tracked leader 9f out, led over 4f out, pressed from over 3f out, ridden 3f out, driven inside final furlong, gained upper hand towards finish
soon pushed along in rear, never a factor
raced wide in touch, ridden to chase winner over 4f out, driven to press winner over 3f out, no extra towards finish
led, ridden 5f out soon headed, lost place over 3f out
tracked leader until 9f out, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
This trip is probably a bare minimum for DUNASKIN but he should get away with it and gets the vote ahead of Dr Valentine and Desert Destiny. Our selection had gone a long time without winning before knuckling down to get the job done last time. That victory was in a similar race over a furlong further, with Dream In Blue (runs in the 14:40) back in second. A positive ride seemed to do the trick and with Barry McHugh once again in the plate similar tactics look set to be adopted and the veteran can outstay these. Dr Valentine has leading claims at the weights but it's very questionable whether he's up to a mark of 74. That said, he's not had much racing so if he comes on for a modest fifth last time there could be a big run in store, although he has to prove he can go on this surface. Similar comments apply to Desert Destiny who makes his course debut. He's been off the track since July but has no stamina concerns and could plug on for a place if Dunaskin does set testing fractions out in front. Magnitude arrives here fit and won a similar contest two starts ago, however his best form has come at other venues and we're far from convinced he's capable of showing the form required to win on Fibresand. Reigning Rio has won here, albeit over a mile, but her form lately has been decidedly moderate and this doesn't look much easier. Dunaskin is a reliable sort in this sort of company and can go in again now his confidence has been restored.
Dunaskin (IRE) 8-15fav (8-11) Made all, clear with 2nd from over 3f out, pressed from 2f out, ridden and stayed on gamely, won at Southwell 1m 4f sell stks (6) fbs in Feb beating Dream In Blue (9-5) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Desert Destiny 9-2 (8-11) Tracked leader to halfway, outpaced over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 25l behind Wee Charlie Castle (9-7) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jul.
Magnitude 15-8 (8-11) Chased leader, every chance well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Sedgwick (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f clm stks (5) pol in Feb.
Surdoue 50-1 (8-7) Keen and led, headed 8f out, tracked leader after, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 35l behind Bivouac (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb.
Dr Valentine (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Awkward leaving stalls, nearly unshiped rider, in rear, rapid headway to join leaders over 4f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 5, 9l behind Power Series (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn auc stks (5) pol.
Reigning In Rio (IRE) 33-1 (8-1) Pushed along in last place, never a factor, 9th of 13, 24l behind Bivouac (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Feb.
