Doug Watson saddles the top and the bottom weights here. Tradesman just held off the fast-finishing Immortalised over the track and trip and should make a bold bid to defy 4lb extra but the veteran Hawker is best at Jebel Ali. QUARTIER FRANCAIS scored at the meeting a year ago and has been reasonably consistent ever since. He'll have come on for last month's reappearance and should get into contention so gets the nod. Philosopher ran well behind Tradesman last month before scoring at Sharjah while Cachao would be up to winning this at his best though does better over a mile. Litigation disappointed in Trademan's race last month but Heraldic was in double winning form at the turn of the year and will be better for his run a fortnight ago.
Tradesman (USA) 5-1 (9-6) won at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Oct beating Immortalised (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Quartier Francais (USA) 9-1 (8-8) 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Secret Trade (8-11) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Oct.
Philosopher (IRE) (8-7) won at Sharjah 1m fst in Nov beating Zaajer (8-9) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Montakhab (USA) (9-3) 8th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Olympic Games (8-7) at Marseille-borely 1m 1f stks gs in Apr.
Hold Sway (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) 3rd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Ajwad (9-2) at Meydan 1m 2f stks gd in Apr.
Litigation 10-3fav (9-6) 7th of 15, 11 1/4l behind Tradesman (9-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Oct.
Gundogdu (USA) (9-2) 8th of 9, dist behind Trenchard (9-3) at Meydan 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Cachao (8-11) 2nd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Trenchard (9-3) at Meydan 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Heraldic (USA) (9-0) 7th of 9, dist behind Trenchard (9-3) at Meydan 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Blue Sovereign (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) 4th of 15, 9 3/4l behind Woodditton (9-4) at Meydan 1m 1f mdn stks fst in Oct.
Mears (USA) 10-1 (9-1) 9th of 15, 17 1/2l behind Tradesman (9-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Oct.
Hawker 10-1 (8-9) 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Tafaakhor (8-13) at Jebel Ali 1m 1f hcp fst in Nov.