mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish
led, headed over 7f out, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, soon weakened
in touch in 4th place, led entering final furlong, kept on and headed towards finish
towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never a factor
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and one pace in 4th inside final furlong
tracked leader and keen, led over 7f out, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Not many of these have won a handicap yet but KHALIDI is an exception as he won a decent nursery over a mile here in September. He has a hike in the weights to contend with but there should be more to come over this longer trip. Flood Warning also won a handicap at Wolverhampton last month but she’s raised in class for this while the three Godolphin representatives have all won maiden races over shorter distances with First Nation preferred. Western Duke, Mushaireb, Bush House and Native Prospect are other maiden winners with the latter pair scoring on the all-weather earlier this year.
Khalidi 5-2jfav (9-3) Tracked leaders, headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and hard pressed final furlong, edged left towards finish, kept on, won at Doncaster 1m (2) gd in Sep beating Harbour Master (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Western Duke (IRE) 11-4 (9-2) Tracked winner, ridden and no impression over 1f out until stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 3, 3/4l behind Permian (9-2) at Ripon 1m stks (3) gd in Aug.
Devil's Bridge (IRE) (8-11) 5th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Aethos (8-11) at Capannelle 1m 1f (1) hvy in Nov.
Bin Battuta 8-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden and held when bumped over 1f out, 7th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Boynton (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Celestial Spheres (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Made all, ridden over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, just held on, won at Goodwood 1m 1f mdn stks (4) gs in Sep beating Monarchs Glen (9-5) by shd, 10 ran.
First Nation 4-1 (9-5) Always prominent, led over 2f out, drew clear inside final furlong, easily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Wild Shot (9-5) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Flood Warning 5-2 (9-13) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led 1f out, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Dark Titan (9-6) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Bush House (IRE) 4-5fav (8-7) Led and set steady pace, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied gamely to lead again well inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating War At Sea (8-7) by nk, 5 ran.
Mushaireb 9-2 (9-5) In touch, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Suspect Package (9-5) at Newcastle 7f mdn stks (4) pol in Aug.
Native Prospect 10-11fav (8-9) Slowly into stride, in rear, good headway to lead well over 3f out, pressed over 1f out, ridden entering final furlong, soon edged right, kept on well, won at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating Elegantly Bound (8-9) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
