16:20 Meydan

Friday 6 January 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Al Maktoum Challenge R1 - Group 2 Stakes - Dirt

Off time: 16:23 | Winning time: 1m 35.88s

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(10)

Algiers⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 110| D

3/1

Smart gelding. Two wins from 6 runs last year. Good short-head second of 11 to Missed The Cut in listed race at Lingfield (10f, AW, 6/1) 55 days ago. Back down in trip. Enters calculations.

Form: 218162-

(4)

Capezzano^h,t1³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: M Barzalona| T: S Ghadayer| OR: 109| CD

33/1

4-time C&D winner. Tailed-off last of 11 to Prince Eiji in listed race (18/1) at this C&D 36 days ago.

Form: 7408/00-

(16)

Danyah³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Dane O'Neill| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 111| D

16/1

Smart gelding. First run since leaving Owen Burrows when respectable 1¼ lengths second of 11 to Prince Eiji in listed race at this C&D (8/1) 36 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 42216/2-

(6)

Desert Peace^t²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Sandro Paiva| T: B Seemar| OR: 97| CD

40/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. 28/1, twenty eighth of 29 in handicap at Royal Ascot (8f, good to firm). Off 6 months. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 12/1630-

(9)

Desert Wisdom^v²⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: A de Vries| T: A Al Shemaili| OR: 96| CD

11/4

Smart gelding. C&D winner. 16/1, good 1¼ lengths second of 16 to Bathrat Leon in Godolphin Mile at this C&D. Off 9 months. Should take the beating.

Form: 1/22912-

(7)

Discovery Island²⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: A Fresu| T: B Seemar| OR: 98| CD

16/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. Two wins from 3 runs last year. 6/1, career best when winning 16-runner minor event at Jebel Ali (7f). Off 9 months. Merits respect.

Form: 215/121-

(5)

Everfast³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: O Chavez| T: D Watson| OR: 105| CD

16/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. 13/2, respectable 3 lengths fifth of 11 to Prince Eiji in listed race at this C&D 36 days ago.

Form: 31/3385-

(14)

Final Dance^b1,t⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kursun| T: O Ozelcanat| OR: 92| D

40/1

Useful colt. Career best when winning 9-runner Gr 1 at Ankara (11.9f, good, 39/10) 69 days ago by ½ length from Burgas. Significantly back down in trip. Rejoined yard after leaving B.Ay.

Form: 114111-

(1)

Golden Goal³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: D Watson| OR: 110| CD

10/1

Smart gelding. C&D winner. Six wins from 19 Flat runs. 4 lengths eighth of 11 to Prince Eiji in listed race at this C&D (14/1) 36 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 24/1808-

(13)

Island Rule^v⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: R Dawson| T: A Bin Harmash| OR: 99| C

33/1

Useful gelding. Didn't need to improve to win 6-runner minor event (13/8) at this course (7f) 42 days ago. Faces a stiff task in this company.

Form: 2/25521-

(15)

Kafoo^b,t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: B Seemar| OR: 102| CD

12/1

Smart horse. C&D winner. 4 lengths seventh of 11 to Prince Eiji in listed race at this C&D (4/1) 36 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 11/3047-

(3)

Midnight Sands³⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D Watson| OR: 110| CD

25/1

6-time course winner. Six wins from 16 Flat runs. 23¾ lengths tenth of 14 to Golden Goal in Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (7/1) at this C&D. Off 11 months. Others more persuasive.

Form: 78187/0-

(8)

Prince Eiji³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: S Hitchcott| T: D Watson| OR: 107| CD

8/1

Smart gelding. One win from 3 runs last year. 6/1, career best when winning 11-runner listed race at this C&D 36 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Danyah. Makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 202/401-

(2)

Secret Ambition^t²⁸⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar| OR: 109| CD

13/2

Smart horse. 4-time C&D winner. 17¼ lengths eleventh of 16 to Bathrat Leon in Godolphin Mile at this C&D (8/1). Off 9 months. Respected.

Form: 151/270-

(12)

Thegreatcollection^b³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: R Mullen| T: D Watson| OR: 105| CD

50/1

Useful gelding. 3-time C&D winner. Creditable 2¾ lengths fourth of 11 to Prince Eiji in listed race (22/1) at this C&D 36 days ago. This is tougher.

Form: 3/45004-

(11)

Celtic Prince^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Francois Herholdt| T: R Bouresly| OR: 98| CD

66/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. 11/1, 15½ lengths ninth of 11 to Prince Eiji in listed race at this C&D 36 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 221339-

Non-Runners

(11)

Down On Da Bayou⁵

Weight: 8-9| Age: 6

T: S Ghadayer J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Desert Wisdom (11/4), Algiers (3/1), Secret Ambition (13/2), Prince Eiji (8/1), Golden Goal (10/1), Kafoo (12/1), Discovery Island (16/1), Everfast (16/1), Danyah (16/1), Midnight Sands (25/1), Down On Da Bayou (25/1), Island Rule (33/1), Capezzano (33/1), Desert Peace (40/1), Final Dance (40/1), Thegreatcollection (50/1), Celtic Prince (66/1)

DESERT WISDOM was progressive last year and, if he can repeat the form he showed when second in the Godolphin Mile over C&D 9 months ago (not seen since), he should be hard to beat. Prince Eiji was an impressive winner of a listed contest with several of these rivals behind him last time, so he's feared along with Algiers.