A YEAR after A Case Of You gave trainer Ado McGuinness a memorable success on Dubai World Cup night, there are four Irish-trained horses lining up at Meydan this evening, or rather, this afternoon.

Aidan O’Brien returns with three runners - Broome in the two-mile Gold Cup, Cairo in the UAE Derby (on dirt), and Order Of Australia in the nine-furlong Dubai Turf. In addition, Johnny Murtagh runs Ladies Church in the six-furlong Al Quoz Sprint.

Other potential highlights on the eight-race card include the possibility of a Frankie Dettori winner on what will be his final Dubai appearance, and the expected strength of the Japanese contingent (they had five winners last year).

There is also the prospect of a first British-trained winner of the World Cup since Singspiel won for Michael Stoute in 1997. Algiers, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, has looked a world-beater in two starts over the track in January and February. Can he step up again to see off last year’s winner Country Grammer and no less than eight Japanese hopefuls?

All races will be shown on Racing TV and the final three also on ITV 4.

12.05 Godolphin Mile (Group 2) 1m dirt

A race which the locals often retain though the Americans and Japanese have won two of the last three runnings. Local form this season has looked poor – Discovery Island and Royal Mews are surely not as good as last year’s winner Bathrat Leon from Japan. His recent turf strike in Saudi Arabia was arguably a lifetime best. He was 80/1 here last year but will start favourite now. Andre Fabre’s all-weather winner Egot (by Invincible Spirit) is a risky proposition on his dirt debut.

SELECTION: BATHRAT LEON

Next best: Royal Mews

12.40 Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2) 2m turf

No Japanese runners this year, so Godolphin have a chance to claim back this race they have won in the past with the likes of Cross Counter and Cavalryman. Siskany looks their best hope but he was a modest third in this last year when favourite and doesn’t look to have improved a lot since then.

One who has definitely improved since undergoing a wind operation last year is the Ian Williams-trained Enemy. A course winner in January, he was a touch unlucky when second in Saudi Arabia last month.

The 2021 winner Subjectivist has at least 7lb in hand of these in theory and he showed up reasonably well on his recent comeback in Saudi, where he did not settle.

Joe Fanning’s mount will probably make a bold bid again from the front but it’s a leap of faith to see him return to his best at this stage. He could be taken on for the lead by Quickthorn, a former mudlark who seems to handle quicker ground now.

SELECTION: ENEMY.

Next best: Siskany

1.15 Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1) 6f turf

George Boughey’s three-year-old Al Dasim has been a sensation in Meydan this season, winning all three starts, including when defeating his elders in the recognised trial for this contest a few weeks ago. This will be a big ask but, in the absence of any international stars, he is the one to beat.

Al Suhail has really clicked on his last two outings here but they were both over seven furlongs and around a bend. This straight six will be very different. The distance is not ideal either for Johnny Murtagh’s Ladies Church, as all of her best form is over five.

Richard Hannon’s globretrotter Happy Romance deserves to get her head in front in one of these. She was second to A Case Of You in this a year ago and her recent Saudi fourth placing was encouraging. The Kuwaiti-trained Miqyaas (second to Al Dasim last time) is another consistent sort who should be thereabouts.

SELECTDION: HAPPY ROMANCE

Next best: Miqyaas

1.50 UAE Derby (Group 2) 1m 1f 110yds dirt

Aidan O’Brien has won this three times in the past, twice on Tapeta and once on the current dirt surface. His representative this time, Cairo, is by dirt specialist Quality Road and he brings very solid form to the table.

He finds plenty under pressure and the step up to nine furlongs should suit. It’s just a question of whether he can handle the surface well enough to stay in touch. None of the three American raiders make much appeal, the locals look very ordinary and, to be honest, the five Japanese challengers are too difficult to assess!

SELECTION: CAIRO

Next best: Ah Jeez

2.25 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1) 6f dirt

This is Tadhg O’Shea’s big moment as he tries to repeat last year’s shock win with Switzerland. Connections have figured out the nine-year-old is best fresh and he looked as good as ever on his sole start of the season in January.

Japanese hopeful Red Le Zele finished second in the past two editions and is entitled to go well again, but he looks inferior to Japan’s Lemon Pop, a Group 1 winner himself and owned by Godolphin, so this is likely to have been his aim for some time.

The Americans have a strong team too, headed by juvenile Grade 1 winner Gunite, though he was no match for a Japanese winner in Saudi last time.

SELECTION: LEMON POP

Next best: Switzerland

3.10 Dubai Turf (Group 1) 9f turf

Good old Lord North is back, having won this race by three lengths in 2021 and dead-heated last year with Japanese star Panthalassa. The Gosden-trained seven-year-old showed himself to be in good form when winning a minor event on the all-weather recently but this looks a very tough task.

The market is headed by two Japanese horses – Serifos and Danon Beluga. The Japanese have won this six times since 2007 and probably will again. Serifos is marginally preferred.

Real World could be a good value bet. Recently gelded, this multiple Group 2 winner probably needed the run when down the field in a trial for this race a few weeks ago.

SELECTION: SERIFOS

Next best: Danon Beluga

4.00 Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) 12f turf

This looks another bound for Japan. Equinox is the hottest favourite of the night. He was very impressive in the Arima Kinen last December and had earlier defeated Panthalassa, who recently won the Saudi Cup.

Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Rebel’s Romance has done nothing wrong in his last five starts and is entitled to improve again.

But it’s not hard to take a dim view of his overall form. Stone Age finished second to him in the Breeders’ Cup and that one has done little since.

Mostahdaf was very impressive over 10 furlongs in Saudi. He has won over 12 furlongs before and it seems fast ground is the key to him. He is preferred to Irish Derby winner Westover who has plenty to prove after losing his way last season.

SELECTION: EQUINOX

Next best: Rebel’s Romance

4.35 Dubai World Cup (Group 1) 10f dirt

A cracking race to end proceedings. We have a rematch between the first two home in the Saudi Cup (Panthalassa and Country Grammer), a total of eight challengers from Japan (they’ve only won it once) and the intriguing Algiers, who has reinvented himself as a dirt racing champion in Meydan after stints in France and Britain.

Panthalassa had the benefit of a good draw in Saudi but has a wide draw here, as does Country Grammer, though the latter should reverse the Saudi form over this longer trip. Algiers is another fancied horse who must overcome a wide berth.

The value could be among the other Japanese runners. Ryan Moore won the Japan Cup aboard Vela Azul but today Moore stays with Jun Light Bolt, on whom he finished just seventh in the Saudi Cup.

They were among the favourites in Saudi and one suspects much better was expected.

SELECTION: JUN LIGHT BOLT

Next best: Country Grammer