GEOFF WRAGG'S Pentire did his first piece of fast work at Nad Al Sheba yesterday, in preparation for his assault on the £4 million Dubai World Cup on March 27th.

Ridden by Michael Hills and accompanied by stable companion Young Buster, who is due to contest the £500,000 Dubai Duty Free, the four year old warmed up with a canter over 800 metres under the track's floodlights yesterday morning.

"They both worked very nicely and I am very pleased with them," said Wragg. "I plan to give them a blow on Monday and then they will be spot on for raceday." The colt, beaten only once in seven starts as a three year old, when second to Lammtarra in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot last July, is a 6 to 1 chance with Ladbrokes for next week's race.

Yesterday also saw the arrival of big race favourite Cigar, who was reported in good shape after his flight by trainer Bill Mott's assistant Tim Jones.

"He had an excellent flight and travelled very well. Now he's tucked up safely in his quarantine barn," he said. "He's bright this morning, he has eaten well and everything is fine." Cigar, North American Horse of the Year in 1995, is even money market leader with Ladbrokes to take the £2.4 million first prize.

. Go-Informal is being primed for another big racing festival after narrowly missing out at Cheltenham last week.

Trainer Malcolm Jefferson is keen to send the promising gelding - second to Urubande in the Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle - to the Punchestown Festival next month.

"He definitely won't be going to Liverpool but there's a novice over two and half miles at Ascot we could go for next before taking him to Punchestown," he said.