Three of the better fancied runners, Twice Over, Golden Sword and Buena Vista, have the worst possible draws but all are talented enough to overcome difficulties. Henry Cecil's dual Champion Stakes winner ran poorly from a similar berth a year ago but showed that to be all wrong with a superb return on this surface earlier this month when he beat Musir comfortably. He'll take some beating as will Golden Sword, who has been in brilliant form over the C&D this year, albeit in slightly lower class. BUENA VISTA finished runner-up in the Sheema Classic last year and was just touched off by today's rival Victoire Pisa over 1m5f in Japan last time when odds-on. Ryan Moore takes over and rides this track from behind as well as anyone so hopefully he can steer the mare out of trouble and into the winners' enclosure. Victoire Pisa has since landed a Grade 2 over 1m1f impressively and can go well at a big price. Gio Ponti finished strongly into fourth a year ago when Gitano Hernando and Richard's Kid weren't far behind and all three can be given some sort of chance but Poet's Voice has never run on the surface and was well behind Twice Over in the Champion Stakes. Cape Blanco's victory over Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over in the Irish Champion Stakes is arguably the best form on view here and Aidan O'Brien's colt would be a massive threat to all if handling the surface.
Fly Down (USA) 5-2fav (8-10) No late response, 5th of 9, 6l behind Giant Oak (8-6) at Gulfstream(USA) 1m 1f hcp Grp 1 fst in Feb.
Monterosso 10-1 (8-11) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Group 2 sks (1) beating Calvados Blues (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Prince Bishop (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) 5th of 14, 6l behind Twice Over (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Group 2 stks (4yo+) (1).
Cape Blanco (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, checked when making headway 3f out, eased when beaten, 13th of 19, 17l behind Workforce (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Gio Ponti (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Angled out, gaining, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Goldikova (8-11) at Churchill Downs(USA) 1m Grp 1 (1) fm in Nov.
Victoire Pisa (JPN) (0-0) won at Nakayama(JPN) 1m 1f Grp 2 fm in Feb beating Captain Thule (0-0) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Musir (AUS) 9-4fav (8-13) 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Twice Over (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Group 2 stks (4yo+) (1).
Gitano Hernando 9-1 (8-13) 3rd of 14, 3l behind Twice Over (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Group 2 stks (4yo+) (1).
Transcend (JPN) (9-0) won at Tokyo(JPN) 1m 4yo stk in Feb, 16 ran.
Poet's Voice 3-1 (8-13) 2nd of 12, nk behind Wigmore Hall (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Richard's Kid (USA) 12-1 (8-13) 10th of 14, 8l behind Twice Over (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Group 2 stks (4yo+) (1).
Twice Over 7-2 (8-13) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Group 2 stks (4yo+) (1) beating Musir (8-13) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Buena Vista (JPN) (8-9) 2nd of 15, ns behind Victoire Pisa (8-9) at Nakayama(JPN) 1m 4f Grp 1 fm in Dec.
Golden Sword 7-4fav (8-13) Rear of mid-division, smooth progress 500m out, ran on well, led 200m out, comfortably, won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f stks (3yo+) in Feb beating Deem (8-9) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
