Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Apprentice Handicap Stakes (Whips To Be Carried But Not Used - A Racing Excellence Series)

City Of God showed his worth with a win within his last six starts and returns here on 21 days' rest with both distance and going experience in his favour; the concern is that his last two runs have yielded an eighth and a fifth, suggesting he may need to find more consistency.

Prince Rasam caught the eye with a second last time out and has run over today's trip and going, giving him claims here off a mark of 68, but the 99-day absence and a winless run in his last five starts make him hard to trust fully.

A La Noche has course-relevant experience over this trip and ground, and our rating of 73 puts him right at the head of this field as the second-ranked runner; yet to score in his last four starts, however, and connections will need more from him here.

Thiscouldbefun won two starts back and has run over today's trip and going, but a fourth last time out and a rank of sixth of eight on our ratings suggest she faces a stiff task from stall eight off 136 lb.

Yet to score in recent starts, Special Ghaiyyath at least returns fit on 20 days' rest, has experience of today's trip and conditions, and our rating of 72 puts him ahead of his official mark, making him of interest from stall one despite a modest recent run of form.