Asset Manager in action

 Hall rides the promising Paddy Rudkin-trained Tremel in a thoroughbred handicap for horses rated 0-62, with the colt being a notable contender to win the mile race, top weight notwithstanding.

 Tremel was beaten 3.5 lengths by Marciale two weeks ago, but will have greatly benefited from that lung-opener. A consistent performer last season, he figured on board in all his three last starts, including a victory on turf at Abu Dhabi.

 Tremel will, however, have to contend with a competitive field that includes top-rated Fly By Night, last outing winner Vitellozzi, multiple winner Prompt Delivery and the persistent Fadwa.

 Of the lot Vitellozzi looks to be the biggest danger, not simply because he represents the in-form Paddy Rudkin stable. But more importantly because of the fluent manner in which he won his season's first start two weeks ago. On that occasion the seven-year-old son of top sire Machiavellian conceded weight and still beat Music Theatre by 3.5 lengths.

 Fly By Night, who scored back to back wins late last season, ran a disappointing sixth when Marciale beat Tremel. The three-year-old son of Night Shift, however, is a genuine miler and can be given another chance to acquit himself.

 A patchy field of seven runners face the starter for the day's feature race to be run on turf, a 7.5 furlong handicap for horses rated 0-100. Satish Seemar's Duraid is rated an impressive 100 and could well be the pre-race favourite in spite of being penalised a punishing 62kg at the top of the weights. But the four year old son of Danzig has the class and ability to shrug it off and win from the consistent Jila, a colt perhaps better known as a sprinter.

Jila, a four year old by Kris, was a very impressive winner on dirt at this course last February, when he beat talented speedsters like First Principle and Yazaly. It will be interesting to see how he handles the trip and surface today.

 Maftool, once a top campaigner for champion trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in last season's big race, can be expected to shape well under John Carroll in this set. Six runners, including recent winner Mile High, have accepted to contest the night's second turf race, a 0-85 handicap over 5.5 furlongs.

 Mile High provided Rudkin with a flying start to the 1999-2000 season when winning a sprint at Abu Dhabi, and on the strength of that performance looks well placed to repeat that feat on dirt at Nad Al Sheba today.

 A somewhat consistent performer last season season, where he once ran a competitive second to Ramp And Rave for top jockey Frankie Dettori, the five-year-old son of Puissance looks like he will take all the beating. Much of this could come from top weight Bold Windwood, a two race winner last season for Satish Seemar.

 Charles Rached's Five Of Spade, who placed second behind Mile High at Abu Dhabi earlier this month, can benefit from tidy weight and run true to form under Richard Hills. Both tonight's Purebred Arabian races, the first a 5.5 furlong sprint for horses rated 0-50 and the second a 7 furlong outing for horses 0-55, look very competitive represent a tipster's dilemma.

Nevertheless, my vote goes to the Jaqi Wickham trained Sheik To Sheik winning the first race from Charpy's Fed-Ex, while Jakta Pas can secure the other for trainer Julian Smart.