held up in touch, challenged over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong
held up in touch, pushed along and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch on inside, switched right 3f out, ridden and weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway on outside 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on under pressure towards finish
held up in rear, niggled along over 3f out, soon struggling
held up in mid-division, progress over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
always close up, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, held on well
held up in mid-division, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
steadied start, soon switched left, held up in rear, headway on outside 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd towards finish
held up in mid-division on inside, ridden and no headway final 2f
held up in rear, progress on outside 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led, headed 3f out, soon lost place, eased when no chance final 2f
held up in mid-division, pushed along well over 2f out, soon behind
close up on inside, niggled along and weakened 2f out
A very competitive handicap but a chance is taken on ISLAND BRAVE, who won this last year and is the only course and distance winner. He looks to have been laid out for another crack after a very good fourth behind Forbidden Planet in the Roseberry at Kempton. The winner was undoubtedly impressive and though 7lb higher it will be a surprise if he's not concerned in the finish. Buzz was behind Island Brave at Nottingham in August and makes his debut on the surface but Big Kitten has won on the track twice and is probably still on a fair mark. Mark Johnston has two entries. Baghdad has never run here but ended last season prematurely after landing the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot. Stable companion Showroom has only run three times so may lack the experience for such a tough handicap. Desert Fire has been in good form at Meydan while Shailene, from an in-form yard, won first time out last season and ended the campaign in Listed company.
Desert Fire (IRE) 5-2jfav (8-11) 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Mountain Hunter (9-5) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Island Brave (IRE) 50-1 (9-8) 4th of 16, 2 3/4l behind Forbidden Planet (8-8) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Buzz (FR) 13-8fav (9-10) 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Pipes Of Peace (8-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Baghdad (FR) 9-1 (8-12) won at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun beating Corgi (8-10) by nk, 18 ran.
Seamour (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) 3rd of 12, 2l behind Master Of Irony (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Al Hamdany (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) 2nd of 6, hd behind Collide (9-8) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Apr.
Bartholomeu Dias 11-4 (9-7) 2nd of 5, 3l behind King's Advice (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (3) pol in Apr.
Shailene (IRE) 7-2jfav (8-4) 7th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Blakeney Point (9-3) at Chester 1m 4f lst stks (1) sft in Sep.
Forbidden Planet 4-1 (8-8) won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Mar beating Pipes Of Peace (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
Lady Bergamot (FR) 8-1 (9-10) 11th of 13, dist behind Klassique (8-11) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp fll (2) gs in Oct.
Big Kitten (USA) 7-4fav (9-5) won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Amazing Michele (9-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
Showroom (FR) 7-2 (9-7) 4th of 11, 6l behind Eddystone Rock (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Ashington 8-1 (9-3) 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Kasperenko (10-2) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (3) pol in Aug.
Daawy (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) last of 9, 4 1/4l behind Seafarer (8-11) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
