Features / Timeform / 14 July 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Timeform look back on a maiden with a strong tradition.

"El Muqbil is a half-brother to the same stable's very smart juvenile Arcano (Prix Morny winner), and this was a highly promising debut"

A maiden that has often been won by subsequent Group winners in recent years, and it's undoubtedly a race to keep an eye on once again. The field was made up mostly of expensively-bought debutants from leading stables, and Native Khan was impressive in disposing of a Godolphin pair with previous experience. Numerous others made encouraging debuts, with the promise of plenty of improvement to come....

Native Khan's potential is substantial after such an impressive start. He was admittedly well prepared for this debut, but caught the eye all the way with how he travelled, settling matters in strides once his jockey got serious. He powered clear before being eased, and it's all the more encouraging that he's a first juvenile winner for his yard in 2010. Bigger things await him, and he will probably be stepped up to Group company next.

Both Baransky and Bowermaster had the benefit of a previous run, but may still be worth following given the likelihood that this maiden form will prove strong. Baransky was still slightly green under pressure.

El Muqbil is a half-brother to the same stable's very smart juvenile Arcano (Prix Morny winner), and this was a highly promising debut. He lost his position through greenness mid-race, but was coming back in the last two furlongs without being knocked about. He ought to make above-average progress next time, and should therefore win a maiden without much trouble, before going on to better things.

Major Art was learning throughout the race, racing freely after being dropped out in the early stages before making gradual headway under hand riding. This was a promising debut, and he should improve significantly for it.

Yair Hill came with a recommendation by starting in the same race won by his stablemate Elusive Pimpernel a year earlier but, despite market support, he was too green to express himself, hanging as he passed a few after halfway. He will improve for the experience, and is a big colt and on the weak side at present, so should improve with time. He is also from a family that improves with age.

Bloodsweatandtears' starting price suggests he's well regarded, and he'll reveal more with this run behind him. He was green in the preliminaries and during the race, doing well to get as close as he did having been hampered just as the penny was dropping. He should improve significantly.

Flodden needed the experience most of all, having been driven and detached through the first half of the race. He finished well as he learned his job, and he may well improve a lot next time. He'll stay a mile and has filling out to do.

Both Pisco sour and Enabling (particularly the former) ran encouragingly given that they were green, and both will improve for their debuts.

Tags: EBF Maiden, Native Khan, Newmarket July, Timeform