3.40pm Beverley Tips & Betting Preview 17/08/2017

A field of eleven of go to post for the fourth race of the day at Beverley on Thursday, see our betting tips and full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Olly Murphy remains a trainer to follow and Sevilla sports the cheekpieces here after a good second at Lingfield, so she shouldn’t be far away. Preference, however, is for Lucy Waggott’s PERCY VERENCE, who although a maiden, hinted earlier this season he was up to taking a race such as this. He was second off two pound higher back in June and he’s had excuses the last twice so those efforts are best ignored. Ben Curtis takes the ride and with conditions to suit, he can make it twentieth time lucky today.

1 LEAN ON PETE – Triple course winner who gained the third of those three starts ago with a game performance in June off a two pound lower mark. He’s struggled the last twice though which dampens enthusiasm, though he’s placed off higher marks in the past so should be up to this mark. Andrew Mullen takes the ride and he’s a possible each way contender with conditions to suit.

2 SEVILLA – Four year old filly for Olly Murphy who returned to form on her latest start to finish second at Lingfield, holding on for second behind a runaway winner. He is now one pound lower and the cheekpieces have been enlisted, so he has to be considered a big player under PJ McDonald, who is riding out of his skin at present. Conditions will suit and he does stay this far, so he has to be considered.

3 SCRUFFY MCGUFFY – Completed a double back in August 2016 but since returning this season he’s been very poorly, well beaten on four occasions including at Carlisle latest where he showed very little. He has to prove his stamina over this new trip and despite the Ann Duffield yard going well at present, he’s best avoided under Shane Gray until he shows some worthwhile form this season.

4 SAKHALIN STAR – Won over the 1m 2f trip at Ffos Las last month for the out of form Richard Guest team but he’s struggled the last twice including when fifth at Newcastle on his latest start. His only starts beyond 1m 2f resulted in him being well beaten and this trip is likely to stretch him under Connor Beasley, which dampens his claims further. Likely to struggle on this occasion.

5 COOL MUSIC – Course and distance winner four starts ago when staying on strongly and she backed that up with two runners up efforts subsequently. She can be forgiven his latest run on the all weather and she looks a big player here now dropped into Class 6, with conditions to suit and Cam Hardie taking the ride. She is one to take very seriously.

6 TIN PAN ALLEY – Returned with a relatively positive effort over the 1m 2f trip here in May, but he’s subsequently been well beaten on three occasions for David Griffiths. He weakened tamely when asked for an effort at this venue when last seen and it’s hard to build a case for him on that basis, with this trip seemingly not suiting him at all. David Allan is a good jockey booking, but you’re best looking elsewhere.

7 CHAUVELIN – Another course and distance winner, this time for Nigel Tinkler who went down narrowly at Carlisle on his latest start in July. He has only been raised a pound for that positive effort and the in form Tom Eaves retains the ride which is another plus. He will appreciate conditions and clearly thrives here, so is another to consider in a competitive event for this grade.

8 PERCY VERENCE – Nineteen race maiden for Tracy Waggott who has been signalling that he’s likely to be changing that very soon and today could be the day. He was second at Redcar in June but crucially he was two pounds higher on that occasion, with the visor going on for today’s run. He’s been disappointing the last twice, but he had excuses and should be a different proposition today with Ben Curtis taking the ride, so he gets the vote.

9 PYTHON – Has finished unplaced on all nine of his starts for Andrew Cook, last seen at Catterick where was tailed off by the two furlong pole. He’s now down to a handicap mark of 31 which is extremely low but he’s still of very little appeal as none of his runs suggest he’s up to even winning a Class 6 event.

10 BARBARY PRINCE – Lightly raced five year old for Shaun Harris who started off in handicaps off a basement mark of 46 and has been well beaten at odds of 66/1 and 100/1 on both occasions. He was always in the rear when eleventh at Wolverhampton on his latest start and it’s impossible to make a case for him on this occasion.

11 KNIGHTSBRIDGE LIAM – Three year old for Michael Easterby who looks likely to stay this distance and didn’t get any sort of run when fourth here over the 1m 2f trip on his latest start. He is a pound lower here and seven pound claimer Harrison Shaw retains the ride, so he has definite each way possibilities if staying out this trip strongly. Though after eight winless runs, confidence is dwindling.