Two Irish winners in Dubai

David Marnane and Michael Halford both saddled winners in Meydan yesterday as Irish-trained horses kept up their good record in Dubai this year.

Fergal Lynch brought the Marnane-trained Jamesie with a telling late run to land the Gulf News Tabloid Handicap.

Merhee looked like justifying 4-1 favouritism for Mike de Kock when holding a handy lead going into the final furlong, but Lynch had other ideas on Marnane's charge.

Benefiting from his encouraging run over seven furlongs on this course two weeks earlier, the Irish raider was not inconvenienced by the drop to six furlongs and took command close home.

A model of consistency, Jamesie was scoring for the first time since winning at Fairyhouse in July 2011, after which he had been second no less than seven times including at Royal Ascot.

Marnane said: "It's great and no more than he deserved. He's been knocking on the door in these big handicaps over the years. He loves that surface and we'll probably run him back in three weeks' time in the Group Three sprint, again over six.

"He quickened well today. It's a step up (in class), but he loves the Tapeta and he will get better."

Certerach (10-1) gave Irish trainers a quick double when striking for Michael Halford in the GN Focus Handicap on turf. Shane Foley drove the six-year-old through a gap to hit the front inside the final furlong to head Tanfeeth and hold the late-finishing Topclas by half a length.

Although without a win since October 2012, Certerach ran with credit in three races at the Dubai Carnival last year.

"We were thrilled with him. It was great on his first run back out here," said Halford.

"He's in good form and we'll bring him back here in a fortnight's time. There's a handicap here for him on February 6 over 14 furlongs. If all goes well he'll come back on March 8 for a Group Three, so it's the same plan as last year."

Frankie Dettori was out of luck on his first ride at the Carnival following his fairytale return from injury at Lingfield on Wednesday, where he recorded a double.

He drove his Norwegian-trained mount Silver Ocean to vie for the lead with Not A Given after two furlongs, only to weaken quickly in the straight in the Gulf News Classifieds Handicap.

Victory went to the De Kock-trained Alexandra Palace (7-1) under Christophe Soumillon. Free Wheeling, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa for Saeed bin Suroor, was second.