Horse Racing: Dubai Hills has eyes set on success at Southwell
The five-year-old managed one win in 12 turf starts but his strike-rate on the all-weather is vastly superior, with two victories in three outings to his credit. After finishing a close-up third on his initial start last November, Dubai Hills made short work of his rivals next time, triumphing by 13 lengths in a respectable time for a slow track.
Raised 10lb for that effort, Dubai Hills shrugged off the extra burden with another wide-margin verdict just five days ago.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Dubai Destination gelding has an eight-length cushion that day but could easily have pulled much further clear had he wanted to. Bryan Smart turns him out again quickly under a 6lb penalty here but that extra weight should not derail Dubai Hills' hat-trick bid.
Shostakovich can reverse recent form with Even Stevens in the Play Golf Before Racing At Southwell Handicap.
Just a head separated the pair on New Year's Day when Even Stevens enjoyed a 6lb pull. That advantage is halved this time, though, and Sylvester Kirk's charge can avenge his defeat.
Holyrood is worth a small wager in the southwell-racecourse.co.uk Selling Stakes. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute in his early days, a switch to Ireland yielded little success before Tim Vaughan picked him up as a hurdling prospect.
His jumps career does not seem to be working out all that well, though, as although he has run a couple of decent races, they have been interspersed by some lacklustre efforts. Holyrood will be having his first try on the Fibresand and there is a little encouragement to be taken from the fact that he ran a fair race on his only all-weather try at Dundalk last year.