13:30 Meydan

Friday 23 February 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:3518:10

Race 1 Handicap - TURF

Off time: 13:33 | Winning time: 57.49s

(12)

Road Bloc¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: O Chavez| T: O Refai| D

25/1

11/1 and eyeshields on for 1st time, 8¾ lengths thirteenth of 15 to Colour Up in listed race at Jebel Ali (5f) 13 days ago. Questions to answer.

Form: 1036-50

(1)

Jadwal^v1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: D Watson| C

10/1

Twice a course winner in 2022. Probably neeeded run (off for 671 days) when fourteenth of 16 in handicap at this course (6f, good, 9/1) 49 days ago. Should strip much fitter this time.

Form: 21124/0

(5)

Magic Petition^b¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: Ahmad Bin Harmash

20/1

40/1, 6¼ lengths tenth of 15 to Colour Up in listed race at Jebel Ali (5f) 13 days ago. Something to find on form.

Form: 24-6660

(6)

Topper Bill²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Q Al Busaidi⁽³⁾| T: M Mheiri| C

11/2

Course winner. 40/1, creditable 5¾ lengths seventh of 14 to Mischief Magic in listed race at this course (6f, good) 21 days ago.

Form: 5511/37

(4)

Vespasian^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: S & E Crisford| CD

8/11

15/8, career best when winning 16-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 42 days ago. Expected to be bang there once more.

Form: 4761-21

(3)

Zawaaya¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar

25/1

33/1 and blinkered for 1st time, 8¾ lengths twelfth of 15 to Colour Up in listed race at Jebel Ali (5f) 13 days ago.

Form: 0/48-040

(7)

Al Arbed^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Sandro Paiva| T: M Mheiri| C

9/1

Course winner. Winner here in January. 5/1, respectable third of 9 in handicap at Meydan (6f) 14 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 43-4123

(10)

I'll Stand Taller^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: R Mullen| T: M Mardood

80/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. 40/1, below form 5¼ lengths eighth of 16 to Vespasian in handicap at this C&D (good) 42 days ago, never nearer.

Form: 40/668-8

(14)

Myconian^b,t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: A Murphy| D

20/1

Ninth of 10 in minor event (40/1) at this course (6f, good) 14 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Difficult ask.

Form: 0614-59

(8)

Zoulu Chief^v1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Slattery| T: H Main

22/1

Three wins from 7 runs last year. Latest win at York in August. Last of 10 in minor event at this course (6f, good, 20/1) 14 days ago. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 115-880

(13)

Ajwad⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 9-0| J: O Isaac Hernandez Salas| T: R Bouresly| C

66/1

Course winner. Twenty runs since last win in 2019. 4 lengths tenth of 14 to Nibras Passion in listed race () at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 6 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 7500-90

(2)

Erasmo⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Luciano Emanuel Cabrera| T: R Bouresly

50/1

Visored for 1st time, 3 lengths eighth of 14 to Nibras Passion in listed race at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 6 days ago. Back down in trip. Makes handicap debut. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 50/000-8

(9)

Manitou⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Bernardo Pinheiro| T: M Mheiri

16/1

One win from 3 runs last year. 5¾ lengths thirteenth of 14 to Nibras Passion in listed race at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 6 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 7/951-20

(11)

Persian Empire^t1⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: R Ffrench| T: H Al Marar| C

28/1

Course winner. Seventh of 11 in minor event at Sharjah (8.4f) 47 days ago. Significantly back down in trip. Rejoined yard after leaving A.AlShemaili.

Form: 12800-7

Non-Runners

Urgent Appeal²¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 6

T: R Bouresly J: Reserve 1

Fast-Uno⁴²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 5

T: J Olascoaga J: Reserve 2

Shymay³⁵

Weight: 8-7| Age: 7

T: O Aashour J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Vespasian (8/11), Topper Bill (11/2), Al Arbed (9/1), Jadwal (10/1), Manitou (16/1), Myconian (20/1), Magic Petition (20/1), Zoulu Chief (22/1), Zawaaya (25/1), Road Bloc (25/1), Persian Empire (28/1), Erasmo (50/1), Ajwad (66/1), I'll Stand Taller (80/1)

Not many of these arrive in much form but VESPASIAN is an obvious exception and he can follow up from last time. Jadwal presumably needed the run after a long lay-off last time and should be fitter with that behind him, while Erasmo is also considered.