Doug Watson leads the domestic trainer's championship and has five entries here. Stable jockey Pat Dobbs would have the pick of four of them and goes for Grand Argentier, who ran his best race to date here when a close third to Respect Me on Dirt last week. Paul Hanagan had several possible mounts and has gone for Watson's lightly-raced ALKAWN, a winner at Newmarket and Salisbury for John Gosden and looking well enough treated on his debut here to earn the vote. Need To Know has been a bit unfortunate to come up against in-form rivals since returning here in November and should get into the mix again while Fawzi Nass has acquired a potential money-spinner in the former Ger Lyons-trained winner Vale Do Sol. Tanfeeth has been going well at Jebel Ali but doesn't win very often.
Jawhar (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) 11th of 12, 12l behind Haafaguinea (9-1) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Soviet Rock (IRE) 22-1 (9-5) 10th of 12, 36 1/4l behind Jeeraan (9-1) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Dec.
Torchlighter (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind Special Fighter (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks (1) fst in Dec.
Fauvism (USA) (9-0) last of 10, 21 1/4l behind Sefri (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Jan.
Grand Argentier (FR) 8-1 (9-5) 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Respect Me (9-5) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp fst in Jan.
Need To Know (SAF) 10-1 (9-1) 2nd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Udododontu (9-1) at Meydan 1m hcp gf in Jan.
Sadeek's Song (USA) 66-1 (9-2) 9th of 10, 28 3/4l behind Udododontu (9-1) at Meydan 1m hcp gf in Jan.
Life Partner (IRE) 2-1fav (9-4) 6th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Ajraam (9-6) at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Jan.
Vale Do Sol (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) Chased leaders, good headway to lead on inner over 2f out, soon ridden, clear over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Oct beating Tooreen Legend (9-12) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Maid Of The Glens (IRE) 50-1 (8-9) 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind More Aspen (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f lst stks gf in Jan.
Alkawn 5-2fav (9-5) Took keen hold, raced wide early, went 2nd 5f out, led going well 2f out, edged right from over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Mccreery (9-1) at Sandown 1m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Hunters Creek (IRE) (9-6) 12th of 13, dist behind Makzon (8-4) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Jan.
Shebebi (USA) 20-1 (9-0) 7th of 10, 9 3/4l behind Udododontu (9-1) at Meydan 1m hcp gf in Jan.
Tanfeeth 4-1 (9-2) 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Ostaad (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m 2f hcp fst in Jan.
Georgetown (8-5) 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Hunters Creek (8-7) at Abu Dhabi 1m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
Shaakis (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, came centre in straight, hung right and carried right from 2f out, ended on far rail, one pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Imshivalla (9-6) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp (3) sft in Aug.
Ormindo (USA) 7-1 (8-10) 6th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Respect Me (9-5) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp fst in Jan.