towards rear, not clear run 2f out to over 1f out, ridden and headway inside final furlong, stayed on well, nearest finish
mid-division, outpaced when stumbled and lost place 3f out, no chance when not much room 1f out
held up in rear, switched outside and headway over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden and lost place, no impression when hampered inside final furlong
slowly into stride, raced keenly and soon in touch on outside, outpaced 2f out, ridden and lost place over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway and every chance over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to press winner inside final furlong
led narrowly, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon ridden, kept on well
mid-division, switched outside and headway over 2f out, led narrowly over 1f out until inside final furlong, no extra final 110 yards
raced keenly, tracked leaders, effort and every chance over 1f out until inside final furlong, no extra final 110 yards
mid-division, not clear run over 1f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, not reached leaders
with leader, ridden and lost place over 1f out, no impression when hampered inside final furlong
behind, headway 2f out, driven and edged right inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, never reached leaders
awkwardly away, soon chased leaders, driven and outpaced 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong
Prime Defender won this in 2009 and was just touched off by Inxile a year ago. He'll be up for this but the winner's trainer David Nicholls is strongly represented by Tajneed under last year's winning rider and the classy Lovelace, whose best form is over further. The very progressive Bated Breath won his first three races before upped in grade and running even better in defeat. He was a close fourth behind Doncaster Rover on his final start in a Listed race at HQ in August and should have improved over the winter. The winner that day has been operating in Dubai and produced one of his best-ever runs behind the brilliant J J The Jet Plane last time but a couple of lengths ahead of him at Meydan was IVER BRIDGE LAD, who confirmed his toughness by scoring at Kempton last week and can complete a quick double here.
Hitchens (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) Chased leaders, hard driven and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Anne Of Kiev (8-9) at Lingfield 5f Listed stks (1) pol in Mar.
Bated Breath 7-4fav (8-11) Raced keenly in rear, some late headway, never nearer, 4th of 8, 3l behind Doncaster Rover (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Listed stks (1) gs in Aug.
Brave Prospector 8-1 (9-0) Tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 1/2l behind Waveband (8-9) at Lingfield 6f Listed stks (1) pol in Feb.
Doncaster Rover (USA) 12-1 (8-5) 4th of 12, 4l behind J J The Jet Plane (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcap gd in Mar.
Fitz Flyer (IRE) 9-2 (8-11) Faltered soon after start, chased leaders, switched left over 3f out, never on terms, no impression over 1f out, 4th of 6, 8l behind Noble Storm (8-11) at Southwell 5f stks (3yo+) (2) fbs in Nov.
Iver Bridge Lad 15-8 (9-1) Held up, improved 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, soon pressed, driven and asserted near finish, won at Kempton 6f stks (3yo+) (3) pol in Mar beating Ebraam (9-4) by 1l, 5 ran.
Jack My Boy (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 11, 6l behind Flipando (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcap (2) pol in Mar.
Jimmy Styles 13-2 (9-5) Took keen hold, close up, ridden and every chance 1f out, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Flipando (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcap (2) pol in Mar.
Lovelace 16-1 (9-2) Steadied start, held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, one pace and no impression when not much room briefly inside final 2f, 9th of 12, 6l behind Lord Shanakill (9-2) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.
Prime Defender 25-1 (9-10) Ridden along early, never a factor, 15th of 21, 8l behind Gilt Edge Girl (9-6) at Longchamp(FR) 5f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Rain Delayed (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Never near to challenge, 9th of 12, 8l behind Charlie's Moment (8-12) at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp in Feb.
Rash Judgement 66-1 (9-0) Mid-division, pulled hard, switched left and headway 2f out, beaten over 1f out, 19th of 21, 12l behind Mac's Power (8-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp 105 (2) gd in Oct.
Royal Rock 14-1 (9-1) Held up, short of room and snatched up 3f out, never dangerous after, last of 17, 20l behind Bewitched (9-1) at Ascot 6f Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Tajneed (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 7th of 21, 4l behind Mac's Power (8-10) at Doncaster 6f hcp 105 (2) gd in Oct.
