TODAY’S Dubai World Cup fixture may boast $30 million in prize money but, in this part of the world, the meeting is going to be overshadowed by the Grand National. This is the first time the two big races have clashed in the 30-year history of the Dubai gala event.

The clash would have been even worse but for unusually high temperatures in Dubai this week which prompted the organisers to delay the start time by an hour. As a result the $12 million feature race won’t start until 6.30pm.

There is just one Irish-trained horse in action on the card - Continuous in the two-mile Gold Cup. You could argue that the 2023 St Leger winner hasn’t lived up to expectations since that classic win, but his stable won this race last year with a similar type in Tower Of London. However, the French-trained Double Major brings more recent Group 1-winning form to the table.

Goodwood Group 2 winner Term Of Endearment, formerly trained by Henry de Bromhead and having her first start here for William Haggas, adds further Irish interest to the opener.

Japanese challenge

Oddly, there are no Japanese-trained runners in the Gold Cup but Japan is well-represented in all the other seven thoroughbred races on the card.

Skipping ahead to the World Cup itself, a Japanese winner looks very likely. Forever Young, recent winner of the Saudi Cup, is odds-on to complete the double in this evening’s big race. The four-year-old won the UAE Derby over this course and distance a year ago and, since then, has acquitted himself with great credit in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic. The opposition here is weak by comparison.

Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior, just edged out by Forever Young in Saudi Arabia, appears to have a similarly straight-forward task in the nine-furlong Dubai Turf. A good value each-way option is last year’s winner Facteur Cheval, who has had genuine excuses for all his disappointing efforts since then. Ghostwriter, who has Rossa Ryan on board for the first time, is also overpriced on his best form.

The Sheema Classic, over 12 furlongs on turf, is arguably the race of the day. Taking on local hero Rebel’s Romance are Calandagan from France, Japan’s Shin Emperor and don’t rule out Giavellotto from England. Even the Japanese outsiders Durezza and Danon Decile bring strong form to the table.

O’Shea’s big hopes

The Golden Shaheen (6f, dirt) looks a match between Breeders’ Cup winner Straight No Chaser and local star Tuz, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea. A 10/1 shot when he won this race last year, Tuz has been odds-on for all four of his easy wins over the course and distance this season. He faces a much stiffer task against the brilliant American sprinter but I have a feeling that O’Shea will find a way to stay in front of him.

O’Shea and his employer Bhupat Seemar are without World Cup winner Laurel River today but they have secured another very exciting US import in Mufasa, who runs in the Godolphin Mile. This Chilean-bred was one of the top American dirt horses over seven furlongs last year. He has a bad draw today though, as does another American challenger, Raging Torrent. This four-year-old will be hard to beat if he can overcome stall 10. His trainer Doug O’Neill has a great record in the race.

There are five British-trained runners in the six-furlong Al Quoz on turf, the best of them probably the filly Believing. She’s having her first start since being bought by Coolmore for three million guineas last December. Believing was mainly campaigned over five furlongs last year and she had a bit to prove today, on her first start since finishing third in the Abbaye. At the prices, Ed Bethell’s Regional makes more appeal. Six furlongs on fast ground is exactly what he wants, and he has beaten Believing before.

The Japanese have won the past three runnings of the UAE Derby so it would be unwise to rule out any of their four runners today. However, there is a tenuous line of form through Saudi Derby winner Golden Vekoma which gives Jamie Osborne’s Heart Of Honor a fighting chance. Having debuted in a Southwell maiden last October, this dirt-bred colt has acquitted himself well in four starts over the Meydan track this winter. Osborne won this race 11 years ago with Toast Of New York and his daughter Saffie, who rides Heart Of Honor, became the first woman to ride a winner at Meydan in February 2024.

Selections

2.10 Double Major

2.45 Raging Torrent (NAP)

3.20 Regional

4.00 Heart Of Honor

4.40 Tuz

5.15 Romantic Warrior

5.50 Giavellotto

6.30 Forever Young