Three lined up for World Cup card

Trade Storm runs in the $5m Dubai Duty Free (4.39pm UK time) over 1,800m (about 9f), Dunaden tackles the $5m Dubai Sheema Classic (5.17pm) over 2410m (about 12f), while Side Glance runs in the big one, the $10m Emirates Airlines-sponsored Dubai World Cup (6.05pm) over 2,000m (about 10f).

Curiously, all three finished fourth in the same races at the meeting last year.

The Andrew Balding-trained Side Glance (drawn in stall 9), who finished behind winner Animal Kingdom 12 months ago, has been preparing for his assignment in company with travelling groom Leanne Masterton, who recently won Employee of the Year at Britain's Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

Masterton, who prepped Side Glance ahead of his victory in Australia's Grade 1 Mackinnon Stakes late last year, said: "The last few months have been so exciting and Australia was amazing. It was unbelievable to see him win a Grade One and it was all the more special as he was bred by Andrew's mother, Emma, at Kingsclere.

"We have been more than happy with his preparation for the Dubai World Cup and he seems really well. He ran so well last year and I have got my fingers crossed he makes a place again.

"He ran on Super Saturday [when seventh in the Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge] and got a little bit too far back and had ground to make up, but it was a decent effort and he often needs a prep run as he can be gassy."

Trade Storm's trainer, David Simcock, is happy with his horse's preparation, but after three good efforts in Meydan since the turn of the year, he said: "I'm just hoping for a change of luck and a bit more pace. The better the pace, the better the horse." He won't have too many complaints with a stall position of 7.

Dunaden (stall 6), who is trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, was recently sixth in the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Challenge on Tapeta, but he returns to turf on Saturday for a race in which he finished fourth to St Nicholas Abbey last year.