September 27 / 15.35 Newmarket

15.35

Good

Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £70887.5
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV3
View Course
Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34

Form: 1452 BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Unraced for Aidan O'Brien and only made his debut in June, winning a 1m2f Sandown maiden (good to soft); even better form in defeat, notably when contesting his first Group race and unlucky not to have won at Haydock 20 days ago (1m, good; first-time tongue-tie); this is unlikely to be so muddling as that with a truer pace likely on this stiffer track; not yet exposed, he's in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(4)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Prague

9st 2lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: Dylan Cunha

Announced himself when winning Group 2 here (1m, soft) in September 2024 but 0-8 since and he's become a little tricky to place; had wind surgery in December, which might help, but he's at the bottom of the list on RPRs.

16/1

5th

5

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Prague

9st 4lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Dylan Cunha

Group 2 winner (1m, soft) last autumn; has failed to repeat that form but none of his 2025 races (80-1 in the Champion Stakes 11 days ago) were on softer than good, so he could be of renewed interest.

5/1

5th

5

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Prague

9st 4lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Dylan Cunha

Group 2 winner (1m, soft) last autumn; has failed to repeat that form but none of his 2025 races (80-1 in the Champion Stakes 11 days ago) were on softer than good, so he could be of renewed interest.

5/1

Form: -27P24 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Rain welcomed as there was ease underfoot when completing a Listed/Group 3/Group 2 hat-trick over this trip last season; failed to exploit an easy lead when overhauled late on by Ice Max at Goodwood two runs back (1m, soft) but he was conceding the winner 6lb; a player on that form, and he ran perfectly well in a Group 2 at Leopardstown 13 days ago on ground that would have been quick enough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

12th

5

(7)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Ascot

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won a Group 3 and Group 2 in France last season (1m, soft/good to soft); this prominent-racer has run well in defeat in 1m Group 2 races on his last three starts (soft/good) but needs something extra today.

66/1

9/2

Form: 2-7734

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in last season's Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket; has drawn a blank this year (kicked off in the Guineas) but, tongue tied the last twice, he's not enjoyed the clearest of passages in two Group 3s and was closing on Lead Artist at Goodwood in the penultimate one; all runs on good or faster but there's hope on breeding that some give underfoot could benefit; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(5)

27th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Task Force

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Ralph Beckett

prominent, took keen hold early, outpaced and no chance with winner over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong

9/2

4th

8

(3)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 177y

Class 1

13:50 York

Task Force

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

dwelt start, took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway 2f out, keeping on when short of room final 110yds

7/1

3rd

10

(4)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

Task Force

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Runner-up in Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) last September and reappeared with seventh of 11 in the 2,000 Guineas (1m, good); kept on for fair seventh of 19 in the Group 3 Jersey at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm) last time and this step back up in to 1m may well be the right move; not discounted in a first-time tongue-tie.

11/2

OUR TIP
4th
3 (2)
Ice Max

4/1

Form: -11451 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
The ground has been softer than good for all five wins, the latest Goodwood's Group 2 Celebration Mile in which he conceded first run to Poker Face but wore him down late on; 5lb worse off with the winner but can finish strongly up the hill; big shout.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(4)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Ice Max

9st 6lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Won the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in 2024; creditable third, faring best of the runners who came off steady pace, in Group 2 at Chester (good) upped to 1m2f last time; unexposed at this distance and enters calculations despite carrying a 3lb penalty for Listed success (1m, soft) last autumn.

7/2

3rd

3

(3)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Ice Max

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Ended last season with a pair of 1m victories, the latest in a Nottingham Listed event (soft); not totally disgraced when fifth of eight in a Group 3 at Dusseldorf (1m, heavy) on last month's return, but that does indicate his limitations; races beyond an extended 1m for the first time; stable also runs Royal Rhyme.

20/1

Non-runners

Dancing Gemini, Lead Artist

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.00
Straight Forecast £10.32
Trifecta £20.80

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Prague

RP RATINGS:

Poker Face

TOPSPEED:

Lead Artist

SPOTLIGHT:

Task Force

Daily Record:

Ice Max

The Sun:

Lead Artist

D Express:

Task Force

Telegraph:

Prague

The Guardian:

Prague

Daily Mail:

Prague

Daily Mirror:

Prague

The Star:

Prague

POSTDATA:

Poker Face

The Times:

Poker Face