Fan Favourites and Full Fields for Friday's Carnival Card

Meydan stages a packed Dubai Racing Carnival card on Friday when each of the eight races looks a highly competitive affair.

The official future is race five, the 1400metre turf Longines Spirit Flyback Handicap, which is worth AED250,000. Three of the 14 runners, Beccali, English Oak and The Fingal Raven, won last time out.

“He seems to have bounced out of his win a fortnight ago,” said The Fingal Raven’s trainer Jamie Osborne of the quirky four-year-old. “This will probably require a lifetime best but he has the ability to step up again. The draw [13 of 14] could have been kinder.”

Another British raider is the Richard Spencer-trained Hawksbill, who has a valid excuse for being beaten nine lengths in the Lord Glitters Handicap last week.

“Hawksbill ran well [5^th] on his first start in Meydan, but the last day Saffie’s [Osborne, jockey] iron kicked out leaving the stalls which lit him up and he was far too keen. We’re dropping back to the seven furlongs [1400metres] so hopefully he can settle and we’ll see a better performance than we did on his last start.”

Race three, the Longines Primaluna Handicap over 2000metres on turf, features the popular Silver Sword who goes for Carnival win number three for trainer Dylan Cunha, having finished fifth over 1600metres last time out.

“Silver Sword loves Dubai,” said the Newmarket-based South African trainer. “This is a good spot for him. He’s in great form and I expect the usual solid performance back up in trip.”

Thundering, a winner at the Carnival in January 2025, over 2410metres, makes his second start of this campaign for Spanish Champion Trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta. Last time out he finished seventh on the dirt. 

“I thought he ran OK on the dirt, probably he needed the race and got a bit tired,” said the trainer. “They’ve dropped him 3lbs and now he’s 87. He ran alright off 86 in a couple of handicaps so hopefully he’ll do well back on grass, although the draw [14] could be better.”

Gun Carriage aims to Fire

Appropriately for a former airline pilot, Cunha runs Gun Carriage in the following 1600metre dirt Longines Spirit Pilot handicap. The four-year-old finished a good third to Telemark over course and distance last time out.

“Gun Carriage finally has a good draw [1],” said the trainer. “He’s run really well without winning and been eye-catching from terrible draws. I hope to see him get it right on Friday with some luck. He’s one to follow this week.”

Gun Carriage’s 14 rivals include Lasudood, second to Telemark last time, and course and distance winner Force And Valour.

The penultimate Longines Conquest Chronograph Handicap, over 1200metres on turf, has attracted another full field of 14. Spencer is something of a sprint handicap specialist in the UK and he saddles Start Me Up, the mount of George Wood.

“Start Me Up has run well in a couple of races from really bad draws, but tomorrow he’s drawn in three,” said Spencer. “We’re hopeful of a good run in a handicap for the first time, with cheek pieces and a tongue tie on.

“Hopefully he can run well in what looks quite an open race.”

The action gets underway at 5:30pm with another full field, of 16, contesting the Purebred Arabian Longines Conquest Handicap.