It's rare to find one of Mike De Kock's lurking at the bottom of a handicap and Baroot has already won twice around here though he's 9lb higher than his last victory and has only run on the Dirt track. Modern History was headed close home over 7f at Jebel Ali last week but he's never won here and had plenty of attempts. Groor, who would have a definite chance on his victory here in February, has the outside berth to contend with but is still likely to get into the action while Doug Watson has a couple of unexposed types entered and RESONANT might just prove the best of them. Three times a winner for Mark Johnston, he was having his first start since the summer of 2015 when mid-division at Abu Dhabi in November and that should have put him spot-on for this.
Groor 22-1 (9-0) 4th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Tried And True (8-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Dec.
Royal Revival (9-8) 8th of 0, 13 1/2l behind Expert (8-11) at Jinma Lake Racecourse 1m 4f in Apr.
Resonant (IRE) (9-2) 5th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Carbon Dating (8-8) at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f hcp in Nov.
Philosopher (IRE) (8-10) 6th of 10, 13 1/4l behind Desert Force (9-4) at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Dec.
Secure Access (USA) 11-2 (8-6) Ins to 1/4,to 3p 3/16, 5th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Grey Stark (8-6) at Saratoga 1m 1f gd in Jul.
Billingsgate (IRE) (9-3) 11th of 15, 17 1/2l behind Carbon Dating (9-1) at Abu Dhabi 1m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
Dynamite Ferid (FR) 20-1 (8-9) 8th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Stormardal (9-6) at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Dec.
Pupil (IRE) (8-7) last of 13, 24 1/4l behind Stunned (9-2) at Jebel Ali 7f hcp fst in Dec.
Jaaref (IRE) (9-4) 10th of 12, dist behind North America (9-3) at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Dec.
Alkawn (9-2) 12th of 13, 25 1/2l behind Carbon Dating (8-8) at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f hcp in Nov.
Expert (IRE) (8-9) last of 9, 20 1/2l behind Salvadori (8-11) at Jebel Ali 7f hcp fst in Nov.
Modern History (IRE) (9-4) 2nd of 11, nk behind Salvadori (9-0) at Jebel Ali 7f hcp fst in Jan.
Mundahesh (IRE) (9-0) last of 14, 26 1/2l behind Championship (9-0) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
Baroot (9-1) 6th of 12, 20l behind North America (9-3) at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Dec.
Invincible Strike (IRE) (9-10) 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Secret Ambition (9-8) at Jebel Ali 1m hcp fst in Dec.
Quel Avantage (IRE) (9-0) 11th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Light The Lights (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f lst stks gf in Jan.