Dubai Golden Shaheen Meydan Saturday.

I started looking at this race after James Knight tweeted that he had backed Euroears at 5/1 as he's a good judge. As I went through it however I was struck by the amount of pace in the field: Rocket Man, Charlie's Moment, Dim Sum, Euroears and Kinsale King all want to lead or sit very handy and I can easily see the pace collapsing late. If it does a closer could well pick up the pieces and Green Birdie could be the one to benefit. At 20/1 tonight he's definitely overpriced to place and if getting a good tow here he could even cause a shock- he's beaten the favourite before in a Grade 1. 1.5 pts each way Green Birdie 20/1 Paddy Power 1/4 123. 4th 16/1 -3 pts.

County Hurdle Friday

My shortlist here is
Secret Dancer (backed at 22/1 Corals)
Final Approach (12/1 Ladbrokes)
Ciceron (should get 25/1 in the morning).

Final Approach won 10/1, others unplaced.

Byrne Group Plate Thursday

One that stands out here is Nigel Twiston-Davies Crescent Island who has good course form having been third in last year's Jewson. Three miles on softish ground was not his bag at Kempton and these conditions will suit much better. The 20/1 available tonight is decent value each way.

Non-runner.

Kim Muir Thursday

One that caught my eye straight away this evening was Phillip Hobbs' Mostly Bob. He was an early faller in the Racing Post Chase but it wasn't really his fault as he collided with another runner. Conditions here will suit really well and 16/1 should be taken each way. PU 12/1.

Pertemps Final Thursday

I went early on this race backing three horses before shop closing time tonight. The first is a big price but after Henry De Bromhead's last two days I wouldn't want to be laying too much 33/1 each way about his Quieros Bleu. He ran in the Leopardstown qualifier staying on steadily from the back then had a sighter for this over an inadequate 2 miles at Naas. He will much prefer the good ground here and has a definite chance. I had Rivage D'Or down as a bit of a rogue until he won decisively at Naas the last day and I've lost count of the number of similar nearly horses who improve massively after a confidence-boosting win. I took 12/1 tonight with Hills. Finally David Pipe's plot horse Chartreux can only get shorter and is worth backing at tonight's 7/1. 5th 33/1, unpl 10/1, unpl 6/1.

Festival Bumper Wednesday

I haven't had much luck here in the past few years since the heady days of Joe Cullen and Pizarro, but I can pass on a small word for Charles O'Brien's Double Double who was put away for this after a win on fast ground at Leopardstown last May. 25/1 is worth a nibble.
unpl 20/1.

National Hunt Novice Chase Wednesday

Not the same idiosyncratic contest since the conditions were changed, this is now a bog-standard novice chase. One persuasive statistic is that the high-rated horses to run here (140+) have all been well stuffed- could be that sheer staying power overcomes class at this trip. That encourages me to take on Alfa Beat and Chicago Grey here. Jonjo O'Neill has a blinding record here, probably because he's an expert at training slow horses and his Aberdale is worth support at 12/1.
PU 10/1.