We cast our eye over Thursday’s feature race of the day and give our Beverley Bullet tips with a runner-by-runner guide.
The feature race of the day on Thursday comes from Beverley where the latest renewal of the Listed Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes heads to post at 3.30pm as the sixth race of a quality racecard at the Yorkshire venue.
Beverley’s most valuable race, the fast and furious five furlongs trip has been won by some top names during the years since its’ inception in 2004 with the likes of Judicial, dual-winner Take Cover, Alpha Delphini and Maarek all recent winners so the race has a solid pedigree.
The 202 renewal will see nine runners going to post for the race which carries a £17,000 first prize to the winner and we’ve taken a runner-by-runner look over the big-race field to give our Beverley Bullet tips on Thursday.
BEVERLEY BULLET TIPS – RUNNER-BY-RUNNER GUIDE
ALPHA DELFINI
Won this in 2017, beating Line Of Reason by a neck and followed up at Musselburgh. Bryan Smart’s charge continued to run well in the 2018 season, often making the frame and getting back on the scoresheet with a surprise Group One success in that season’s Nunthorpe Stakes although he disappointed subsequently in the Prix de L’Abbaye won by Mabs Cross.
The Captain Gerrard gelding ran only once in 2019, finishing runner-up to Battaash in the Temple Stakes and the veteran made a decent fist of things on his latest return at York despite beating only one home.
Entitled to have needed that after more than a year old he’ll be sharper for the run and can do better and versatile with regards to ground he can cope with these conditions. Not discounted and 3-4 over course and distance he’s expected to give a good account although whether he’s as good as he was remains open to question.
CASPIAN PRINCE
Non-runner
DAKOTA GOLD
Developed into a hugely progressive sprinter last term, winning five times in all which included a competitive Great St Wilfred Handicap at Ripon and two Listed wins as well as finding himself in the frame in a Group Three contest.
Michael Dods’ Equiano gelding has taken a couple of runs this term to find his stride and has yet to get off the mark for the season. However there were better signs when only two lengths adrift of Staxton in the recent Great St Wilfred Handicap where he finished seventh and he can continue to build on that better run.
Effective on soft ground and eased another 1lb in the weights he could continue his journey back to his best and no surprise to see him in the mix.
Beverley Bullet tips. Can Dakota Gold get back to winning ways?
MAJOR JUMBO
Largely consistent and capable sprinter but doesn’t find the winners’ enclosure too often although he’s usually in the mix.
Last win for the Equiano gelding came at Chester last August when beating Rock On Baileys in a Listed contest and he’s filled the frame on three of his four outings this term, latterly finding only Judicial too strong back on the Roodeye earlier in the month.
Kevin Ryan’s Zebedee gelding gets further than this five furlongs and is a winner over further as well in similar conditions to these so he can go well.
His latest wins though have come over six furlongs and he’ll likely want a strong pace in these conditions to be seen at his best although blinkers could help focus him after racing a bit too keenly last time out.
MAKANAH
Looked steadily progressive last term, winning twice and running with credit in defeat which included finishing a creditable seventh in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster and he filled the same spot in the subsequent Catterick Dash.
Julie Camacho’s charge made a winning return from a break and lockdown to score over Copper Knight at Newmarket in June, following up with creditable runs in defeat at York and Haydock where he was only a neck adrift of Mountain Peak when crossing the line in second.
This is a tougher test of the Mayson gelding’s credentials as he takes a rise in class, but he remains a progressive sort who could have more to give and he’s worth a crack at this bigger prize. However, his best form seems to be on a better surface than this and so he may not be suited by the ground on this occasion.
TARBOOSH
Smart sprinter on his day but reliability perhaps not his strongest suit and his form this term has been patchy.
Paul Midgley’s charge is a two-time course and distance winner and he finished off last season in good form, taking a conditions event here in September and then bouncing back from a narrow defeat at Leicester to strike in soft ground at Musselburgh where he beat Copper Knight.
The Bahamian Bounty gelding made a solid return when denied only a half-length behind El Astronaute in a Listed contest at Doncaster and he’s made the frame in two of his next four starts latterly finishing third to Acclaim The Nation at York during last week’s Ebor Festival.
He has to be respected here given he acts well on the ground, has won here previously and he can operate from the plum number one stall. Also, with the likelihood of a decent pace to aim at he can go close here if this doesn’t come too soon after his most recent run.
Tarboosh carries our Beverley Bullet tips selection and Paul Midgley’s charge can go close.
FOOL FOR YOU
Fair sort at her best, winning at Newcastle last June and performing satisfactorily in subsequent outings where she ran better than her bare figures suggest.
Richard Fahey’s charge however hasn’t been seen at her best in two starts this season, latterly beating only one home behind Caspian Prince at Newcastle and she’s been given a break.
Soft ground is a worry for the Lawman mare who has a bit to do on the evidence of her runs to date this term although even the pick of her efforts last term would suggest she’s not up to this level and she looks set to struggle to get competitive.
LAST EMPIRE
Placed on her sole start as a juvenile, David O’Meara’s lightly-raced sort progressed well last term to win her first three outings which included in heavy ground at Haydock with an impressive defeat of Fantasy Keeper on her handicap debut.
The Pivotal filly then finished a close fourth on better ground at Ayr in Listed company before struggling at Newmarket in the Boadicea Stakes and her two starts this term haven’t set the heather alight although she may have had an excuse last time when finishing seventh at York behind Queen Jo Jo in a Group Three contest.
She possibly did too much there, hanging left and fading; but she ought to be suited by the drop in trip and proven effectiveness on this ground is a plus back in more testing conditions. On her form to date she has a bit to find but every chance she could still have some improvement to come and she could prove a lively each-way player.
QUEENS GIFT
Enjoyed a productive season last term, winning twice and finding only Judicial too good in this race twelve months ago.
Michael Dods’ charge subsequently chased home Equilateral at Doncaster, going down by only a head in the Listes Scarborough Stakes and she’s been working her way back to form this campaign with a trio of decent runs.
The Canford Cliffs mare has finished fifth on each occasion, latterly beaten just over two lengths by Queen Jo Jo at York and she can continue to build on that recent performance which was a step in the right direction.
Others may just have her measure here however with stronger form in the book, while she disappointed on her last start in ground this soft.
Trainer Michael Dods saddles Queen’s Gift in Thursday’s Beverley Bullet.
KEEP BUSY
Rounded off last term with a Listed win in heavy ground in France and was better for her return to action when chasing home Lazuli in a Listed race at Sandown in June.
John Quinn’s charge has ran four times since that runner-up effort where she has made the frame in three of the four which includes a defeat of El Astronaute at Hamilton and she lost no caste in defeat when touched off by a half-length behind Lady In France when last seen out last week at York.
She did well there given she was slow to get into stride from the gates and she could still be improving given her relatively lightly-raced profile. Five furlongs and soft ground are no problem and from stall two the Night Of Thunder filly looks to hold solid claims at the foot of the weights.
VERDICT
Wide-open renewal and several in with solid claims of taking this Listed prize. But, given his track position and the likelihood of a decent pace to aim at TARBOOSH gets a narrow vote to come out on top assuming things go his way.
Paul Midgley’s sprinter is a very capable sort who acts well in the conditions and while not the most consistent he did run well in defeat on better ground at York last week. Softer ground here and five furlongs off a strong pace ought to see him in a good light and he can post a big run from the plum draw. He carries our Beverley Bullet tips selection to come out on top in a competitive contest.