First Eleven
First Eleven was impressive in winning the 1m 4f handicap. He was keener than ideal through the early stages of the race, and he was wider than ideal throughout, but he travelled well into the home straight, and he picked up nicely at the 2f marker. Ghostwatch also picked up well on the far side, and the Godolphin horse is a talented individual. He had won the Melrose Handicap on his previous run, and he had enjoyed a smooth and energy-saving run through the race. But First Eleven still proved to be too strong for him. John Gosden's colt powered into the lead and stayed on strongly all the way to the line to win in a good time. The first three home are talented and progressive and they pulled nicely clear of the rest of the field.
First Eleven looked unlucky when he finished a close-up third behind Baghdad and Corgi in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, and he wasn't at his best in the Bahrain Trophy next time at Newmarket, but he put it all together here and probably put up a career-best. It was just his eighth run ever, and he has scope to progress further. He stays this 1m 4f well and he has form on easy ground as well as this fast ground, so he has lots of options for the remainder of the season. He could be a horse for the November Handicap, and he should be able to take the step up into Pattern class in time.
Ascot, 8th September 2018
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