Beverley stages a highly competitive sprint on Saturday with the £23,000 Beverley Bullet Stakes over five furlongs. The Yorkshire track has a reputation for having the biggest draw bias in the country in sprint races, surprisingly even more pronounced than that of Chester. It is believed that stalls 1-3 have a definite advantage and high numbers only come into the reckoning on soft ground.
Although there is rain around, the latest information I have is that the going is good to firm with watering. I cannot say that I bet at Beverley that often as I tend to favour betting on better quality animals but Saturday’s race has attracted some good class sprinters.
York Glory (drawn 4) won the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot and was not disgraced in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at the Ebor meeting. His racing style is to come through late off a fast pace and there doesn’t seem to be a difference between his performance over five or six furlongs. Jamie Spencer should be able to get a nice lead into the race and it is not surprising to see him put up as favourite.
I was quite keen on Excelette who gave Jwala a good run for her money at York earlier this summer but I am concerned about her draw in stall 12. Her stable companion Tangerine Trees has kept good company this season and is a fast starter from stall six, although he has not been lasting home in recent outings.
Tangerine Trees won the Prix de L’Abbaye last season and also won on his last two visits to Beverley at odds of 10-1 and 33-1. He overcame stalls 8 and 9 to make all on each occasion so it would be no surprise to see him blazing the trail again here. Masamah is another fast starter but is drawn out in stall 11 with Ballista faring even worse in stall 13.
Caledonia Lady didn’t run too badly last time but also faces an uphill task from 15 and Stepper Point at least has every chance from stall 2. However, he needed plenty of encouragement to win a 7-runner conditions event at Nottingham last time. Tangerine Trees could well be the best option at around 9-1.
Mark Johnston’s Windhoek has been given some tough tasks recently and his followers will be starting to feel the pinch. He should be able to get back on the winning trail in the 3.40 race at the expense of Her Majesty’s Circus Turn. Joe Fanning is in great form at the moment and will hopefully take no prisoners here.
The best bet of the day could Sound of Summer in the maiden at 4.50. The Charlie Hills-trained filly ran a fair fourth on her debut at Newbury under a considerate ride from Johnny Murtagh and this could be a stepping stone to better things.
Tangerine Trees 9-1 William Hill
Windhoek 15-8 Ladbrokes
Sound of Summer 6-5 Betfair
