1

Tamarkuz

The ratings - and his brilliant recent form - suggests he is the one to beat now that the serious issue he had with the gates seems to be history. He has crushed his rivals in his last two starts and was devastating with a 4L winning romp last time. The dirt surface is perfect for him.

2

Romansh

A good operator over this sort of distance and further when trained in the USA. He was beaten out of sight by today's rival Tamarkuz on his first Meydan run after being badly impeded. He was much more competitive on his most recent start but will still need to step up a gear to win this.

3

Plantagenet

Did win twice here much earlier in his career but his overall career strike-rate is just 9 wins from 44 starts. No great promise from his only start here in 2015, so no obvious chance though the excellent Andrea Atzeni does partner him for the first time.

4

Bannock

Last year's Meydan champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa is back on board and he did win a Listed race on Bannock at York way back in 2011. However Bannock has shown precious little in his last four starts and will be an outsider here.

5

Sirius Prospect

The winner of ten of his 44 starts but hasn't been at his best in two starts - one on dirt and one on turf - since coming to Meydan though first time - his initial run on dirt - he did have a very wide trip to contend with.  At his best he'd have an each-way shout here.

6

Gold City

Not very big but quite talented and he has done well in a G2 and G3 over this surface and distance on his last two starts. Most recently he finished 4L second to today's formidable rival Tamarkuz, but that rival will surely need to underperform for him to have a winning chance here.

7

Muaanid

Has improved quite significantly since moving on to the dirt surface at Meydan. He has won and been second in handicaps on his last two starts and clearly arrives here in good form. However possible stamina issues up to this trip and, with Tamarkuz competing, he's not the owner's first string.

8

Pylon

Having his first start at Meydan with some decent South African form to his name and trainer De Kock says that of his stable's older horses he is the only genuine dirt specialist. Maybe a bit worrying that this is his first Meydan race despite being stationed here for a few months, but he is certainly one of the more interesting candidates.

9

Heavy Metal

A seven times winner on the turf in the UK but he has clearly enjoyed the change of surface, winning a 1400m handicap on the dirt on his first Meydan start last month, deserving extra credit as he had to cover more ground than most of his rivals.

10

Layl

Has been in great form at Meydan this year, winning two of his three starts and only getting narrowly beaten in the other one, striking up a good relationship with today's rider Pat Dobbs. Admittedly that latest win - over this distance - went smoothly for him last time, but it still looked like a career-best and he could easily be still improving.

11

Not A Given

Has plenty of experience of Meydan's dirt surface, and easily won a handicap on it over 1400m back in January. Most recently he finished a close second in a handicap over this distance, though that did not look a particularly strong race. This is much tougher.

12

Haatheq

Admirably consistent, having won nine of his 46 starts and been placed second or third a further 20 times. Again running well at Meydan this season though without a win and he has finished behind both of today's rivals Tamarkuz and Layl in different races so he has ground to find.

13

Ocean Tempest

Invariably kept busy and raced 19 times in 2014 including a smooth Listed race win over this distance at Ascot. However just one good run out of five at Meydan this year and both attempts at this surface proved very disappointing. Hard to fancy.

14

Genius Boy

Won four handicaps on the bounce in the UK last summer, a feat hard to achieve. He finished second and third in handicaps on his first two Meydan starts this year but was beaten 20L in a Listed event last time. He tries this surface for the first time.