SOUTHWELL 14:20

All 8 ran.

Time: 1m 41.9s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.5s (101.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 121%, Betfair SP 101.6%

A handicap that went the way the betting suggested, the odds-on favourite scoring in authoratitive fashion from a couple who are averagely weighted but go well on fibresand; the gallop was sound.

MITHQAAL (USA) strong in the betting, fully confirmed the improvement shown last time to make it 2 wins from 2 on fibresand, as expected proving well suited by the step back up in trip, and again doing this with more in hand than the bare margin suggests; close up, travelled strongly, went on 3f out, kept on well, just pushed out final 1f; will continue to take all the beating if found further opportunities around here.

SHOWBOATING (IRE) claimer ridden, went without the headgear this time back up in trip and ran better than for a while; raced off the pace, shuffled back to last before halfway, kept on well straight, never nearer; on lengthy losing run and still 5 lb higher in weights than for latest success, though, so will probably remain vulnerable.

VIVAT REX (IRE) on first outing since leaving J. J. Feane, faced a stiff task under a penalty back in handicap company and ran well, looking second best for a long way until the effort of trying to make a race of it with Mithqaal told late in the day; dwelt, mid-field, headway around halfway, effort 3f out, no extra final 1f; clearly well suited by fibresand and not one to write off around here.

BOOTS AND SPURS whose stable is struggling, was back up in trip but again ran below form; prominent, labouring halfway, plugged on.

BRIARDALE (IRE) making fibresand debut, underperformed; patiently ridden, ridden 3f out, one paced; type to bounce back quickly, especially if returned to Newcastle.

CAPTAIN REVELATION back up in trip, lost unbeaten record over this C&D and looks to have gone off the boil, the refitting of headgear probably just a side issue on the day; mid-field, went with little fluency, beaten halfway.

RESTIVE (IRE) back in headgear, down in trip, fared no better than on debut for this yard; made running, headed 3f out, weakened; now has something to prove.

FORT JEFFERSON easy to back making fibresand debut, has presumably had his problems since a good spell in the summer and was well held after 6 months off; mid-field, pushed along around halfway, soon beaten.