Mashareef will be partnered by Paul Hanagan.
Dubai - Shaamal Nibras has won this race last year for trainer Doug Watson and the Emirates Entertainment Group, but he needs to improve over recent form for a repeat.
Published: Thu 10 Dec 2015, 11:00 PM
Updated: Fri 11 Dec 2015, 1:05 PM
A small field of five runners have been declared for the Derrinstown-sponsored 1,400m TB Handicap, the highlight of the fourth meeting at the Jebel Ali Racecourse here on Friday afternoon.
Shaamal Nibras has won this race last year for trainer Doug Watson and the Emirates Entertainment Group, but he needs to improve over recent form for a repeat.
"We are very happy with him," said Watson. "He probably needed his first run a bit more than we thought and he has been going very nicely at home. He won this race last year and it would be nice to think he can repeat that victory this time," he added.
Paul Hanagan is back to the local season will partner Mashaaref in the silks of the race sponsor Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.
Trainer Musabah Al Muhairi is still confident that his horse is in solid form and could do it again despite the extra weight.
The ex-police officer also saddles Art Wave under Fernando Jara though the race could be too tough for the colt.
"It is a small field but it looks a good race and I think Art Wave, getting weight from the rest, is my best chance on the day."
Fellow Meydan trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe saddles Not A Given, the mount of the handler's number one rider Tadhg O'Shea and the only member of the quintet not to have won over course and distance. In fact, he is yet to win at Jebel Ali.
"He ran very well the last day," said O'Shea. "On the revised terms we should at least get closer to Art Wave but the top one, Mashaaref, looks the one we all have to beat."
That leaves Al Razi trained at Zabeel Stables by Satish Seemar and the mount of Richard Mullen. Fourth behind Art Wave and Not A Given last time on his seasonal bow Mullen's mount is seeking a seventh Jebel Ali victory and third over course and distance.
"He goes particularly well at Jebel Ali," said Mullen. "It was a pleasing comeback run behind Art Wave and hopefully he has come on for it.
"For such a small field it looks a very hot race but he should run well." As well as winning with Shamaal Nibras 12 months ago Watson and Dobbs were also successful with Hacienda in a 1600m handicap.
They will try and repeat the dose in the equivalent race tomorrow while the Al Muhairi-trained Enery won a 1400m handicap on the coresponding card two seasons ago and will attempt to do so again.
KT Selections: 1 - Hacienda 2 - Enery 3 - Shaamal Nibras 4 - Initial 5 - Conform With Fact 6 - Sky Jockey
Day's Best: Shaamal Nibras