Beverley is a track I have always enjoyed visiting - and also had some good fortune at over the years. The fare is nothing too special on the Westwood on Wednesday, but I'm still looking forward to the action.
This filly has never before run at this 0-60 level so even with 10st on her back may have a class advantage. She won a maiden at Thirsk last April and generally ran consistently well over the summer, finishing a good third in 0-75 and 0-85 handicaps in July.
She reappeared at Newcastle earlier this month and ran very much like a filly who needed the run and may well improve for that in typical Michael Dods fashion. She is well drawn in stall three and has one of the best apprentices in Aidan Keeley on board.
The booking of Tom Marquand takes the eye for this five-year-old, who has been running himself into form over this spring after a disappointing trio of runs over hurdles. Things didn’t go well when he lost his action at Yarmouth but he was then dropped a couple of pounds and ran very well last time when runner-up on heavy ground at Nottingham.
He ratcheted up 19lb in the weights last season when winning three times last season and finished off in much higher grade races than this. Despite slipping back 8lb in the handicap since his peak, he is still 8lb higher than his latest win and that may put some off. But judged on last time he may have found his level again and Marquand may be the difference.
I am hoping this completes a good day for Marquand, who rides top-weight Yakhabar for the first time. Trainer Liam Bailey is certainly throwing the kitchen sink at this one, changing the headgear again as well as making another eyecatching jockey booking.
The handicapper is playing ball by dropping him for each run and the stiff uphill finish at Beverley may help him, especially if this is run at a decent pace. He at one stage was quite highly regarded at Sir Michael Stoute’s and if the blinkers do sharpen him up a little he might well be good enough here.