Halford sweet on Dibayani Michael Halford believes he has found a good opportunity for Dibayani to open his Listed account in the King George V Cup at Leopardstown on Friday. The Aga Khan-owned colt has run some sound races in defeat since winning a Curragh maiden last summer behind the likes of smart sorts in Battle Of Marengo, First Cornerstone and Fort Knox. And he was far from disgraced when second to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Leading Light at Navan a month ago. "He's in good form and it looks a good race for him. I think he will handle the quick ground and I don't have any worries about him at the trip," said Halford. "It was a mile and a quarter on a stiff track (Navan) the last day. The form of that worked out well. "The winner (Leading Light) has gone and won the Gallinule, so I'd say it was a good race. He's got good, solid form and it looks a nice race." Pat Smullen is looking forward to getting the leg-up on the promising Resolute Response, whose only two starts came within a fortnight last month. The Dermot Weld-trained colt stepped up on his Debut third at Tipperary to land a mile-and-a-quarter maiden at Naas. "He won his maiden well in Naas and it's time to step him up in class and see how he handles it," said Smullen. "He has to progress from his last run, but hopefully he will, and I don't expect the conditions to inconvenience him." Fighter Squadron was fourth to Leading Light in the Gallinule and his trainer David Wachman is hoping for a good run. "He's in good form, he'll like the ground and I'm happy with him. He ran well the last day," said the County Tipperary handler, who also saddles the hat-trick-seeking Seussical. "He won his last start and he's ready to step up in grade." Pat Shanahan is giving Hold The Line the chance to see if he is up to this standard after finishing a decent fourth behind seasoned campaigners in a 20-runner handicap at the Curragh two weeks ago. "He's stepping up a bit in class. The handicapper got him the last day," said the County Kilkenny trainer. "This race should tell us where we are going with him. He's an improving horse and this will tell us how far he's come."
