Now we all know it’s Trials Day at Cheltenham this Saturday as we reach the business end of the jumps season. There’s a long year of racing ahead however and it would be unwise for anyone to take their eye off the ball Flat racing wise.
Two international Flat meetings take place this weekend, each of major importance. The races programmed are terrific in their own right but, much more to the point, offer clues for the Flat racing season ahead.
Some of those taking part this week will be fit and ready to go come the spring in Europe. From a betting point of view, it’s best not to be caught out.
Dubai – Friday, January 24
We have Fashion Friday at Meydan this week, one of three big meetings during the Dubai Racing Carnival. Two Group 1’s are on the card as well as some other top events. Later we’ll see Super Saturday and the Dubai World Cup itself in early April.
This is a great card, featuring four Group 3’s, two Group 2’s and a pair of Group 1’s including the Jebel Hatta on the turf.
In the seven-furlong event Charlie Appleby runs both Mysterious Night and Native Approach. Cover Up runs in the Blue Point. He has left Godolphin but is now with Simon and Ed Crisford and was a winner on his Dubai debut.
French-trained Facteur Cheval runs in the Al Maktoum Challenge, as does Local Dynasty for the Crisfords.
For most of us, the Group 1 Jebel Hatta is the big race of the night on the turf over nine furlongs. It’ll be speedy enough, but the straight takes some seeing out and a proper 1¼-mile top-class performer is needed.
Declared are Ancient Rome (Charlie Appleby), Holloway Boy (Karl Burke), Measured Time and Ottoman Fleet (Charlie Appleby), as well as Poker Face (Simon & Ed Crisford).
The closing race is a 1m6f turf event including Onesmoothoperator, Prydwen, Epic Poet, Flying Honours, King Of Conquest and Caius Chorister. All are familiar to most British fans.
Where Could Friday’s Runners End Up?
Mysterious Night may head off to the States in search of fast ground, but Native Approach could be back at Newmarket fit and ready to go over seven furlongs or a mile. He looks at least a Group 3 performer.
Cover Up could still improve and may be back in the UK at Listed or Group 3 level in the spring. Local Dynasty has done OK on the dirt so far, but a crack at the Dubai World Cup may be ambitious.
A bunch of the Jebel Hatta winners are bound to show up back home in the spring. Holloway Boy got right up to Group 2 level over a mile last season but may be seen to better effect over ten furlongs. Measured Time won this event last year before winning at the same level in the States which is where he’s likely to go.
Charlie Appleby successfully brought Ottoman Fleet back to Newmarket to win at the Craven meeting when fully fit. That could be the plan once again this April.
Most of the stayers going in the closing race will be seen back home, fit and having an early season advantage. Look out for Onesmoothoperator, Caius Chorister and King Of Conquest going over one and a half to two miles at places like Newmarket, Newbury and Goodwood and York when the new season kicks off.
USA – Saturday, January 25
This Saturday we have the Pegasus World Cup meet at Gulfstream Park in Florida. The Pegasus was once the most valuable race in the world, just for a short time, and still has a purse of $3 million. There are five major races in total, three of them on the turf and all featuring Charlie Appleby/Godolphin runners.

Appleby ran a successful satellite yard in the States last year and it looks like he will be doing the same thing this time around. Beautiful Love runs in a 1½-mile Grade 3 at 7.04pm, ridden like the others by William Buick.

Bold Act is in the male equivalent race at 8.13, while top performer Nations Pride is favourite for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at 9.55. He may take some stopping in the Grade 1 event.
Where Could Saturday’s Runners End Up?
Four-year-old Beautiful Love never saw a British racecourse last year, with the States probably on the agenda again in 2025. She could race on home shores if we start to see proper fast ground but basically keep your eye on the American turf Grade 1’s coming up.
Bold Act was only just touched off in the London Gold Cup at three and can handle British conditions. That said, he too was based Stateside last year and is ready to land a top-level race over middle distances soon.
Nations Pride needs these quick conditions and so should stay in North America. He remains a genuinely top-level performer, so again look out for him in Grade 1 events.