Dubai World Cup racing tips: Best bets from the three biggest races at Meydan

With a total of £24 million in prize money up for grabs, the big guns will be out in force at Meydan, where there is top quality racing to enjoy all day long on both the turf and the dirt tracks.

The last three races see the prize money escalate steeply, kicking off with the Dubai Turf and the Dubai Sheema Classic at more than £4 million apiece, and culminating with the crowning glory of the Dubai World Cup itself, which puts a staggering £9.5 million into the pot. 

We’d have to stake a pretty penny to get anywhere that from our bets on those three races, but hopefully our friends at Tipstrr can pick out a winner or two that can give us something to cheer about as we watch the drama unfold.    

15:10 Meydan: Dubai Turf (1 mile 1 furlong - Turf)

Three-time winner Lord North (including a dead-heat with Panthalassa two years ago) is looking to defend his crown once again, and with Frankie Dettori back in the saddle, he’s sure to be well backed once again and would certainly be a very popular winner.

At around 6/1, the eight-year-old holds some each-way value, but his hopes of a fourth visit to Meydan’s winner’s enclosure will need a couple of his rivals to falter.

Japanese hopes lie with likely favourite Do Deuce, but our nod goes to Charlie Appleby’s Measured Time, who lines up having been beaten by just one of his 46 rivals in six career outings, and that was on Kempton’s all-weather track in November.

He was last seen winning the Jebel Hatta over this course and distance in January, seeing off eight rivals in convincing manner, and with William Buick back in the saddle, he should give another good account here.

Best bet: Measured Time in the 15:10 at Meydan

• Tip advised by Honest Jim on Tipstrr

With four places widely available (and as many as five in places), the likes of Nashwa hold some each-way appeal at a double-digit price.

Beaten just once as a three-year-old (when third in the 2022 Epsom Oaks behind Tuesday and Emily Upjohn), the Gosden yard’s smart mare landed the Falmouth Stakes at last year’s July meeting at Newmarket.

Ascot’s soft ground proved her undoing when last seen in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October, but assuming she rolls up in top shape and is able to overcome an outside stall, she could well make her presence know her under Hollie Doyle.

Each way punt: Nashwa in the 15:10 at Meydan

• Tip advised by EachWayMorningTips on Tipstrr

 

16:00 Meydan: Dubai Sheema Classic (1½  miles - Turf)

High-quality racing names roll off the tongue for the Sheema Classic, with last year’s Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin topping the bill for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, while Kieran Shoemark carries British hopes aboard Emily Upjohn, who was runner-up in the 2022 Oaks and went on to land the Coronation Cup at last year’s Derby meeting.

It would be no surprise to see either of those leading the way home, but splitting them at the top of the betting is a high-class filly in the shape of Liberty Island, who has been beaten by just two of her 105 rivals in seven career outings to date.

Winner of  the Japanese versions of the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks, she found only the imperious Equinox (winner of this a year ago) too good for her in the Japan Cup last time out in November, and she looks a strong challenger here in the capable hands of Yuga Kawada.

Best bet: Liberty Island in the 16:00 at Meydan

• Tip advised by Win Only Tester on Tipstrr

Those looking to take advantage of the four each-way places up for grabs might well be drawn to the proven capabilities of six-year-old Shahryah, who is looking to rekindle the form that landed the Japanese Derby in 2021 and this very race two years ago.

A less stellar five-year-old campaign included fifth place in his title defence here 12 months ago, but he should be taken seriously once more after finishing a close-up third in the Breeders Cup Turf in November, a race he might well have won if he had commanded the rail on the run-in.

Each way punt: Shahryah each-way in the 16:00 at Meydan

• Tip advised by Model Man on Tipstrr

 

16:35 Meydan: Dubai World Cup (1¼  miles - Dirt)

It would not be surprising if Frankie Dettori markes his return to Meydan with a visit to the winner’s circle, and he stands a chance on Bob Baffert’s Newgate, who appears to have more in the locker after producing figures of 21221 in his five outings over the last year.

However, he will need to get his nose in front of a strong Japanese contingent, spearheaded by last year’s 9/1 winner Ushba Tesoro, who looks primed for a decent title defence after coming a close-up second in the Saudi Cup five weeks ago.

His main threat is another proven Meydan winner in the shape of Derma Sotogake, who caught the eye a year ago when making all to land the UAE Derby in impressive style.

The four-year-old finished a couple of lengths behind Ushba Tesoro when coming a creditable fifth  in last month’s Saudi Cup, but better is expected to come and it would be no surprise if he reverses that form here.

Suggested best bet: Derma Sotogake in the 16:35 at Meydan

• Tip advised by Win Only Tester on Tipstrr

Lurking beneath the radar (but not low enough to evade Tipstrr’s each-way pundits) is Laurel River, who was a Grade 2 winner for Bob Baffert, and appears to have taken a change of yard and scenery in his powerful stride.

Although seventh of nine on stable debut in January, that cobweb-blower was soon forgotten and forgiven five weeks later, when he romped seven lengths clear of the nearest of his 15 rivals to land the one-mile Burj Nahaar at this venue at the beginning of March.

Although yetunproven over anything more than a mile, the manner in which he surged clear and ran through the line here last time suggests that he should not be fazed by an extra couple of furlongs.

Each way punt: Laurel River each-way in the 16:35 at Meydan

• Tip advised by No Dodgy Overnight Tips on Tipstrr