G1 – 2410m – Turf
| 1 | Cheval Grand | Came with a storming stretch charge to win the 2017 Japan Cup, and fourth of 14 in the same prestigious Tokyo G1 last November. Didn’t have the best of passages when a close third in another top Japanese G1 over 2500m in December. Now seven he is competing at Meydan for the first time. |
| 2 | Old Persian | Twice a G2 winner at around this distance in the UK last year and his Meydan debut in a G2 earlier this month was much anticipated. Neither the fact that it turned into a slowly-run tactical race nor him getting boxed in helped but he still managed to win and is surely a live candidate for this big prize. |
| 3 | Magic Wand | Ryan Moore’s mount is a big filly who may be capable of further improvement from an already rewarding career that included a G2 Royal Ascot win last June and a second over an inadequate 1900m in a Gulfstream Park G1 in January. Tactically versatile, one of her strengths. |
| 4 | Racing History | His chance would be enhanced if the ground turned soft, but Meydan’s turf surface is very fair and he has been running consistently well on it all year, beaten just a short-head on his last two starts. Most recently he led and was only nailed by Old Persian in the last strides. |
| 5 | Hunting Horn | Irish-trained but a real world traveller whose last eleven races have been outside Ireland. Like stable companion Magic Wand he was a Royal Ascot winner last June and has put in some solid performances at Gulfstream Park and Dohar on his last two starts. Ryan Moore has picked Magic Wand, however. |
| 6 | Rey De Oro | Well fancied to win this for Japan last year but he sat well off the slow pace and, though he grabbed fourth place, never looked a likely winner. Off the track for around six months after but has come back at least as good as ever, winning a G2 then a G1 and a fast closing second in another G1 last time. Chance. |
| 7 | Suave Richard | This talented horse is versatile distancewise having won at a high level in Japan over shorter and further than this. A very good third behind the brilliant Almond Eye in last November’s Japan Cup and should be sharper for his close fourth in a G2 at Nakayama last month. |
| 8 | Desert Encounter | Slowly away and never a factor in this race last year but at least this time he’s had a prep run at Meydan and it was a good third to Old Persian in a G2 here this month, especially good as he raced too keenly and had to challenge wide. Reliable, even if he might not be quite good enough to win this. |
