Dubai-bound Mutakayyef set for crucial Chelmsford workout

Upcoming plans for William Haggas's top older performer Mutakayyef will be determined after the six-year-old has a racecourse gallop at Chelmsford on Thursday.

Owner Hamdan Al Maktoum is keen to see his chestnut in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on World Cup night at Meydan on March 25 for which he is 9-2 second favourite with Paddy Power.

Before then, Mutakayyef is to be given a warm up in either the Group 3 Betway Winter Derby at Lingfield on Saturday week, for which he is 4-1 second favourite with sponsors, or instead to head out to Dubai for the Group 1 Jebel Hatta a week later.

Last season, the son of Sea The Stars landed his first Group 2 win when landing the Summer Mile at Ascot prior to being placed twice at Group 1 level, most recently when third to the mighty Tepin in the Woodbine Mile in Canada in September.

Haggas said: "Mutakayyef is coming along and the plan is to give him a racecourse gallop at Chelmsford on Thursday when Richard Hills will probably ride him. After that, Sheikh Hamdan will make the decision whether he preps at Lingfield or out at Meydan."