By Racing UK expert Paul Simmons

Newbury, July 18

A difficult race to predict with several having serious chances including lightly raced unexposed maidens like Maghazi and Syrah Gris, recent smart handicap winners Dargali, Flashcat, Wikkara and Pinkie Tuscadero. That said the winners of this race tend to follow a similar format with the last two winners both being well weighted relatively unexposed maidens. The selection therefore is second season maiden handicapper Miswadah who was a third in this event last year (beaten a head and a neck) on only her fourth ever run off a mark of 68 which she runs off again, she was third to Pinkie Tuscadero over this trip at Hereford on her seasonal debut, she is now 2 lbs lower and that race will have put her spot on for this and she will take all the beating. Dangers come from near top weight Dargali who looked extremely impressive in disposing of Flashcat (Sakeena Sky Zayin well beaten in 4^th) at Huntingdon over this trip (Flashcat franked the form when winning at Fakenham over this trip beating Syrah Gris 2^nd, Sabden 3^rd and Jamaahir), connections also won this event last year. Whilst the Adam Newey yard have a good record in this race with connections winning it three times in the past, of his 4 entries the best looks to be Pinkie Tuscadero who looks revitalised this term, 2^nd to WFA Leopard over 6 furlongs at Wolverhampton in May she got the better of a titanic battle with Nasheet over this trip at Hereford off a mark of 67 and although 5 lbs higher looks capable of playing a hand in the finish; stablemate Wikkara is unbeaten in 2 starts this term from 8-9 furlongs winning last time by a head from Star Valentina.

A fascinating addition to this race meeting and the tentative selection is Mu'Azzaz from the powerful Julian Smart yard, a winner back in the UK in 2008 over 9 furlongs he has since won in Qatar in February this year over 11 furlongs in the Musheires Cup, whilst his placed efforts include 3^rd in the Group 1 UK Derby and 4^th in the Qatar Derby, he looked smart when coming 3^rd to Nashwan Al Khalidiah at Newmarket over 8 furlongs in a Group 2 event (beat Tidarbret) and looks capable of taking this event. Dangers come from Bill Smith's Genuinely At Risk who looked smart last term winning twice over 7 furlongs and this trip where he beat subsequent dual winner Tidarbret, he won well on his seasonal debut at Wolverhampton over 8 furlongs (beating Mi Temps De Piboul) and should be there at the finish. Whilst Mi Temps De Piboul was fourth over course and distance last year (G1 Hatta) and also won her maiden over this trip at Foss Las, she's been in good form this term including beaten less than a length behind the smart Tidarbret over 8 furlongs at Wolverhampton. Tidarbret won the Breeders Cup last year and has won twice this term from 8-10 furlongs at Huntingdon and Wolverhampton and wasn't disgraced when 4^th to Nashwan in a Group 2 event last time out and deserves to take his chance.

 The selection is dual Group winner Nokomys who has runner up in this event for the last two years and has been in superb from this season including winning the President of the UAE Cup at The Curragh over a mile (beating subsequent Group 1 Coupe De Europe winner Raqiyah) and then going down by a neck to AdjinnD'Aroco over course and distance last month and will be hard to beat this year in this mares only event, she can gain her first Group 1 victory. Opponents include last years French Breeders Cup winner Al Anqa who also landed the Zayed Arabian Cup in Germany before chasing home Raqiyah in the Group 1 Qatar Derby over this trip, she has since been placed twice in France including when 2^nd to Muqatil Al Khalidiah in a listed race in Holland last week. Whilst Iftekhar ASF looks to be a smart recruit to the ranks having won twice including the Local Bred Arabian Oaks over this trip and then following up in the Al Zubara Cup over 1 Mile 1 Furlong in Qatar.

HH Sheikh Hamdan's smart recruit Adjinn D'Aroco looks capable of taking this event for champion trainer Gill Duffield, he was a class act in France last year winning the Prix Toustem and running 5^th in the Group 1 UK Derby, and he looked right back to his best when beating Nokomys and Al Janoob over course and distance last month and will be hard to beat in his current form. Jaafer looked amazing when winning the Group 1 Kahayala Classic at Meydan in March and ran a superb race when 2^nd to Nashwan Al Khalidiah over an insufficient mile in a Group 2 event at Newmarket last time out and is a tough horse to pass. Whilst Jalab Al Khalidiah was a classy performer in France last year and won the Prix Djerba at La Teste over this trip before following up in the Group 1 Shadwell Manganate at Deauville, he wasn't disgraced in March when 5^th to Jaafer in the Group 1 Kahayala Classic and won with some authority when landing the Group 3 Coupe De Sud Ouest at Bordeaux over this trip in May. The Royal Cavalry of Oman's Quorman Des Vialettes is a decent performer but may find this trip a touch on the sharp side, he was beaten less then 2 lengths when 4^th to Manaal over course and distance last Friday in a Premier Handicap.

The French trained runners have a great record in this event and the selection is Monsieur De Watrigent's smart juvenile filly Salaamah who has won 2 of her 3 starts in France this year including the Prix Djebella over 7 furlongs in April in Toulouse and the Fedora over 7 furlongs in May, she has experience and class and should land this competitive renewal. Julian Smart has supplemented two impeccably bred individuals Aaber and Djeldora for Al Shahania Stud, preference is for the latter who is full sister to Group winners Djelmane and Djabaril and who's breeding suggests this trip will suit and is likely to be mature enough to make her presence felt. Whilst Prince Dormant ran with promise when 4 lengths second to Al Hasem over 7 furlongs at Fakenham against older horses and can make his experience count. HH Sheikh Hamdan's Balik D'Albret is impeccably bred and was an encouraging 5^th on his debut at Fakenham over this trip.

Gill Duffield has won this race numerous times in the past for HH Sheikh Hamdan with Al Mannsoub winning last year and Aljaareh before that, once again these connections have a strong team. The selection is Moshahed who looked good when winning his maiden over 10 furlongs last term and won a match with stablemate Qariem De Faust over 1 mile 4 furlongs at Hereford and can win from his low weight and receives 20 lb from top weight. Theoretically is a Grade 2 winning racehorse in USA where he took the Bob Magness Memorial Derby last year, he has been running with credit since including 4^th to Jalab Al Khalidiah in a Group 1 in France, 5^th to General in the Group 1 Qatar World Cup and this year 5^th to Jaafer in the Group 1 Kahayala Classic; this step down in trip and class could see him winning again. Deolali was an impressive second in this race last year and 4^th the year before, he ran a week ago when 5^th beaten less than 3 lengths to Manaal over 10 furlongs and should be sharper for the run and can be counted on to land a place again.

Nashwan Al Khalidiah is a talented performer and won the Group 1 UK Derby back in 2008, he beat Emmamer when winning the Group 3 Damas Group race over 7 furlongs in France in May and looked to have plenty of speed when winning the 8 furlong Group 2 event at Newmarket from Jaafer on the 7^th and can use his smart turn of foot to land yet another Group 1 victory. Threats come from the Royal Cavalry of Oman's smart Karte D'Or who won the Prix Jacques Fabre in France before showing impressive sprinting credentials when powering home at Fakenham from Kalikeauba and Joybell over 8 furlongs. Whilst Altobello won the juvenile race here last year in awesome style and was third to Nokomys over a mile at The Curragh, before coming6^th to Nashwan over a mile last time out and will appreciate this step down in trip. Hidalgo won over this trip at Wolverhampton and was a good second to Zayin Barakaldo over this trip at Kempton Park and may sneak a place. Nimr has won 3 times in Qatar since December including the Wadi Al Sail Cup and was 4^th to Quaolina in this race in 2008.

Another race that has been farmed by the powerful Gill Duffield yard over the years including last year when winning with Riko, this year the selection is HH Sheikh Hamdan's lovely mare Laqataat who looked to have a smart turn of foot when easily winning her maiden over 7 furlongs at Fakenham in June, the selection of jockey Phil Collington and will be hard to beat. Stablemate Menwaal also looked a potential star when winning his maiden at Wolverhampton over 1 mile 2 furlongs and can't be discounted. Whilst Nasheet was just touched off over 7 furlongs behind Pinkie Tuscadero, and smart multiple winner Whisper, who has won from 6 - 12 furlongs (easy winner at Fakenham in June), has an excellent chance getting a stone from top weights.