17:25 Meydan

Thursday 25 February 2021

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

Meydan Challenge Sponsoered By Friday Listed Handicap - Turf

Off time: 17:27 | Winning time: 1m 23.71s

(13)

Well Of Wisdom^t1¹⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 106| C| D

7/1

Course winner. Three wins from 6 runs last year. 6¼ lengths sixth of 9 to Thorin in Prix Daphnis at Deauville (1m) in August, not given a hard time once held. Not discounted returning to these shores.

Form: 811916-

(8)

Could Be King²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: K J Condon| OR: 105| D

17/2

Latest win at Leopardstown in September. 10/1, bit below form fourth of 14 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 21 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Not ruled out.

Form: 1442-54

(4)

Escobar^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 105| D

9/2

11/1, 6½ lengths last of 11 to D'bai in Zabeel Mile at this course (8f, good) 7 days ago, raced freely and never dangerous. Return to calmer waters rates a plus.

Form: 3640-00

(2)

Vale Of Kent⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: M Barzalona| T: S Ghadayer| OR: 105| D

14/1

Latest win at Newmarket in September. 4¼ lengths sixth of 15 to Medahim in listed race at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 4 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 416-806

(10)

Fleeting Prince²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 99

5/1

20/1, respectable third of 14 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 21 days ago, keeping on. Step back up in trip rates a plus and he holds claims.

Form: 54424-3

(5)

Tibasti^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: F Veron| T: R Doleuze| OR: 99| D

100/1

Four wins from 11 runs last year. Latest win at Deauville in December. Ninth of 10 in handicap at Meydan (6f, 18/1) 21 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 21313-9

(6)

Light And Dark¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Cosgrave| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 98| D

6/1

One win from 2 runs last year. 7/2, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Kempton (7f) in October, seizing control quite readily. Possible there is more to come.

Form: 3104/21-

(7)

Ajwad⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Bernardo Pinheiro| T: R Bouresly| OR: 97| C| D

50/1

Course winner. Bit below form 3¾ lengths fifth of 15 to Medahim in listed race at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 4 days ago.

Form: 110/0-05

(9)

Mutamaasik²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: D Watson| OR: 97| D

4/1

First run since leaving Roger Varian when creditable fifth of 16 in handicap at this course (1m) 4 weeks ago. Entitled to come forward from that effort.

Form: 1/3070-5

(12)

Hakeem^t⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Sandro Paiva| T: A Al Rayhi| OR: 96| C| D

66/1

Course winner. Creditable 4¼ lengths sixth of 15 to Medahim in listed race at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 4 days ago.

Form: 05166-0

(3)

Uae Prince⁶⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lecoeuvre| T: R Bouresly| OR: 96

33/1

15/8, won 11-runner handicap at York (10.2f, good to firm) in May 2019. Fact he's been absent since is a concern and others make more appeal.

Form: 402541/

(1)

Wasim⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Fernando Jara| T: I Mohammed| OR: 96| CD

12/1

11/2, career best when winning 13-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 42 days ago by length from Yaalail. Can give a good account again with a repeat.

Form: 54030-1

(14)

Zainhom^v²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Dane O'Neill| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 96| D

18/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2019. Good third of 16 in handicap (14/1) at this course (8f, good) 28 days ago. No surprise to see him give another good account.

Form: 2614-33

(11)

Dubai Legacy^v²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 95| D

25/1

Fourteenth of 16 in handicap at this course (8f, good, 22/1) 28 days ago, blowing his chance with a poor start. Refitting of a visor may sharpen him up.

Form: 8063-00

Non-Runners

Ottoman Court²¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: C Appleby J: Reserve 1

Yaalail⁴

Weight: 8-13| Age: 6

T: A Al Rayhi J: Reserve 2

Story Of Light¹⁴

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: C Appleby J: Reserve 3

Madkhal¹²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 5

T: F Nass J: Reserve 4

Forecasts

Mutamaasik (4/1), Escobar (9/2), Fleeting Prince (5/1), Light And Dark (6/1), Well Of Wisdom (7/1), Could Be King (17/2), Wasim (12/1), Vale Of Kent (14/1), Zainhom (18/1), Dubai Legacy (25/1), Uae Prince (33/1), Ajwad (50/1), Hakeem (66/1), Tibasti (100/1)

A wide-open handicap with the vote in favour of FLEETING PRINCE. He shaped well with a view to stepping back up in trip when third over 6f 3 weeks ago and there remains mileage in Charlie Hills' colt from this sort of mark. Mutamaasik, Well of Wisdom and Light And Dark head up the dangers.