Irish double at Meydan Mick Halford and David Marnane have both enjoyed excellent Dubai Carnivals so far and between them supplied another couple of winners for Ireland at Meydan. Halford's Eastern Rules (5-1) ran out a decisive winner of the District One Handicap in the hands of Shane Foley. The six-year-old finished third on his Dubai bow in January but struck gold earlier this month on the Tapeta and followed up in good style with a length-and-a-quarter verdict over Sommerabend on turf. Foley said: "It was a big step up today and there were a couple of class horses in the race, but he showed he's improving. "It was his first run on grass over here, but I always thought he might be a bit better on grass. Thankfully it's worked out. "We've had a handful of runners (at the Carnival) and if they haven't been winning, they've been placed. "I'm not complaining and it makes my job a lot easier." Elleval won at Meydan little over a year ago and made it third-time lucky at this year's Carnival in the District One Phase I Handicap. The 16-1 shot dug deep for Fergal Lynch to get the better of Start Right by a neck. Marnane said: "He loves the weather here, like all of us. "He has a great turn of foot and I think he's better on Tapeta so we will sit down and have a think about (future plans). "We will see what the handicapper does and go from there."
