Al Ain stages the first of three legs of their famous Marathon Series, a gruelling test for the stayers in the Purebred Arabian racing scene that sees them compete over a mammoth 5100m trip in its conclusion.

For now, a journey of 3200m awaits the 14 declared for the First Leg of the Al Ain Marathon Series (Race 9, 8pm) on Thursday with star mare Al Mahbooba bidding to be crowned the undisputed marathon champion in the country.

Just like 12 months ago, the eight-year-old comes into this with a prep run under her belt.

Third on her seasonal bow this campaign – in Listed company – the Ibrahim Al Hadhrami-trainee looks well and truly on track to defend her marathon crown.

Connor Beasley has opted to ride her over stablemate Jabalini, who carries the top-rated tag in the race with an official mark of a staggering 103.

For obvious reasons, though as this will be his farthest assignment yet and the dirt remains a question mark for the nine-year-old whose previous two runs on the surface have only yielded modest results with a best-placed finish of third in a Conditions event in Muscat back in his early racing days.

Away from the Al Hadhrami camp, it is the four-pronged attack from Al Ajban Stables that deserve closer inspection.

At the helm of the yard is trainer Abdallah Al Hammadi whose many years of experience in Endurance racing sure comes in handy for these flat marathons.

Judged on jockey bookings, the 101-rated Indys Day appears to be the yard’s flag bearer. Not many could have predicted that he would start off his campaign in a 1000m sprint and be contesting a 3200m event two months later! However, he has already made it to the winner’s enclosure this season and remains an interesting contender for this contest.

So is his stablemate Winked, the mount of Oscar Chavez, who may have disappointed in both starts this term but was a placegetter in all three legs of this marathon series last season behind Al Mahbooba.

On similar terms, the Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained Loolwa is also interesting off bottom weight and can make her presence felt.

The nine-race card opens with a 0-75 handicap for the thoroughbreds over 2000m in which Ismail Mohammed’s Gliding Bay will be looking to finally open his UAE account following a quartet of placed finishes last campaign including one over course and distance.

Yurman (Tadhg O’Shea/Bhupat Seemar) and dual course and distance winner Anizzah (Beasley/Ahmad bin Harmash) are among the opposition.

The second race on the card, a 2000m event for the Purebred Arabians carries Conditions status and has attracted a high-quality field. Second in the Group 3 National Day Cup when last seen, the 112-rated Munir Du Soleil is the headline act.

He has been competing in Group company for a while and the drop in class should be appreciated.

The race also sees the return of Kerless Del Roc who will be looking to make amends for his no-show run on seasonal bow in December last year. He has generally needed a run before finding full rhythm so it might be unwise to dismiss him this soon.

Among the rest, Bahwan catches the eye. He was third in the UAE Arabian Derby last start and trying him on the dirt has always looked worth a shot.

Elsewhere on the card, runaway debut winner AA Lahab returns in the win-restricted 1800m event, while the 1800m maiden has been split into two hugely competitive divisions.

An 1800m handicap, a mile handicap and a 1400m maiden all for the Purebred Arabians complete the race quota for the UAE’s first flat race meeting of 2024.