Steve Palmer's Ras al Khaimah Championship predictions and free golf betting tips

Live on Sky Sports Golf & Main Event from 8.30am on Thursday

Best bets

Nicolai Hojgaard
3pts each-way 22-1 Coral, Ladbrokes
Adrian Meronk
3pts each-way 18-1 bet365
Callum Shinkwin
2pts each-way 30-1 Coral, Ladbrokes
Julien Brun
1pt each-way 45-1 bet365

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Ryan Fox, the last winner of a DP World Tour event at Al Hamra, has moved into favouritism for an ultra-competitive Ras al Khaimah Championship in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi champion Victor Perez is just behind the Kiwi in the betting.

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Steve Palmer's top tip

Nicolai Hojgaard 22-1

The long-game brilliance of Nicolai Hojgaard should turn into a third DP World Tour title soon enough – and Al Hamra seems an ideal opportunity.

Padraig Harrington said last week that Hojgaard was the most impressive driver he has ever played with – a huge compliment from the Irish veteran. Hojgaard has tightened up his driving by switching to a fade as his stock shot and the 21-year-old Dane has finished tenth in the Australian Open, was joint top scorer in the Hero Cup, tenth in the Abu Dhabi Championship and 38th in Dubai last week.

Hojgaard won the Ras al Khaimah Championship last year by four shots, romping to a 24-under-par total at Al Hamra, overwhelming the course. History could be about to repeat itself.

Next best bet

Adrian Meronk 18-1

A few course-management errors in the middle of round one meant a missed cut for Adrian Meronk in the Dubai Desert Classic last week, but the breather could prove useful. The Pole was able to reach Ras al Khaimah by Saturday, while his market rivals were competing in Dubai on Monday.

Meronk won the Australian Open just before Christmas, then his singles match in the Hero Cup, before tenth place in the Abu Dhabi Championship. Dubai was almost certainly just a small blip and Al Hamra is a track he relishes. He was a playoff loser in the 2017 Challenge Tour event there and finished sixth in the last Al Hamra gathering – last year's Ras al Khaimah Classic. Meronk returns this time as a two-time DP World Tour champion.

Other selections

Callum Shinkwin 30-1
Julien Brun 45-1

A spectacular finishing flourish left Callum Shinkwin alone in fourth place in the Dubai Desert Classic on Monday, meaning a cheque for €414,000 from the Rolex Series event. He was six under par for his final 12 holes, playing in a high-pressure group alongside Rory McIlroy.

Dubai must have been a huge fillip for Shinkwin, who can approach the rest of the season in relaxed mood, and Al Hamra is another desert track he can bully with his power this week. The Watford lad turns 30 in May and could do so as a three-time DP World Tour champ. He won the Cazoo Open by four shots last summer and has solid Al Hamra form figures of 21-25.

Complete a four-pronged attack with Julien Brun, another for whom the Desert Classic provided a timely injection of confidence and security. Brun finished alone in fifth spot, banking €351,000, essentially cementing his DP World Tour future.

Brun played with Patrick Reed on Saturday, with McIlroy in the group behind, and the Frenchman has reported how proud he was to perform well in those circumstances. Brun finally feels he belongs at the top level, having won three times on the Challenge Tour, and a DP World Tour breakthrough seems likely at some stage soon. Brun, 13th on his Al Hamra debut last year, finished third in the Mauritius Open just before Christmas.

Al Hamra course guide

Course Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras al Khaimah, UAE
Prize money $2m ($333,400 to the winner)
Length 7,400 yards
Par 72 - four par-fives; ten par-fours; four par-threes
Field 132 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Ryan Fox (30), Adrian Meronk (52), Victor Perez (61), Adrian Otaegui (73), Thriston Lawrence (74)
Course records - 72 holes 264 Nicolai Hojgaard (2022); 18 holes 62 Oliver Bekker (2022 Ras al Khaimah Classic)

Course winners taking part Jens Dantorp, Adri Arnaus, Nicolai Hojgaard, Ryan Fox

When to bet By 3.10am on Thursday morning

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 8.30am on Thursday

Time difference Ras al Khaimah is four hours ahead of the UK and Ireland

Last week – Dubai Desert Classic 1 R McIlroy (7-2), 2 P Reed (50-1), 3 L Herbert (28-1), 4 C Shinkwin (125-1), 5 J Brun (100-1), T6 T Pieters (35-1), I Poulter (125-1), T8 R Bland (100-1), A Hidalgo (500-1), M Kinhult (250-1), H Stenson (80-1), J Veerman (300-1)

Course type Desert

Course overview The 2016 and 2017 Ras al Khaimah Challenge on the Challenge Tour, the 2018 Challenge Tour Grand Final, the 2022 Ras al Khaimah Championship and the 2022 Ras al Khaimah Classic are the five pieces of course form for punters.

Story of last year Nicolai Hojgaard romped to a four-shot success

Weather forecast Sunny and warm throughout, with calm mornings followed by gentle afternoon breezes

Type of player suited to the challenge Wide fairways, limited bunkering and straightforward greens make this a simple assignment. Powerhouses putting well should thrive

Key attribute Power