STAR EMPIRE has been a standing dish around here for a number of years and beat today's rival Ahzeemah narrowly in this race two years ago before succumbing to the runner-up in the final. He was also beaten narrowly last year and has generally needed a run to put him straight so last month's outing over a trip much too short should have done the trick and he can see off his old rival. Meandre has some top form over shorter so it will be interesting to see how he copes with this longer trip, a remark that also applies to Famous Kid who found 1m2f too short on his reappearance but tackles this distance for the first time. Rio Tigre had useful form in France and his new trainer has had winners here this winter. Elidor's close third in the Ebor puts him right in the picture and, with a recent run over a trip too short under his belt his race, sharpness may allow him to get involved in a tight handicap.
