DEFOE, last summer's Coronation Cup and Hardwicke Stakes winner, is the undoubted class act and though not seen since failing to act on soft ground in the King George behind Enable he'll hopefully be ready for this test. Desert Encounter is rated only 3lb lower and David Simcock's Canadian International winner has the benefit of a run last month which will have blown away the cobwebs. William Haggas' Pablo Escobarr, runner-up to Anthony Van Dyck in the Lingfield Derby Trial and a Kempton Listed winner in December, very nearly made all over the track and trip on his debut here and has to be respected while First Nation keeps staying on late in handicaps though this is very much tougher.
Desert Encounter (IRE) (9-5) 5th of 6, 14 1/2l behind Ghaiyyath (9-5) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Feb.
Defoe (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear on inside, never involved, tailed off, 9th of 11, 34l behind Enable (9-4) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Privilegiado (8-13) 3rd of 6, 12 1/2l behind Ghaiyyath (9-5) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Feb.
Good Trip (IRE) (9-7) last of 14, 33 1/2l behind Talento Puma (9-8) at Jebel Ali 1m hcp fst in Feb.
Pablo Escobarr (IRE) (9-2) 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Universal Order (8-5) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp lst gd in Jan.
First Nation (9-3) 4th of 16, 2 1/4l behind Eynhallow (8-6) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Learn By Heart (8-11) 7th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Simsir (8-13) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Mountain Hunter (USA) (9-5) 12th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Eynhallow (8-6) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Jalmoud (9-1) 14th of 16, 23 1/4l behind Eynhallow (8-6) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Loxley (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 7, 11 1/2l behind Barney Roy (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 gd in Jan.
Los Barbados (IRE) 100-1 (9-1) 14th of 16, 26 1/4l behind Vazirabad (9-1) at Meydan 2m Grp 2 gd in Mar.
