Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday afternoon is highlighted by a 1700m handicap for which 14 have been declared.

Al Asayl Stables offers two promising competitors in Cloe De Faust and RB Burning Ash, both trained by Eric Lemartinel for HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Stable jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, elects to ride RB Burning Ash who has just one career victory to his name but has been running consistently and has finished third on both starts this season.

The champion jockey is confident Al Asayl’s residents won’t disappoint.

“He ran very well last time when I rode him at Sharjah over 2000m and the shorter trip should not be a problem. He should go well with conditions to suit.

“Close De Faust has been working very well at home and will be a big danger if he can replicate that form on the track.

“The yard is in form and, basically, have two leading hopes in a competitive race.”

Gerald Avranche, based with Lemartinel at Al Asayl Stables just outside Abu Dhabi, rides Cloe De Faust.

Hakim, a former resident of Al Asayl is now with Doug Watson and is seeking a second victory since his switch to Red Stables.

Undoubtedly talented, the mount of Pat Dobbs should not be far away and is well drawn, in three, if his jockey chooses to race prominently as he tends to on Hakim.

“He always works like a very good horse,” said Justin Byrne, representing owner’s EERC (Emirates Entertainment Racing Club). “We think he has a good chance in a tough race.”

MH Areeb, trained by Elise Jeanne, is seeking a third victory of the season having won at Al Ain two weeks ago and at Sharjah, over this 1700m course and distance.

Richard Mullen, aboard at Al Ain, retains the partnership and said: “He is a decent little horse and must have a chance as he goes particularly well at Sharjah.”

He was sixth when RB Burning Ash was third in a 2000m Sharjah race won by Swwing three weeks ago. Second on that occasion was Al Dheeb who heads the weights and looks to hold serious claims.

Emirati apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei rides Al Dheeb for Mohd Ramadan.

The only Thoroughbred contest is a maiden over 1200m and marks the return to action of Deserving Honour, trained by Satish Seemar.

The six year old has been off the track since his sole previous UAE outing, over 1000m, at Jebel Ali in October 2014, the first fixture of that particular season.

Seemar has a great record with such horses and the fact that the yard have persevered with him suggests the horse has plenty of ability.

Stable jockey, Richard Mullen rides with the yard’s apprentice, Cameron Noble aboard stable companion, Website.

With a rating of 69, Website is unraced thus far locally although he has had seven starts in Europe, for two different trainers, showing plenty of dash on his most recent start over 1000m.

Watson and Dobbs combine with Paranormal who like Website is owned by Mohd Khalifa Al Basti. He ran just once in England but has had two UAE outings this season.

The first, over the Sharjah 1700m, was a close second but he needs to prove this drop in trip is what he needs. Watson is not Champion Trainer without reason, so a good run should be expected.

Omri, trained by Bahraini Fawzi Nass, ran very well in a course and distance handicap in March. This is a weaker race, while Al Abyad is a very rare juvenile runner at Sharjah.

Sporting the colours of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he is trained by Ahmad bin Harmash and has the assistance of Dane O’Neill in the saddle.

Well beaten on his one start to date, at Meydan over 1200m, this straight, flat track may suit him better.