Hi all,

I’m off to warmer climes for today’s preview as I look at the action from this afternoon’s card at Meydan.

Weather Watch

As expected, Market Rasen failed its Thursday inspection. Which means it’s a fourth successive day without jump racing in Britain.  

Its not looking good for Saturday either. Ascot is off, and Haydock which was even money to race a couple of days ago has seen snow fall at the track. There’s a precautionary midday inspection there for Friday but it I suspect it will also fall to the weather.

Hopes are pinned on Taunton, which will inspect on Saturday morning to see if racing can go ahead, and across the Irish Sea at Navan. It’s hard to see Lingfield’s Sunday Winter Million card taking place on Sunday. Less cold weather is pushing in, but the southeast of England might not see it until Sunday night. At least Lingfield’s valuable all-weather card on Saturday should be fine.

Its frustrating but the silver lining is that a week with out jump racing means future races should produce more entries.

Anyway, on to Friday’s action. There are three all-weather cards today at Southwell, Newcastle, and Dundalk. However, I’m off to look at the Meydan action.

Meydan

The feature races of a six race card at the Winter Carnival are the Group 2 Zabeel Mile (4:20) and the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas (3:45).  The latter race is on dirt so its not a race that I have looked at. However, the final three races on the card are on the turf and there the ones I’m concentrating on.

4:20 – Zabeel Mile (1m)

Master Of The Seas is top on official ratings and although he hasn’t run since winning a Group 3 at Newmarket in April he’s won that off a 178-day layoff. The one to beat but will have future big race targets here in the coming weeks. His biggest rivals look to be stablemate Modern News and I Am Superman. Modern News won twice in the spring, a handicap at Newbury and a Listed race at Windsor. It’s possible he could have a fitness advantage over Master Of The Seas today but on ratings he will need to beat his stablemate. I Am Superman has been running in Australia for the last couple of years winning a couple of Group 2’s. He’s now back with his original trainer Michael O'Callaghan and has claims if at his best.

4:55 – Al Khail Trophy (1m 6f)

Get Shirty had an excellent first half of last season winning over today’s distance at Royal Ascot before landing the valuable Old Newton Cup. Did best of those held-up when a 3 ¼ length 5^th of 20 in the Ebor Handicap. Found out in Group company on his final two starts but he drops in class here and should be capable of going close in Listed company.  The 7-year-old won first time up last year so can go fresh and is the pick.  

5:30 – Dubai Eye 103.8 (Handicap) – 7f

The biggest field and the most competitive race on the card.  I like the claims of Silent Film one of three from the Charlie Appleby yard. The 5-year-old’s best performance came when a neck 2^nd of 16 to Fresh at Ascot last September. He’s gone well off a lay off in the past, but he’s drawn out wide in stall 13 which tempers enthusiasm. Stablemate New Kingdom could be capable of better and the 4-yeat-old is better drawn in 8.

My preference though is for Spirit Of Light, trained by Ian Williams. The 6-year-old returned from a six month lay off with a very encouraging 2 ¼ length 5th of 16 here (1m) 7-days ago. The way he travels through his races the drop back to 7f is a plus and he did win a maiden over C&D two year ago for his previous yard. On a competitive mark, is handily drawn in stall 3 and is the pick.

Friday Selection:

It’s a choice between Get Shirty and Spirit of Light for today’s selection. Looking at the prices I’m going with the latter to go two places better than last week’s selection Ouzo.

Spirit of Light – 10/1 @ Bet365.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John