And it will be interesting to see what gifts the kings bestow on the horses on this big day.

It's a good card to start the Carnival off with two G2s and a G3.

The G3 is the Dubawi Stakes over 1200m with a field of 11.  Switzerland is the top of the UK market at 5/2 for Bupat Seemar and Tadgh O'Shea but we rather like the look of Aussie trainer Michael Costa's Mouheeb, whom the trainer describes as a "gentleman".  Jean van Overmeire has the ride and they are on 10/3.  Also expected to play a prominent part is Doug Watson's Mubakker on 7/2 with Dane O'Neill on board.

The first round of the 3-part Al Maktoum Challenge is G2 over 1600m with 16 runners with not much between the top 3 in the market:  Algiers, for the Crisfords with James Doyle riding and 7/2, and two at 4/1 Desert Wisdom for Al Shamali and Adrie de Vries and Prince Eiji for Doug Watson and Sam Hitchcott.

The Al Fahidi Fort G2 over 1400m has Noble Truth on 6/5 for Appleby-Buick which is very short however he is a good horse, and then on 11/2 you have Al Suhaili Appleby-Doyle and Alfareeq Al Mheiri and Dane O'Neill.