Doug Watson complicates matters by saddling three but FAULKNER did so well here last year that he has to be the pick. Pat Dobbs rode him to all three victories and the latest, when beating Tamarkuz over 7f in a handicap in January, could hardly have been better advertised as the runner-up won his next four races including three at Grade level. One Man Band has a fitness advantage and is a specialist at the trip as he showed when running away with a handicap here last month. He's gone up a massive 11lb and this looks tougher. Ostaad gained a surprise victory in a big field here in January and showed he is in good heart with another success at Jebel Ali last month though he'd been beaten a long way by Lanark there in March. Ehtedaam did well when trained in the UK and wasn't beaten far by Tamarkuz at Kempton but that was over two years ago. Cross Grain made a successful debut on the track at last year's opening fixture and repeated the process last month with an emphatic victory over 7f so he could provide the main threat.
Faulkner 4-1fav (8-13) won at Meydan 7f hcp pol in Jan beating Tamarkuz (9-6) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
One Man Band (IRE) (8-9) won at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Nov beating Need To Know (9-2) by 5l, 7 ran.
Ehtedaam (USA) 11-8fav (9-2) Soon led, ridden 2f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Tamarkuz (8-13) at Kempton 1m stks (4) pol in Oct.
Lanark (IRE) (9-6) 3rd of 9, 6l behind Life Partner (9-0) at Jinma Lake Racecourse 7f hcp gd in Apr.
Cross Grain (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) won at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Nov beating Enery (9-3) by 3l, 11 ran.
Ostaad (IRE) (8-9) won at Jebel Ali 1m 1f hcp fst in Nov beating Sefri (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
