The eighth Dubai International Carnival kicks off in only seven days time and I cannot believe how quickly it has come around. It doesn't seem 12 months ago since I interviewed Men Behaving Badly star, Martin Clunes for Dubai Racing Channel on the same night No Risk Al Maury created history by becoming the first ever racehorse to enter the coveted winners' enclosure. According to Gill Duffield, the horse's astute handler, ‘Risky, as he's more commonly referred to, will make his seasonal debut next week and attempt back-to-back wins in the first leg of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

Sir Gerry was also a winner on the first night and got the Brits off to a good start for John Best and this year the classy speedster is bidding for more success but this time he'll be flying the flag for the locals having recently been transferred to Doug Watson, the horse's fourth trainer so far!

Unfortunately information concerning the arrival and well being of Dubai carnival contenders has been very few and far between but having seen a list, at this stage, there are over 85 International horses competing for the generous prize money.

Mike De Kock, as usual, has a massive string of over 30 to prepare and UAE Derby victor Musir is back after a disappointing spell in Australia where he sadly didn't actually get to the track, but having now returned to the South African maestro, there's no doubt the four-year-old will bounce back to his best. Bold Silvano and Irish Flame, first and second in last year's Durban July, tops Mike's early list of horses to watch during the season, while Zanzamar, owned by the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is, according to his handler, being aimed at the UAE Triple Crown races.

Fellow countryman, Herman Brown also has a large team, and after the hot-pot Paulinho was narrowly beaten last week, the Dubai Duty Free-winning handler will be eager to gain that initial win of the campaign. Bankable is here again along with Bronze Cannon, Fencing Master and Mikhail Glinka who both look promising recruits having previously been with Aidan O'Brien.

SENSIBLE DECISION

It was an evening of mixed emotions at Meydan seven days ago; certainly the best meeting of the term, but poor old William Buick suffered an unprecedented bout of bad luck when two of his mounts came crashing down on to the Tapeta surface. After tumbling through the rails on Foolin Myself, Buick was taken to hospital after drifting in and out of consciousness but thankfully, after no serious injuries, the rider was expected to be released from hospital on Wednesday.

In the UAE there is no mandatory lay-off period for a rider who's been knocked unconscious, but Buick's father, himself a multiple champion jockey in Norway, has ruled his talented son out of action for the next couple of weeks to make sure he's recovered from any head injuries incurred. It might not prove a popular decision for many, but surely it has to be the correct one.