Native in hunt for weekend return

Native Khan, a late defector from the Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, has options at Sandown and the Curragh this weekend.

Ed Dunlop’s Azamour colt created a favourable impression when winning his maiden at Headquarters but rain scuppered his chances in Berkshire.

Dunlop is now eyeing the Alexis Catchpole Celebration Solario Stakes at Sandown or a trip to Ireland for the Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

“We had Native Khan in the Acomb at York, but he had travelled down to Newbury and back on Saturday, so it would have been too big an ask,” said Dunlop.

“We will monitor the weather during the week, but there is a good chance that he will run at Sandown if ground conditions do not deteriorate.

“We were very pleased with his debut win at Newmarket’s July meeting.

“Kieren (Fallon) liked him a lot, but this would be a jump up in class,” the Newmarket handler told www.edunlop.com.