dwelt, in touch in rear, ridden 3f out, no impression
keen close up, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace
keen early, close up, led over 1f out, kept up to work when idled and edged left towards finish
keen, in touch in rear, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, challenged 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on towards finish
This race has thrown up the odd surprise in the past but it's difficult to get away from likely favourite NATIVE KHAN this year. Ed Dunlop's grey won his first two starts as a juvenile before finishing an excellent fourth in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in the autumn - further improvement is anticipated this season. Libranno boasted smart form last year and there is enough encouragement in his pedigree to suggest he'll last home over a mile. Stablemate Casual Glimpse should also stay further, despite finishing last on his only try over 7f as a juvenile, but Kempton winner Yaseer and the maiden Yahafedh Alaih have plenty to find on the form book and Ahlaain also looks up against it after a winter campaign in Dubai.
Libranno 5-2fav (9-4) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, beaten inside final furlong, lost 2 places towards finish, 5th of 7, 3l behind Temple Meads (9-1) at Newbury 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Ahlaain (USA) 50-1 (8-8) Dwelt, settled in rear, never able to challenge, 7th of 14, 9l behind Khawlah (8-3) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f 3yo Grp 2 (1) in Mar.
Casual Glimpse 15-2 (8-12) Held up, ridden 3f , weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 4l behind Rerouted (8-12) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Sep.
Native Khan (FR) 17-2 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Casamento (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Yahafedh Alaih 7-1 (8-9) Settled in rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Musawama (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Yaseer (IRE) 4-6fav (9-3) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, kept on well, won at Kempton 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec beating Energizing (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.