Yesterday’s Review

0.75pt e/way Sam’s Hope (92) – The selection’s decent run of form ended on this occasion as she hung left and weakened at the business end of the race having raced prominently. She was well fancied on the day having been backed into 3/1 favourite but was well off her previous performance over course and distance.

Today’s Advice

KNIGHT (10f Hcap) – Bahrain has seen plenty of rain in the last 24 hours and the official going description was changed to soft after race 3 yesterday following 6mm of rain. With a field of fifteen runners going to post for today’s (4.40) Bahrain and plenty of them looking for faster conditions it may be worthwhile looking for contestants who appreciate a bit of give in the ground.

The selection has won his last two races when held up over nine furlongs for trainer Jaber Ramadhan since acquiring him from Saudi Arabia. UK racing followers may remember him winning the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes over 7f at Newbury as a two-year-old back in 2022. His handicap rating has dropped 26lbs since then but new connections look to have revitalised the five-year-old with the application of a hood and a tongue tie.

He won his latest handicap cosily by three lengths and conditions should be in his favour today with plenty of soft ground form in his profile from back in the day and he looks to still be on an upward curve.

IMPERIAL EMPEROR (8f Group 2) – This five-year-old improved 19lbs last season according to the handicapper and his best performance on the clock was over course and distance when recording a (117) timefigure in a seven and a half length romp under the welter burden of 9st 11lbs. Connections tried their luck over the ten furlong distance with a big step up in class in the Dubai World Cup, but it looked a bridge too far as he finished unplaced behind Hit Show.

Trainer Bhupat Seemar has entered eight of the eleven contestants for today’s (5.00) Meydan, and stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea has chosen the selection over the other seven. As a hold up performer he should enjoy the pace of today’s contest with front-runners such as Meshtri and Commissioner King in opposition, and he looks the clear form pick considering he won first time out last season as well.

NIKKI SWANGO (7f Hcap) – This four-year-old filly has been in tremendous form lately having won her last three races over course and distance. Her rating has gone up 29lbs to today’s mark of 73 but there should be plenty of room for another win or two considering she has won from a 6lb higher mark than tonight’s.

Adam Caffrey has been on board for all her latest victories and does the steering for tonight’s (6.00) Dundalk once again. Last time out she travelled very well as she normally does before leading over a furlong out and coming home two and three quarter lengths clear. Tonight’s contest has attracted a stronger field but the way she has been winning her races warrants sticking with her until she is beaten.

1pt e/way Knight (5/1 Ladbrokes, Corals 4 places) 4.40 Bahrain

2pts win Imperial Emperor (7/4 Ladbrokes, Corals, Bet365) 5.00 Meydan

1pt win Nikki Swango (11/4 Ladbrokes, Corals, 888sport) 6.00 Dundalk