The Meydan Punt: Nick Driver with his best bets on Thursday

BANKER

Royal Marine (3.40 Meydan)

Dubai Beauty may have let favourite backers down last time, but Royal Marine seems to have a bit more clout behind him, especially on dirt pedigree being a relation to Meydan dirt winners Raven’s Corner and Secret Ambition. He finished off last year with a Group 1 win, albeit in an average running of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere, and is a big brute of a horse who possesses a lofty reputation and will certainly improve as a three-year-old. If he does handle the dirt, I’d like to think this will be his easiest task this year, before heading to the UAE 2,000 Guineas and UAE Derby.

GOOD THING

North America (4.50 Meydan)

I feel awful deserting a favourite of mine Heavy Metal here but I’m going to side with North America. The draw is favourable for the selection but this all hinges on the break – he needs to start well, and if he does I can’t see him being pegged back. His main rivals Heavy Metal and Gold Town are drawn wide and that can make the difference if they don't break well and so Muntazah may be the main danger. Jockey Richard Mullen has been exceptional this season, especially from the front, and will know exactly what to do to win this race. I trust the pair to get the job done.

EYECATCHER

Major Partnership (4.15 Meydan)

Major Partnership could be a decent horse in waiting and certainly has an improving profile. He ran third in a good race at Newmarket in August, finishing behind Cambridgeshire third Via Via and Argentello, who went off favourite for the Balmoral at Ascot. He then dropped to 6f and proved too good for rivals at Wolverhampton in October and stays at that trip here. He’s up against a tougher field, but a few are exposed and the four-year-old has the scope to improve under the in-form Christophe Soumillon.

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