The World Cup meeting goes ahead after the dirt track passed an inspection but it rained heavily overnight and the turf track will certainly be on the soft side despite Meydan draining very well. It is currently very cloudy but hopefully the rain can stay away so that conditions do not get too testing. Trip To Paris has remained in good form but I do feel he is better on faster ground.
We have two runners at Lingfield this afternoon as well as Trip To Paris in the Dubai Gold Cup. The Gold Cup looks like a very strong renewal with a lot of depth and we are unfortunately drawn widest of all in stall fourteen. Vazirabad will appreciate the softer ground although he handles any going and Beautiful Romance and Heartbreak City have also got strong form on softer ground. Big Orange would prefer the ground faster like us but Sheikhzayedroad and Kingfisher have proven themselves on a softer surface previously. Beautiful Romance is an improving filly and was eye catching in the Melbourne Cup last year and should not be underestimated but last year’s winner Vazirabad is the one we all have to beat. I feel that Trip To Paris is in very good order and I am hoping we can see him return to his best but we do have concerns on the ground despite him winning a Chester Cup on an easier surface and obviously we need some luck from the draw.
Arnarson sets the standard in the 2:00 at Lingfield but he is the most exposed horse in the field in that he has had three runs. We hope he can prove good enough to win this but Richard Hannon’s horses have been running well and the unraced Hippocampus is well drawn in stall 2. Detachment and The Raven Master have both shown some ability and could improve on what they have shown so far. Tristram is nicely bred but is by a Derby winner and may appreciate a stiffer test than the 1m of Lingfield in time.
Manjaam was extremely progressive last year and shot up the ratings as a result. Like a lot of horses he was struck by the virus late last summer and disappointed at Newmarket at the backend of last year on his final run of 2016. He has wintered well and we hope he can show some spark this afternoon. It could be a very messy race with only the five runners and Start Seven has been highly progressive recently and is sure to try and dictate if he can. Oceane boasts some very smart form but would appreciate more of a test than this and he was a little disappointing when trying to make all on his seasonal debut although he may have needed it. Royal Marskell came back to form recently over two miles and has made all over 1m4f here before so there is a small chance he may try and head to the front. Midtech Star is in form and has won two of his last three, he stays well and in this grade he will probably appreciate an even gallop if he is held up. It is a very tight and trappy race with all of the opposition having the benefit of a recent run which we do not have. Manjaam boasts some very smart form and I hope he can return to close to his his best and provide us with some encouragement for the future.