*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
Country Grammer will face 14 rivals as he bids for back-to-back victories in the Dubai World Cup.
Frankie Dettori’s mount heads to Meydan off the back of a defeat to the reopposing Panthalassa in the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup, last month.
Algiers is the only British-trained runner in Saturday’s 16:35 but Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding brings course-and-distance form to the table after a successful winter campaign in Dubai.
Dubai World Cup odds can be found on the Paddy Power website, Paddy Power app or via our snazzy betting widgets, otherwise Timeform’s horse-by-horse guide to the runners and betting tips from the racing boffins are below.
Dubai World Cup tips
Timeform: COUNTRY GRAMMER just ran out of distance when a strong-finishing second to Panthalassa in the Saudi Cup 4 weeks ago and Bob Baffert’s charge is taken to reverse the placing over this extra 1f and follow up last year’s win. Algiers was most impressive when winning Round 1 and Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge here in recent months so rates a huge threat.
Dubai World Cup runners
Algiers
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford Jockey: James Doyle Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 13
Very smart gelding. Two wins from 6 runs last year. 8/13, career best when winning 9-runner Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at this course (9.4f) 50 days ago by 6 lengths from Bendoog. On a roll and big shout.
****
Bendoog
Trainer: B. Seemar Jockey: Christophe Soumillon Age: 4 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 7
Smart colt. Course winner. Two wins from 6 runs last year. 11/10, good 2 lengths second of 14 to Salute The Soldier in Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at this C&D 21 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.
**
Cafe Pharoah
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori Jockey: Joao Moreira Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 10
Very smart horse. Tongue strap on for 1st time cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable 1¼ lengths third of 13 to Panthalassa in Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz (9f, 16/1) 28 days ago.
***
Country Grammer
Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Frankie Dettori Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 14
High-class horse. Two wins from 6 runs last year. 25/10, creditable ¾-length second of 13 to Panthalassa in Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz (9f) 28 days ago, staying on well. Won this last year and should make another bold bid.
*****
Crown Pride
Trainer: Koichi Shintani Jockey: Damian Lane Age: 4 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 12
Very smart colt. Course winner. 14/1, good 2¼ lengths fifth of 13 to Panthalassa in Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz (9f) 28 days ago.
***
Emblem Road
Trainer: Ahmed Abdulwahed Jockey: Adel Al Furaydi Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 2
Very smart horse. Beat Country Grammer when winning Saudi Cup last year but just respectable 4 lengths sixth of 13 to Panthalassa in this year’s renewal. First run for yard after leaving Mitab Almulawah.
**
Geoglyph
Trainer: Tetsuya Kimura Jockey: Christophe Lemaire Age: 4 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 9
Very smart colt. Good 1¼ lengths fourth of 13 to Panthalassa in Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz (9f, 25/1) 28 days ago.
***
Jun Light Bolt
Trainer: Yasuo Tomomichi Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 3
Smart horse. Three wins from 4 runs last year. Hooded for 1st time, respectable 7¼ lengths seventh of 13 to Panthalassa in Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz (9f, 55/10) 28 days ago.
**
Panthalassa
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi Jockey: Yutaka Yoshida Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 15
High-class horse. Two wins from 6 runs last year. Career best when winning 13-runner Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz (9f, 16/1) 28 days ago by ¾ length from Country Grammer. Very dangerous is allowed to dominate again.
****
Remorse
Trainer: B. Seemar Jockey: Tadhg O’Shea Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 1
Smart gelding. C&D winner. Latest win here in December. 66/1, 7¾ lengths ninth of 13 to Panthalassa in Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz (9f) 28 days ago.
**
Salute The Soldier
Trainer: Fawzi Abdulla Nass Jockey: Adrie de Vries Age: 8 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 4
Smart gelding. 3-time C&D winner. Ten wins from 28 Flat runs. Won 14-runner Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (3/1) at this C&D 21 days ago by 2 lengths from Bendoog, responding well.
**
Super Corinto
Trainer: Amador Merei Sanchez Jockey: Hector Berrios Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 11
Smart horse. Two wins from 5 runs last year. 8/10, didn’t need to improve to win 6-runner claimer at Gulfstream (8.5f). Off 107 days.
*
T O Keynes
Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 6
Smart horse. Two wins from 5 runs last year. Latest win at Morioka in November. Creditable ½-length second of 10 to Ushba Tesoro in listed race at Kawasaki (10.4f) 52 days ago.
**
Ushba Tesoro
Trainer: Noboru Takagi Jockey: Yuga Kawada Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 8
Very smart horse. Four wins from 7 runs last year. Didn’t need to improve to win 10-runner listed race at Kawasaki (10.4f) 52 days ago by ½ length from T O Keynes.
***
Vela Azul
Trainer: Kunihiko Watanabe Jockey: Cristian Demuro Age: 6 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 5
High-class horse. Four wins from 8 runs last year. Latest win at Tokyo in November. 9/1, 10¼ lengths tenth of 16 to Equinox in Arima Kinen at Nakayama (12.4f, good to firm) 90 days ago. Down in trip.
***
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire tips and runner-by-runner guide
- A 10/1 NAP heads Fran Berry’s Meydan tips and best bets
- Matt Chapman’s tips for ITV Racing at Kelso, Meydan and Newbury
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