Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I’m looking ahead to Saturday’s Beverley Bullet.

Whilst not wanting to wish summer away I’m glad we have reached the final day of August. I have had worse months, much worse in fact. However, this has been a “mense horribilis” or terrible month.  Roll on September!

September Horses

September begins tomorrow and in homage to the start of the autumn which I think started at the end of July. Here are three flat horses who have good records in the month.

Gale Force Maya didn’t run very well back in handicap company at York last week, but the mare is 4 wins from 10 runs +5.5, 9 places in September. All four of her successes coming since 2021. Maybe the mare is falling out of love with racing but I’m hopeful trainer Micheal Dods can find a race for her before she retires.

Wanees made it a perfect 3-3 in September when winning a Haydock handicap last year. The 4-year-old has hardly beaten a rival on three starts this season. However, that means he’s dropped down to his last winning mark.  One to note if running this month but he wouldn’t want testing ground.

Turntable is 2 wins from 4 runs, 3 places in September and one win in October. The 7-year-old was below par on his first three starts since joining Harry Eustace earlier in the season, but he’s been given a break and could return to winning ways in the autumn. His four best RPR’s have come at Newmarket over 1m 1f/1m 2f and he’s down to last season’s winning mark.

Beverley Bullet

The biggest race on price money on Saturday is the £80,000 Virgin Bet Group 3 Atalanta Stakes (2:35) at Sandown. However, the race that I’m putting under the big race microscope is the Listed Beverley Bullet (2:40).

The Beverley Bullet is the most prestigious race run at Beverley during its flat season and 11 were left in the race at Monday’s final confirmation stage.

Trends:

The draw has been important consideration when it comes to finding the winner of the Beverley Bullet. Of the last 15 winners of the race 10 of them were drawn in the first four stalls. That’s 10 winners from 56 bets +23.50, 21 placed. Now an 18% win strike for those stalls isn’t something to be sniffed at. However, since 2019 those drawn 1-4 are 0 winner’s from 12 bets, 2 placed.

Mind you it still hasn’t benefitted horses with double digit draws – 0 winners from 41 runners, 4 placed since 2008.

Even if Saturday’s race doesn’t have ten+ runners I would still want to be with horses in the first half the draw.

Besides the draw stats are a few more interesting ones.

Ten of the last 15 winners – 10 winners 56 bets +21, 21 placed – had one or two previous starts at the track.  

Horses who were sent off 3/1 & under on their last start are – 0 winners from 23 runners 3 placed.

Horses with 2 or 3 wins in the month are – 7 winners from 26 bets +21.5, 10 placed since 2008.

Contenders:

Tis Marvellous will bid for a hat trick of wins in the race. He’s been in form on three starts this season, but he didn’t come into last year’s race in form either. Both his race successes have come on good ground. However, he’s also won on good to soft so he’s not reliant on quick ground. Trainer Clive Cox has also left Kerdos in the race. The 3-year-old was 5^th of 11 in a Group 2 at Goodwood 29 days ago and wouldn’t be out of this on OR’s.

One of the bookies ante post favourites is recent York Handicap winner Equilateral who is also second highest on official ratings. If the 8-year-old was to reproduce last week’s performance back in Listed company he’ll be hard to beat.

Top on OR’s is Silkie Wilkie who is vying with Equilateral for race favouritism. The 4-year-old produced a below par effort in a Group 2 at Goodwood last time. However, he’s 1-1 over C&D and could easily bounce back here.

Judicial won this race in 2019 and he bounced back from a poor seasonal reappearance effort at Newcastle when a 4 ¼ length 5th of 10 to Rogue Lightning in handicap at the Shergar Cup last time. The 11-year-old is dual C&D winner can’t be easily dismissed if taking another step forward from Ascot.

2020 winner Dakota Gold could go for a race at the Racing league on Thursday and he would want good to soft or soft ground to be seen at his best.

Apollo One and Rage Of Bamby bring good handicap form into the race but the latter needs quick ground. Apollo One is more interesting his best from has come over 6f but a stiff 5f shouldn’t inconvenience and he’s just 2lb behind Equilateral on OR’s.

Thursday Preview

The Racing League caravan heads to Newcastle for the fourth meeting in the series. There’s a £100,000 in guaranteed prize money on offer for the 5f handicap (8:45). Events at the Racing League aside the rest of the day’s sport is mediocre.

The Newcastle sprint handicap is of such a good quality that I find myself drawn to it. It’s just a shame its part of the racing league.

Fine Wine set a strong pace and helped set a course record when a 1 ½ length 3^rd of 14 in the valuable Gosforth Park Cup Handicap over C&D last time.  He will blaze a trail from stall 7 but will he be able to hold on in this company. He’s 1lb lower today and must be considered.

Batal Dubai looks a sprint handicapper going places when to taking his all-weather record to 2 wins from 2 runs here two starts back. Both those successes have come here at Newcastle albeit over 6f.  He may find things happening to quickly, dropped back to the minimum trip for the first time but he’s a powerful traveller so a strongly run 5f could suit. Last of ten at the Shergar Cup must be a worry but back on the artificial surface I’m hoping for better.  

I said I would never put up a selection for the Racing League, but my fickleness knows no bounds. So my first and likely last Racing League tip comes in the lucky last at Newcastle.

8:45 – Batal Dubai – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John