Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Bashaar, who is bidding to complete a hat-trick of wins in the GCC Championship, start off as favourites today against the strong pack of riders from other GCC countries as well as the UAE.

In the absence of European champion General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence and Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan will be riding Muneef in the 120-km event which starts at 6.30 am this morning at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The rides are being organised under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Around 55 riders are expected to start in this premier GCC event, which was won by Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Bashaar last year in Bahrain .

In fact Ali Khalfan and Bashaar had also won this ride in Qatar in 2002 when it was named the Gulf Cup and the two reunite to try and complete a hat-trick.

Ali Khalfan, who is a trainer and rider in Al Wathba is the only UAE rider to win two rides this season and has been in tremendous form.

"Bashaar is a very good horse and I will be riding him for the first time this season," said Al Khalfan after his horse cleared the pre-ride vet check yesterday.

Riders from Bahrain and Qatar will be looking to stop the UAE riders, who have won every international ride at home since 1998.

Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who finished fourth in Bahrain last year and Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa lead a strong team of Bahraini riders who will be taking part in both the senior and junior rides today.

Qatar 's Endurance Chief, Dafi Rashid Al Ardi Al Marri said the Qatari riders were expecting to do well. "Most of our riders will be taking part in the junior championship and they have prepared well," said Al Marri.

Sheikh Mohammed's trainer of endurance horses, Ismaeel Mohammed, who is also taking part in today's ride said he was expecting a good result. "With yesterday's rain the weather looks ideal and our horses have all come well prepared," he said.

Apart from Sheikh Hamdan, who has not taken part in most of the rides this season, the other UAE riders to watch are Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, Mohammed Ali Al Shafar, Sultan bin Sulayem, Saeed Al Tayer, Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed, Ali Rahim Helal Al Junaibi, Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya and Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi. Sheikh Juma Dalmook J Al Maktoum and Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Sheikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa and Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha are the frontrunners for the GCC Junior and Young Riders Championship honours. The seniors ride will be run in five stages over 120-kms while the juniors' ride will be run over 100kms and in four stages.