tote due to the money being laid down by that country. At the same time So You Think is likely to go off a bigger price than he should on the same market but with doubts about his ability to handle the tapeta surface I am still not keen enough. Royal Delta should run well and has the ability to win this.
Make sure any bets are placed with the UK Bookmakers who offer a fair price on both American runners.
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