Thyestes Chase and Dubai Racing Carnival

With less than 50 days until the Cheltenham Festival and Trials Day coming this Saturday, one might be forgiven for forgetting that there’s action for those who want the best of both worlds, but with Gowran’s Thyestes Chase card and then the third fixture of the Dubai Carnival today.

However we start with the feature race of the day in Ireland, the Thyestes Chase (3.15), where Willie Mullins, the flavour of the week after committing unbeaten Mare Annie Power to run in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster, has two strong chances of adding yet another big prize to his roster. The first is Vesper Bell, a horse that we’ve followed on two occasions this season in major handicap chases, only to see him fall at the first in the Becher Chase, before then falling before the race had gotten serious in the Betfair Classic Chase. Jumping is obviously a concern following those two failures, and the Thyestes chase might not be as suitable for him – his best effort has come at 3m6f – but that effort was still one of the most promising in the field and as usual, his stamina should play tremendously to his favour at the end of proceedings.

On His Own, another favourite of this page, is 17lbs higher than his 10 length win in this last year, but if he’s at his best – which we haven’t seen for a while – then he is more than capable of playing a big hand here today. With valid excuses for some of those poor efforts (including three of those runs over hurdles), he’s given one more chance today.

At Meydan, we have one of the most competitive cards of the entire meeting with valid contenders for each and every race. The fiercely contested GN Focus Handicap (3.05) is one of them, but Goldophin’s Excellent Result is progressive enough for us to give him a tight vote over his stablemate Handsome Man. Back upto 1m4f following a good fourth at York, he can continue his progression from last year in what is a tough field. Next up (3.40), Solar Deity fits into the same category for all that Chil The Kite’s best form gives him and outstanding chance if handling this surface.

And last but not least, a chance can be taken with Daddy Long Legs, in the XPRESS Handicap (4.15). Seemingly a shadow of the horse that was once sent to the Kentucky Derby, trust has to be taken but a step back up in trip should bring the best out of him and is so,

Advice – Dubai Carnival

1 pt Excellent Result, 3.05 Meydan (4/1 Bet Victor)

1 pt win Solar Deity, 3.40 Meydan (13/2 Bet Victor)

1 pt win Chil The Kite, 3.40 Meydan  (12/1 Bet365)

1 pt win Daddy Long Legs, 4.15 Meydan (15/2 Hills)

Advice

1 pt each/way Vesper Bell, 3.15 Gowran (8/1 Paddy Power)

1 pt each/way On His Own, 3.15 Gowran (12/1 Paddy Power)