Al Raihe may leave hospital in days

Champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe, who fell ill during Saturday's Dubai World Cup Carnival finale and was taken to Rashid Hospital, is reported to be improving and hopes to be discharged in the next couple of days. Doctors will continue to monitor his health and conduct a few tests before releasing him "soon". "Physically he's doing well and is feeling a lot better," the Emirates Racing Authority's Yasir Mabrouk said after visiting Al Raihe, who remains in the hospital's emergency ward. "He's said he's feeling more comfortable today and even wanted to have a Chinese lunch. He loves a Chinese meal, and the fact that he's eating well is a good sign. "Obviously, we are all very concerned about his health. But the signs are good and we're expecting him to be discharged as soon as the doctors are confident that he has made a full recovery, which should be soon. He's cheerful and was thanking all the friends and well-wishers who visited him in hospital or sent their regards," added UAE veteran Mabrouk, who is the Clerk of the Scales at Meydan and also the Master of Apprentices. Meanwhile, Seddiqi Jilani, Al Raihe's assistant trainer at the two-time championship-winning Grandstand Stables, said he was relieved that "the boss was doing well in hospital". "We were very worried because the boss has complained of not being well on a couple of occasions recently," he told Gulf News. "Last week at the Abu Dhabi races he also took ill and began to throw up. We took him home and let him rest. He was okay the next day. "But it's all catching up. He's an amazing man with an incredible work ethic. He spends most of his time at the stable and is always hands-on with the training schedules. "He loves his horses and loves his work. We will really miss him the next couple of days, but he's given me instructions regarding the horses that we are preparing for the big day on March 31."