Akwaan completed a double in minor handicaps at Newmarket and Yarmouth last summer but was well beaten on his hat-trick bid from this mark. Dolmen could find this on the short side as he scored over 1m2f at Sharjah before beaten a neck over 1m4f here a fortnight ago when Conclusion was behind. AL BATTAR gets the vote as he looks the type to progress again having landed a mile maiden here a month ago before staying on strongly over the same trip at Abu Dhabi. Daffg was unlucky at the latter track two weeks ago though doesn't win very often while Woodditton was disappointing in a handicap last time after landing a maiden in October.
Akwaan (IRE) 4-1 (8-7) Tracked stand side leader, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, last of 5, 3 1/4l behind Motakhayyel (9-2) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Conclusion (JPN) (9-1) 4th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Beauvais (8-13) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp fst in Jan.
Tahreek (9-4) 6th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Craving (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Treasured Times (IRE) (9-3) 6th of 16, 6l behind Daltrey (9-3) at Jebel Ali 6f hcp fst in Jan.
Valcartier (IRE) (9-3) 11th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Beauvais (8-13) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp fst in Jan.
Al Battar (IRE) (9-3) 4th of 16, 3/4l behind Craving (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Trolius (IRE) (9-5) 14th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Craving (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Zucchini (9-2) last of 16, 35 1/4l behind Franz Kafka (9-1) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Jan.
Daffg (USA) (9-0) 2nd of 16, shd behind Craving (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Dolmen (FR) (8-9) 2nd of 14, nk behind Beauvais (8-13) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp fst in Jan.
Mujeeb (9-4) 15th of 16, 6 1/4l behind Craving (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Welford (8-13) 5th of 14, 5 1/2l behind Beauvais (8-13) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp fst in Jan.
Harbour Spirit (FR) (9-1) 5th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Craving (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Last Voyage (USA) (9-2) 13th of 16, 20 1/4l behind Franz Kafka (9-1) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Jan.
Woodditton (IRE) (8-10) 9th of 13, 13l behind Illusional (8-11) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Jan.
Native Appeal (IRE) (8-13) 11th of 16, 13 1/2l behind Franz Kafka (9-1) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Jan.
Dragons Tail (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, headway near side of group over 2f out, hung left and outpaced inside final 2f, no threat after, plugged on, 6th of 15, 11 3/4l behind Molls Memory (9-7) at Newbury 7f hcp (4) hvy in Oct.
Hard Taskmaster (IRE) (8-8) 10th of 14, 24 1/2l behind Golden Goal (8-9) at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Dec.
Montakhab (USA) (8-11) 3rd of 11, 3l behind Right Flank (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m 1f hcp fst in Jan.
Completion (IRE) (9-6) last of 16, 11 1/4l behind Craving (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gd in Jan.