Dubai Racing Carnival gets under way

Today is the opening day of the Dubai Racing Carnival, which is set to enliven the next two months with high class racing, usually on a Thursday, building up to a climax on Dubai World Cup day on March 28th. It will be the last time that the meeting will be held at Nad el Sheba, as the track is to be demolished after the World Cup and the huge new complex at Meydan will host the 2010 fixture. Main feature today is the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, a Group Three race on dirt over a mile at 19.05 CET.

The race looks very tricky, with question marks over both Happy Boy (Mubarak bin Shayla/ Ahmed Ajtebi), who won this last year for Godolphin but lost form afterwards, and Royal Vintage (Mike de Kock/ Kevin Shea), who has been gelded since his last disappointing start. However the booking of Shea still suggests that he is the selected of Mike de Kock´s four entries; the South African has been easily the most successful trainer at this meeting in recent years. Golden Arrow, who was third in this in 2007 and sixth last year, and Don Renato could both prove dangerous. The 7 furlongs race for fillies at 17.20 looks a mach between Sos Brilliance (Saeed bin Surtor/ Frankie Dettori) India Tiberna (Kock/ Shea), both easy winners on their only start in Chile 10 months ago. The remaining races are all very open handicaps and probably best left alone, in view of the lack of recent form. There is no betting in Dubai and bets will normally be settled at British bookmakers´ industry prices.

Betting forecast:
2.Race: Inca Noble - Jalmira - Happy Spirit
3.Race: India Tiberina - Sos Brillante - Esta Bailando
4.Race: Dijeerr - Emirates Skyline - Yaddree
5.Race: Brave Tin Soldier - Irish Mayhem - Glen Nevis
6.Race: Happy Boy - Green Coast - Royal Vintage
7.Race: Sugar Ray - Varsity - Lion Sands