raced wide in touch, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, led over 1f, kept up to work inside final furlong
with leader until 3f out, soon weakened
tracked leading pair, ridden and weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, ridden halfway, went 3rd under pressure over 1f out, kept on
mid-division, outpaced 4f out, kept on under pressure over 1f out
in rear,ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on to go 4th inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, never a factor
in touch, hung right from halfway, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on same pace
slowly into stride, soon pushed along in rear
slowly into stride, soon driven along in rear
Nonrunner
A typically tight handicap for the venue in which SCRUFFY SKIP offers a decent level of consistent form not normally found in this grade and he gets the call ahead of Louisade while Piper's Piping could be value for the places. Having recorded his second win over course and distance last time out the selection is in a rich vain of form. He wasn't stopping in that run and we surmise he showed enough to suggest he'll overcome a 6lbs penalty. Louisade is a four time course and distance winner but is on a long losing streak. That said this is his easiest assignment for a while and he ran well from this mark the last time he was on the Fibresand. Pipers Piping does act on this surface and on the pick of his form he looks well-weighted while Crocodile Bay could get into the places off this mark but has plenty of form to overturn on the pick. The more we look at this race the more we like Scruffy Skip for the win.
Scruffy Skip (IRE) 7-2fav (9-3) Chased leaders, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs beating Tenancy (8-4) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Pipers Piping (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon headed, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 9, 8l behind Imperial Djay (9-1) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Spoof Master (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Led until over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Mayoman (8-11) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Fortezza 12-1 (8-10) Slowly away, in rear, headway 2f out, staying on inside final furlong when not much room towards finish, 4th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Secret City (8-10) at Nottingham 6f app hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Kingaroo (IRE) 12-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 5f out, 12th of 13, 19l behind Portrush Storm (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Apr.
Louisiade (IRE) 4-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders on outer, ridden over 1f out, faded entering final furlong, 7th of 10, 12l behind Dhhamaan (8-6) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Tenancy (IRE) 40-1 (8-4) Led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Scruffy Skip (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Union Jack Jackson (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Mid-divion, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 13, 31l behind Bold Diva (8-10) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-52 (6) fbs in Mar.
Sparky Vixen 50-1 (8-6) In touch, ridden and headway to chase leading pair over 1f out until inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 12, 4l behind Scruffy Skip (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Easy Wonder (GER) 50-1 (8-0) Behind, ridden and outpaced 3f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 9, 4l behind Rough Rock (8-11) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Hilltop Legacy 16-1 (8-4) Held up in mid-division, hung left halfway, soon beaten and eased, last of 8, 24l behind Aviso (9-4) at Yarmouth 7f hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Apr.
Crocodile Bay (IRE) 5-1 (8-12) In touch on outside, ridden and effort over 1f out, lost place over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 12, 9l behind Scruffy Skip (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
