SALISBURY 16:30

Non Runners: MEDBURN CUTLER, YORKIDDING, ALLUMAGE.

Time: 3m 6.06s Closing Sectional: (3.25f): 39.5s (108.6%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 120%, Betfair SP 103.2%

A useful handicap and reason to be positive about the principals, The Tartan Spartan very much going the right way as he got the better of one who is well treated on all-weather form while the third contested some strong 3-y-o handicaps last year; as usual over this C&D the race began with a tape start and there wasn't a lot of pace on, Mark Hopkins allowed to dictate.

THE TARTAN SPARTAN (IRE) confirmed the promise of his last run and is a stayer on the up, producing a smart effort to take this off top weight with a bit to spare; held up, good headway over 2f out, led inside final 100 yds, won going away and well on top finish; entitled to be looking at some of the top staying handicaps, but listed/minor pattern races could also be on his agenda again soon too.

SUNBLAZER (IRE) was well-treated on his all-weather form and ran as well as he ever has on turf returning from 4 months off, won't always bump into one like the winner in such contests; mid-field, travelled strongly, led over 1f out, headed inside final 100 yds.

PARIS PROTOCOL gelded since last seen, was strong in the betting and ran creditably after 8 months off for all he couldn't find any improvement for the longer trip; chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, plugged on.

PLYMOUTH SOUND in a change of headgear (visor replacing blinkers) and returning from 6 months off, is now on a career-low mark and ran well on form despite not convincing over the longer trip; slowly into stride (tape start), held up, not settle fully, headway 4f out, chased leaders 2f out, effort flattened out; may prove best at short of 1¾m and likely to be of interest with this under his belt, particularly back in a lesser grade.

COTTON CLUB (IRE) is justifiably lower on this surface than all-weather and wasn't disgraced after 11 weeks off; mid-field, pushed along 3f out, one paced.

GLARING out of sorts when last seen over hurdles, ran better than for a while from his declining mark, though without threatening in a race that wasn't truly run; held up, pushed along over 3f out, not quicken; remains to be seen if able to back this up.

MARK HOPKINS flopped on his only 2 runs in 2016 but probably needed the run after 11 months off; led, headed 2f out, weakened approaching final 1f; he'd need to show more to be backed with confidence, but interesting that his yard are persevering with him.

GREAT AND SMALL was well held after 7 months off, stopping as if something wasn't quite right; chased leader, pushed along over 3f out, lost place 2f out, eased off.