Ouija delights Dunlop

Ouija Board continues to give cause for optimism among her backers ahead of Saturday’s Dubai Sheema Classic after trainer Ed Dunlop issued another positive bulletin over her wellbeing.

The remarkable five-year-old mare, who bounced back to form when winning the Hong Kong Vase on her latest start, will enjoy a well-earned spring break after this weekend’s appearance, with Dunlop treating the race as “her last of last season“.

The trainer said that given the circumstances of this trip and the difference in climate between freezing Newmarket and her current humid surroundings, he would not be in a rush to write her off even if she did perform poorly.

“The one thing for certain is that she will have a holiday afterwards, whatever happens on Saturday,” he explained.

“Many good horses have come here and run badly, because of the time of year or whatever.

“It is a class race and she is no certainty on the formbook either.

“But she does look extremely well and she is now at the same weight as she was for her last two races.

“We won’t know until she runs whether she is the same or not but at least we can say that the signs are good.

“We haven’t really talked about the rest of her programme afterwards but I imagine we would be looking to come back for the King George or the Nassau and then build up to an autumn campaign, which will hopefully end in America. I would love to go back there and try to get her crown back.”

One of the 13 rivals Ouija Board faces on Saturday is Norse Dancer, still searching for that all-elusive first Group One success.

Trainer David Elsworth was wearing the smile of a relieved man after seeing his charge step out soundly after a late injury scare.

“We found he was a little bit sore in the middle of his off-fore and removed the shoe last night,” he said.

“He had his foot in an ice-bucket for a few hours last night and, thankfully, he seemed perfectly sound this morning, so hopefully it was just a scare and nothing more.

“I tried to contact Jeff (Smith, Norse Dancer’s owner) but he was already on his way and to be honest it wouldn’t have stopped him from coming anyway and I don’t think there’s anything for him to worry about now.

“It was a worry because he arrived here last Sunday and really looks a million dollars at the moment.

“He has really pleased us with his preparation and I think you can forget his run in Hong Kong last time because he got no luck from his draw, even though he was only beaten about three lengths behind the second.

“The Group One win keeps eluding us but there’s no doubt that he is capable of winning one. This is a good race but he can do it. It’s a bit like the one-arm bandit. We keep pulling the handle and one of these days we are going to win the jackpot.”

William Hill offers Norse Dancer at 20-1, with Ouija Board the 5-2 favourite.