Benbatl will audition for a start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup – if not an even richer race before then – when he makes his dirt debut Thursday night at Meydan in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2.

The race, over 1,900 meters (about 9 ½ furlongs) is a Grade 2 worth $450,000, but those particulars are secondary consideration for owner Godolphin, trainer Saeed bin Suroor, and jockey Christophe Soumillon. Benbatl won the $6 million Dubai Turf on the 2018 World Cup card and is a Group 1 winner on three continents, but dirt racing is a land he’s yet to explore.

R1 4-5-9-1
R2 5-6-8-11
R3 6-5-3-11
R4 5-3-9-11
R5 10-5-1-3
R6 2-9-6-4
R7 3-11-2-1
R8 6-8-4-3

Best R7 N3 BEAR AGAIN
Value R3 N6 PERFECT TO PLAY
PLAY - R8 Q 3-4-6-8

Paul Lally:

R1 1-9-5-4
R2 6-8-5-12
R3 2-8-10-3
R4 5-3-1-9
R5 1-5-2-3
R6 6-9-4-12
R7 4-2-11-3
R8 4-8-1-6

Best Bet R8 N4 Meridian Genius
Longshot R3 N2 Harrier Jet
Play R8 1-4-8

Tom Wood:

Aside from his humorous name, Horsesain Bolt is a gelding with considerable ability.

Third in his Hong Kong debut on Jan. 11 at Sha Tin Racecourse, Horsesain Bolt will start at Happy Valley Racecourse for the first time in Wednesday’s $186,699 Russell Handicap at about a mile and 50 yards. Horsesain Bolt, trained by first-year trainer Doug Whyte, is part of a full field of 12 and will be ridden by Karis Teetan. Whyte is the all-time leading rider in Hong Kong who retired in early 2019.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, February 5, 2020)

Graham Cunningham:

R1 8-9-6-4

R2 1-3-10-6

R3 8-3-2-10

R4 7-14-3-2

R5 4-8-3-5

R6 7-1-9-12

R7 8-1-11-7

R8 2-12-10-3

R9 8-10-12-1

R10 6-8-3-7

Best:  R8 N2 Hong Kong Win

Value: R4 N7 Care Free Prince

Play: R9 Tierce  8 > 1-9-10-12

Paul Lally:

R1: 8-6-9-4

R2: 3-9-1-6

R3: 8-13-10-3

R4: 14-3-9-4

R5: 4-5-3-8

R6: 7-13-14-1

R7: 8-11-12-1

R8: 9-8-2-5

R9: 8-9-10-1

R10: 8-6-7-4

Best: R4 N14 Casimiro

Probably Barney Roy’s glory days will forever remain his 3-year-old season, but the 6-year-old version of Barney Roy looked better Thursday night at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai than the 5-year-old one did in England.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, February 2, 2020)

Barney Roy, one of the best European 3-year-olds of 2017, will try to make his mark on the Dubai turf circuit when he makes his 6-year-old debut Thursday at Meydan.

Paul Lally:

R1: 8-3-1-6
R2: 1-3-8-10
R3: 12-3-1-11
R4: 5-3-1-2
R5: 4-10-6-7
R6: 5-10-4-2
R7: 4-7-6-5
R8: 9-7-2-6
R9: 8-10-1-3

Best R7 N4 Victoriam
Long R5 N4 Pretty Bauhina
Play R5 QQP 4-6-10

Tom Wood:

R1: 11 – 3 – 4 – 8
R2: 1 – 3 – 10 – 7
R3: 9 – 6 – 11 – 2
R4: 11 – 5 – 2 – 6
R5: 7 – 8 – 10 – 3
R6: 10 – 5 – 4 – 1
R7: 4 – 5 – 6 – 7
R8: 9 – 6 – 7 – 3
R9: 8 – 10 – 1 – 9

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, January 29, 2020)