Simenon fails to deliver the goods for Wicklow Bloodstock in Dubai

ALL EYES were on Meydan on Saturday with the Dubai track playing host to the worlds richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, but all Irish runners in the race failed to raise a gallop.

The Wicklow Bloodstock owned Simenon was a bitter disappointment in the Dubai Gold Cup.

Ridden by Pat Smullen he was under pressure a long way from home and it could be possible that his best days are behind him, although he is with the right man to get him back to winning ways

Closer to home, the flat season in now well underway and Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen continued their red-hot start to the new season with another good double at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The double was initiated when Fascinating Rock ran out a gutsy winner of the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Summer Racedays 2014 Maiden.

Half an hour later the pair struck again when they landed the Listed 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes with Go For Goal.

Despite a few horses with lofty profiles in the race he showed a really likeable attitude and battled on well to record a good 3/4s of a length victory.

While he might not turn out to be as good as the horses he beat, he looks a tough genuine colt and he could be a horse to follow over the summer.

The feature race on the card, the Group 3 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes went the way of the Aidan O’Brien trained Bracelet. It was a taking performance and she could well turn out to be an Oaks candidate.

As I said last week it is a funny time for horse racing with the national hunt season winding down and the flat season starting to warm up.

There was some good jumps action over the last few days. The highlight was the winning return to action for Rebel Fitz.

Mick Winters classy operator always excels at this time of year and he is one to keep a very close eye on in the coming weeks.

Attention this week will turn to the Grand National meeting at Aintree. The Grand National which will take place on Saturday looks like a tough race, as it always is.

Away from the big races there are plenty of other good contests for punters to enjoy, although it is worth pointing out that form at the Cheltenham festival doesn’t always carry through to the Grand National meeting.

On Thursday, Willie Mullins’ Annie Power will be out for compensation when she goes for the Grade 1 Aintree hurdle.

She will be very popular although she must face The New One who looked very on lucky in the Champion hurdle three weeks ago.