fly leapt start, keen in touch in rear, headway over 2f out, effort over 1f out, one pace and lost 3rd inside final furlong
close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
in touch in rear, ridden and outpaced over 1f out
keen early, in touch, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to challenge entering final furlong, stayed on to lead towards finish
tracked leader until pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
NonRunner
Stable companions FOLKSWOOD (NAP) and Viren's Army won handicaps at Meydan in February and the former showed further progress when making a bold bid in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta last month. Caught close home by Decorated Knight on that occasion, Charlie Appleby’s charge makes most appeal in this and has the beating of Abdon on collateral form. The latter came up short in Listed company at the end of 2016 and that was also the case with Spark Plug last July ,though he went on to land the Cambridgeshire over track and trip. Bravery returned to action with a victory in the Lincoln but ,like Autocratic and the remainder of the field, has a bit to find on these terms.
Abdon 7-2 (8-13) Took keen hold, tracking leaders on rail, not clear run and switched right 2f out, 4th and no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4l behind Muffri'Ha (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Autocratic 11-2 (8-13) Mid-division, closed 3f out, led 2f out, stayed on well, won at York 1m 2f hcp stks (2) gd in Oct beating Great Order (9-1) by 1l, 9 ran.
Bravery (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Switched left soon after start, race towards far side, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, led last 50 yards, held on close home, won at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Oh This Is Us (9-6) by nk, 22 ran.
Folkswood 5-1 (9-0) 2nd of 12, nk behind Decorated Knight (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Spark Plug (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Mid-division stands side rail, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led overall inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep beating Carry On Deryck (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 31 ran.
Steel of Madrid (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Held up, headway 2f out, ridden and chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 7th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Scarlet Dragon (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Oct.
Viren's Army (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) won at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb beating Kidmenever (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Berkshire (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Team Talk (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.