Nick Luck’s blog: We can expect a Mighty performance from Thunder

William Hill ambassador picks out his best bets from a diverse range of meetings this weekend, including the Dubai World Cup card from Meydan.

Newbury, Saturday

BLOW YOUR WAD can get the job done in the TV opener at Newbury on Saturday (1.30pm) at 7/1. His bumper from bears the closest scrutiny, and he was progressing well before finding the Tolworth too much. Back in a handicap with a breathing op behind him, he should resume progression.

ESPOIR DE GUYE looks ready to strike again for new connections (2.05pm) at 9/2. He moved really stylishly through a better race here last time, is entitled to come on for that, and should enjoy this slightly easier surface. The stable remains in very strong form.

FORTUNA LIGNA is a good shout at decent odds of 11/1 in the Mares’ Final (2.40pm). Quite rightly she has been handicapped on what is just fair hurdles form so far, but her bumper exploits suggest she could be very well treated, and connections have saved the headgear for the big day. Big chance.

Kelso, Saturday

THE NAVIGATOR gets the nod in an impossible looking TV kick-off at Kelso (1.50pm), priced at 12/1. He won this last year, and is now a nice bit lower than when winning here over further in the autumn. He’s not disgraced himself since, will be happier back at his favourite track, and the rider looks quite capable.

SPIKE JONES can continue on the up (2.25pm) at 4/1. He’s just been making steady progress, but his effort at Fontwell in bad ground was quite taking, as he was apparently able to quicken having been on the sharp end throughout. He might be a bit too classy for these.

JANE DU BERLAIS has plenty of upside in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (3.00pm) at 9/2. Already a winner over Bonttay – and only one pound worse here – she has more scope for improvement than most, and comes into this off a better run than her market rival.

MIGHTY THUNDER could be ready for a big comeback (3.35pm), despite his price of 11/1. He’s tumbled down the weights since his glory days, but showed more than a glimmer of his old spark in the Eider last time and ran a couple of really good races at this track earlier in his career. Conditions look just about perfect.

Meydan, Saturday

I’ll be in Dubai this weekend, where it’s hard to imagine the Japanese won’t have another red letter day.

In the three ITV4 races, I like their DANON BELUGA (11/2) in the Dubai Turf (3.10pm), who’ll love this return to nine furlongs and who is a most consistent performer.

In the Sheema Classic (4.00pm), EQUINOX (Evens) can prove himself one of the best in the world on turf, while JUN LIGHT BOLT looks overpriced at 20/1 in the World Cup itself (4.35pm), having not really got into a tempo led affair in Riyadh when strongly fancied. This should shake down better for him.