Sheikh Fahad rides at Newbury on big Saturday
Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani takes on the challenge of riding in another charity race on Guineas Trials day at Newbury on Saturday.
Sheikh Fahad will join the likes of Oisin Murphy, Ryan Moore, Jim Crowley and Jamie Spencer by riding at Newbury on Saturday, when he lines up as one of 11 amateur riders in The Bloor Homes Supporting Greatwood Charity Race over one mile and five furlongs.
Sheikh Fahad will partner Mercian King who has been kindly trained for the race by up-and-coming Amy Murphy, for owners The Thoroughbred Club II. Seven-year-old Mercian King is a three-time winner over fences and has been ridden several times at home in Newmarket by Sheikh Fahad.
Sheikh Fahad is bidding for his fourth success in the saddle after wins on Almagest in the 2016 Town Plate on Newmarket, and on Labaik and his own Brutal in the 2016 and 2017 final legs of the Corinthian Challenge at Leopardstown.
The day will start early for those connected to Qatar Racing as the popular Endless Drama - "Bid ED" as he's affectionately known - tackles Gr. 1 company again in the All Aged Stakes (06:35 GMT) at Randwick. He'll need to be at his very best to go close, but the return to seven furlongs should suit him.
Before the Charity Race that closes the card, Qatar Racing has four runners at Newbury, including representatives in each of the recognised Guineas trials.
Havana Gold colt Deliverance (makes his debut in a strong-looking first division (13:25 GMT) of the maiden, so we'll be hoping he shows up well, likewise the once-raced Havana Gold colt Change Maker in the second division (16:20 GMT). Change Maker is part-owned by Mrs Barbara Keller, owner of Gr. 1 winner Blond Me.
Natural certainly has each-way claims in the Gr. 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling) for fillies. We're hopeful that her 2-year-old campaign didn't get to the bottom of her and, having done very well over the winter, we're looking forward to seeing her back in action.
Raid goes in a strong renewal of the Gr. 3 Greenham Stakes, with six of his seven rivals being Stakes winner already, Expert Eye, Fighting Irish and James Garfield all being Gr. 2 winners without penalties. Raid is very much in the "could be anything" category having won his only start at Doncaster last November, so he's another we can't wait to see back on the racecourse.