THE Dubai World Cup is upon us again and we have three Irish representatives this year, two of which have proven successful here previously. Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for his native Dubai first became a reality in 1996 with the advent of the inaugural World Cup meeting at Nad al Sheeba and the meeting took on a whole new aura when it was transferred to the spectacular setting of Meydan racecourse in 2010.

Sole Power was then only a three-year-old but he came the following year, and hasn’t missed one since! Today he makes his sixth successive appearance in the Al Quoz Sprint, a race that he won last year. It’s little wonder Eddie Lynam takes him as his forays here have yielded over €765,000 in prize money to date but it is testament to Lynam’s amazing training skills that he has managed to get Sole Power to Meydan for six years running in tip-top form.

TRAINER HOPEFUL

He deserves a share of the cash again just for that achievement alone. Sole Power has been working with his usual zest at Meydan this week but Lynam has been at pains to stress today’s renewal looks stronger than the race he won last year and the overall impression one gets is more one of hope than confidence. One thing is for sure though, they will all have to go to beat the defending champion as he always runs his heart out.

Another former winner here, Certerach, returns to try to reclaim his 2014 Dubai Gold Cup title. He hasn’t actually won a race in 12 subsequent runs but has performed with credit on more than one occasion, none more so than when second here at Meydan in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheeba Trophy on his last start.

He’s coming into this completely under the radar and he has a better chance than his odds of 33/1 indicate. Another in the race who is way over priced at 10/1 is Haafaguinea and he could prove the surprise package in the race. He has never raced over two miles previously but the dam side of his pedigree suggests he could very well stay this trip, as does his staying on third behind Sheema Classic favourite Postponed last time out on only his second start over 1m4f (he won the other one). He looks the each-way bet of the meeting.

THIRD IRISH CHALLENGER

Highland Reel is the third Irish challenger on the night and he looks a million dollars. He is already proven more than adept at travelling, with a third in Australia’s Cox Plate sandwiched between wins at the highest level in the USA and Hong Kong last year when he was a mere three-year-old. Another big prize certainly isn’t beyond him here but he will have to put up a career best to beat Japanese 2000 Guineas and Derby winner Duramente, who returned from injury with a Grade 2 win last month and therefore has race fitness on his side today.

Polar River is the shortest priced horse on the night and the filly is likely to be the most popular winner at Meydan should she take out the UAE Derby. Her trainer Doug Watson has just clinched his fourth UAE Trainer’s championship and is one of the most affable trainers you are every likely to meet. This filly is the apple of his eye and he confirmed yesterday she is comfortably the best he has ever trained. Every neutral will be willing her home against the colts as she bids to become only the second every filly to take the race.