Hors De Combat finished third in this last year before landing a similar race the following month. He's only 1lb higher and has to be on the short-list. Joseph O'Brien has two entries, King's Field and Equitant, who finished 1-2 at Dundalk last month. The former should come out on top again at the revised weights but the Australia-trained ESHTIRAAK may have got in lightly. A winner at Moonee Valley in November, he looks like a tough miler and his trainer has already struck at the Carnival. Original Choice ran well throughout the summer with a close third in the Golden Mile at Goodwood the highlight and he arrives on a winning note having scored at Wolverhampton last month. Jamie Osborne will have Cliffs Of Capri, who won twice at Ascot last summer, tuned to perfection but Silent Attack didn't show much in three runs here last year.
King's Field (IRE) 9-4 (9-8) Pushed along early and in rear, improved to challenge under 2f out, soon on terms, led from 1f out, quickly asserted and stayed on well, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec beating Equitant (9-6) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Kronprinz (GER) (9-4) 12th of 15, 14 1/2l behind Trais Fluors (8-13) at Deauville 1m 1f lst stks pol in Nov.
Hors De Combat 12-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up in last trio, headway on outside and hung right over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Wadilsafa (9-0) at Sandown 1m lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Silent Attack 8-1 (9-7) Raced towards far side, never better than mid-division, ridden inside final 2f, no headway, 15th of 27, 4 3/4l behind Ripp Orf (8-1) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gf in May.
Original Choice (IRE) 4-1 (9-12) Made all, set steady pace until quickened over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, held on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Salute The Soldier (9-3) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Gm Hopkins 66-1 (9-0) 9th of 16, 8 1/2l behind Dream Castle (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 3 stks gd in Jan.
Good Effort (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, not quicken and lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Muntadab (9-7) at Leicester 7f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Taamol (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) 7th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Galvanize (9-6) at Meydan 1m hcp in Dec.
Baroot 10-3fav (8-9) 12th of 15, 19 3/4l behind Nathr (8-10) at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Mar.
Eshtiraak (AUS) (9-5) won at Moonee Valley 1m gd in Nov beating Bad Wolf (9-10) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Zainhom (USA) 10-3 (8-9) 3rd of 6, 1/4l behind Rocket Power (8-5) at Jebel Ali 1m stks fst in Dec.
Bold Rex (SAF) 25-1 (9-4) last of 12, dist behind Blair House (9-2) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp gd in Feb.
Cliffs Of Capri 9-4fav (11-7) Always prominent, led 2f out, edged right and ran on final furlong, won at Ascot 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Manton Grange (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Equitant 15-8fav (9-6) Soon raced in 5th, 6th approaching straight, soon a little tight for room, improved to challenge 2f out, soon on terms, headed from 1f out, no extra and one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind King's Field (9-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Mailshot (USA) (9-2) 7th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Forjatt (9-2) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
On The Warpath 7-1 (8-13) Held up off the pace in 4th, closer when switched left over 2f out, ridden to challenge carried head high and hung right over 1f out, strong challenge close home, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind Vale Of Kent (9-2) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Fly At Dawn (USA) 12-1 (9-1) 10th of 16, 6 1/2l behind D'bai (9-3) at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Jan.
Stratton Street (USA) (8-13) 6th of 7, dist behind Heavy Metal (9-2) at Meydan 1m lst stks (1) fst in Dec.
Bedouin's Story 5-1 (9-3) Held up and behind, good headway far side of group chasing leaders 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Newbury 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct beating Ptarmigan Ridge (9-7) by 3l, 20 ran.
