Mysterious chance for Appleby

Marbaan and Mysterious Night, first and second in the AI Fahidi Fort in January, renew rivalry in the Ras AI Khor, the Group 3 showpiece of racing at Meydan today.

- Ed Marnane

The last-named, trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, is fancied to get his revenge on Marbaan on 1.5kg better terms and register his first success since winning the AI Fahidi Fort at Meydan 13 months ago.

Appleby, operating at a remarkable 33% strike-rate at Meydan this year, continues to bang in the winners and he sent out four winners at Meydan's latest fixture, Super Saturday six days ago. Appleby can record his first win in the Ras AI Khor, 12 months after Godolphin's Noble Dynasty, the warm favourite, ran fifth behind shock winner Fort Payne.

Michael Costa's Marbaan was given a terrific ride by James McDonald to narrowly prevail in the AI Fahidi Fort, lowering the track record when coming fast and late to defeat Mysterious Night and Andres Vesalius. Marbaan, who began his career with Newmarket handler Charlie Fellows, has been lightly raced this season and comes into this race a fresh horse.

He commands plenty of respect in the hands of Ray Dawson for owner Sheikh Ahmad AI Maktoum.