Dubai Duty Free Handicap

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 2m 33.27s

(6)

Scarlet Dragon^h²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: A King| OR: 100| CD

6/1

Hasn't won on the Flat since 2016 but showed his current mark looked closer to being right at Goodwood on his penultimate start. Closely matched with Shailene on that form, but needs to rebound from a below-par effort at York.

Form: 23-2040

(3)

Shailene²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 99

7/2

Runner-up to the subsequent Group 3 scorer Sun Maiden in the Nottinghamshire Oaks, before landing an Italian Listed event and grabbing an excellent third at Goodwood. Placed in a German Group 2 last time and must have every chance at this level.

Form: 662533

(5)

Blakeney Point^p,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 96| CD

5/1

Had Shailene (failed to handle track) behind when landing sole success at Chester a year ago. Form has been in and cheekpieces are now tried, so fair to say he carries some risks going into this.

Form: 5-80406

(1)

Soto Sizzler⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Knight| OR: 96| BF| D

13/8

Useful middle-distance handicapper who won back to back races at Epsom earlier this year. Possible to excuse his two defeats since and he cannot be underestimated with trip and surface looking ideal this time.

Form: 8-51129

(4)

Almost Midnight⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D M Simcock| OR: 98| D

9/2

Was progressing nicely until producing a horror show at Newmarket last time. No explanation could be offered but his previous run behind Sextant represents solid form. Stable are having a good week and it may be best to monitor him in the market.

Form: 121726

Non-Runners

(2)

The Trader⁶

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: James Doyle

Forecasts

Soto Sizzler (13/8), Shailene (7/2), Almost Midnight (9/2), Blakeney Point (5/1), Scarlet Dragon (6/1), The Trader (6/1)

Scarlet Dragon, Blakeney Point and Almost Midnight have questions to answer after their latest runs, whilst The Trader has been hit hard for going down to his sole rival at Doncaster. Shailene does not look an easy ride but drops in grade having earned a place in Pattern company last time. SOTO SIZZLER is back to his best trip having found 1m2f too short last time. He had some useful types behind when landing a more competitive race at Epsom on Derby day and that form looks good enough to land this.