1

Alkaraama

A shade disappointing on recent starts. Well fancied to win but only third at Jebel Ali two starts back, and never able to launch a serious challenge in a G3 here last month.

2

Almoradi

Has winning form in Uruguay but has shown little in two Meydan starts, first on turf and then over this trip and on this surface. Hard to fancy.

3

Behavioral Bias

It is a long time since he won a race and slow starts have often proven costly. The perception will be that if he was capable of winning a race like this it would have been a couple of years ago.

4

Bochart

Two straight course and distance wins saw him favourite for this last year – briefly leading but fading. Nothing special in recent starts but seems best when leading early and his low gate may help.

5

Canvassed

Has been competing over further but the drop to this trip had a positive effect when – always travelling nicely – he could be called the winner some way out in a handicap here last month. Chance.

6

Enjazaat

A four-times winner but has had plenty of training problems with some long gaps between races. In his two Meydan starts he has only reached the wire before one rival which is not encouraging.

7

Es Raco

Has winning form in Sweden but didn’t make a huge impact when visiting Meydan last year and last month’s Meydan return also left questions as far as this G3 challenge is concerned.

8

Good Effort

Very swift, he won five consecutive races – including at Listed level in the UK. Admittedly his Meydan efforts have not been as good but he ran well last time. Likes to boss so needs to be sharp from gate ten.

9

Important Mission

Found momentum in the straight to outgun six rivals here in December and his close second in a G3 last time was also good. A wide gate is an issue as he has much early speed but still a player.

10

Lavaspin

Wasn’t good enough to threaten in this event in either of the last two years. One of plenty who might like the early lead here, but unlikely that he’ll be a major force at the finish.

11

Premier Star

Very speedy over this trip and on dirt surfaces in the USA and he strode clear to win quite a valuable event at Monmouth Park on his last start. Now with Doug Watson so deserves respect.

12

Shanaghai City

Yet to win in nine Meydan starts, and those races were all at a lower level than this. Expect him to struggle here.

13

Upper Class

Difficult to judge his form in Uruguay though he certainly knew how to win over sprint trips on a dirt surface. Not disgraced in a G3 on his Meydan debut considering he was slow from the gate.