Desert Encounter is top-rated here thanks to a brilliant victory in the Canadian International at Woodbine in October. He won a Group 3 at Newbury in 2017 after a long absence so the lack of a recent run shouldn't be a problem. OLD PERSIAN is another returning after a break but he won first time back last year so he'll be ready and the King Edwards VII Stakes and Great Voltiguer winner will be very difficult to beat. Racing History was finishing like the proverbial train when just failing to catch Spotify last time and can gain revenge while Sharpalo was going on at the finish when just beaten by the latter in January and can snatch a place at fair odds.
Crowned Eagle 13-8fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, unable to quicken as pace lifted 2f out, plugged on late, 5th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Kasperenko (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Old Persian 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, headway 3f out, led narrowly over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Kew Gardens (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Second Summer (USA) 66-1 (9-0) last of 6, 16l behind North America (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Feb.
Sharpalo (FR) 8-1 (9-3) 4th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Mountain Hunter (9-1) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Spotify (FR) 8-1 (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 3 stks gd in Feb beating Racing History (9-0) by shd, 8 ran.
Racing History (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) 2nd of 8, shd behind Spotify (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 3 stks gd in Feb.
Prince Of Arran (9-0) 8th of 14, 7l behind Exultant (9-0) at Sha Tin 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Dec.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Off slw,rlly,lugged in, won at Woodbine 1m 4f stks gd in Oct beating Thundering Blue (9-0) by 1l, 11 ran.
Marinaresco (SAF) 14-1 (9-0) 5th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Mythical Magic (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 gd in Feb.
Team Talk 14-1 (9-0) 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Spotify (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 3 stks gd in Feb.
