A quality afternoon of racing is in store from Newbury on Saturday as they host the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes card.
The Group 2 feature race comes along at 3.15pm, with support races via the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (1.30pm) and the Dubai Duty Free Handicap (2.40pm).
They race from 1.30pm-5.00pm at Newbury on Saturday afternoon and Enda McElhinney has a selection and next best in the main event alongside some thought on the support races.
3.15pm - Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2, 6f)
Richard Hannon's Haatem is the standard-setter for what is quite possibly not the strongest of races for this grade. The colt won the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood early last month but failed to back that up in the Gimcrack at York. A return to slower ground may assist but, with a penalty to carry, he's got plenty on his plate.
Andrew Balding's Array was the beaten favourite in the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton a fortnight ago on the Polytrack and now steps up once more in grade. He might be better suited back on turf.
He does, though, have a half-length to find with Seven Questions after the George Scott runner was a narrow second in the Kempton contest. Not much splits them on paper and they are both solid contenders.
Red Zone Hero has wins at Ayr and Doncaster under his belt from five starts but will require a clear step forward now upped in class and so this might be best left to MISTER SKETCH for trainer Eve Johnson-Houghton.
The Territories colt was narrowly denied on debut over course and distance in July and has since taken a real positive step forward when routing seven rivals to win a Salisbury novice by the thick end of 10 lengths.
That effort is supported by the time he clocked and he's been snapped up since by ambitious owners Wathnan Racing. With the Johnson-Houghton team flying right now, this may prove an excellent piece of race targeting given how the field has turned out.
1.30pm - Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3, 5f)
The opening Group 3 sprint on the card will see SENSE OF DUTY attempting to defy a 455-day absence as the Showcasing filly bids to complete a protracted five-timer that began in August 2021.
She won all three starts last season, including in Listed company at Haydock in May before adding the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle on their Northumberland Plate card in June.
Those wins all came over 6f and she drops to the minimum distance on this return, but William Haggas must feel it's within her compass and it might help if she's a bit free on her first start back. She was very impressive at Newcastle, has shown plenty of speed and is worth siding with, despite the absence.
In the same ownership, Nymphadora for trainer Andrew Balding will be aiming to take advantage if the market leader isn't on song, though, the big danger in this five-runner field may well be Raasel.
Michael Appleby's likeable gelding went close in the Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster six days ago but, as he was then, he's vulnerable to something less exposed.
2.05pm - Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap (1m5f)
A stayers contest here over 1m5f and one in which Valsad will be popular. Roger Charlton's 4YO has improved in recent starts here (second) and at Southwell (won) over 1m4f. A 4lb rise demands a bit more but with James Doyle taking over in the saddle, it's possible.
Sea King, Laafi and Salt Bay all demand attention too, with the last-named in particular likely to be suited if conditions remain as testing as they were on Friday given he has form on heavy ground at the top level.
ONEFORTHEGUTTER was narrowly denied in the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster last week and a repeat showing from 1lb higher may well suffice for Ian Williams' charge.
SELECTION: ONEFORTHEGUTTER @ 13/2
2.40pm - Dubai Duty Free Handicap (1m2f)
Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy have stellar claims here with TOTNES as the Kingman filly goes in search of a hat-trick. She has proved a most consistent conveyance this year, notching her third and fourth wins at Chelmsford and Chepstow, and she had plenty to spare in Wales last time. She's up to a mark of 90 now but, as a 3YO, has a nice weight to carry here and she may not have found her ceiling yet.
Balance Play was denied her own treble last month at York in a stronger race than this for the grade and could bounce back, with slower ground working in her favour. Meanwhile, the very lightly-raced Le Mans has won two from three thus far for Richard Hannon and might have more to say for herself if handling the forecast testing ground.
