14:40 Meydan

Friday 26 January 2024

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

Al Fahidi Fort (Group 2) Presented By Longines - Turf

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 1m 21.73s

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(10)

Danyah^h³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 115| CD

7/1

Smart gelding. C&D winner. Six wins from 18 Flat runs. Two wins from 5 runs last year. 4/1, creditable head second of 15 to Vafortino in listed race at this C&D (good) 35 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 2/01812-

(6)

King Gold¹¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Stephane Pasquier| T: N Caullery| OR: 110| D

22/1

Smart horse. Bit below form 5¾ lengths fifth of 14 to Kelina in Prix de la Foret (11/1) at Longchamp (7f, good to firm). Off 117 days. Had his best season last year and is shortlist material.

Form: 113115-

(4)

Al Salt⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: A de Vries| T: A Badwawi| OR: 101| CD

33/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. 3/1, 8½ lengths tenth of 15 to Mysterious Night in handicap at this C&D (good) 7 days ago. May need a couple of these to falter.

Form: 01033-0

(2)

Majestic Pride^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Mickael Barzalona| T: C Appleby| OR: 101| D

18/1

Useful gelding. One win from 3 runs last year. Tenth of 13 in handicap at this course (9f, good, 10/1) 14 days ago. Back down in trip and refitted with hood. Can bounce back.

Form: 21/143-0

(9)

Marbaan²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: Michael Costa| OR: 109| D

9/2

Smart colt. First run since leaving Charlie Fellowes when very good 1½ lengths second of 13 to San Donato in Zabeel Mile (5/1) at this course (8f, good) 21 days ago. Back down in trip and has to be taken seriously.

Form: 42038-2

(1)

Mysterious Night⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: William Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 105| CD

11/10

Smart gelding. Career best when winning 15-runner handicap at this C&D (good, 10/3) 7 days ago, keeping on well. The choice of Buick and respected.

Form: 1/7075-1

(8)

Real World^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 114| C

9/1

Smart gelding. Course winner. Tongue strap on for 1st time, bit below form 4¾ lengths sixth of 13 to San Donato in Zabeel Mile (11/10) at this course (8f, good) 21 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 09745-6

(12)

Shining Blue¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C Demuro| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 107| CD

18/1

Smart gelding. C&D winner. 11/2, respectable third of 6 in handicap at Goodwood (7f, heavy). Off 153 days. Booking of Demuro a plus.

Form: 371203-

(11)

Tamborrada^p1,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: Ahmad Harmash| OR: 94

33/1

Useful gelding. Eleven runs since last win in 2021. Creditable 7 lengths seventh of 13 to San Donato in Zabeel Mile (66/1) at this course (8f, good) 21 days ago. Difficult ask.

Form: 82707-7

(5)

Vafortino³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C Soumillon| T: K P De Foy| OR: 106| CD

8/1

Smart gelding. Six wins from 23 Flat runs. Won 15-runner listed race (10/3) at this C&D (good) 35 days ago by head from Danyah. Booking of Soumillon a plus. Has to be considered in pursuit of hat-trick.

Form: 302011-

Non-Runners

(3)

Demain⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: F Graffard J: Non Runner

(7)

Rusumaat²⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 10

T: R Bouresly J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mysterious Night (11/10), Marbaan (9/2), Danyah (7/1), Vafortino (8/1), Real World (9/1), Majestic Pride (18/1), Shining Blue (18/1), King Gold (22/1), Demain (25/1), Al Salt (33/1), Tamborrada (33/1), Rusumaat (100/1)

A fascinating race in which a case can be made for several. MARBAAN is the tentative selection but will need to be on song. Vafortino arrives in great heart and is expected to give another good account, while King Gold can can emerge as best of the rest.