Dubai hopes for a happy outing

If you love horse racing, this weekend you might feel like a child in a sweet shop as there is just so much action to choose from and with Group Ones in France, Singapore, Ireland and America there is no excuse not to get yourself settled in front of the TV screen and gorge on a feast of fabulous horse racing.

The 2010 Epsom Derby and l'Arc hero, Workforce was due to make his eagerly awaited return in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday, but looks likely to take up an engagement at Sandown next Wednesday instead, which leaves the coast clear for the Ballydoyle camp who could turn out the dual Cox Plate winner So You Think along with Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco. Staged on the second day of the Abu Dhabi-sponsored Irish Guineas Festival, the 1m2f showpiece usually attracts a small field, but this year's renewal is high on quality and quantity, and one thing's for sure, it will definitely take some winning.

The Irish 1000 & 2000 Guineas are the official features and while each race looks quite competitive, they don't really get the pulses going and, in my opinion, both appear very substandard versions.

David Simcock has already taken out his dual Group One winner Dream Ahead due to the ground not being soft enough, but with the current going officially described as good and showers expected between now and Saturday, the turf might not end up as quick as anticipated. There's no denying the son of Diktat likes a bit of cut, but he's yet to race on anything quicker than ‘good' and who's to say he won't handle a slightly firmer surface? Horses don't win races stood in their stables.

Singapore calling

There's a very strong Dubai representation at Kranji in Singapore on Sunday as UAE Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe saddles Happy Dubai in the KrisFlyer Sprint, and takes on Golden Shaheen victor Rocket Man, while Godolphin rely on Calvados Blues in the Singapore International Airlines Cup. Lizard's Desire and Gloria De Campeao have won the last two renewals, and with the 2,000m showpiece also featuring Dubai regular Presvis, Jebel Hatta victor Wigmore Hall and Mike de Kock's River Jetez, we're set for a cracker of a race.

In France, Goldikova returns to the fray in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp and could face Richard Hannon's Dick Turpin, who makes a quick re-appearance after running in the Lockinge (behind stable mate Canford Cliffs) last Saturday, and with Rajsaman, including Prince Khalid Abdullah's Byword added to the mix, my word we have another brilliant contest in prospect.

The race I'm most looking forward to however is the Temple Stakes from Haydock. It might only be a Group Two, but British racegoers will get the chance to see the ‘Budapest Bullet', Overdose, for the first time and his performance will be highly anticipated.

Well done to Gill Duffield who saddled a brace of winners on the opening meeting of the Arabian racing season at Taunton last Sunday, and has clearly made the perfect start in her bid for another trainer's championship.