The lightly-raced and very progressive STRING THEORY gives Frankie Dettori a chance to get on the scoreboard at this year's Carnival. Marco Botti's colt is unbeaten on Polytrack and turned a competitive handicap at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day into a procession. Intrigo had some excellent form for Richard Hannon in very tough handicaps. He made an eye-catching debut here a fortnight ago when staying on strongly over a mile so should get into the mix. Clon Brulee did very well for David Barron winning five times and he'll be better for his opening effort here three weeks ago, his first start since September. He was just behind Ottoman Empire there and the latter won a similar race to this last February. Rebel Song has been narrowly beaten on his last two starts here but has climbed the ratings without winning while the Spanish raider Abdel looks a bit high in the weights on what he's achieved.
Abdel (FR) 20-1 (9-6) 4th of 12, 8l behind Cat O'Mountain (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 3f hcp.
Sahawar (FR) 14-1 (9-2) 9th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Sheikhzayedroad (9-3) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp std.
String Theory (IRE) 11-10fav (9-7) Made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Teolagi (8-6) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Ottoman Empire (FR) 10-1 (9-2) 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Busker (8-10) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp.
Regulation (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) 9th of 16, 1l behind Zain Shamardal (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcp.
Clon Brulee (IRE) 10-3 (9-1) 6th of 10, 5l behind Busker (8-10) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp.
Intrigo 10-1 (9-1) 3rd of 16, 1l behind Zain Shamardal (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcp.
Robert The Painter (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) 12th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Zain Shamardal (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcp.
Start Right 11-1 (8-13) 10th of 16, 1l behind Zain Shamardal (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcp.
Rebel Song (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Interpret (8-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp in Dec.
Agent Allison 14-1 (8-10) Mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, soon beaten, 10th of 17, 11l behind Miss Cap Estel (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f fll lst stks (1) sft in Nov.