Meydan Racing Carnival Tips & Preview

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues on Friday with a nine-race card on the dirt and turf tracks.

There are no Group races to get stuck into this week but there are plenty of competitive handicaps on the card. Here are a trio of selections including a couple of interesting horses at each-way prices.

1.30 – 5f Palm Jumeirah Turf Handicap

The sprint track at Meydan this season has reverted to an old bias of those drawn low (far side) doing best. It was a tried and tested route for the course record holder Ertijaal a few years back and, while they have been coming down the nearside in recent years, the jockeys want nothing to do with the nearside rail for whatever reason at present.

It usually pays to be on the speed when there’s a farside bias on the turf track and one that makes plenty of appeal in the opening handicap of the night (1.30) is Mcmanaman.

He ran a belter on his recent return to the minimum trip at Jebel Ali last month, chasing home Mozahim and that rival has boosted the form by going in again at that course subsequently.

Mcmanaman’s best performances have come when prominently ridden, including on his sole career success, a seven-furlong win at this venue. His strike rate is disappointing but the run last time out suggested that he may have been running over the wrong trip and his old trainer, Richard Fahey, may have had the right idea running him over five furlongs.

He’s entitled to come on for his comeback run and he’s been left on the same handicap mark for his close-up third. With an ideal draw over in stall five, he should go well for Pat Dobbs, a jockey who has made an excellent start to his season at Meydan.

Among the dangers are Rusumaat, who showed he retained some ability when eighth at Jebel Ali last month when returning from an absence of over three years. He could be well treated if building on that.

Shamlaan is another to consider. He’s feasibly treated on his old turf form and he may appreciate getting back on this surface having not really taken to dirt this winter.

Selection: Mcmanaman

2.40 – 7f Como Residences Turf Handicap

A little later on the card, the seven-furlong handicap looks open but one that could go well at a price is Tiger Crusade.

David Simcock’s raider ran very well after an autumn break in a six-furlong contest at Kempton last month, finishing third and beaten only a length by winner Chipstead, and he looks like a major threat from his 8lbs lower turf mark for this.

The step back up in trip looks guaranteed to suit this son of No Nay Never and the ground should also play to his strengths.

This is his first run at Meydan but the trainer has done well at this venue over the years and this seven-year-old has an exploitable handicap mark of 88 to work with.

His form from Kempton looks rock solid with the runner-up from that contest, Baldomero, going very close subsequently and he looks overpriced at the early odds.

Selection: Tiger Crusade

5.00 – 1m1f Lord North Turf Handicap

It was a massive run from Ursa Minor at Meydan last week when chasing home the well-handicapped Local Dynasty and the handicapper has given him a real chance of going one better, having dropped him 1lb for that effort.

The seven-year-old had shaped with promise previously over an unsuitable 1m 4f and, while he found last season a struggle, he’s back on a good mark as a result.

Having finished third over this course and distance in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta in his penultimate season, the drop back a furlong in distance could also suit and he appears to have been underestimated in the market once again, available at double-figure odds.

Of the opposition, Hypothetical is a fascinating contender at the top of the weights and he would have claims if he was fully tuned up for this, but he’s been off 11 months and this may be a prep for another dirt campaign.

Selection: Ursa Minor

All race times are given as GMT