3 minute read

Thursday's card features the G2 Al Rashidiya on turf and the G3 Al Shindagha on dirt.

The first has a field of 7 for the 1800m dominated by Godolphin runners.  Barney Roy has had a long break since Ascot, which was part of his return to racing after he didn't quite make it at stud.  He's from the Appleby yard and there is no doubt he is a decent horse but this is his first trip to Dubai and the evens quoted isn't that appealing.  His stablemate Loxley imploded on his return here but he's down in trip, will be ridden positively and has James Doyle in the irons and is on an 8/1 quote.  Saeed bin Suroor saddles last year's winner Dream Castle who hasn't done that much in between times but with Soumillon on board may like to re-live his last year's race.  Mountain Hunter is on 7'1 with Pat Cosgrave riding.

The G3 Al Shindagha Sprint is over 1200m with last year's winner back again for the team of Doug Watson and Pat Dobbs – they have won the last 3 editions of this race and the 6/4 for Drafted looks like they could do it again.  The top three in the market finished 1-3 in the G3 Dubawi and this looks very like a re-run.  Seemar's Gladator King is on 3/1 and much the same for Ibn Malik.