Meydan Placepot: Saturday 27th March

Tipping / Timeform / 26 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Dubai's new state-of-the-art racecourse Meydan will stage the Dubai World Cup for the first time.

The Dubai Carnival reaches its climax with the richest card in the world. Timeform's Dubai expert Shahin Khoshsokhan tries to end the meeting with a bang by attempting to land the placepot.

"he (Presvis) will need to run into a minefield and more if he’s to be kept out of the placings, such is his superiority'.

Leg 1 Al Quoz Sprint
As you would expect from a meeting of this calibre, a competitive event to start proceedings. Sirocco Breeze is hard to ignore given his highly progressive profile, and the speed he has shown for his last two wins suggests the drop in trip shouldn't pose a problem. Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Californian Flag may be having his first start of the year, but, with the amount of prize money on offer, you can bet your bottom dollar that he'll be fit and raring to go, and he looks the class horse of the race.

Leg 2 Godolphin Mile
Desert Party is the one to beat in terms of form, looking better than ever when winning the Elnadim on his return from a long lay-off, but, with the possibility that he may find this coming too soon, he could be worth opposing for placepot purposes. Forgotten Voice didn't have the race run to suit last time and, with his highly promising second to Gloria de Campeao still fresh in the mind, is worthy of another chance. The same can be said of Skysurfers, who was disappointing behind Cat Junior after producing a very smart performance on only his second career start when beating Eagle Mountain on his comeback, and a return to that sort of form will make him very hard to keep out of the placings.

Leg 3 UAE Derby
This doesn't look as competitive as some of the other races on the card, with Musir and Mendip likely to have the race between them. That said, it's worth banking on one of the duo, with the unbeaten Mendip looking the more solid option with his stamina already proven.

Leg 4 Dubai Golden Shaheen
Gayego couldn't repeat last year's performance by winning first time up at the Carnival, but he still shaped well when second to War Artist and looks poised to run a big race. Mutheeb looks well worth another try at this trip after his second behind Desert Party in the Elnadim last time and is an outsider worth including.

Leg 5 Dubai Duty Free
Presvis is banker material after producing a high-class effort in defying a Group 1 penalty when beating Alexandros in the Jebel Hatta last time, underlining that he's one of the best horses in training currently. There is, of course, the possibility that his hold-up-style will tempt trouble, especially in this big field, but he will need to run into a minefield and more if he's to be kept out of the placings, such is his superiority.

Leg 6 Dubai Sheema Classic
Hopefully, we're still in the hat come the sixth leg, but it doesn't get any easier as this looks the most competitive race on the card. However, with a couple of bankers already part of our team of selections, it gives us some leeway to have three runners here. Last year's winner Eastern Anthem is included on the grounds of his consistent profile. He did well to win this twelve months ago as he came from a poor position and he won on his reappearance at the Carnival last year. The lightly-raced Anmar looks a lively outsider and is worth including too. He impressed as a very exciting prospect when coming from what looked a hopeless position to beat Emirates Champion on his return, but those tactics backfired upped in grade next time, shaping well all the same. If the progressive Anmar is better positioned this time, he'll run a big race. Youmzain is a top-class performer and looked unlucky not to finish closer in this event last year. He may not win the amount of races he should, but that doesn't matter for the placepot.

Free form for all the Dubai World Cup races is available at the Timeform Website

To bet on the placepot at Meydan through Betfair, select 'Special' in the drop-down Meeting box.