Al Gharafa consolidated their position at the top of the Qatar Stars League with a 2-1 victory over Al Arabi at Al Thumama Stadium Thursday.The Cheetahs made a flying start, taking the lead in just the second minute when Joselu headed home from a Yacine Brahimi assist. Al Arabi battled back and drew level in the 67th minute through Pablo Sarabia, who capitalised on a loose ball inside the area. Al Gharafa regained control late on as Jamal Hamed struck the winner in the 79th minute.Al Gharafa were reduced to 10 men six minutes from time after Joselu was shown a red card following a VAR review for violent conduct. The win lifted Al Gharafa to 31 points, eight clear of nearest challengers Al Sadd and Al Rayyan, who both have a game in hand. Al Arabi remained fifth on 20 points.Earlier, Al Duhail recorded a 2-0 win over Al Wakrah at Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium. After a scoreless first half, Algeria's Adil Boulbina, returning to the side after his AFCON campaign in Morocco, opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after being fouled by Mohammed Aiash.Al Wakrah responded with sustained pressure, but it was Al Duhail who struck again in the 83rd minute as Marco Verratti met a Youssouf Sabaly cross to double the lead.The result moved Al Duhail up to sixth on 19 points, while Al Wakrah stayed eighth with 16.“We secured three points and that’s the most important thing,” said Boulbina. “Everyone played and made the required effort. God willing, we will make a comeback in the league. After this victory, we will try to win every match to get back in the lead.”Friday, defending champions Al Sadd will look to extend their revival when they host Al Ahli at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. Al Sadd have won four matches in a row, including a dramatic 3-2 victory over Qatar SC last round, to climb to second on 23 points, level with Al Rayyan but ahead on goal difference. Al Ahli come into the match boosted by a 4-2 win over Al Shamal, which lifted them to ninth on 15 points.Al Rayyan face Al Shamal Saturday at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in another key encounter. Al Rayyan strengthened their title push with a 3-1 win over Al Sailiya to reach 23 points, while Al Shamal slipped to fourth on 21 after their defeat to Al Ahli.Elsewhere, Umm Salal meet bottom side Al Shahaniya Friday at Al Khor Stadium, with both teams in urgent need of points. Umm Salal are tenth on nine points, while Al Shahaniya remain last on goal difference despite holding Al Duhail to a draw.

Jockey Pierre Charles Boudot continued his outstanding run this season guiding Posuelo Py to Al Kharrara Cup triumph and completed a hat-trick of wins at the Al Rayyan Racecourse Wednesday. Drawn widest in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (1200m) race, the eight-year-old bay gelding travelled midfield before powering down the home straight to score decisively by 1¼ lengths for owner Ibrahim Mohammed al-Fadala and trainer Hamad al-Jehani, giving Boudot a treble on the evening. Settled midfield through the early and middle stages, Posuelo Py was ridden with patience as Mared Al Jasra dictated a steady tempo, tracked closely by Naseeb Zakhir and Taymoor Al Shahania, the order at the head of affairs remaining unchanged. On straightening, Taymoor Al Shahania pressed sharply to take over, with Naseeb Zakhir quickly ranging up to challenge and for a moment it appeared the contest would be settled between the pair. Posuelo Py, however, was unleashed from the middle of the pack with an electrifying turn of foot, sweeping past his rivals to assert decisively and maintain his advantage to the line. Naseeb Zakhir filled second, trained and owned by Osama Omer al-Dafea and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, edging Taymoor Al Shahania, who finished third for Al Bida Racing, trainer Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed and jockey Alberto Sanna, with the pair separated by just a quarter of a length. **media[404431]** Boudot had opened the card with a neck-winning ride on La Quyood for trainer Julian Smart in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (1900m), and later guided Deauville to victory in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (1200m, Class 5) for trainer Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed. **media[404432]** Other winners included Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki-trained Burkan, in the 1900m Purebred Arabian Conditions race, Jassim al-Ghazali-trained Galeb Al Shahania under Marco Casamento supervision in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap, Funny Bunny in the Thoroughbred Handicap, Tawfeeq in the Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate, and Fantastic Deal in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. **media[404433]** RESULTS36th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Al Kharrara Cup WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey) 1: Al Kharrara Cup, Purebred Arabian Handicap Posuelo Py, Hamad al-Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot 2 - Purebred Arabian Conditions Burkan, Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Tomas Lukasek 3 - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap Galeb Al Shahania, Jassim al-Ghazali, Marco Casamento 4 - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap Deauville, Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, Pierre Charles Boudot 5 - Thoroughbred Handicap Funny Bunny, Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim al-Malki, Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik 6 - Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate Tawfeeq, MHK al-Attiyah, Szczepan Mazur 7 - Thoroughbred Maiden Plate Fantastic Deal, Abdulla al-Mulla, Ivan Rossi 8 -Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate La Quyood, Julian Smart, Pierre Charles Boudot