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Beverley host a valuable race-card on Saturday, featuring the Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies' Conditions Stakes and the Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes.
In the 5f Class 2 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies' Conditions Stakes (2:05), Richard Fahey's Midnight Affair will be aiming to uphold the yard's run of strong juvenile form. She was denied a clear run on debut in a hot Newmarket maiden and showed promise to make up ground in the closing stages for a one-and-three-quarter length second behind Soprano. The experience of Richard Hannon's Ziggy's Phoenix may give her the edge over her rivals. The filly has raced four times and recorded two wins, including a Class 2 victory at Chester against the colts. She was not disgraced when fourth in the Listed Prix la Fleche at Chantilly and seems to be thriving on racing.
Three last-start winners will battle it out in the 5f Class 2 Two Year Old Trophy Conditions Stakes (3:15) with Cuban Slide heading the betting. The Karl-Burke trained Havana Grey colt impressed when recording a nine length success in a Class 4 novice stakes at Musselburgh, despite missing the break and having to make up significant ground in the closing stages. He's expected to be sharper for the run. Bombay Bazaar has the advantage of course and distance experience, having scored by four-and-a-quarter lengths in these conditions on his second racecourse start in a Class 5 novice. He faces a tougher set of opposition. Room Service did little wrong to out-run his odds of 20/1 and win a Wetherby maiden. The Kodi Bear colt is not entirely dismissed, although the form of the Kevin Ryan yard would be a concern (0-18 in last fourteen days).
The experience of Leap Day in the 7½f Class 5 bet365 Very British Raceday Restricted Maiden Stakes (1:30) may give him an advantage in an open race. The Gregorian gelding seemed to enjoy the step up to this distance when finishing a nose second over course and distance and will face identical conditions again with good-to-firm ground.
In the 7½f Class 4 bet365 Handicap (2:40), Ugo Gregory boasts an excellent record in these conditions with three wins and two placings from eight attempts tackling track and trip. He takes a well-deserved step up in grade following a nose defeat and can be competitive off a low weight. His main opponent appears to be Ian McInnes' Miss Britain, who finished a good second over a mile on her stable debut last time.
Orchestra steps up in trip for the 1m4f Class 4 Price Promise At bet365 Handicap (3:50) after recording a comfortable victory over ten furlongs at the track. The gelding has progressed with each run since a break and the Ed Dunlop stable are in incredible form with a 31% strike rate from the last 14 days (10-32).
Berry Edge is ready to add another victory to an-already strong course record in the 1m2f Class 5 Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap (4:25) whilst Thornaby Beauty could shed her maiden tag for Adrian Nicholls in the 7½f Class 6 Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap (5:00).
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
Race 1 – LEAP DAY
RACE 2 – ZIGGY'S PHOENIX
RACE 3 – UGO GREGORY
RACE 4 – CUBAN SLIDE
RACE 5 – ORCHESTRA
RACE 6 – BERRY EDGE
RACE 7 – THONABY BEAUTY
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