The draw has been made for Dubai World Cup night and I'm particularly looking forward to the Sprint and the duel in the desert between Ertijaal (6/4 at BetVictor) and July Cup winner Limato (5/2). Ertijaal has looked a machine in two recent starts at the minimum trip and became the first horse to break 56 seconds last month but can he extend to another furlong with Limato chasing him down?
A good card at Newbury this afternoon and Wild West Wind (3.40) is taken to land the Brown Chamberlin Trophy having looked as if he would appreciate returning to a left-handed track when finishing third at Exeter behind Label Des Obeaux last month. Vinnie Red and Dueling Banjos are considered the main dangers in what promises to be a most informative handicap.
Inner Drive has already won once following a 12-month absence and it will be interesting to see if there is market confidence behind the nine-year-old who has only raced five times under rules. My two against the field are Zarib and I'm a Game Changer (4.10) with the latter getting the nod despite having been raised 12lbs for winning at Ludlow last time.
The selection travelled like a decent sort at the Shropshire track last time and is clearly a most progressive hurdler representing the inform Philip Hobbs yard.
At Musselburgh a market move for Heart O Annandale would be worth noting in the Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase given he looks very well handicapped on his best form, but he has no history of going well fresh and is reluctantly overlooked.
Blair Campbell takes off a valuable 8lbs from the back of Shanroe Street (2.10) and this winning Irish point-to-pointer should also appreciate today's better ground given his win between the flags came on good ground.
Pot Committed should appreciate the step back up in trip having scored over two miles here when last seen in mid-December. If the market speaks in his favour he must go close returning from a short-break but marginal preference is for the Slanelough (2.45) representing the inform yard of Rose Dobbin. The selection was not given the most rigorous of rides when second to the promising Reivers Lad at Kelso earlier in the week and this step up in distance should suit the five-year-old who finished runner up in his sole point in his native Ireland.
The decision to drop back to the minimum trip didn't work for The Dutchman (3.20) at Newcastle last time and this intermediate 2m 4f should suit Sandy Thompson's novice who can give 7lbs to the lightly raced nine-year-old Mister Kit who has the scope to jump a fence.
There is a valuable 12f handicap at Lingfield where I expect to see a big run from course specialist Barye (4.00) who has been dropped a couple of pounds since finishing a never-nearer fifth at Wolverhampton earlier in the month. His draw in stall two is a plus although I wouldn't want to see him too far back in this competitive field.
Half an hour later and I hope to see Ulysses (4.30) go one better than when beaten a neck over today's C&D on debut at the beginning of the month. He is no star but the horse who beat him a neck is rated in the low 70s and he is entitled to come on for the experience. The well-bred pair of Voski and filly Asanta Sana wouldn't have to be world-beaters to make winning starts but the Beckett horse sets a fair standard and will be tough to beat.
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