Horse Racing Betting Tips: Castle can cap a Dream night for Godolphin
THERE is a mouth-watering $35million up for grabs across eight races at Meydan racecourse tomorrow afternoon, culminating in the showpiece Dubai World Cup (4.40pm).
The feature 1m2f contest looks arguably the trickiest puzzle to solve of the lot with strong cases to be made for at least six of a deep 13-runner field.
Last year’s winner Thunder Snow looks sure to make a bold defence of his crown but being drawn out in stall 12 will make life even tougher.
North America fluffed his lines in this 12 months ago when missing the break but has been in the form of his life and will surely go close.
Capezzano looked a world beater when destroying Thunder Snow in his trial and is another hard to leave off any shortlist.
It’s a race I’m going to watch rather than get financially involved in, but if you cannot resist a flutter then it may be worth a small each-way play on US-raider Yoshida at a double-figure price despite a bad draw.
He is pretty unexposed on the surface and slips in here somewhat under the radar.
Looking at the rest of the card, the best bet on the night could well be MUNTAZAH in the opening Godolphin Mile (12.15pm).
He finished second to Heavy Metal in this 12 months ago, but has improved dramatically since.
In his latest trial, he skipped away from them out in front recording an emphatic 10-length victory, lowering the course record in the process.
His biggest danger again looks to be Heavy Metal, but it would be a big surprise if he didn’t start the night with a bang and 11/10 looks a fair price.
The Al Quoz Sprint (1.30pm) appears to be at the mercy of Blue Point who has looked unstoppable in his trials.
He should prove too good for these, with Aussie-raider Brave Smash making appeal as a potential each-way bet against him.
Godolphin look set for a great night as I fancy their filly DIVINE IMAGE to take all the beating against the colts in the UAE Derby (2.05pm).
She has only tasted defeat once when her inexperience got the better of her when running on too late in the UAE 1000 Guineas on her Meydan debut.
Since then she has improved with each start relishing the step up to tomorrow’s 1m1½f trip.
She looks a filly with a really bright future and the 11/4 on offer looks well worth taking.
Finally, all eyes will be on Japanese superstar Almond Eye when she goes off a red-hot favourite for the Dubai Turf (3.20pm).
She looks very versatile when it comes to trip and has plenty of stamina as she showed when winning last year’s Japan Cup.
This represents another test though and she is very short at around Evens for her first trip outside of Japan.
I’m prepared to take her on with Godolphin’s DREAM CASTLE who is unbeaten in three starts over course and distance since being gelded.
Saeed bin Suroor’s five-year-old now looks to be realising some of that early potential and the 7/2 on offer makes this an each-way bet to nothing.
Almond Eye will have to be at the very top of her game to repel a local horse in the form of his life.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Muntazah 12.15pm Meydan
Divine Image 2.05pm Meydan
Dream Castle e/w 3.20pm Meydan