JUNGLE CAT won this last year beating his very smart stable companion Baccarat in the process. He then went on to finish an excellent fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint where he was just a nose behind today's rival Ertijaal. Both have been in superb form, as has Baccarat, who burst the Faatinah buble in no uncertain terms three weeks ago. There's very little to separate the trio but the selection has by far the best of the draw which may be enough to swing the verdict in his favour. Yet another Godolphin runner, To Score, may prove best of the remainder.
Baccarat (IRE) 11-4 (9-2) won at Meydan 6f hcp gd in Feb beating Faatinah (9-6) by 3l, 5 ran.
D'bai (IRE) 11-8fav (9-0) 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Jungle Cat (9-0) at Meydan 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Dutch Masterpiece 10-3fav (9-2) 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind High On Life (8-9) at Meydan 6f hcp gd in Feb.
Ertijaal (IRE) 8-15fav (9-0) won at Meydan 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Feb beating Blue Point (9-0) by hd, 5 ran.
High On Life 4-9fav (9-0) 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Shillong (9-0) at Jebel Ali 5f lst stks (1) fst in Feb.
Jungle Cat (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) won at Meydan 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Feb beating Janoobi (9-0) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Shillong 6-1 (9-0) won at Jebel Ali 5f lst stks (1) fst in Feb beating High On Life (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Sholaan (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) 8th of 12, 14 3/4l behind High On Life (8-9) at Meydan 6f hcp gd in Feb.
Silver Line (IRE) 7-2 (8-10) 5th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Top Score (9-0) at Meydan 7f hcp gd in Mar.
Sir Maximilian (IRE) 40-1 (8-7) 3rd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Baccarat (9-2) at Meydan 6f hcp gd in Feb.
Steady Pace 8-1 (9-6) 7th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Top Score (9-0) at Meydan 7f hcp gd in Mar.
The Grape Escape (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Top Score (9-0) at Meydan 7f hcp gd in Mar.
Top Score 5-2fav (9-0) won at Meydan 7f hcp gd in Mar beating The Grape Escape (8-11) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Roland Rocks (IRE) 28-1 (8-9) 12th of 15, 32 3/4l behind Gold Town (8-9) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks (1) fst in Feb.
Wasim (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) won at Meydan 7f stks gd in Feb beating Zaman (8-9) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Portamento (IRE) (9-0) 3rd of 11, 5 1/4l behind Muntazah (9-0) at Abu Dhabi 7f fm in Mar.
Out Do 66-1 (9-0) 4th of 5, 7 3/4l behind Ertijaal (9-0) at Meydan 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Feb.
Yard Line (USA) 33-1 (9-0) 4th of 8, 8 3/4l behind Shillong (9-0) at Jebel Ali 5f lst stks (1) fst in Feb.