Salisbury preview: Scrutinise can complete hat-track

Scrutinise is on a serious upward curve at present and can defy a further rise in the weights to land the 1m 6f handicap on today’s card at Salisbury (17.20).

The Ed Dunlop trained gelding has won three of his last five starts, and comes into the contest on the back of two impressive successes.

In the first of those at Thirsk, Scrutinise came from off the pace before showing a smart turn of foot to shoot clear at the furlong marker and score by 2 1/2 lengths off a mark of 81.

The three-year-old got put up to 87 for that victory, but has little difficulty overcoming the rise when landing a competitive class 2 contest at Goodwood.

Scrutinise got denied a clear run two from home, but soon recovered and quickened between horses in the final 100 yards to score by 1/2 a length.

The son of Intense Focus was value for much moire than the winning margin, and a further 4lb rise in the weights looks on the lenient side.

Scrutinise also shapes as if the step up to 1m 6f will suit, and now drops down into class 3 company.

In the 6f conditions’s stakes (16.20), Mobsta can build on a promising reappearance run to land the spoils.

The Mick Channon trained colt showed plenty of ability in two starts as a juvenile, finishing runner-up on debut before easily landing a 6f maiden at Doncaster on soft ground by 3 1/4 lengths.

Mobsta was the on the sidelines for 316 days, but shaped as though he retained all his ability when third over 5f at Beverley last month.

The son of Bushranger showed plenty of pace to chase the leaders before keeping on under tender handling to be beaten just over six lengths by Green Door.