2.30 Meydan

WINSLOW (best price 4-1) shaped quite well over a trip clearly on the short side last time out and he now looks a more viable proposition over a distance in-keeping with his overall profile. Although his only career victory came over 6f when trained by Charlie Appleby in the UK, the son of Distorted Humor ran well beyond a mile on a two occasions to suggest that is where his future lies, and sure to be all the better for that initial outing for his new stable here on the dirt off the back of a 383-day layoff, Doug Watson’s charge can make his presence felt on a surface he’s bred for.

WINSLOW - 1pt @ 4/1Lost -1pts

3.05 Meydan

FANCIFUL ANGEL (best price 10-3) exhibited a nice turn of foot to score in ready fashion over today’s C&D last time out and a follow up success looks on the cards in he’s in a similar vein of form. For the second successive season, Marco Botti’s charge managed to win here first time off the plane, so he clearly loves the sun on his back out in the desert and although he failed to follow up that victory twelve months ago, the rise in class into Group 2 company found him out more than anything. Likely to be slowly away and ridden patiently, expect the son of Dark Angel to pounce late in his bid to win for the third time at the carnival.

FANCIFUL ANGEL - 1pt @ 10/3Lost -1pts

4.50 Meydan

Round One of the Maktoum challenge was won comprehensively by Le Bernardin and while technically Ali Al Rayhi’s charge seemingly has most of today’s rivals in his pocket on that form, today’s examination requires a totally different skillset. First and foremost, he’s been plying his trade at a mile for quite some time now and secondly, he has a tricky draw on the wing to overcome so life won’t be easy for the son of Bernardin this afternoon. At the prices, therefore, he’s worth swerving on this occasion in favour of couple of outsiders in the shape of LONG RIVER (best price 12-1) and POWER BLADE (best price 50-1). The former, beaten fair and square by the favourite here last time, was coming back off a 306-day break so it’s logical to assume he will strip fitter for the run. Also, he has a smart time figure in the bank courtesy of his solid effort behind Faulkner over today’s C&D last season, so he looks overpriced at 12-1 on that form. The latter, although plenty to find on the figures, ran well enough against two in-form horses in the shape of North America and Heavy Metal on his UAE debut and being as most of his best form in Korea was over 1m 2f, a step up in trip might bring about further improvement.

LONG RIVER - 0.5pts e/w @ 12/1Lost -1pts
POWER BLADE - 0.5pts e/w @ 50/1Placed 4.5pts

6.00 Meydan

In a race likely to be run at a furious pace courtesy of trail-blazer Caspian Prince in the field, a deep-closer just might turn out to be the answer to this tricky puzzle and in the shape of POLYBIUS (NAP) (best price 10-1), David Simcock’s charge makes the most appeal. A listed winner when trained by David Lanigan in 2015, the Oasis Dream gelding shaped with a mountain of promise on his first start for new connections here 21 days ago when finishing a close-up fourth behind Final Venture in a competitive 6f handicap. The way he travelled before petering out in the last half-furlong intimated a drop back to the minimum trip may be worth a try and being as he’s drawn right next to the pace smack down the middle of the track, it should provide the perfect platform for king of the head waiters, Jamie Spencer, to ride his familiar stalk and pounce race before letting fly late on.

POLYBIUS - 1pt e/w @ 10/1Lost -2pts