Last year he was taking on Constitution Hill, now Burdett Road is one of 63 British and Irish runners seeking Middle East riches

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An impressive 63 British and Irish-trained horses head to post across Bahrain and Meydan today, with a number of intriguing contenders in action. We take a closer look at five of the most eye-catching entries.  

Alpine Trail

1.30 Meydan: 1m2f Zabeel Turf Handicap

Alpine Trail and William Buick win at NewmarketCredit: John Grossick

This four-year-old son of Dubawi looks primed for a strong run in the Godolphin blue for Charlie Appleby.

Alpine Trail won his first three starts, the latest of those victories coming in the Listed Newmarket Stakes when he made all in comfortable fashion. While it may not have been the strongest field, he marked himself out as an exciting prospect. 

He was well beaten in a strong Dante Stakes, contested by the likes of Pride Of Arras, The Lion In Winter and Wimbledon Hawkeye, and has since been gelded. He now joins a long list of Godolphin runners heading to Meydan and Bahrain.

Archivist

1.30 Meydan: 1m2f Zabeel Turf Handicap

Archivist (centre) finishes third in the John Smith's CupCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Wathnan Racing have just two runners heading to Meydan and Archivist looks the more exciting of the pair after a close third in the John Smith’s Cup Handicap.

Since his debut, the four-year-old has been placed in all of his starts. After moving to William Haggas’s yard, he notched back-to-back victories, including success in the Dubai Mile Handicap at York. Although he was a beaten favourite in the John Smith's Cup, he handled the step up in trip from a mile well and that has been his best run yet.

Since then, he has been gelded and has changed hands to Hamad Al Jehani. The handicapper has raised him by just 2lb from his last run, which can be viewed as a positive.

Two Tribes

2.40 Meydan: 6f Arn Handicap

Two Tribes (far side) lands the Stewards' Cup in AugustCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The five-year-old has landed some good prizes in 2025, most memorably winning the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood in August.

Trained by Richard Spencer, he had already outrun odds of 25-1 in a strong 21-runner handicap at Ascot before going on to help his trainer land a remarkable training performance in the Stewards’ Cup, where Spencer also saddled the fourth and fifth.

Since then, things have proved a little trickier for the five-year-old, with a couple of those runs possibly attributable to softer ground. However, Billy Loughnane is booked for the ride, just a few days after breaking the record for the most winners in a calendar year this century on Tuesday.

Roman Dragon

4.00 Bahrain: 6f Al Riffa Cup Handicap

Hugo Palmer is hoping Roman Dragon can go one better than last time in Bahrain and land the £64,000 contest.

This is the third winter the seven-year-old has spent racing in Bahrain and he has enjoyed success before, having won on each of his previous visits in February.

While his form was slightly inconsistent back home last year, he managed two wins from seven starts, including the Listed Queensferry Stakes at Chester in August. 

It was an encouraging sign that he went so close in Bahrain last month, returning from a three-month break.

Burdett Road

5.35 Meydan: 1m6f Zoho

James Owen is no stranger to sending out runners in international competition and Burdett Road is a particularly interesting dual-purpose performer to follow on his first attempt overseas.

It was not long ago that the six-year-old finished third to Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle before going on to place behind Golden Ace twice, most notably in the Champion Hurdle. He then returned to the Flat, contesting the Henry II Stakes and the Hardwicke Stakes.

Most recently he was third in the Arkle Trial Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in November.

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