Ottoman Empire is approaching the veteran stage but still has plenty to offer as he showed when scoring over the course and distance at the end of January. He'd earlier been narrowly beaten by today's rival Busker but is better off at the weights and was having his first start since September so should reverse the form. Plantagenet came right back to his best last week when staying on strongly behind Elleval and should get into the frame but a chance is taken with MICKDAAM. A Listed winner for his current trainer here in 2012, he then won the Chester Vase for Richard Fahey before finishing mid-division behind Camelot in the Derby. He was having his first subsequent start when making little impression a couple of weeks ago but that will have brought him on and he's given the nod.
Mickdaam (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) 10th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Vercingetorix (9-1) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp gd in Feb.
Ottoman Empire (FR) 9-2 (9-2) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp in Jan beating String Theory (9-3) by 1l, 11 ran.
Busker (USA) 14-1 (9-6) 10th of 15, 7l behind Sanshaawes (9-4) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp in Feb.
Samurai Sword 18-1 (8-10) last of 16, 16l behind Elleval (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp in Feb.
Plantagenet (SPA) 28-1 (8-5) 3rd of 16, 1l behind Elleval (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp in Feb.
Tanfeeth 25-1 (8-7) 11th of 13, 11l behind Songcraft (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
