17:25 Meydan

Thursday 11 February 2021

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Emirates Skywards Handicap - Turf

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 57.20s

(3)

Caspian Prince^t²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: M Appleby| OR: 99| CD

9/2

Smashing veteran who typically showed bags of speed before running out of steam late on in a C&D event last month. That was his first start for 4 months and he's expected to be sharper here.

Form: 07313-5

(2)

Lavaspin^v⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: T P O'Shea| T: S Seemar| OR: 97

16/1

Latest win here in November. Below form fifth of 10 in handicap (4/1) at Meydan (6f) 7 days ago, weakening inside final 1f having helped force the pace. Plenty of competition for the lead once more.

Form: 3481-35

(4)

Fanaar^b⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: D Watson| OR: 96

11/4

Fourteen runs since last win in 2019. 14/1, good 1¼ lengths second of 8 to Al Tariq in listed race at Jebel Ali (5f) 6 days ago. Sound claims of hitting the frame with a repeat.

Form: 4350-62

(5)

Mutaraffa²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Dane O'Neill| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 95

15/8

Low-mileage 5-y-o who ran best race to date when second of 14 in a C&D handicap 3 weeks ago, up with the strong pace throughout and sticking to the task. Expected to be thereabouts again.

Form: 16/032-2

(1)

Story Of Light³⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 95

5/1

Promising individual. 9/1, excellent third of 14 in minor event at this course (7f, good) 12 months ago. Remains with potential now handicapping and he's interesting dropped to the minimum trip.

Form: 512/43-

(7)

Acclaim The Nation^b1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: R Mullen| T: M J Attwater| OR: 93| D

18/1

Impressive winner of big-field York handicap (5f) in August. However, yet to fire in 2 starts for present stable, last of 14 in a C&D handicap 21 days ago. Needs to bounce back in first-time blinkers.

Form: 62216-0

(10)

Motafaawit⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: S Hitchcott| T: D Watson| OR: 92

33/1

Bit below form 6¾ lengths ninth of 16 to Boerhan in listed race at Abu Dhabi (8f, good) 69 days ago. Significantly down in trip.

Form: 8/07069-

(8)

Roussel^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Elione Chaves| T: M Hussain| OR: 89| D

50/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, first run since leaving Charlie Appleby when thirteenth of 14 in a C&D handicap 21 days ago. That was his first start since Janury 2019 and this promises to reveal more.

Form: 00035/0

(9)

Moraawed³⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: A de Vries| T: D Watson| OR: 88

25/1

Developed in to a useful handicapper at up to 7f during summer 2019. Some way below best when eleventh of 14 in handicap at Jebel Ali (7f) last March and he'll need to be much sharper now.

Form: 40167/0-

(6)

Wheels On Fire²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: P Cosgrave| T: H Alalawi| OR: 88| D

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2019. 50/1, last of 8 in handicap at Jebel Ali (5f) 20 days ago. Others have achieved more.

Form: 7570-08

Forecasts

Mutaraffa (15/8), Fanaar (11/4), Caspian Prince (9/2), Story Of Light (5/1), Lavaspin (16/1), Acclaim The Nation (18/1), Wheels On Fire (25/1), Moraawed (25/1), Motafaawit (33/1), Roussel (50/1)

STORY OF LIGHT is a low-mileage 4-y-o who ran his best race to date when a close-up third over 7f here 12 months ago, caught wider than the pair that beat him but going like the best horse at the weights. He's open to further progress and earns the vote dropping back in trip for return. Admirable-veteran Caspian Prince and Fanaar are others to consider.