chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 1f out
slowly into stride, in rear, never a factor
in rear, never a factor
slowly into stride, soon outpaced
led, clear halfway, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no chance with winner
broke well, went left start, steadied to mid-division, switched left 2f out, smooth headway to lead inside final furlong, won hard held
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
hampered start, in rear, never a factor
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 1f out
chased leaders, ridden halfway, stayed on towards finish
Conor Dore's Grudge won a claimer well over course and distance last month and has to be considered back in a handicap but a 3lb rise for his latest success makes this tougher and it may be worth siding with the David Nicholls-trained HITCHES DUBAI, who gets the vote over stable companion Guest Connections. The last mentioned, like his stablemate, makes his seasonal reappearance today but David Nicholls has his string in good form and the son of Zafonic has to be respected on his return to action but will need to go better than when last seen in October. Mel Brittain's Lujiana is at the right end of the weights but she has disappointed in her last couple of starts and may struggle again, while Spic 'n Span had little chance behind the in-form Where's Reiley last time but seems a shade high in the weights at present. Bookiesindex Boy is closely matched with Spic 'n Span on running behind Where's Reiley and is another to consider but preference is for the reappearing Hitches Dubai. The five-year-old is the least exposed of the field after just four runs and, with David Nicholls having his team in good form, lack of a recent run for the gelding should not be a concern and he can make a winning debut on the Fibresand.
Grudge 11-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, hung left under pressure inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Southwell 5f clm stks (6) fbs in Feb beating Total Impact (9-4) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Thoughtsofstardom 20-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 7l behind Raimond Ridge (8-10) at Lingfield 5f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Figaro Flyer (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, ridden 2f out, staying on when short of room inside final furlong switched right, kept on, 5th of 10, 3l behind Raimond Ridge (8-10) at Lingfield 5f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Hitches Dubai (BRZ) 7-2fav (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 9l behind Imperial Sword (9-7) at Ayr 6f all hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.
Tournedos (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Fly jumped start, slowly into stride, in rear, switched right over 1f out, staying on when short of room just inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Monte Major (8-12) at Wolverhampton 5f sell stks (6) pol.
Spic 'n Span 7-2 (8-8) Led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Where's Reiley (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Bookiesindex Boy 5-1 (9-3) Mid-division, weakened well over 1f out, 9th of 11, 10l behind Steel City Boy (8-10) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Pennyspider (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) Steadied start, held up, headway under pressure over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 7, 7l behind Misaro (8-7) at Wolverhampton 5f clm stks (6) pol.
Guest Connections 14-1 (8-9) Behind and out-paced, tailed off 2f out, last of 15, 25l behind Select Committee (8-11) at Redcar 5f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Oct.
Style Award 20-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure to chase leading pair well inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Sherjawy (8-6) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Lujiana 4-1fav (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, chased leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Southwell 5f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs beating First Order (8-11) by nk, 13 ran.
