STEADY PACE only had a head to spare over Rouleau in the trial for this but James Doyle looked to have everything well under control and it will be a surprise if the positions are reversed. Market Rally was almost four lengths away in fourth and never got involved but the longer trip can see him into the frame. Sheikh Hamdan's Qurbaan has won a couple of minor races on the all-weather in France but the UK entries Hombre Rojo and Lazzam will need to find much more to get involved.
Market Rally (USA) 8-1 (9-0) 4th of 8, 3 3/4l behind Steady Pace (9-0) at Meydan 7f stks fst in Jan.
Rouleau 5-2 (9-2) 2nd of 8, shd behind Steady Pace (9-0) at Meydan 7f stks fst in Jan.
Qurbaan (USA) (8-13) won at Chantilly 6f stks gs in Sep beating Nordic Dream (9-4) by 2l, 11 ran.
Lazzam 8-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlng, never reached winner, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Hombre Rojo (9-2) at Lingfield 1m stks (3) pol in Jan.
Steady Pace 4-5fav (9-0) won at Meydan 7f stks fst in Jan beating Rouleau (9-2) by ns, 8 ran.
Busy Earning (FR) (9-6) won at Ovrevoll 1m stks pol in Nov
Hombre Rojo (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Made all, quickened over 3f out, hard ridden when challenged entering final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Lingfield 1m stks (3) pol in Jan beating Lazzam (9-2) by 1l, 4 ran.
