Walking Thunder won at this fixture a year ago before landing the 2000 Guineas Trial. He started long odds-on for the classic but was well beaten by Estihdaaf before running respectably in the UAE Derby. He's taking a drop in trip but EKHTIYAAR is a smart sprinter on his day as his second to the superb Blue Point showed in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint. He's making his Dirt debut but connections are expecting him to take to the surface. Nine Below Zero had no problems winning a lower-grade handicap on his debut here in January and continued to run well in much tougher company including when beaten a neck by Drafted in a Group 3, though he was behind Ibn Malik in a similar race earlier. Woody has a fitness advantage having won a minor handicap last month but will need much more against these.
Ekhtiyaar 11-1 (9-0) 9th of 13, 11l behind Blue Point (9-0) at Meydan 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Bochart (8-9) 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind George Villiers (8-5) at Meydan 1m stks fst in Nov.
Nine Below Zero 25-1 (9-0) 7th of 9, 7 3/4l behind X Y Jet (9-0) at Meydan 6f Grp 2 fst in Mar.
Waady (IRE) (9-5) won at Meydan 6f hcp pol in Nov beating Pop The Hood (8-8) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Walking Thunder (USA) 7-2 (9-0) 7th of 14, 9 3/4l behind Plus Que Parfait (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Mar.
Rusumaat (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Above Normal (8-5) at Jebel Ali 6f stks fst in Nov.
Inverleigh (IRE) (9-5) 9th of 10, 17 3/4l behind Tadbir (9-3) at Jebel Ali 7f stks fst in Nov.
Ibn Malik (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) 8th of 12, 12 1/4l behind Coal Front (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Mar.
