There is more high-class racing from the Dubai World Cup Carnival on Thursday when Matterhorn makes his reappearance - Man On The Spot previews the action from Meydan.
Group Three honours are up for grabs in the Firebreak Stakes at Meydan on Thursday where all eyes will be on hot-favourite Matterhorn as he makes his eagerly-anticipated return to action.
Formerly trained in England by Mark Johnston, the son of Raven's Pass has taken to life out in Dubai well and proved his liking for the dirt when producing a brilliant display to land last year's Group One Al Maktoum Challenge.
That was only his second start on dirt having finished third in this very race on his Meydan debut 12 months ago and with another year under his belt, he should now be somewhere close to the finished article.
Armed with a low draw, Matterhorn might not need to be at his best to make a winning reappearance at the expense of consistent veteran Secret Ambition and Kimbear.
The second Group Three of the night comes in the shape of the UAE 2000 Guineas where highly-regarded Dubawi colt Naval Crown will have his first taste of the dirt for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Appleby has his string in typically excellent form at present and the fact that Naval Crown tended to lead in his races in England might have been the deciding factor in connections opting for a dirt campaign with their charge this winter.
He'll certainly need to be smartly away from stall four, as facing the kickback here can be a harsh experience for a horse with little experience.
The same comment ought to be applicable to lightly-raced market rival Mouheeb but the Jebel Ali winner very nearly overcame a tardy start when finishing second in the trail here three weeks ago and he looks a smart prospect in his own right.
The turf handicaps are particularly competitive with Godolphin's battalion of runners once again expected to dominate, but the closing Dubai Sprint sees the classy Ekhtiyaar returned to six furlongs having performed with plenty of credit when fourth to Equilateral over the minimum trip on his recent return.
This is his optimum distance, as demonstrated by his runner-up finish at Group Two level over this course and distance last year, and he looks capable of conceding weight all round to a promising, but unproven, set of rivals before he will no doubt return to pattern company.
Meydan - Race-by-race betting tips
2.30 - Click here for FREE video form and full racecard
Desert Doctor, eight times an all-weather winner, mostly over this trip, found 7f just beyond him on his return here a fortnight ago but still finished in front of Important Mission, Behavioral Bias and Rio Angie. The latter couldn't get to the front from a poor draw and can do better but the places can be confirmed. Dream Today has an excellent record on Turf here but has never run on Dirt. Tibasti won four times on the all-weather in France though looks a bit high in the weights. Lavaspin was conceding TAAMOL 11lb when beaten nearly 2 lengths over track and trip a month ago and though 5lb better off the winner looked good value for the victory and can confirm the form.
3.05 - Click here for FREE video form and full racecard
Dubai Future won over 1m4f here a year ago and wasn't beaten far over this trip a few weeks later. He had Halimi, Desert Fire, Volcanic Sky and Communique behind when runner-up over the former trip a fortnight ago and there doesn't appear any valid reason for a form reversal. The winner's stable companion GLOBAL HEAT (NAP) ran well in two starts here last winter and returned with an impressive victory over 1m4f three weeks ago. He's up 6lb but that doesn't look enough to prevent a follow-up. Ghostwatch has his first start here but is one of the few guaranteed to get the trip.
3.40 - Click here for FREE video form and full racecard
Meshakel made all for an impressive victory over 7f three weeks ago and the former Mark Johnston inmate will take some catching in that form. After an easy victory over 6f at Jebel Ali, MOUHEEB stepped up to this trip here and came with a late run to almost snatch the spoils with the previously unbeaten Zhou Storm 7 lengths behind with Grand Dubai upsides. That could be good enough for this as Uncle Hamed has never raced beyond 6f though Naval Crown will have been identified as a possible for this after two Group 3 placed efforts in France following a York maiden victory though this is his debut on Dirt.
4.15 - Click here for FREE video form and full racecard
Kimbear and Secret Ambition, who have met seven times with the score 4-3 in favour of the former, had a couple of battles here last winter with Doug Watson's charge just coming out best by a short-head in a Group 2 in January. Both are fit from recent runs with the latter, who has finished second in this for the past two years, just looking in the better form so he can get the better of the argument this time. MATTERHORN is the obvious form pick after his brilliant victory in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge last March though he needed his opening run. That could be the same here though his class can see him home. Trancaferro has some solid form in South America with five victories but the remaining pair will need to do more.
4.50 - Click here for FREE video form and full racecard
Topper Bill, a winner over this trip at Catterick for Adrian Nicholls, made most and battled on when headed over 6f here three weeks ago and should again take care of runner-up First Smile and Barber Of Seville, who was well beaten. LAST SUNSET couldn't catch stable companion Soft Whisper over the course and distance early last month but the winner went on to land the UAE 1000 Guineas very impressively so she looks the one to beat. Nibras Passion showed only moderate form in the UK but it was a different story at Abu Dhabi last month where he looked very impressive.
5.25 - Click here for FREE video form and full racecard
Jim Crowley chooses Ekhtiyaar of Hamdal Al Maktoum's three entries and his mount, who won a handicap off exactly the same mark a year ago, will be difficult to beat. Could Be King won a premier handicap at Leopardstown during the summer and that could be his trip but the lightly-raced Man Of Promise, a winner at Yarmouth in June, is one to note on his debut here though a chance is taken with one lurking at the bottom of the weights, KING RAGNAR. A winner in the UK for Roger Varian, he was just over 4 lengths behind Equitorial two weeks ago but that was over 5f and with the longer trip certain to suit and Mike De Kock now in charge he's taken to make a winning start on the track.
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