*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
14:00 – Positivity (Mark Milligan)
POSITIVITY can be forgiven for a poor run here last week under William Buick and can bounce back to win the opening handicap on dirt for trainer Doug O’Neill. This horse has previously raced against some top-class horses in America, including Flightline at Del Mar and Brickyard Ride at Santa Anita. The son of Paynter is a dual winner over this trip in the US, so stepping back up in distance, along with the booking of Fernando Jara are positives towards his chances on Friday afternoon.
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14:35 – Silent Speech (James Shortt)
It could be a very successful day for Charlie Appleby and William Buick at Meydan on Friday and I’m hopeful they can bang in a winner with SILENT SPEECH in the Al Wasl Stakes, a conditions event on turf over 6-furlongs. The son of Dubawi made his Emirates debut with a comfortable and impressive victory over several of these rivals last month and to be honest, I can’t see any of these reversing the form. This horse made smooth progress from off the pace to win stylishly under Buick on that occasion and with more improvement to come, this horse can once again see off fellow Godolphin owned runners, Home City and Wild Place.
15:45 – Lazuli (Mark Milligan)
This looks a cracking spirt with LAZULI my selection having ran a perfectly good comeback race over six-furlongs in Listed company last month. He was a good winner at Newmarket over this five-furlong trip last May and has shown he runs well fresh. I’m hopeful he can strike for Charlie Appleby and William Buick here having already got the better of several of these rivals last time, so it’s Lazuli for me in the Blue Point Sprint.
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16:20 – Manobo (Nap) (Mark Milligan)
I’m hoping Charlie Appleby and William Buick can secure another winner with the unbeaten MANOBO in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy. This horse is unbeaten in four-starts and progressed nicely for the Appleby team last year, ending the season with victory in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp. This is a very promising horse for the year ahead and I’d be very disappointed if he can’t win this event with very little strength in depth amongst the field.
16:55 – Valiant Prince (James Shortt)
VALIANT PRINCE was another Charlie Appleby runner who recently made a winning debut here at Meydan when scoring nicely over course and distance last month. The son of Dubawi will once again be ridden handy by William Buick from a good inside draw, with another victory looking likely with further progression. He’s a lightly raced type with two wins from five-career starts and with some good form in the book to boot – this horse finished second to Storm Damage at Newmarket last July, with Saeed Bin Suroor’s runner enhancing the form by winning easily here in Listed company last week off an official rating of 108.
Best bets at Meydan on Friday:
14:00 – Positivity (Mark Milligan)
14:35 – Silent Speech (James Shortt)
15:45 – Lazuli (Mark Milligan)
16:20 – Manobo (Nap) (Mark Milligan)
16:55 – Valiant Prince (James Shortt)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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