25 October 2018, UAE ~ UAE racing returns on Friday, 26 October 2018 with a seven-race card at Jebel Ali Racecourse; the first of 11 they will host among the 67 cards to be staged across the five UAE tracks through 12 April 2019.

The seven race Thoroughbred card will feature a 1400m handicap which has attracted a very competitive field of 13, including two trained by Nicholas Bachalard, the new incumbent at the Jebel Ali Stables of racecourse patron His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Stable jockey Chris Hayes, has elected to ride dirt debutant Haalick, leaving reigning UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, now based with Satish Seemar at Zabeel Stables alongside Richard Mullen, a nice spare ride on Sholaan.

The last time Royston Ffrench was in action at Jebel Ali he suffered a nasty fall which ruled him out of the saddle for seven months. He partners High On Life for Sandeep Jadhav, embarking on his first full season having been appointed at Fazza Racing Stables in March, immediately saddling the aforementioned Heavy Metal to his Dubai World Cup card triumph.

Jebel Ali regulars should note all 11 meetings this season are seven races, thus start times will be earlier. This week, the first race at 2:00 p.m. As a result of the extra contest, the feature race becomes race four and the on-course tipping competitions now feature a Pick 7 with tricast options for all races.

Meydan will host it’s first race of the season on 1 November, and on 3 November, Abu Dhabi Arabian racing jumps in with a six card race. The HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Jewel Crown will top the Abu Dhabi competition on Friday, 9 November.

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