15:15 Meydan

Saturday 30 January 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

Gulf News Handicap - Turf

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 1m 36.67s

(7)

Above Normal^b⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: T P O'Shea| T: S Seemar| OR: 89

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2018. 33/1, well-beaten ninth of 12 to Blown By Wind in Jebel Ali Mile at Jebel Ali (8f) 8 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 3/259-09

(1)

Almoreb^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: A Al Rayhi| OR: 89| D

4/1

Latest win at Jebel Ali in November. Bit below form fifth of 13 in handicap (11/2) at Meydan (7f) 16 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 0341-35

(16)

Al Salt¹⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lecoeuvre| T: E Charpy| OR: 88| BF| D

12/1

Lightly-raced winner. Seventh of 10 in minor event at Ascot (8f, good, 5/2). Off 148 days. Considered on first run for yard after leaving William Haggas.

Form: 5/1137-

(6)

Tafaakhor¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Dane O'Neill| T: A Al Rayhi| OR: 86| D

4/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2019. Third of 14 in handicap (11/4) at this course (9.9f, good) 14 days ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 3390-93

(9)

Adventurous^t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: A Al Rayhi| OR: 85

33/1

Latest win at Abu Dhabi in January. 7/1, seventh of 8 in handicap at Jebel Ali (5f) 8 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 0403-17

(2)

Homespin^p1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R Ffrench| T: S Ghadayer| OR: 85

18/1

First run since leaving Mark Johnston when eighth of 11 in handicap (8/1) at Meydan (9.9f) 14 days ago. Down in trip. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 98268-8

(10)

Nova Roma¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M Barzalona| T: S Ghadayer| OR: 85

9/2

First run since leaving John Gosden when creditable fifth of 11 in handicap at this course (12f, good, 3/1) 16 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Capable of better.

Form: 7/153-5

(8)

Shanty Star¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: F Veron| T: R Bouresly| OR: 85| D

11/1

Creditable second of 13 in handicap (7/2) at Meydan (7f) 16 days ago.

Form: 1252-42

(12)

Trickbag^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: A de Vries| T: J Ramadhan| OR: 85

16/1

Twenty runs since last win in 2018. Respectable second of 12 in handicap (11/4) at Jebel Ali (7f) 8 days ago. Needs to prove he can equally effective on turf.

Form: 04403-2

(14)

Trolius^t,v³³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Bentley| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 85| D

9/1

One win from 3 runs last year. Won 16-runner handicap at Abu Dhabi (8f, good). Off 11 months. Big player if ready to roll after layoff.

Form: 340/071-

(3)

Pinter²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Sandro Paiva| T: M Hussain| OR: 84

50/1

Below form eighth of 15 in handicap (66/1) at this course (5f, good) 23 days ago, nearest finish. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 88/950-8

(4)

Visible Charm¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Ryan Curatolo| T: M Hussain| OR: 83

40/1

11/1, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at this course (9.9f, good) 14 days ago. Down in trip. Others have achieved more.

Form: 1223/0-0

(13)

Lost In Time⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: H Crouch| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 82

10/1

Had a largely forgettable season last year. Last of 7 in handicap at Newmarket (8f, heavy, 8/1). Off 92 days. A big player if recapturing 2019 form.

Form: 2/70007-

(15)

Mystery Land^v²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: H Alalawi| OR: 82

22/1

Two wins from 3 runs last year. Latest win at Jebel Ali in October. 9/1, below form sixth of 16 in handicap at Jebel Ali (7f) 22 days ago. Makes turf debut.

Form: 110-6

(5)

Bawaasil⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: P J Dobbs| T: D Watson| OR: 80| D

22/1

Bit below form seventh of 16 in handicap at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 83 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 6/80037-

(11)

Dubai Canal^v⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: R Mullen| T: S Seemar| OR: 80| D

22/1

One win from 2 runs last year. Eleventh of 13 in handicap at Abu Dhabi (10.9f, good) 48 days ago. Down in trip. Merits consideration.

Form: 04/10-

Non-Runners

Greeley²⁰

Weight: 8-10| Age: 5

T: H Alalawi J: Reserve 1

Imperial Empire¹⁴

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: S Seemar J: Reserve 2

Ocean Monarch¹⁶

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: M Al Mheiri J: Reserve 3

Dragons Tail⁸

Weight: 8-10| Age: 6

T: F Nass J: Reserve 4

Forecasts

Tafaakhor (4/1), Almoreb (4/1), Nova Roma (9/2), Trolius (9/1), Lost In Time (10/1), Shanty Star (11/1), Al Salt (12/1), Trickbag (16/1), Homespin (18/1), Mystery Land (22/1), Bawaasil (22/1), Dubai Canal (22/1), Above Normal (25/1), Adventurous (33/1), Visible Charm (40/1), Pinter (50/1)

NOVA ROMA should strip fitter for his recent run here and just about shades the vote. Almoreb may be the biggest threat, while Lost In Time will be dangerous if scaling a revival.