Horse Racing: Dubai Hills has eyes set on success at Southwell

Southwell's Fibresand surface has proved the making of Dubai Hills and he can continue his rapid ascent in the ratings with another victory at the Nottinghamshire venue.

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.

The 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.