Dubai Racing Carnival continues

For the first time, there is racing at Meydan on a Friday and the card includes the final two legs of the Meydan Masters jockeys challenge - handicaps over 1 mile 5 furlongs at 16.50 CET and 9 furlongs at 18.05 respectively. We would not be surprised to see Richard Hughes, aboard Age of Reason and Inestimable, win both these events. Main feature here is the Group Two Balanchine for fillies and mares over 9 furlongs on turf at 19.20.

Several of these have already met at this meeting, and Aspectoflove (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) won here a month ago with River Jetez (Mike de Kock/ Christophe Soumillon) third; the latter may well reverse the form on 3lbs better terms. A new opponent is Strawberrydaiquiri, who had good form last season for Michael Stoute and is having her first race for Fawzi Nass, but will be ridden by her old partner Ryan Moore.

German-owned War Artist (Rodolphe Collet/ Olivier Peslier) has been below form his last few starts, but must still have a good each way chance under top weight in the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.15.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Dariya (A) - Kandar Du Falgas (A) - Vite Royale (A)
2. Race: Everyday Heroes - War Artist - Mutheeb
3. Race: Age Of Reason - Calvados Blues - Mikhail Glinka
4. Race: Here To Win - Caymans - Atlantic Brave
5. Race: Inestimable - Yirga - War Monger
6. Race: Ashram - Bank Merger - Rakaan
7. Race: River Jetez - Reem - Aspectoflove
8. Race: Golden Sword - Al Shemali - Mr Brock