Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Handicap

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 2m 34.88s

(3)

What A Welcome¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: P R Chamings| OR: 95| C| D

7/2

Yet to score this year after landing six of his seven starts last year (rose nearly two stone in the handicap). Found it tough going this year off those higher marks despite some creditable efforts; now edged back down to his last winning mark.

Form: 240835

(6)

Koeman⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: G Mosse| T: M R Channon| OR: 93| D

9/1

Capable of some useful performances but has yet to win this year with his form having a rather uneven profile. Had the run of the race In a small-field conditions affair last time (still couldn't seal the deal); would need to be at his best to take t

Form: 277462

(5)

Kaloor¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: B J Meehan| OR: 92

5/1

1m novice winner on his only 2yo start he's failed to win as a 3yo with this season looking to be one that was slipping away from him until he aborted the slide last time. Third at Ascot was satisfactory; hardly looked a winner in waiting though.

Form: 1-37653

(1)

Lariat²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: M Dwyer| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

4/1

Produced some strong form this year without winning particularly on soft/heavy ground, conditions that he won't get here. Failed to live up to some of his earlier performances on his last two starts; comes here with some questions to answer.

Form: 222246

(4)

Kosciuszko¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 87| BF

5/1

Yet to fully realise his potential/promise that he showed on his seasonal reappearance with his two starts since both being rather disappointing. Showed a little more last time at Ascot but still tough to fully endorse him on that performance.

Form: 61-504

(2)

Fantastic Blue^p1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Harry Bentley| T: I Mohammed| OR: 82| D

11/4

Taken a marked step forward with his career since being upped to this trip; arrives on a hat-rick after scoring twice in a lesser grade. Overcame a pace bias when odds-on last time; cheekpieces now on, deserves respect despite the rise in class.

Form: 03-6211

Forecasts

Fantastic Blue (11/4), What A Welcome (7/2), Lariat (4/1), Kosciuszko (5/1), Kaloor (5/1), Koeman (9/1)

The small field doesn’t make this any easier with all six having a chance of some sort on their best form, the question is can they produce it? What A Welcome now features on a mark which makes a win more likely while Koeman wouldn’t be out of this if he could reproduce his Ascot winning form of last year. The ground may be too quick for Lariat to fulfil his earlier promise with Kosciuszko another as yet to blossom although his yard remains in cracking form. FANTASTIC BLUE steps up in grade but still looks as though he has more to offer despite a career-high mark after he was raised 3lb last time for winning at Leicester with the first-time cheekpieces a bonus.