13:30 Meydan

Friday 7 February 2025

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Race 1 - Azizi Venice Handicap - Turf

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 1m 35.95s

Settings

(4)

Flying Hunter^v⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: S Al Balushi| T: A Bin Harmash

20/1

66/1, well-beaten last of 9 to Walk of Stars in listed race at Meydan (9.4f) 49 days ago. Makes turf debut. Others more persuasive from this mark.

Form: 738/239-

(16)

In Crowd^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: X Ziani| T: S Ghadayer| D

16/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. 28/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, tenth of 12 in minor event at Jebel Ali (8f) 20 days ago. Given a chance by the assessor but has a lot to prove at present.

Form: 0556-00

(12)

Tafreej^v1⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: A Badwawi| D

20/1

Ninth of 14 in handicap at Abu Dhabi (8f, good) 5 days ago. Yet to find his feet for this yard.

Form: 442/9-09

(7)

The Ice Phoenix^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: M Barzalona| T: L Botti| D

6/1

8/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, first run since leaving Charles Hills when respectable eighth of 14 in handicap at this course (9.4f, good) 21 days ago. Shortlist material back down in trip.

Form: 88614-8

(13)

Thyer²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: D McMonagle| T: L Botti| D

16/1

One win from 2 runs last year. 13/2 and tongue strap on for 1st time, first run since leaving Marco Botti when tenth of 13 in handicap at this course (9.4f, good) 21 days ago. Drop in trip will suit.

Form: 31/15-0

(15)

Folk Festival¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Bernardo Pinheiro| T: S Ghadayer| D

9/2

Won 16-runner maiden at Abu Dhabi (8f, good) 13 days ago by length from No Retreat. Makes handicap debut and there should be more to come.

Form: 1

(10)

Arabic Art²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: T P O'Shea| T: S bin Suroor

11/2

4/1, fifth of 15 in minor event at this course (6f, good) 21 days ago, never nearer. Significantly up in trip. Makes handicap debut back up in trip and he represents excellent stable.

Form: 2/5

(2)

No Retreat¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A de Vries| T: F Nass

3/1

First run since leaving Roger Varian when respectable length second of 16 to Folk Festival in maiden () at Abu Dhabi (8f, good) 13 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 322-2

(9)

Expert Choice^b²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: J Olascoaga

14/1

Latest win at Abu Dhabi in December. Bit below form eighth of 15 in handicap at this course (7f, good, 28/1) 28 days ago. This mark shouldn't prove beyond him.

Form: 35661-8

(1)

Lenormand^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: R Mullen| T: O Refai| D

33/1

66/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, first run since leaving Charlie Appleby when thirteenth of 15 in handicap at this course (7f, good) 28 days ago, slowly away.

Form: 613/0

(3)

El Bosnia⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: V Janacek| T: G Arizkorreta Elosegui| BF

20/1

Latest win at Longchamp in August. Creditable second of 8 in claimer (17/10) at Toulouse (8f, good) 82 days ago. Makes handicap debut and mark looks vey fair on balance.

Form: 783112-

(8)

Momarasa⁹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: S Hitchcott| T: D Watson| D

25/1

Fourth of 11 in minor event at Clairefontaine (9f, good, 33/10). Off over 2 years. First run for yard after leaving Francois Rohaut but he's certainly in the right hands.

Form: 660424/

(5)

Algernon⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: M Mheiri| D

14/1

13/2, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Jebel Ali (8f) 41 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 034251-

(11)

Castlebar^b,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Charlie Bennett| T: M Al Shamsi| C

33/1

Course winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Blinkered for 1st time, first run since leaving H. Alalawi when last of 15 in handicap at this course (7f, good, 50/1) 28 days ago.

Form: 000/00-0

(6)

Honest Desire^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Cosgrave| T: B Seemar

25/1

33/1, tenth of 15 in minor event at this course (6f, good) 21 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 261/09-0

(14)

King's Fountain⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: A Bin Harmash

25/1

Creditable third of 16 in handicap at Meydan (7f, 9/1) 7 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 54247-3

Non-Runners

(14)

Ajwad²¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 12

T: R Bouresly J: Non Runner

Perfect Love³²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 7

T: A Al Shemaili J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

No Retreat (3/1), Folk Festival (9/2), Arabic Art (11/2), The Ice Phoenix (6/1), Expert Choice (14/1), Algernon (14/1), Thyer (16/1), In Crowd (16/1), Tafreej (20/1), Flying Hunter (20/1), El Bosnia (20/1), King's Fountain (25/1), Honest Desire (25/1), Momarasa (25/1), Lenormand (33/1), Castlebar (33/1), Ajwad (50/1)

THE ICE PHOENIX made a sound-enough start for his new yard when mid-field over 9.4f here 3 weeks ago and expected to step up on that with 1m likely to be his best trip, he could be the answer. EL Bosnia is interesting on the pick of his European form, with Folk Festival the one open to most improvement.