Nottingham 18th August Review - Arab Meeting
By Paul Simmons

Race 1 – The Shaw & Fox Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile:
Palapal (Bengali D’Albret x Prunelle De Ghazal) who had been running well in defeat stormed home to victory in this maiden under a fine ride from Simon Walker to continue the great run of form for the Bill Smith yard, he led from the three furlong marker and despite idling in the final furlong he won with plenty amount in hand and can go on to better things from here. Back in second was the ever consistent The Debator (Bengali D’Albret x Djeba Al Mels) who had every chance from the home turn but couldn’t lay up with the winner in the final furlong, she continues to impress and her turn is near. Back in third was a disappointing Philia De Faust (Al Sakbe x Hakima De Cacerre) who doesn’t look to be in love with the game and failed to show her true form, but seemed to get a second wind inside the straight but the first two had already flown by then.

Race 2 – The David Cross Memorial Handicap Stakes 0-75 over 2 Miles:
Phil Collington always seems to get the best from Linda Cross’s plucky mare Kizhi and they cut out the running here, and seemingly had set sail for home with a strong run inside the final furlong only for an inspired Sam Holdsworth to galvanise a power packed finish from Karang (Karmah x CR Angel Kate) who get up on the line to win on the line by a comfortable two lengths again for the in form Bill Smith yard. The ever gutsy Kizhi (Khairouan x Sucha) was back in second and relished this stamina sapping trip, whilst Blu By You (Khairoaun x Billou Al Maury) continues to impress and made good progress in the straight and stayed on dourly for third for owner/ trainer/ jockey Mark Wall.

Race 3 – The Eurobale Ltd OPEN Race over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs:
Adalar (Grand Lodge x Adalya) showed the field a clean pair of heels as he cut out the running in this stayers event, he came with a strong run inside the final furlong and had to pull out all the stops as John Wilson’s tough mare Princess Karla came with a wet sail down the straight, they were neck and neck to the line with Miss Saunders driving Adalar home by a short head. Princess Karla (Fayruz x Mystique Air) ran a superb race in defeat and her turn is near, whilst Rue De L’Opera (L’Estragon x Rue De Cirque) ran the race of her life back in third for owner/trainer/jockey Philip Rondel staying on determinedly for third.

Race 4 – The Jebel Ali Handicap Stakes 0-45 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
A well deserved win for Bonham (Bakara x Bonnie Jet) who has been running so well in defeat this season, he was held up with a run with El Hamsa (Naseem x Myska) and Plus stalking menacingly behind, all three came with their runs inside the final furlong and it was almost a blanket finish at the line with Bonham superbly ridden by Sam Holdsworth just getting home by a short head for owner/trainer Chris Culleton with El Hamsa back in second and Plus (Djouras Tu x Sherrie Noreen) for the David Paton team was another short head back in third. El Hamsa is coming back to form whilst the penny seems to have dropped for Plus and she is a name to remember next time out.