Al Arbeed

That sole career win came at Southwell in March 2025, and his best record is over seven furlongs to a mile, where he has won 1 from 5 races — a 20% win rate that is meaningfully better than his overall record. That's the version of Al Arbeed worth watching for. The problem is that he has spent most of his time competing at Class 2 level, some of the most competitive races on the British circuit, and has yet to trouble the judge there in four attempts. That's a tough ask for a horse still finding his feet.

Hannon, whose yard has been in excellent form this season — 118 winners and counting — is clearly not ready to give up on him. After Al Arbeed's most recent run at Musselburgh, Hannon was candid: he felt the undulating track didn't suit the horse, and the draw hadn't helped either. He's urging patience and is considering adding headgear next time out, which can sometimes sharpen a horse's focus and produce a step forward in form. It's the kind of small tactical adjustment a trainer makes when he believes the ability is there, it just needs a nudge in the right direction.

Al Arbeed raced just yesterday, so he's very much in the thick of an active campaign. The honest summary is this: he's a horse with limited wins on the board but some mitigating factors behind recent disappointing runs, a trainer who knows exactly how to place horses in decent company, and a specific trip where his numbers genuinely improve. If Hannon gets conditions right and the headgear does its job, there could be a nice performance around the corner.