Handsome grey Make Me King trots up to give Hamad Al-Jehani his first UK winner

In the end, it was all very straightforward. From his compact Newmarket stable of just five horses, leading Qatari trainer Hamad Al-Jehani has sent out an agonisingly close short-head runner-up at Epsom on Derby Day and the second-placegetter in the ferociously competitive Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. But, at Newcastle on Pitman’s Derby Day, things went very smoothly indeed for his charge Make Me King, who had little trouble giving the trainer his first UK winner.

In the £50,000 Pertemps Handicap over the straight 7f, the handsome dappled grey son of Dark Angel tanked in behind under jockey James Doyle before making smooth progress for a near three-length success. Interviewed for ITV Racing, Al-Jehani, who trains exclusively for Wathnan Racing in the UK, praised racing manager Ali Al Kubaisi for his support, and his whole team for their efforts.