Only seven have been declared for the featured 1400m conditions race at Jebel Ali on Friday but a case could be made for each of the septet in what promises to be a fascinating clash.

Trained on the Jebel Ali track by Dhruba Selvaratnam, Gobooll won twice over course and distance in February and was denied a third such win in a photo finish on his final start last season.

He will be ridden by new stable jockey Chris Hayes, who combined with Selvaratnam to land a Jebel Ali double at the opening meeting of the season a fortnight ago.

Hayes said: “He was clearly improving earlier this year and has been working well in his preparation. It looks a good little race and whatever he achieves this week, he will improve fitness wise for the outing.”

The weights are headed by Mashaaref, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi and winner of this same race in 2013. One of two in the field owned by Sheikh Hamdan, he is the choice of the owner’s retained jockey, Dane O’Neill.

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O’Neill could have ridden the Doug Watson-trained Jawhar, the mount of Sam Hitchcott but stable companion, Shamaal Nibras, looks a more serious threat.

Stable jockey, Pat Dobbs, rides and they will be hoping to repeat their course and distance victory registered last December. 

Watson, who has five winners on the board already this season, including a Jebel Ali double two weeks ago, said: “We have been pleased with his preparation and we know he goes well fresh. His best runs have been at Jebel Ali and we think he will go close.”

Tadhg O’Shea rides Need To Know, another course and distance winner, for his new boss, Ali Rashid Al Raihe, while Moonlight Dash represents the formidable Satish Seemar and Richard Mullen combination. Mullen’s mount receives weight from his six rivals but has been off the track for 607 days.

The field is completed by Bannock, yet to show his true ability in the UAE but a very useful performer in his pomp when trained by Mark Johnston in England.