Timeform Dubai SmartPlays: Jebel Ali, Friday February 8

Richard Mullen will be aboard Farrier at 12:45.

Timeform's Dubai handicapper, Stephen Molyneux, is in action at Jebel Ali on Friday, where he suggests a trio of bets...

Dhruba Selvaratnam has had a very poor season by his own high standards, just two winners on the board at the time of writing, but Kessraa was one of those and he has sound claims of adding to the tally in the 10:45. He has done most of his racing at Jebel Ali over 7f, but has tended to get behind and was helped by a very strong pace when scoring here in November, his winning margin of 6 lengths exaggerated as a result. He's got going too late on his most recent outings but still performed with credit and he's looked to be crying out for this step back up to 1m, the visor also applied today which can hopefully have a positive effect. Most of his rivals have something to prove and he's reunited with James Doyle who has been on board for his last three wins.

Special Boy won here last time despite meeting all sorts of trouble and he should be capable of defying a 6 lb higher mark in the 11:45. That was just his third start for a yard that continues in fine form, also badly hampered on the first of those before running well in maiden company behind Ru'oud. He was then given a couple of months off and showed the benefit with his narrow win here last time but that doesn't begin to tell the whole story, on the bridle with nowhere to go for much of the final 2f and quickening up well once a gap appeared to snatch victory late on. He shapes as though he will prove just as effective at this 1f longer trip and should have more to offer. 

Farrier is likely to be a short price in the concluding handicap at 12:45 but he does rate as being banker material and is well worth supporting. He won two of his first three starts, impressively so at this track latterly (his only start here) and has more than held his own in some competitive races at Meydan recently. He was sixth behind Royal Empire on his penultimate start, badly hampered but for which he could have been placed and the strength of that form was well advertised last week with Kassiano coming out and winning and Royal Empire running a cracker behind Mushreq. Farrier finished third in that contest won by Kassiano but again shaped very well, running on from a poor position in a race where few threatened. There is nothing of that calibre in here and he should show himself to be still ahead of his mark. 

Timeform Dubai Smartplays:
All at Jebel Ali
Back Kessraa in the 10:45
Back Special Boy in the 11:45
Back Farrier in the 12:45

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