Doug Watson's Slumdogmillionaire is a dual Grade 1 winner in South Africa though he hasn't run for almost two years. His former compatriot Captain Lars won a Listed contest at Turffontein last March and Mike De Kock will have him ready. It's a while since Belgian Bill won the Royal Hunt Cup but he's been here in the past and is well treated if George Baker has him spot-on. He's won five times in his career as has the tough and consistent Dark Emerald while Slipper Orchid was in very good form at Dundalk in October and looks just the type for the Carnival. BILLINGSGATE has won twice at Kempton so it's a surprise he isn't starting here on Dirt. But he looked progressive when scoring there in October and looks well enough treated on that form to take this. Free Wheeling ran four times here last winter and ended with a victory over 7f. He just needed his opening run and that could be the case again.
Slumdogmillionaire (SAF) 3-1fav (9-6) Fought back - game, won at Turffontein(SAF) 1m Grp 1 gd in Mar '13 beating Whiteline Fever (9-6) by shd, 13 ran.
Royal Ridge (SAF) (9-0) 14th of 15, 26l behind Surfer (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m Group 2 sks (1).
Avon Pearl (9-4) 2nd of 9, 1l behind Berling (9-4) at Taby(SWE) 1m Listed stks gs in Sep.
Captain Lars (SAF) 3-1fav (8-9) Led early - kept on, won at Turffontein(SAF) 1m 1f listed hcp gd in Mar beating Halve The Deficit (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Free Wheeling (AUS) 25-1 (9-10) Mid-division stands side, outpaced over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, never on terms, 9th of 17, 3 1/2l behind Safety Check (8-12) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Horsted Keynes (FR) 15-2 (8-9) 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Elnaawi (8-9) at Keeneland(USA) 1m all stks in Oct.
Jally (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) 12th of 13, 16l behind Safety Check (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcp gd.
Belgian Bill 25-1 (9-2) Raced far side, held up, pushed along 3f out, never involved, 14th of 27, 21l behind Bronze Angel (9-2) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Dark Emerald (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Disputed lead until ridden to lead 3f out, driven over 1f out, headed final strides, 2nd of 8, nk behind Loving Spirit (9-2) at Leicester 1m (2) gs in Oct.
Jawhar (IRE) (9-2) 6th of 7, 9l behind Shaishee (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 3yo stks in Dec.
Rostrum (FR) 10-1 (9-2) 5th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Mufarrh (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcp in Feb '13.
Slipper Orchid (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Soon raced in 9th, 8th approaching straight, went 4th 1f out, chased winner and no impression inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Pelerin (9-0) at Dundalk 1m flls lst stks (1) pol in Oct.
Machete Mark (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Mid-division, improved into 3rd on rail under 2f out, led just inside final furlong and kept on well closing stages, won at Naas 7f hcp in Jun beating Shipyard (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Billingsgate (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Prominent, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Oct beating Tigers Tale (9-3) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Derbaas (USA) (8-13) 3rd of 7, 5l behind Nine Realms (8-13) at Abu Dhabi(UAE) 1m Listed stks (1) gd in Dec.
Edu Querido (BRZ) 5-4fav (8-12) Raced wide early prominent, led 5f out, soon steadied pace, ridden and quickened pace over 2f out, clear over 1f out, ran on, eased near finish, won at Lingfield 1m stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Dec beating Jack Of Diamonds (8-12) by 4l, 4 ran.
Cambre (IRE) (8-13) won at Craon(FR) 1m 3yo stk gs in Sep beating Honeymoon Cocktail (9-4) by 1l, 7 ran.
