Dubai World Cup tips: Meydan best bets from Angus McNae
Our presenter and Meydan expert Angus McNae can't wait for World Cup night from Meydan and shares his advice for a stellar nine-race card with £25m in prize money. Enjoy coverage from 11am live on Racing TV.
12.05 Meydan: Bathrat Leon
I can’t see any reason why he cannot back up last year's win in the Godolphin Mile.
Bathrat Leon is a top class turf performer as he proved in Saudi Arabia last time and he is equally effective on dirt, as he showed last year. He is unexposed on the surface after just three dirt starts and, despite a wider draw than last year, I think he can dominate this field.
Pace on the rail seems to be a particularly potent weapon in this race and, at around 7-2, he is a definite win play here.
1.15 Meydan: Sight Success
I head up the Al Suhail fan club and I would love him to win this, but he is a seven-furlong horse who is not drawn well here in stall 2.
Instead I am siding with the Hong Kong raider Sight Success, who is a proven top-class sprinter and is very well drawn in stall 13. He also has the services of Ryan Moore.
Sight Success is a confirmed Group One sprinter as he showed when finishing third in the Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin last time out. He should prove tough to beat if he brings that form to Meydan and he makes plenty of appeal at around 9/2.
3.10 Meydan: Master of the Seas
He ran a tremendous race last time out in defeat to Alfareeq in the Jebel Hatta.
Master Of The Seas was poorly placed given the race unfolded and yet he displayed a tremendous turn of foot to get into contention before paying for that effort late on. His previous success here was an impressive one, again where he showed a potent turn foot to land the Zabeel Mile.
If he can use that turn of speed here and get a good trip through he will be a major player. At an advertised price of 12/1 I am happy to be with him.
4.00 Meydan: Rebel's Romance
Equinox is all the rage for the Sheema Classic and rightly so given his last two Group One wins. He could just well be an international superstar.
However, I am opposing him with Rebel's Romance who is a big-looking 8-1 for a horse with very solid Group One form.
He has won nine of his 12 career starts and has been getting better with each run. He ended last season winning the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland and, although this is tougher, I think he should go close.
4.35 Meydan: Country Grammer
Last year's Dubai World Cup winner can emulate Thunder Snow by winning this race for a second time.
Country Grammer is a strong stayer at this trip and the likely fast pace looks certain to suit him. He was a good second in the Saudi Cup over nine furlongs last time when Panthalassa was too good for him, but over this extra furlong he can turn the tables and give Frankie Dettori one last hurrah here at Meydan.
The wide draw does not concern me too much given his style of racing and in my opinion he should be favourite for the race. At 7/2 he rates as a decent play.
