SPORTING CHANCE is 10lb clear on official ratings and has drawn the inside berth. He's tackling this trip for the first time but wasn't stopping when scoring at Maisons-Laffite in September when today's rival Dream With You was a long way behind. His stable also run the unbeaten Trolius, whose three victories have been on Tapeta including a dead-heat in a Wolverhampton nursery. Shining Armor has won four of his last five, all on the all-weather, but only scrambled home in a Kempton nursery last time and a wide draw won't help. Woven made a very good impression when just holding today's rival Estihdaaf at York and the runner-up has boosted the form subsequently. Good Fortune won a novices' contest on fast going at Lingfield but was a bit disappointing when beaten at Sandown last time while it's difficult to know what to make of Irish Trilogy, unbeaten in three starts since his debut, though Scandinavian horses don't have a great record here. Magic Image was only beaten a neck by Turn 'n Twirl at Lingfield though the winner let the form down here last week.
Irish Trilogy (IRE) (9-4) won at Bro Park 1m gd in Oct
Prince Elzaam (IRE) 5-4fav (9-9) Chased leaders on inside, shaken up to lead entering final furlong, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Catterick 6f stks (5) gd in Sep beating Beechwood Izzy (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Shining Armor 13-8fav (9-7) Tracked leader, not much room briefly over 5f out, challenged over 1f out, stayed on, led close home, won at Kempton 6f (4) pol in Dec beating Reticent Angel (9-3) by hd, 5 ran.
Sporting Chance (9-2) 5th of 8, 4l behind Hello Youmzain (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 2 stks in Oct.
Trolius (IRE) 9-4 (9-7) Headway tracking leader 8f out, led 2f out, edged left over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, joined post, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (4) pol in Nov beating Felix The Poet (9-5), 5 ran.
Al Fajir Mukbile (IRE) 5-2 (9-9) Held up, switched left and headway between horses over 1f out, ran on to lead post, won at Newmarket 7f (5) gd in Oct beating Steeve (9-5) by ns, 14 ran.
Estihdaaf (USA) 5-6fav (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Leicester 7f mdn stks (4) gs in Oct beating Mokammal (9-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
Good Fortune 6-5fav (8-12) Led and set steady pace, edged left inside final furlong, soon ridden, headed and no extra final 120 yards, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Walkinthesand (8-12) at Sandown 7f stks (3) gd in Sep.
Woven 5-2fav (9-2) Went right start, in rear, pushed along and headway entering final 2f, ridden and edged left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at York 7f stks (3) gs in Sep beating Estihdaaf (9-2) by ns, 10 ran.
Al Mortajaz (FR) 8-1 (9-0) last of 11, dist behind Walking Thunder (9-5) at Meydan 1m stks fst in Dec.
Bosconero (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) 13th of 15, 10 1/2l behind Goldenground (9-6) at Jebel Ali 5f mdn stks fst in Nov.
Iskandarani (USA) 40-1 (9-0) 9th of 11, 16 1/2l behind Walking Thunder (9-5) at Meydan 1m stks fst in Dec.
King Lothbrok (FR) 33-1 (9-2) Sweating, pulled hard tracking leaders in 4th, ridden and unable to quicken over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 9l behind Turgenev (9-2) at Newcastle 1m stks (5) pol in Sep.
Mneef (USA) 25-1 (8-5) 10th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Manguzi (8-5) at Jebel Ali 7f mdn stks fst in Dec.
Dream With You (FR) (8-10) 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Survoltee (8-7) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f stks gs in Oct.
Magic Image 8-1 (8-12) In touch, headway 3f out, effort to press winner inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Turn 'n Twirl (8-12) at Lingfield 7f fll stks (5) pol in Dec.
Luxor Temple (USA) 20-1 (9-0) 12th of 14, 20 1/4l behind Al Seel Legacy's (9-0) at Meydan 7f mdn stks in Dec.
