Following two winners yesterday, Steve Ryder has seven selections for Saturday's racing.
The Mark Johnston trained March Law (best priced at 9/1) hasn’t been seen for 418 days but could prove well handicapped on his reappearance. The son of Lawman stepped forward from his debut effort to finish 2nd in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Group 2 winner Battleground before getting off the mark in a novice race at Ayr on his final start as a two-year-old. Many will have been disappointed with that effort as he only won by a short head as a 2/9 shot but his sole rival has won two races since and is a now rated 92.
March Law now makes his handicap debut off a mark of 95 and he will no doubt appreciate this step up in trip from 7f to 1m2f and I expect Ben Curtis to attempt to make all of this colt.
There is no doubt that Tadbeed is the one to beat in this listed race based on ratings but I will take a chance on Royal Scimitar (best priced at 4/1) who has been unlucky on his previous two starts in handicaps. The Clive Cox trained colt ran a fantastic race on his penultimate over this course and distance when only beaten ½ length in 4th despite racing on the wrong side of the track. The field split in two that day and the first three home all ran on the far side in a group of five rather than Royal Scimitar who finished 1st of 12 on the nearside.
Royal Scimitar again looked unlucky not to win last time in the Shergar Cup Sprint when he was awkward leaving the stalls and lost many lengths under Nicola Currie. She then decided to race apart from the field and come down the nearside away from her rivals and the colt ran on well to once again only finish beaten ½ length in 3rd. Many of his rivals come into this race out of form or with doubts about the track so this could be the time to back Royal Scimitar up in class in this listed race.
The Julie Camacho trained Judicial (best priced at 7/2) has a fantastic record at Beverley in his career with three wins and a third placed finish and he should prove hard to beat back at this track. He won a conditions race by 3 ¼ lengths in 2017, the same conditions race by 2 ¼ lengths in 2018 before winning this race in 2019 by ¾ length. Since that victory he has won three more listed races and a Group 3 including last time at Chester when beating the reopposing Dakota Gold by two lengths. That rival gets a 3lb swing in the weights but last year’s winner hasn’t looked in the same form so far this season and he should struggle to reverse the form with Judicial.
The nine-year-old was slightly disappointing over this course and distance on his penultimate start behind Caspian Prince but bounced back to form last time and is expected to prove hard to beat in this company despite his penalty.
This looks a competitive 0-75 handicap but preference goes to the three-year-old Symbol Of Hope (best priced at 8/1) towards the bottom of the weights. The Tim Easterby trained gelding has looked progressive this season and put in a career best performance when winning over this course and distance on his penultimate start. That victory came off a mark of 63 and was won in impressive style coming from last to first under Danny Tudhope to win by a length.
Symbol Of Hope never got involved on his next start when upped in trip to 6f but should be suited by this return to 5f at Beverley and also being reunited with Danny Tudhope. He is only 4lb higher than his previous victory and should run well with up to five places available.
The Chris Wall trained Bague D’Or (best priced at 9/4) has ran well on his two starts this season in handicaps and he should hold strong claims now upped in trip to 1m4f for the first time. The son of Belardo won at Yarmouth on his reappearance off a mark of 69 staying on well over 1m2f before finishing 2nd behind the well handicapped Boltaway at Doncaster 85 days ago. The winner has boosted that form by winning his next two starts and is now rated 15lb higher so the 2lb rise that Bague D’Or got for finishing 2nd looks rather lenient.
It is also worth remembering that Bague D’Or was given too much to do by Jack Mitchell that day over 1m2f and he should be suited by this step up in trip to 1m4f for the first time. Andrea Atzeni is a good jockey booking for the yard (2 wins from 7 rides in the last five years and 1 win from 2 rides this season) and I expect him to prove hard to beat.
The return to Class 4 company will suit Soul Seeker (best priced at 8/1) and he should hold strong claims of adding another win to his four already this season. The David O’Meara trained four-year-old has progressed this season from a mark of 69 up to a mark of 86 with four victories coming at Pontefract, Hamilton twice and York. The son of Oasis Dream won over 5f at York off a mark of 83 by a neck in the “Jumps Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” before finishing well beaten at Ripon in the Great St Wilfrid and a Class 2 handicap at York.
Soul Seeker now drops back down from Class 2 company into Class 4 company and runs in this 0-85 handicap off top weight. Connections have booked talented 5lb claimer Angus Villiers to take off some of the weight and I expect him to be involved in the finish.
The Jimmy Moffatt trained Alqamar (best priced at 6/4) has transitioned to hurdling well for his new trainer and is 2/2 at Cartmel under Charlotte Jones. The pair won on handicap debut over this course and distance 42 days ago off a mark of 121 and he deserves the 8lb rise following his impressive 5 ½ length win.
Alqamar runs here off top weight in this 0-130 handicap and even the runner-up last time Pateen (who reopposes) has won since to boost the form. The seven-year-old still looks progressive over timber and should be able to win his fourth race in a row.
