The Meydan Punt: Nick Driver with his three best bets for Thursday

BANKER

(3.05 Meydan)

The first thoroughbred race on the card sees the return of the Godolphin sprinting superstar Blue Point and this almost looks like a penalty kick en route to the Al Quoz.

With his conqueror in this race last year, Ertijaal, having unfortunately died of colic and Hit The Bid picking up a small injury, only Faatinah is rated high enough to give Blue Point a race and he's probably found his level in handicaps.

Roussel is likely to set a nice pace for William Buick to aim at and son of Shamardal should really be too good off level weights.

GOOD THING

(3.40 Meydan)

The stars need to align for Heavy Metal to produce his best and that has certainly happened here as he has picked up the plum draw in stall one.

The nine-year-old was devastating when picking up an inside draw at Meydan last year, especially when bolting up by nearly ten lengths in this race.

This won't be easy, with Kimbear and Muntazah finishing second and third behind North America when Heavy Metal was tailed off last time out while Janoobi and Secret Ambition are Group winners in their own right.

However, you can that run by Heavy Metal as he missed the break from a wide draw, which means he is beaten from the very off, but in stall one, with the early pace, you can be sure you'll see a different horse here.

DARK HORSE

(5.25 Meydan)

One of the more unnoticed runs to come out of the Group 3 Al Shindagha was that of Nine Below Zero.

He ran a valiant race in defeat that day having also beaten two good yardsticks over course and distance on one of the Meydan Saturday cards. He got trapped in between Drafted and Ibn Malik when starting to make a run before jinking again behind the weakening Switzerland and finally running on into fourth.

He's not normally a quick starter so, while the draw in stall eight isn't ideal, Meydan veteran Tadhg O'Shea can tuck him in and set him up for a late run. There will be a ferocious pace to aim at courtesy of Switzerland and Lavaspin and I think he should be there at the business end with a clear run.

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