Dubai Horizon 

1st-Sept-2018

This is a really tight 10-furlong handicap, but I didn’t think that Dubai Horizon should have been a 10/1 shot.

Second in both his runs as a juvenile, the Godolphin horse looked like a horse with lots of potential when he won his maiden over 10 furlongs at Lingfield on his debut last year at three.  He stayed on well to win nicely that day.

He only ran once after that last season, he was beaten just a neck by his talented stable companion Leshlaa in a handicap at Newmarket in May, and it has taken him a little while to find his rhythm this season.  However, last time at Ayr, he was very good in winning another 10-furlong handicap.

Always prominent that day, he hit the front on the run to the three-furlong marker, and he stayed on strongly from there to win by almost four lengths.  He did carry his head a little high, but it didn’t stop him from going forward.

The handicapper raised him by 9lb for that, but that just brings him up to a mark of 100, which is just 3lb higher than the mark on which he started off last season.  He has the potential to go higher than that.

Jason Watson is top value for his 3lb claim, and Saeed bin Suroor’s horses are in good form.  Also, Dubai Horizon’s prominent style of racing is well suited to Sandown, and he is well-drawn in stall three to effect those tactics.

History Writer is a progressive horse who should appreciate the step up to 10 furlongs, but he is very short in such a competitive race.  Mountain Angel and Almoreb were also on my shortlist, but I am happy to rely on Dubai Horizon.

DUBAI HORIZON WON (ADV 10/1, SP 7/1)