THE Little Britain mentality is alive and well – despite, or perhaps because of, Brexit’s meeting head on with reality in recent months – as judged by some social media comments about the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan at the weekend.

You might think that scepticism about results in the desert would have been reined in by the successes of the likes of Blue Point, Cross Counter, Old Persian and Thunder Snow – the first three trained by Charlie Appleby, the last by Saeed bin Suroor, and therefore at least nominally British -– or that of the crack Japanese mare Almond Eye, but not a bit of it.

If it does not happen at Ascot, York or Newmarket, some of my fellow Brits simply do not want to know, for which I would apologise were it not that there are more important things to apologise for already.

Each of those wins was high-class, but Blue Point’s ready success in the Al Quoz Sprint was the one which really “wowed” on the clock, coming, as it did, in just 68.39s for 1200 metres on turf.

That time is much faster than those for other Al Quoz winners at the trip and can be only partly explained by fast-ground conditions.

I have a 127 timefigure on Blue Point, with 118 and 120 on the very smart US pair Belvoir Bay and Stormy Liberal in second and third. We have been here before with Blue Point, who can blow rather hot and cold, but he really does look about as good a sprinter as there is anywhere in the world at present.

TALENTED

Old Persian and Cross Counter are nearer the other end of the distance spectrum but very nearly as talented.

The former won the Dubai Sheema Classic from two classy Japanese performers in Cheval Grand and Suave Richard, recording a 117 timefigure which is seven below what he managed when beating Cross Counter and Kew Gardens in a remarkably good Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last year.

Cross Counter famously went on to win the Melbourne Cup, of course, and he was at about the same level in landing the Dubai Gold Cup on Saturday, for all that a steady pace meant he needed to run only a 102 timefigure to account for his stable-companion Ispolini. Cross Counter had put in a 124 time when breaking the 12-furlong course record at Goodwood last year.

Thunder Snow ran “only” a 117 timefigure in following up last year’s win in the Dubai World Cup itself, but sectional analysis (using video rather than Trakus figures, which appear suspect) shows that the leaders went for home plenty far enough out, with an approximate 95% finishing speed.

Thunder Snow was close up throughout, while those making ground late were slightly aided.

Almond Eye ran a 123 timefigure in winning the Dubai Turf comfortably from another Japanese runner in Vivlos (119), though the proximity of Lord Glitters (122) in third should keep feet on the ground.

Nonetheless, this was smooth from a filly who is at least as good around 12 furlongs and who hopefully will be seen in Europe this year (she has a little to find with Enable and Sea Of Class).

X Y Jet posted a 124 timefigure in winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen, Plus Que Parfait 118 in an above-standard UAE Derby and Coal Front 118 in the Godolphin Mile.

You are indeed difficult to please if you turn up your nose at such fare.