Pat Dobbs looks worthy favourite to retain his top jockey crown

Ron Wood runs the rule over two new Meydan markets ahead of the third Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting

The Meydan top jockey is an interesting one. This is for all races run at the track in 2018-19 and includes Arabian contests.

The first thing to note is there are three extra non-carnival meetings this time around compared to last term, so that massively favours the local regulars like Pat Dobbs and Richard Mullen.

Dobbs, as first jockey to leading domestic trainer Doug Watson, edged the title last season with 15 winners to William Buick's 14. Mullen, stable jockey for the prolific Satish Seemar, was third on 12 winners. But Buick has not ridden at Meydan this season and is not due to return until January 31, so it's safe to rule him out.

Eight meetings in, with 15 still to go, Dobbs again leads the way with ten victories. He is one ahead of Mullen and the race is highly likely to prove between these two.

Connor Beasley is also going well – he's on eight winners – but his main trainer, Ahmad Bin Harmash cannot match Watson and Seemar for firepower over a whole season.

The top trainer, decided on prize-money, will probably go to Charlie Appleby or Saeed Bin Suroor, as the prices suggest.

Saeed Bin Suroor: heads the top trainer marketCredit: Chris Bourchier

They earned way more than anyone else last term, with Bin Suroor coming out on top, although big-race doubles on the World Cup card accounted for a good deal of their haul.

The aforementioned Satish Seemar could himself be in for a World Cup day to remember as he has decent chances with Raven's Corner in the Golden Shaheen and North America in the big race.

But you would be better off looking to back those two horses for their respective races – and it might not even be the worst idea to stick them in a double.

Top Meydan jockey 2018-19 (Nov 1-Apr 12, based on winners)

Fitzdares: 5-2 Pat Dobbs, 5 James Doyle, Christophe Soumillon, 6 Richard Mullen, 8 Connor Beasley, Jim Crowley, 10 Mickael Barzalona, 16 William Buick, 20 Pat Cosgrave

Top Meydan trainer 2018-19 (Nov 1-Apr 12, based on prize-money)

Fitzdares: 1-2 Saeed Bin Suroor, 7-4 Charlie Appleby, 16 any other

(Statistics can be found at emiratesracing.com)

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