The Dubai World Cup is the world’s richest horserace and this year 13 will go to post for the conclusion of the Dubai Racing Carnival on Saturday 30th March.

The race was won last year by the Godolphin owned Monterosso who takes his chance again this year but comes into the race off the back of his worst ever performance on his sole run since last year’s memorable win. Monterosso is a 14/1 (RaceBets) shot to be the first horse to ever retain their World Cup crown.

There are three horses currently vying for favouritism at the head of the market: Gololdhin’s Hunter’s Light (9/2) and the former Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom (9/2) are joint favourites with Royal Delta (5/1) just half a point back. African Story is a 9/1 shot and the Al Maktoum Challenge 2nd Kassiano is 9/1.

Kassiano was only rated 106 at the start of the Carnival and has been the most progressive handicapper in Dubai, winning three times before producing a career best to chase home Hunter’s Light with a less than clear passage.

African Story (9/1 with Racebets) is the horse a lot of people are talking about but he will be tackling the 1 ¼ mile test and heading into the unknown, despite him winning the Group 3 Burj Nahaar earlier this month by over two lengths. African Story’s form on this surface brings him into consideration and if he goes over a mile he could make his 9/1 odds look silly.

Hunter’s Light had Kassiano 2 ¾ lengths behind when winning the Al Maktoum Challenge on 9th March taking his recent run to five wins and a second (behind Cirrus Des Aigles at Longchamp). He goes fine on the symthetic surface and is expected to go close if he gets the run of the race and can come off the pace.

The leading American hope comes from Animal Kingdom who comes to Dubai 12 months later than planned after suffering an injury last year meaning he has only had three runs in the last 19 months, all on turf. This horse is going into the unknown on the synthetic surface and his hold-up style is almost certainly going to see him running into the back of other horses.

American have a strong hand this year and Royal Delta will have benefited from the experience of her run last year when she disappointed. She has improved again culminating in victory in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic and that looks to ensure she will go closer this time around.

Of the outsides in the market Treasure Beach (20/1 RaceBets) could only manage sixth place behind Hunters Light and has a lot to find, and the British trio of Planteur, Side Glance and Red Cadeaux will also struggle to go the pace.

One of the most interesting runners is the rank outsider of the race, the Andre Fabre trained Meandre (25/1 with RaceBets). The French trained runner has never ran on this surface before but finished less than a length behind the winner in third in the Longines Hong Kong Vase  in December. There is much debate about this entry with other races more likely to suit, but the triple Group One winner over a mile on a half on turf may well spring a surprise and run into a place if he handles the surface.

Dubai World Cup Betting Tips:

African Story – 9/1 with RaceBets

Meandre each-way – 25/1 with RaceBets

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