All set for Jebel Ali's traditional afternoon start

Dubai - The historic racecourse will host its first horse racing meeting and the third of the new UAE season

Having swapped places with Meydan, the historic Jebel Ali Racecourse preps to host its first horse race meeting of the new UAE season and it should be cracker.
It is the third meeting of the season after the iconic Meydan and the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club hosted the first two, and Jebel Ali opens its gates for its traditional afternoon start.
And the race for the jockeys championship resumes with Connor Beasley and Richard Mullen going head-to-head along with the others in the pecking order.
Beasley, who tops the list with three wins, a second and two third-place finishes in 10 starts, has been booked for all seven rides on the card. And so is Mullen.
Beasley rides Dubai Canal in the Orient Irrigation Service Maiden and then mounts Tabernas in the ASCANA Maiden. Night Castle is his ride in the Al Shafar Investment Handicap after which he boards Rocket Power in the Shadwell Handicap, the feature race of the day. Beasley then partners Naaeebb in the Al Reda Insurance Brokers Handicap, Mightily in the Commercial Bank of Dubai Handicap before wrapping up the evening on Muqaatil in the SIS UK Handicap.
Mullen's rides are on Lady Parma, Majestic Thunder, Stratton Street, Bochart, Coded, Dolmen and East Asia. Tadhg O'Shea, who will be making his bow in the yellow silks of the Jebel Ali Stables at home, partners Underwriter, Yajooll, Call To War, Haalick and Epsilon.
"He has been working well, but will be entitled to improve for the run after almost two years off. He is a nice horse and whatever he achieves on Friday we are hoping he can have a good season," Jebel Ali trainer Nicholas Bachalard said of Haalick.
james@khaleejtimes.com