A Grand Day Out in East Yorkshire

My dad used to say that Beverley on a warm August afternoon was one of life's simple pleasures. A flask of tea, a Racing Post folded under the arm, and the Westwood in the background — what more could you want? I've never quite argued with him on that one. Beverley has a charm all of its own, and today's seven-race card looks a cracker, with racing getting underway at 14:05 and the last off at 17:30.

The going is Good, Good to Soft in places, which is about as fair a surface as you'll find at this time of year. We've had a mixed August weather-wise, and that hint of ease in the ground is worth keeping in mind — particularly over the shorter trips where horses who handle cut tend to come into their own. It's not a bog, but it's not a rattling fast surface either. The honest middle ground suits a good honest racehorse, and there are plenty of those on the Beverley racecard today.

The Feature Race: David Allen IT Solutions Handicap (16:20, 6f 195y, Class 4)

With a prize fund of £10,500, the 16:20 handicap over six furlongs and 195 yards is the race of the day in terms of prize money, and with twelve runners it looks a proper competitive affair. This trip at Beverley is a fascinating one — that uphill finish really sorts out the stayers from the sprinters, and on ground with a bit of give, you want something with a good, honest action rather than a horse who needs the top of the ground to show its best.

The field is littered with horses carrying the [D] course and distance marker, which tells you this track suits a lot of them. Count Palatine (Michael Dods, Sean Kirrane) stands out immediately — he carries both the [C] and [D] flags, meaning he's won at Beverley and over this exact course and distance. On ground with a touch of ease, that experience counts for plenty. Dods knows this track inside out and Count Palatine looks the one to beat.

King of Fury, also from the Dods yard, is another course and distance winner and rates as a lively each-way option at a likely bigger price. Two from the same yard over the same trip — you'd imagine connections know exactly what they're doing here.

Keep an eye on Lord Bertie for David O'Meara too. Another [D] horse, he's been around the block and knows his job. O'Meara's horses often run well fresh or when dropped slightly in class, and at 78 rated he's competitive off this mark.

Key Runners to Watch Across the Card

Guadalevin — 14:05 Fillies' Novice Stakes

The opener is a fillies' novice for two-year-olds over just shy of six furlongs, and with most of the field unrated, Guadalevin (Charlie Fellowes, Paddy Bradley) stands apart on a rating of 82. That's a proper mark for a juvenile filly at this stage of the season, and Fellowes is a trainer who travels his horses with purpose — you don't box up and head to Beverley from Newmarket unless you mean business. Bradley has been in decent form and this looks like a good opportunity for the partnership. The Good to Soft ground shouldn't inconvenience a filly rated 82; she'll have been prepared for varying conditions.

Aleatrix — 14:38 Fillies' Novice Stakes (Class 3)

The second race steps up in class and distance — a mile and three furlongs on a turning track like Beverley is a proper test of stamina and temperament. Aleatrix (Ralph Beckett, Paul Mulrennan) is the one with the form in the book, rated 87, and Beckett's fillies over middle distances are always worth respecting. Mulrennan is a fine jockey around here and the combination of a classy trainer, a capable pilot and a rated horse in an otherwise wide-open field makes Aleatrix look a solid favourite.

Maximum Velocity — 16:55 Armstrong Watson Handicap (Class 6, 5f 182y, 3YO)

The 16:55 five-furlong dash for three-year-olds is a fun little race. Maximum Velocity (Nigel Tinkler, Alex Jary) heads the weights at 65 and Tinkler is a trainer who knows how to place a sprinter. Five furlongs on ground with a bit of cut can be a real leveller, and the top-rated horse in a Class 6 sprint is always worth shortlisting. Tinkler operates quietly but effectively, and this looks like a race set up nicely for his runner.

Between Me And U — 17:30 Knights Handicap (Class 5, 7f 173y)

The penultimate race of the day is a seven-furlong handicap and Between Me And U (Michael Herrington, David Allan) catches the eye as a course and distance winner [D]. David Allan is one of the most underrated jockeys on the northern circuit — he knows Beverley like the back of his hand and when he's on a horse with proven form over the course and distance, it's always worth a second look. The seven furlongs here is a proper test and a horse who's already won over it has answered the key question.

How the Going Plays Into Things

Good to Soft ground at Beverley in August is not unusual, and it's worth remembering that this course, sitting on the Westwood, can be a touch slower than the going stick suggests. The uphill finish in particular can feel like more of a slog when there's cut underfoot, so horses who stay well and have a good, fluent action tend to be favoured.

For the sprints — the 14:05, 16:55 and the six-furlong handicaps — look for horses who don't rely on fast ground to be at their best. Course and distance winners are especially valuable today because they've already proven they handle the track's quirks. In the longer races, stamina becomes even more of a premium, which bodes well for the likes of Aleatrix in the 14:38.

Sam James rides Diamond New Bay in the opener and Native Instinct in the 16:20 — he's a jockey who rides Beverley regularly and reads the track well. Similarly, Barry McHugh is aboard Ma Blushin Rosie in the first and Heathers Feather in the 16:55; he's another northern stalwart who knows what's required around here. Ryan Sexton takes the ride on Angelic Melody in the opener and Yellow Diamonds in the 16:55 — two rides for Julie Camacho, who is always worth following when she saddles runners at tracks she knows well.

Best Bets and Ones to Watch

To bring it all together, here's a quick summary for those of you who like things neat and tidy — much like my dad's Racing Post, annotated in blue biro from cover to cover:

  • Best Bet: Count Palatine (16:20) — Course and distance winner, proven handler of this track, strong trainer in Michael Dods. The one to beat.
  • Each-Way Pick: Guadalevin (14:05) — Rated 82 in an unrated field, travelling trainer with a purpose, Paddy Bradley in the saddle.
  • Each-Way Pick: Aleatrix (14:38) — Ralph Beckett filly, rated 87, Paul Mulrennan up. Looks the class act in a small field.
  • One to Watch: Between Me And U (17:30) — Course and distance winner with David Allan aboard. Proven over the trip, know the track, never dismiss.
  • Speculative Shout: King of Fury (16:20) — Another Dods course and distance winner in the feature. If Count Palatine is odds-on, King of Fury could be the each-way value.

It promises to be a lovely afternoon's racing in East Yorkshire. Whether you're heading to the track or watching from the sofa with a cup of something warm, I hope it's a profitable one. Good luck — and as my dad always said, back your fancy and enjoy the race. The rest takes care of itself.