High Blade had plenty of winning form in Brazil but may need tome to acclimatise. Giftorm's second to Layl last week was a good run and Kieran Fallon's presence in the saddle suggest connections mean business. Royal Ridge won a handicap off a 7lb lower mark here a year ago so must be respected though FILFIL will be difficult to beat. Satish Seemar's charge completed a double in December and almost made it a hat-trick when just failing to catch One Man Bend. Heavy Metal was a decent handicapper with Mark Johnston and isn't out of this while Music Theory hasn't been beaten far in much better class handicaps on this track and will make a bold bid to defy a big weight.
Music Theory (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) 7th of 16, 7l behind Dark Emerald (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcp std.
High Blade (BRZ) (8-8) 4th of 15, 12l behind Don Oliver H (9-4) at Maronas(URU) 1m fll stks Grp 1 in Jan.
Bannock (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) 13th of 15, 36l behind Layl (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap.
Ennobled Friend (USA) (9-0) 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Forjatt (9-0) at Jebel Ali(UAE) 1m Group 3 stks (3yo+).
Giftorm (USA) 12-1 (8-10) 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Layl (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap.
Royal Ridge (SAF) 25-1 (9-3) 6th of 15, 15l behind Layl (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap.
Yaa Wayl (IRE) (8-13) 8th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Ertijaal (8-13) at Abu Dhabi(UAE) 7f Listed stks (1) gd.
Heavy Metal 28-1 (8-11) Raced far side, held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, driven and headway well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 5th of 27, 3 1/2l behind Bronze Angel (9-2) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Silver Ocean (USA) 40-1 (9-2) 8th of 15, 16l behind Layl (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap.
Sir Freddie (USA) 12-1 (8-11) 8th of 10, 19l behind Beat Baby (9-5) at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp in Jan.
Filfil (USA) 10-3fav (9-5) 2nd of 14, shd behind One Man Band (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcp in Jan.
Jayed Jidan (IRE) (9-0) 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Forjatt (9-0) at Jebel Ali(UAE) 1m Group 3 stks (3yo+).
Tiz Now Tiz Then (USA) (9-5) 5th of 11, 7l behind Dormello (9-5) at Jebel Ali(UAE) 1m 1f stks (3yo+).