Twiston-Davies’ 5lb claim can see Space Artist past improving Miako

The big race of the day on the Southwell sand looks an intriguing affair, with the two last time out winners and a third poised on a hat-trick after sequential late 2012 victories.

Miako recorded the first win of his short career over this course and distance last time. Significantly it was his first run on Southwell’s Fibresand surface having raced eight times previously on Polytrack and his sire’s record at the track – three wins from five runs by his progeny – indicated that such an improvement was likely.

The three-year-old put five lengths between himself and his foes in a matter of seconds to further swell trainer Michael Appleby’s superb record at Southwell this season, presently standing at nine winners from 22 entrants.

There may well be more improvement to come here, but the Handicapper has loaded him with a 10lb rise in the weights for that success.

Fellow last-time-out-scorer Girl In The Sands took her record to two from three at Southwell when seeing off the 75-rated La Sylphe over course and distance and looks more forgivingly weighted if that run has got her back in the winning mood.

Having won off a mark of 71 over the basement trip at Ripon last year the Girl will effectively run off a rating of just 63 thanks to her jockey’s 7lb claim.

Space Artist could just see off the pair of them if taking to the unique demands of the Southwell terrain. A handicap winner off a mark of 75 on his last outing, he’ll break from the stalls effectively  4lbs lower in the handicap thanks to the claim of his improving jockey Willie Twiston Davies.

By Captain Marvellous, his sire has proven an excellent producer of all-weather horses with 8 winners from 21 performers, but just one of those has competed at Southwell – Lilac Lace bagging a win and a third from two runs.