Red Stables handler Doug Watson has proved a match for the best when it comes to readying a horse to win first time out and he will be hoping to do it again when he sends out last season's consistent performer Al Maali to contest tonight's featured race at Nad Al Sheba.

Watson boasts a strike-rate this season of which even his much-missed predecessor at the Red Stable, four-time champion trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, would have been proud of.

Red Stables handler Doug Watson has proved a match for the best when it comes to readying a horse to win first time out and he will be hoping to do it again when he sends out last season's consistent performer Al Maali to contest tonight's featured race at Nad Al Sheba.

Watson boasts a strike-rate this season of which even his much-missed predecessor at the Red Stable, four-time champion trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, would have been proud of.

Five winners from three race meetings have put him just one winner behind leader Mazin Al Kurdi with the two leaders likely to go all out to consolidate their early gains tonight.

However, with Al Kurdi not supplying a runner for the featured Altibr conditions race over seven and a half furlongs, Watson's charge is likely to go head-to-head with the Allan Smith trained Raheibb.

The featured race has attracted a field of six runners, including the former Godolphin horse West Order, but it is likely to be contested between the Al Maali and Raheibb. There is little to choose between the two who enjoyed a good 2002-2003 season.

Al Maali had eight starts, winning his last of the season over a mile at this course having placed second no less than on four occasions.

Raheibb started the year with a bang, winning three in a row over seven furlongs before he hit a rough patch and could do no better than finish fourth on two occasions.

However, both horses have the class and ability to make a race of it with West Order needing to improve on his last season form to make an impression.

Tala Ya, trained by Al Kurdi, looks the pick of the 11 runners set to contest the Atraf Handicap for Thoroughbreds over six furlongs.

The Storm Bird gelding finished third in his final race of last season over this course and distance and should he reproduce the same consistent form that he displayed, will be the one they will all have to beat.

Other notable runners in the field include last-outing winner Mr Magistrate, Rezif and Kameynn. Mubaah and Wathbat Mujtahid showed some noteworthy form last season and together with season sprinter Crystal Magician can make a race of it.

Yancey Carter Jr's Ashaaya d'Aroco, who finished a competitive second in the UAE Arabian Derby at the end of last season, takes on Gillian Duffield's Kardaillan in the meet's only Purebred Arabian race run in honour of the great Alanudd.

Al Kurdi's Soaring High and Jaber Bittar's Damess can also be expected to run up to the mark. Attlee, who finished six-lengths behind stablecompanion Fight at the opening meet of the season, returns to contest a Thoroughbred maidens race over a mile.

Watson's Albadou, who was third in the same race and Satish Seemar's Attentive are also likely to race prominently.

Hobb Alwahtan, an impressive winner two weeks ago, will be looking to repeat the effort when he contest's a 55-80 rated ten furlong handicap.

The half brother to Dubai World Cup winner Dubai Millennium won that race by just under seven lengths, from the Paddy Rudkin-trained Valdancer who he faces again.

Storm of Tara should be able to repeat his first run at Nad Al Sheba two weeks ago when winning a two-year-old maiden over 1,200 metres.

Selections
9:00: 1. Kardaillan 2. Ashaaya D'Arocco
9:30: 1. Tala Ya 2. Mr Magistrate
10:00: 1. Lewa Dance 2. Attlee
10:30: 1. Valdancer 2. Hobb Alwahtan
11:00: 1. Al Maali 2. Raheibb
11:30: 1. Storm of Tara 2. Slane Hill

Day's Best: Storm of Tara