16:10 Newbury

Friday 22 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes (Listed) (Str)

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 1m 29.64s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Aldaary⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 113| D

8/11

Very smart handicapper in 2021, winning brace of big-field contests at Ascot. Listed winner sole start in 2022 but not in the same form so far this term. Has the class if he can put it all together for last year's winning yard.

Form: 11/1-424

(3)

Al Mubhir^t⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| D

9/2

Progressive last year and improved again to win 1m Leicester handicap in April. Has posted 3 sound efforts since, latest when faring best of those held up (eighth of 20) in Golden Mile at Goodwood. Goes really well on a soft surface and is a player for yard with a very good record in this event.

Form: 1-51358

(2)

Biggles⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 105| BF| CD

4/1

Second in the Victoria Cup at Ascot in the spring and took his form up another when landing Bunbury Cup at Newmarket (7f) in July. Not at his best in the International at Ascot and Park Stake at Doncaster since so has a bit to prove.

Form: 329104

(4)

Popmaster¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Coakley| T: E Walker| OR: 100

12/1

Back in top form this year, scoring over 6f at Ascot in July and excellent second in 7f handicap there 13 days ago. Enters calculations once more.

Form: 210022

(6)

Rodaballo³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: G Arizkorreta Elosegui| OR: 102| D

22/1

Useful in Spain with seven of his 8 career victories at Madrid (including on soft ground). Not discredited in three runs at Meydan earlier this year but well below par in Hungerford over C&D last time. Others appeal more.

Form: 1-57466

(1)

The Wizard Of Eye^p⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: David Egan| T: J S Moore| OR: 101| C

22/1

Signed off 2022 with a listed success at Kempton and back on song of late, fifth of 10 in 1m Ascot handicap last month. Couldn't rule out here.

Form: 369665

(5)

American Kestrel²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: K Shoemark| T: D Menuisier| OR: 87| CD

50/1

C&D winner. Back with former yard now and not disgraced in the face of a stiff task when fourth of 6 in Prix de Meautry at Deauville (6f, good to soft) 26 days ago. No forlorn hope.

Form: 525-004

Non-Runners

(8)

Streets Of Gold²⁷

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Charles Bishop

Forecasts

Aldaary (8/11), Biggles (4/1), Al Mubhir (9/2), Streets Of Gold (7/1), Popmaster (12/1), Rodaballo (22/1), The Wizard Of Eye (22/1), American Kestrel (50/1)

William Haggas took this event 12 months ago and looks to have a strong hand once more with preference for his reliable and mud-loving 4-y-o AL MUBHIR over form-pick Aldaary, who has yet to show his best so far this term. Biggles and Streets of Gold appeal as the pick of the rest for minor honours.