Murtagh bids for Group Two on Hernando

MEYDAN:JOHNNY MURTAGH will team up with the Grade One winner Gitano Hernando for the first time in today's Dubai World Cup warm-up event at Meydan.

A total of four runners line up for the Group Two Al Maktoum Challenge over a mile and a quarter, including Henry Cecil’s dual-Champion Stakes winner Twice Over.

Tom Queally will again be on board the Juddmonte-owned star but Murtagh is on Gitano Hernando, a top-flight winner in the USA in 2009, for the first time as Marco Botti’s horse continues his build-up for the world’s richest race later this month.

Also in the race is last year’s Arlington Million winner Debussy as well as Mike De Kock’s first-string Musir.

There will be plenty of attention on Twice Over with legendary trainer Henry Cecil especially keen to win the World Cup.

The veteran star is drawn 13 of 14 today.

“The draw is poor but we feel he is in better shape than he was last year when we did not give him a prep race; he has not been held up at all. Given that the first three home last year had been in Dubai all year we have decided to come earlier this time,” Cecil said yesterday.

“He should improve for the run but the race will give us a better idea. I just want him to get used to the track.

“He won’t be wound up for his first race, obviously, but he would not be running if he couldn’t give a good account of himself,” he added.

Michael Halford’s Banna Boirche will fly the Irish flag in the Group Three event over a mile on the Tapeta surface and will have Murtagh on board as he tries to make it third time lucky in Dubai this year.