Gold task not so simple for Simenon

The team behind Simenon are hopeful rather than confident about his chances in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan.

Willie Mullins' globetrotting stayer was fourth and fifth in last year's Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase respectively, although the seven-year-old was a slightly disappointing fifth, beaten nine lengths by Saturday's favourite Cavalryman, on his Dubai debut.

Mullins said: "He looks well and Emmet (Mullins, trainer's nephew) has been very happy with him since he arrived. However, we obviously have a bad draw (stall 15) and if we are able to get some good place money we'll be delighted."

Simenon heads a strong Irish challenge, with Mick Halford saddling Nad Al Sheba Trophy third Certerach and Dabadiyan.

He said: "Certerach has been a very consistent horse, winning at the Carnival before finishing third last time. It was a muddling race but Cavalryman is the one we have to beat on that form. He has been drawn wide (stall 14), which isn't ideal, but I have been delighted with him and he's in good form.

"Dabadiyan looks fantastic and whilst it is his first try at two miles, I do think he will see the trip out. He has a lovely draw (stall one)."

Father-and-son combination Aidan and Joseph O'Brien team up with Ernest Hemingway, who tackles the two-mile trip for the first time.

O'Brien jnr said: "Ernest Hemingway will love the fast ground in the Dubai Gold Cup. He'll get the trip and is entitled to take his chance, but Cavalryman will be difficult to beat."

The Irish challenge is completed by the John Oxx-trained Saddler's Rock, who was tailed off in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy after cutting out the early running.

Oxx said: "He's in good form and seems to love being in Dubai where the weather and the ground suits him. He's had his prep run, where he didn't perform particularly well, but he needed the race and I don't think we'll be making the running with him again. He's a horse who probably hasn't done as well as we expected.

"He's had a few hard-luck stories and the ground has gone against him on a few occasions, so we've made plenty of excuses for him, which I don't like doing. Having said that, we still think there is plenty of life in him and he is working well and shows plenty of enthusiasm. He's not a horse I would be writing off just yet."