14:35 Meydan

Sunday 5 February 2023

All10:3011:0511:4012:1512:5013:2514:0014:35

Race 8 - Emirates Airline Handicap - Turf

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 1m 51.07s

(4)

Aridity⁷⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: O Chavez| T: R Bouresly| D

20/1

Fifth of 8 in handicap (40/1) at Jebel Ali (8f) 78 days ago. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 020065-

(5)

Branwell¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: A Fresu| T: M Al Mheiri

9/2

Career best when winning 11-runner handicap at Al Ain (9.9f) 15 days ago by 2½ lengths from Yurman. More on plate from 9 Ib higher mark.

Form: 00548-1

(9)

Light Beam^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: R Dawson| T: A Bin Harmash| CD

9/2

C&D winner. Sixth of 8 in handicap at this course (9.9f, good, 11/1) 21 days ago.

Form: 1086-36

(3)

Yurman¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar

15/2

Latest win at Al Ain in December. Good 2½ lengths second of 11 to Branwell in handicap there (9.9f) 15 days ago.

Form: 0761-92

(8)

Cynical Point²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: S Hitchcott| T: D Watson

20/1

Last of 16 in maiden at Jebel Ali (9f, 5/1) 22 days ago. Has work to do on handicap/turf debut.

Form: 7/4-0

(13)

Exciting Days¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: D Watson

5/1

Creditable 2¾ lengths third of 11 to Branwell in handicap at Al Ain (9.9f) 15 days ago. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 7705-03

(12)

Desert Frost^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Sandro Paiva| T: S Shamsi

22/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2018. Ninth of 14 in handicap at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 24 days ago. Back up in trip. Questions to answer.

Form: 00/089-9

(7)

Untold Secret⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 9-5| J: M Barzalona| T: S Ghadayer| CD

8/1

C&D winner, latest in December. Bit below form fifth of 10 in handicap at Jebel Ali (9.7f, 12/1) 8 days ago. Has possibly gone off the boil for now.

Form: 4421-85

(2)

Daneyan¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: M Rodrigues| T: A Al Al Neyadi| D

20/1

16/1, ninth of 10 in handicap at this course (9.9f, good) 14 days ago. Not taken lightly back under this rider but his starts are a concern.

Form: 6773-59

(11)

Last Light¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Fernando Jara| T: A Albadwawi

7/2

20/1, creditable second of 10 in handicap at this course (9.9f, good) 14 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 7354-02

(10)

Game Master^b1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: F Herholdt| T: M Mardood

28/1

Eighth of 10 in handicap at this course (9.9f, good, 33/1) 14 days ago. Makes only limited appeal.

Form: 545-008

(1)

Golden Claim⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: P Cosgrave| T: I Mohammed| D

20/1

Well-beaten last of 9 to Yurman in handicap at Al Ain (8f) 57 days ago. May do better back on turf.

Form: 4345/09-

Non-Runners

(6)

Canny Fettle⁸

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: S Alsabri J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Last Light (7/2), Light Beam (9/2), Branwell (9/2), Exciting Days (5/1), Yurman (15/2), Untold Secret (8/1), Golden Claim (20/1), Daneyan (20/1), Cynical Point (20/1), Aridity (20/1), Desert Frost (22/1), Canny Fettle (25/1), Game Master (28/1)

EXCITING DAYS looks to have marginally the best credentials but can't afford to put a foot wrong. Last Light is tough to ignore where second place is concerned, while Daneyan is another with a place chance too.