Meydan Preview 20/02/19

The first race of the day at Meydan is the Jaguar F PACE Dirt Handicap over seven furlongs and we have selected African Ride for trainer Simon Crisford to take this contest.

Crisford's yard has been at the heart of the equine flu saga in Britain but he is now available to race his horses and this five year old looks to have a great chance off the back of his form line.

His best form has been in Europe racing over 6/7f furlongs and has shown a lo of promise in his two starts on the dirt in Meydan finishing a good third last time out.

The second race of the day at Meydan is the Land Rover Turf Handicap over six furlongs and we have selected Ekhtiyaar for trainer Doug Watson to take this contest.

This five year old was a very smart handicapper back in England landing some nice races and also running in defeat behind some nice horses to gain some placings.

On his first try here for his new trainer over seven furlongs he finished a good third behind an opponent in this race and if learning from that has a great chance.

The next race from Meydan in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes on turf see's Godolphin have six of the eight runners and we have chosen one of them in Oasis Charm for Charlie Appleby.

This five year old is unbeaten in his last three races including his latest outing over course and distance where he landed his hat trick in a handicap.

He does lose his number one rider in William Buick to another horse but the capable Brett Doyle is on board and he is going in search of a four timer.

The fourth selection of the day comes in the Fillies Dirt Group 3 contest and we have gone with another Godolphin owned horse in Divine Image for Charlie Appleby.

This three year old filly has only raced twice in her career making a superb debut in England at Chelmsford on the all weather by winning and then on her second start finishing a staying on second after falling out the stalls.

If she makes a good start from the of and not chasing the pack she has a clear chance to reverse the odds against the horse she lost to last time.

The penultimate selection of the day comes in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile contest and we have gone with another Godolphin owned horse in Mythical Magic for Charlie Appleby.

This four year old is a very consistent horse finishing in the placings on his last three starts, with his latest coming over seven furlongs at Meydan behind another smart Godolphin horse called D'bai.

That was also in a Group 2 contest so it shows he has the form to compete and going up an extra furlong looks like it will suit. Strong chance.

The final selection of the day comes in the Range Rover Velar Handicap on Turf over a mile and we have gone with the David Hayes trained Eshtiraak to win.

This four year old see's top jockey Jim Crowley on board and this horse has a great chance after winning six times in Australia and not running badly at Meydan so far.

He has had two starts here lately finishing fifth and sixth in big fields but doesn't look to far away from finding that right run and getting himself up amongst the placings.