Paul Hanagan: chose Nawwaar of the four Sheikh Hamdan runners

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Preview: UAE, Sunday

Abu Dhabi: HH The President Cup (Listed) 7f, turf, 2.30pm GMT

SHEIKH HAMDAN owns four of the 11 runners in the HH The President Cup and his stable jockey Paul Hanagan has opted to ride Nawwaar, who won the course and distance trial three weeks ago.

The Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained five-year-old is aiming to become only the third horse to win the Listed National Day Cup and Listed HH The President Cup in the same season.

“He clearly loves it around Abu Dhabi and we have a nice low draw for a horse who likes to be ridden prominently. We should be very competitive,” said Hanagan.

Stable companion Derbaas won the National Day Cup last season and chased home Nawwaar in this season’s edition in December. A Group 2 Carnival winner in 2011, he will be ridden by Al Raihe’s stable jockey, Royston Ffrench, having been overlooked by Dane O’Neill, as well as Hanagan.

O’Neill elects to ride Dafeef, trained by Doug Watson and an excellent third on his seasonal debut in a Carnival handicap but twice well beaten since.

International horses have won this race twice, courtesy of Irish duo King Jock (2006) and One Won One (2001). Kavanagh, trained by South African Mike De Kock who saddled Mr Brock to win the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship in 2009, is seeking to become a third international winner of the race.

The mount of Pat Cosgrave, he has had two Carnival outings this year, running well both times and De Kock said: “This looks a good spot for him and 7f on decent ground are probably his optimum conditions. I expect a big run.”

Jockey bookings suggest that Yaa Wayl and Signs In The Sand are the main hopes for Dhruba Selvaratnam and Satish Seemar respectively, while Zurbriggen steps up markedly in class having won a Meydan maiden on his local debut.

The mount of Adrie De Vries, he is trained by Ahmad bin Harmash.

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