Angus McNae: My 2024 Dubai World Cup meeting tips

This horse should be a shorter price than he is and I fancy if he had drawn an inside stall he would be long odds on. From stall nine, he will have to work a bit to get to the front, but thereafter he should dominate this field from three front. 

He ran a tremendous race when third in the Saudi Cup to Senor Buscador. He set blistering fractions yet was still in front passing the furlong pole. The strong pace that day allowed the closers to get involved but Saudi Crown kept on well for third spot. He comes back a furlong in trip here which is in his favour and he looks set to dominate this race from the front against the favoured far rail.

A Godolphin winner always goes down well on World Cup night and Siskany can put smiles on plenty of those faces at the races. He was second in this race last year narrowly beaten by Broome. This season at Meydan he has won both of his starts displaying a sharp turn of foot for a stayer. Both races were steadily run and turned into three furlong sprints with Siskany flashing some impressive sectionals, winning both races with ease. 

It seems that this track brings out the best in him and he should get a good trip from stall six. The cheekpieces that he wore when second last year go back on here, presumably to sharpen him up for this test. He makes sense at around 6/1.

This top-class horse returns to sprinting in the Al Quoz Sprint and he should be too good for his rivals. He was impressive when he won the Group 1 Queens Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin over seven furlongs last time out and the drop back to six furlongs should not trouble him. He has lots of speed and stall five is a good draw.

Throughout this year's Carnival racing towards the far side from a low draw has been beneficial and with Frost At Dawn and Ponntos both drawn low California Spangle should get a good tow into the race. He will be hard to beat and should bag his third Group One.

All eyes will be on Lord North who is looking to win this for a record-breaking fourth time. However he has a wide draw and was a shade disappointing in his prep run at Southwell. I prefer the upwardly-mobile Measured Time. He has been very impressive in winning two races at the Carnival, on both occasions he displayed an electric turn of foot. 

He cruised through the Group One Jebel Hatta last time out before quickening clear. He has a good draw in stall five to adopt a handy position just behind the leaders and then employ his turn of foot. He is thoroughly progressive having won five of his six career starts and he can land this under William Buick.

Team Gosden have won this race a record three times and I think they can do so again with Emily Upjohn. We have not seen her since last July when she disappointed in the King George at Ascot but she goes well fresh, as evidenced by her impressive Coronation Cup win last season off a lay-off. She has plenty of speed, as evidenced by her time figure when second in the 10-furlong Eclipse at Sandown and this track which suits strong travelers with a turn of foot looks ideal for her style.

This is a big ride for Kieran Shoemark, but he has a good draw in stall four and is on a mare with a high cruising speed meaning he can sit her anywhere. His main task is to ensure she settles so some cover will be essential. She looks sure to be a big player in a tremendous renewal of this race.

The Dubai World Cup can go to Japan for the second year in a row. Derma Sotogake was impressive when he won the UAE Derby last season and looked to have an ideal prep for this race in the Saudi Cup where he was not given a hard time in finishing fifth from a wide draw in stall 13.

There does not look to be a lot of pace in the race which will not help the late closers like Senor Buscador and Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake should be able to adopt a stalking position closer to the pace. It is an added bonus that the brilliant Christophe Lemaire is riding.