Waady won this last year by just under a length from Equilateral with Caspian Prince a further two lengths away in fourth. The runner-up was a length behind LAZULI in a Newbury Group 3 in September and, though the positions were reversed when they met again last month, Charlie Appleby's charge has the more scope and can take this. A'Ali, who is top rated, has a penalty for his Group 2 victory at the Curragh and makes his debut here while the three-year-old Acklam Express has a lot to do despite landing a York Listed contest when completing a hat-trick last summer.
A'Ali (IRE) 4-1fav (9-5) Rear of mid-division on far side, ridden 2f out, weakened, last of 14, 11 1/4l behind Glass Slippers (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Caspian Prince (IRE) (9-6) 3rd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Motafaawit (8-13) at Meydan 5f hcp fst in Feb.
Equilateral (9-6) won at Meydan 5f hcp lst gd in Jan beating Mutaraffa (8-5) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Waady (IRE) (9-1) 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Switzerland (9-1) at Meydan 6f Grp 3 stks fst in Jan.
Acklam Express (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Soon outpaced, last of 11, 26 3/4l behind Winter Power (8-12) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Good Effort (IRE) (9-1) 4th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Switzerland (9-1) at Meydan 6f Grp 3 stks fst in Jan.
Lazuli (IRE) (9-6) 3rd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Equilateral (9-6) at Meydan 5f hcp lst gd in Jan.
