Mothecombe makes no mistake in Lord North Handicap

Improving four-year-old Mothecombe readily accounted for a field of seasoned opposition with a decisive success in the Lord North Handicap at Meydan, UAE, on Friday, 9 January.

The Ghaiyyath four-year-old had flashed home to take third after a slow start on his Dubai debut in December but broke sharply this time and soon tracked the leading duo of Flight Plan and Native American down the inner rail.

Flight Plan drifted out entering the straight, allowing Richard Mullen to quicken up his inside on Mothecombe, with the Charlie Appleby-trained runner swooping into the lead over a furlong and a half out.

Mothecombe found plenty in front, despite wandering towards the centre of the course, crossing the line a length and a quarter clear of Fort George.

Richard Mullen said: “Maurizio Pasquale rides Mothecombe out and has done a good job because I think he was pretty difficult to begin with. Maurizio suggested the other week to take the hood off and Billy [Loughnane] was of the same opinion last time out.

“Mothecombe is a typical Ghaiyyath – they are late developers – and he is a big, raw horse who is still learning on the job. The key today was that there was a nice pace to run at, which brings him into his own. He will probably get a mile and a half once everything clicks and he learns to race the right way.”