Arabian Nights

28/3/17

I returned from my five-day break last night and I must officially be the first person to ever catch a cold from the weather in Dubai!!!

It was a first trip to the Emirates for me so a real eye-opener (as was the taxi driving down Sheikh Zayed Road - a general free-for-all of six lanes to do what you like - all that was missing was Dastardly & Muttley, Penelope Pitstop and The Ant Hill Mob) which included the grandeur of Dubai World Cup night despite the rain and the gales, and what a privilege it was to see the magnificent Arrogate win in the flesh. The stride on that beast making his ground on the final bend.

However, the horse that caught my eye for the upcoming season in Europe was a favourite of mine from last year in Ribchester so don’t be surprised if he features in the six-weeks’ Royal Ascot Ante-Post articles that proved profitable last season that will commence after the Guineas Meeting. As with last year I will be covering the top 30 days on the Flat once the jumps season is over.

Talking of the Flat and it’s the Lincoln Meeting this weekend. Already?! I went the year Well Rigged won but haven’t been back for a Flat Meeting there since. Whether the handicap that gives its name to the fixture will be the race that I concentrate on in tomorrow’s Ante-Post Focus, I haven’t decided yet as I’m still in jumps mode. The Flat Horses to Follow section restarts after the Craven Meeting.

In just nine days’ time we have the small matter of the Grand National Meeting and Race Trends for all 21 races at Aintree were uploaded last week. Before I head up for those three days (four days actually as I’m seeing The Who perform Tommy in Manchester the night before it all kicks off), I will upload my review of the Cheltenham Festival, probably over the weekend, with suggested pointers towards Aintree and beyond. Therefore it’s a case of getting the videos out of the action from the Cotswolds for me over the next few days.

Onto the sport and Mike Henderson has been going well with five winning recommendations out of his last six and his Week 9 preview of Thursday’s Premier League Darts action from Cardiff is now uploaded. I made a profit from my WGC World Matchplay selections last week with 3/6 winning Group stage selections at 7/2, 3/1 and 12/5 and Ciaran Meagher is back in the saddle to cover the Houston Open to be uploaded Wednesday lunchtime. I will return with Premier League Picks on Friday gunning for a twelfth winning week out of thirteen. Robbie Savage eat your heart out!