soon led, headed after 4f out and pushed, dropped to rear and beaten 2f out
in rear, pushed after 3f out, closing when ridden after 2f out, hit front inside final furlong, readily
midfield, smooth headway before pushed approaching 2f out, ridden behind leaders approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
slightly worse than midfield, pushed before 3f out, never threatened but stayed on same pace
towards rear, smooth headway before pushed after 2f out, every chance when ridden entering final furlong, unable to quicken but kept on one pace
close-up, lost ground before pushed after 3f out, beaten from 2f out
close-up, pushed 3f out, weakening when short of room before 2f out, beaten when ridden 2f out
prominent, led after 4f out, pushed 2f out, ridden before final furlong, headed inside final furlong, kept on well behind comfortable winner
Khilwafy, who started out in bumpers, hasn't run since landing a track and trip maiden a year ago when he had Percy Willis six lengths back in third. The latter was beaten just over two lengths by Cherokee Dance at Wolverhampton on Saturday and Ian Williams' filly then went to Kempton for a similar-class race to this on Sunday and ran well under her penalty. She'll be having her third race in five days here but is probably still well handicapped, despite the extra. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR has finished runner-up in four of his last five starts including at a higher level. He was having his first start for new connections at Wolverhampton last time and is taken to go one better. Ashington's last run came in June when landing a novices' chase at Sedgefield.
Ashington 3-1 (10-12) Led, slowed into 1st, not fluent 4 out, headed before 2 out, rallied last, led again flat, stayed on, won at Hexham 2m 4f (4) gd in Jun beating Seven De Baune (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Onesmoothoperator (USA) 7-4 (9-4) Slow into stride, raced wide, soon tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Crimson King (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Culture (FR) 33-1 (9-4) In touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Crimson King (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Khilwafy 7-2 (9-9) Mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders and hung left over 2f out, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead and hung left over 1f out, stayed on, won at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec beating Murau (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Soaring Star (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced at 2f, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, last of 5, 1 1/2l behind Jomont (9-8) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Kentucky Kingdom (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) In rear, headway 3f out, pushed along before 2f out in fourth, one pace thereafter, 4th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Carausius (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Rainbow Jet (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Raced wide towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 7 1/2l behind The Nu Form Way (8-9) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Cherokee Dance (USA) 5-2 (8-9) Chased leader until 3f out, went 2nd again inside final furlong, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Pretty Sweet (9-9) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp fll (4) pol in Dec.
