Luvverly Beverley

Good morning all,

Leicester for me today (where there's one I'm watching, more on that on the main piece) but for today, my weekend adventures at Beverley are on the main piece.

Plus one from Stratford that should go close at a price. 

Saturday saw me working at Beverley, not a track I visit very often but it’s usually an enjoyable experience when I do.

Sadly the journey up proved more taxing than usual, thanks to a crash on the M18 which caused a 30-minute delay. Thankfully, I’m the sort that likes to leave plenty of time for these eventualities and despite that, we (that’s Joe and I, who I was meeting halfway) arrived almost bang on time.

The “on” at Beverley is one, if not the, worst in the country. By “on” I mean getting onto the track with all the gear. Some are easy – Southwell, for example, where, as long as you arrive two hours before the first, you can simply drive in and drop it all off. But then there’s the likes of Ascot, where bookmakers park in Car Park 6 and have an 800yd uphill stretch to the track. You’re knackered by the time you get in. But Beverley is something else – you park on the grass opposite the track, and if you can navigate the cowpats, sheep poo and rocky ground you’ve got a 400yd push to the ring.

As the sun burns down and we get all the gear in, I’m in need of a drink before we get set up. Joe and I go on the grass down in Lower Tatts along with another 10 books but there’s plenty of people coming in, and business should be decent.

Beverley is one of the more forward-thinking tracks in the country. They already have suncream dispensers in the toilets, which is a very good idea, and for the preview of the day (race times, non-runners and the like) they have someone doing it in sign language on the big screen. Another really good idea. This is how we encourage people to go racing.

However, what’s less entertaining is the Irish band they’ve got today. They are loud, play at the wrong times (straight after a race has finished, meaning you miss announcements and such) and I simply end up having to shout over them at customers. I hate that as it means I can’t give good service. Come back Squinty McGinty, all is forgiven….

Anyway, we get going and after two races, wish we hadn’t, as the two well backed second favourites win the first two. Carry On is withdrawn from race 2, which gives us the dreaded Saturday Rule 4 but the Beverley crowd are a knowledgeable bunch and they’re all up to press with how it works.

On to the Bullet. Take Cover opens up 7-2. Those that saw the Saturday Preview will know I was in two minds about backing him. Could he cheat the 9 stall? At 7-2 I’m playing. There’s plenty of others than think so too. One woman asks me what I think will win. “The first two races were terrible for me, I didn’t even hear mine mentioned in the last race. “ You’ve guessed it, she backed the withdrawn Carry On but thanks to our house band, couldn’t hear the post-race announcement. And now she’s chucked her ticket. “Was only a fiver,” she says. Not the point, it’s your fiver and you’re entitled to it back. When, oh when are they going to use the big screen for these announcements?
Take Cover pings the gates and leads every yard of the way. Dreadful result for the firm but I’ve just paid for my Yarmouth trip later in the month. What a horse he is!

Next up a 16-runner handicap. We’re bound to get a result here, yes? One lady has £2 ew Bondi Beach Boy. “Has it got a good chance?” she asks. I tell her it won’t be out of the frame. She then has £2 ew on Musharrif as well. “You should do the forecast too,” I tell her. She does, and when they finish 1-2, and she gets another £30 back for that, I get a kiss for suggesting it. Hard job at times, this….

Anyway, it might have been a 16-runner affair but the two joint favourites fight it out, with the third and fourth in the betting following behind. So much for getting a result. 3-0 to the punters.

Porth Swtan gets us one back on the scoreboard but then a mystery horse appears in the next. “£10 win Peppers”. “£20 win Peppers.” I’m looking for Peppers in the runners but he ain’t there. Turns out they want Pepys. One of our greatest diarists reduced to a capsicum. It matters not, as Peppers, or Pepys, gets up in the shadow of the post. 5-1 to them.

Can we get a result in the last? As the band pack up to the tune of that well-known Irish ditty, er, “Sweet Caroline”, the well backed Whatwouldyoudo wins, with our place bogey Rock On Bertie falling in for third. A bad day at the office. Time to pack the gear up, navigate the cowpats, and go home….

Leicester today sees Laoise run in the Fillies Maiden at 5.25, and she's one I've got my eye on for nurseries after today. Badly in need of her first run at Windsor, she didn't run too badly given she blew the start, and she was far from disgraced at Wolverhampton last time. The worry is this drop back to 5f today, as she looks in need of further, not shorter, and with that this really does look a run to get the mark. She could fall into the places, but even so, I'll have a watching brief today.

Instead I'll try a few quid at Tynecastle Park in the 4.30 at Stratford. I've always thought there's a race or two over hurdles in him  he's a decent size – and comes here off the back of a win on the Southwell Fibresand, so is in better form than actually appears. Favourite Mr Caffrey is finding winning hard and this looks quite an open little race.

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.