16:50 Meydan

Thursday 18 February 2021

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2518:00

Zabeel Mile Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors (Group 2) - Turf

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 1m 35.94s

(11)

Art Du Val²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 107| C| D

3/1

Smart gelding. Respectable 4¾l fourth of 11 to Lord Glitters in Singspiel Stakes here (9f) 28 days ago, making effort earlier than ideal. Sure to go well again.

Form: 117/51-4

(2)

Bedouin's Story^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 102| CD

8/1

Has proved unreliable sort but in good vein of form, winning 16-runner handicap over C&D 21 days ago, despite missing break. This is tougher but no forlorn hope with Frankie Dettori again up.

Form: 25126/1

(3)

Bless Him^h⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: D M Simcock| OR: 105| D

25/1

Smart gelding. Scored at Newcastle in January but below par both runs since, fourth of 7 to Zakouski in Al Rashidiya (28/1) here (9f) 7 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 644-154

(1)

Count Of Amazonia^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: M Botti| OR: 100| D

25/1

Smart colt. Won at Chelmsford City in December and posted creditable seventh of 16 to Bedouin's Story in handicap over C&D 21 days ago. More needed in this grade, though.

Form: 2011-27

(8)

D'bai^b,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 110| C| D

2/1

Smart gelding. 7/2, shaped encouragingly after 4 months off when second to Land of Legends in Al Fahidi Fort here (7f) 28 days ago, faring best of those held up. Course winner too so leading claims.

Form: 16432-2

(9)

Epic Hero^t1¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 109| CD

5/1

C&D winner who recorded respectable third of 8 to Zakouski in listed race at Newmarket (8f) when last seen out in October. Has won off a break before no can't be ruled out.

Form: 312533-

(10)

Eqtiraan¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: A Al Rayhi| OR: 100| C

50/1

Course winner last month who arrives on back of respectable third of 12 to Saltarin Dubai in listed race at Jebel Ali (9.7f) 13 days ago. This demands a fair bit more, however.

Form: 824-193

(7)

Escobar^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 105| D

11/1

Smart gelding. Suffered poor run after 3 months off when close tenth of 16 to Bedouin's Story in handicap over C&D 21 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 73640-0

(6)

First Contact^t1²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: T P O'Shea| T: S Seemar| OR: 102| D

80/1

Useful gelding but off track 8 months since only twenty first of 23 in handicap at Royal Ascot (7f) on final run for Charlie Appleby. Bit to prove on comeback for new yard.

Form: 33662/0-

(5)

Lucius Tiberius^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: R Mullen| T: M Hussain| OR: 100

100/1

Useful gelding. It's now sixteen runs since last win in 2018, and (33/1) tailed-off eleventh of 12 to Saltarin Dubai in listed race at Jebel Ali (9.7f) 13 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 063-300

(4)

Velorum²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: M Barzalona| T: C Appleby| OR: 103| C| D

11/2

Course winner who shaped as if in need of run after 11 months off when eighth of 10 to Land of Legends in Al Fahidi Fort (5/2) here (7f) 28 days ago. Still low mileage so no forlorn hope.

Form: 2110/1-8

Forecasts

D'bai (2/1), Art Du Val (3/1), Epic Hero (5/1), Velorum (11/2), Bedouin's Story (8/1), Escobar (11/1), Bless Him (25/1), Count Of Amazonia (25/1), Eqtiraan (50/1), First Contact (80/1), Lucius Tiberius (100/1)

Charlie Appleby has landed the last two runnings of this Group 2 and looks to hold a very strong hand again with course winner D'BAI getting the nod of his trio on the back of his promising second here last month. Epic Hero goes well fresh so shouldn't be underestimated on his return, while Art Du Val is another Appleby runner to bear in mind too.