This looks the toughest race of the day. The lightly-raced Emirates Skycargo has won twice on Polytrack and may do better on the Dirt track but another Godolphin representative, the tough and reliable MUSADDAS, looks the part. The winner of a very strong handicap at Ascot in October, he's 6lb higher but looks the type to do well at the Carnival and should be ready. Most of Mike De Kock's recent runners have needed their first outing and that could apply to Forries Waltz, a regular winner in South Africa who had a sighter here last February but hasn't been seen since. The stable also run Rock Cocktail and he wasn't beaten far in either start here a year ago. Giftorm had reasonable form here in February before returning to Scandanavia for a light campaign while El Ren had smart form in Germany and Michael Attwater will get the best out of him. Belgian Bill won this a year ago on his first start since the previous October and George Baker will have the subsequent Goodwood winner ready for action again along with stable companion Boomshackerlacker.
Mustadeem (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Steadied start, held up last in touch, headway on outside 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Algaith (9-0) at Bath 1m stks (3) fm in Sep.
Belgian Bill 33-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division far side, pushed along and lost place over 2f out, no chance after, behind and eased inside final furlong, last of 20, 22 1/2l behind Musaddas (8-7) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Forries Waltz (SAF) (9-4) 11th of 15, 7 1/4l behind Mastermind (9-4) at Meydan 7f gd in Feb.
Rock Cocktail (AUS) 9-2 (9-6) 7th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Tha'ir (9-2) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Battle Of Marathon (USA) 25-1 (8-11) 12th of 16, 5 3/4l behind Ghaamer (8-11) at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Jan.
El Tren (IRE) (9-3) 5th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Wildpark (8-13) at Hoppegarten 1m 1f lst stks (1) gd in Aug.
Emirates Skycargo (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Dwelt in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden 3f out, soon dropped to rear and eased, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Directorship (8-11) at Newmarket 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Giftorm (USA) (9-4) 2nd of 9, shd behind Silver Ocean (9-4) at Taby 1m lst stks (1) sft in Sep.
Musaddas 7-1 (8-7) Raced far side, raced keenly, made all, ridden 2 lengths clear over 1f out, kept on strongly, driven out, won at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Gm Hopkins (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.
Wychwood Warrior (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along straight and 5th 2f out, soon no impression, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Algonquin (9-3) at Killarney 1m lst stks (1) gd in Aug.
Flash Fire (IRE) 5-1jfav (9-3) Led 2f, remained prominent, under pressure over 2f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out, last of 11, 10 1/4l behind Sound Advice (9-6) at Chester 1m hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Beach Bar (IRE) 40-1 (8-13) 8th of 9, 27 1/4l behind One Man Band (9-4) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp gd in Jan.
Boomshackerlacker (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, keeping on at same pace when badly hampered over 1f out, eased and no chance after, 18th of 19, 9 1/4l behind Rene Mathis (9-8) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Heavy Metal 25-1 (8-13) 14th of 16, 9 3/4l behind Ghaamer (8-11) at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Jan.
Scotland Forever (IRE) (9-0) 7th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Forjatt (9-0) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
Tarbawi (IRE) (9-0) 5th of 10, 13l behind Cooptado (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks (1) fst in Dec.
American Hope (USA) 20-1 (9-1) Raced far side, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 30, 3 1/4l behind Gm Hopkins (9-3) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Fox Trotter (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Held up in rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 16, 3 1/4l behind Majestic Moon (8-10) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Seanie (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, 7th on outer halfway, ridden to go 4th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Bishan Bedi (9-5) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Dec.
Fauvism (USA) (0-0) 4th of 0, 12l behind at Doha 1m in Feb.
