2K to 10K Betting Challenge ( Bet No 69 ) Thu 16th Jan

2K to 10K Betting Challenge returns on Thursday at the Dubai Carnival . 

The betting bankroll stands at £2937 (+£937) as we start the third and final season of the challenge .Stakes start at £118.00 with the bankroll £2937 divided into 25 units .

Moving on to Thursday ,we have decent card from Meydan,with the main interest the 10f Listed handicap at 3.40 .

11 runners declared for Zaabel Turf on ground described as good . This looks top quality listed handicap with the three main contenders Dream Castle,Desert Fire & Loxley .

DREAM CASTLE : 6-Y-0 Bay Gelding ,winning 4 out 18 .Had some useful form at Meydan Carnival last season winning three group races ,including winning 9F (G1) Jebel Hatta in March .Has been disappointing in five runs since in G1/G2 company ,including two runs in Australia .Will be suited by this big drop in class ,though will need to bounce back.

DESERT FIRE : 5-Y-0 Bay Entire ,winning 4 out 11 .Consistent sort ,ran with credit at Meydan last season ,including winning 8f turf handicap off mark 95 .Returned to winning form on Polytrack at Chelmsford in September ,winning 10f handicap off mark 102 .Takes step up in class ,though open to improvement returning to Meydan .

LOXLEY : 5-Y-0 Bay Gelding ,winning 4 out 13 ,including winning 12f (G2) at Deauville in 2018 .Not won since,though finished second on last three starts in listed company ,including just getting touched off in fair contest at Kempton last time .The return to this shorter trip shouldn't be problem, having won twice over distance back in 2018 .Interesting contender back on the turf .

VERDICT : Dream Castle is clearly the one to beat on last seasons group winning form at Meydan ,though has been bitterly disappointing since ,including only beaten one rival in last two starts in Australia .Will find this company lot easier,though has too many question marks for me .
 
LOXLEY has been knocking on the door in listed company,including finishing close second to 107 rated Pablo Escobarr last time on polytrack at Kempton ,that was fair effort giving decent rival 4lb .Looks fairly treated off mark 107 in this listed handicap .Odds around 9-2 look fair e-w value .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
LOXLEY 3.40 MEYDAN  
£59.00 EACH-WAY @ 9-2 HILLS.BETFRED
(UNPLACED SP 3-1 LOSS £118.00 )