3 minute read

Crown Princess can make a successful return to Beverley in the Dr Eddie Moll Handicap.

The Ollie Pears-trained filly is a regular visitor to the Westwood, with nine course appearances yielding a solitary victory but seven placed efforts.

She was beaten a little over three lengths into third place on her first start of 2022 here in April before staying on strongly to secure a last-gasp victory at Hamilton last time.

A 3lb rise makes life tougher for Crown Princess, but she is clearly in good heart at present and should be there or thereabouts at the business end.

Rocket Dancer is expected to make it back-to-back Beverley wins in the Hurn Handicap.

Rated in the mid-60s last summer, the Toronado gelding began the current campaign on a perch of just 52 following a disappointing end to the last campaign.

The five-year-old caught the eye making late gains to finish fourth on his Pontefract comeback in April and duly won nicely here a fortnight ago off 53.

The handicapper has had his say, bumping him up 4lb, but he appears to be back on an upward curve and should take plenty of beating in the hands of Joanna Mason.

Explicit holds obvious claims in the EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes at Hamilton.

The 30,000 guineas purchase looked a winner in waiting when second to Miss Jungle Cat on his Musselburgh introduction and he was unsurprisingly prominent in the mark at Chester next time.

He was a shade disappointing in finishing fourth on the Roodee, but perhaps the fast five furlongs there was a little sharp for him.

Back on a more conventional track, he can make it third time lucky for Mark and Charlie and Johnston.

The Johnston team might also be on the mark in Scotland with Devasboy in the Weatherbys Global Stallions App Handicap.

The three-year-old has not run on turf since September, but is fit from a winter campaign on the all-weather which included a Newcastle success.

He was last seen being beaten two and a half lengths into third place at Wolverhampton, where he could have finished a bit closer but for encountering a troubled run.

Devasboy is expected to give a bold bid from the front back on the grass.

The Tom Clover-trained Thebeautifulgame looks the one to be on in the Visit ripon-races.co.uk Fillies' Handicap in North Yorkshire.

The daughter of Slade Power enjoyed an encouraging juvenile campaign last term, winning at Salisbury and finishing second at Epsom from four starts.

She made her reappearance and handicap debut at Nottingham almost three weeks ago and there was plenty of promise in her fourth place off a mark of 80.

Thebeautifulgame is bound to be a little sharper for that effort and should go close.

Dan Skelton appears to have found Gentle Connections a good opportunity to complete her hat-trick at Newton Abbot.

The five-year-old was still a maiden when finishing sixth in a Grade Two at Newbury in early April, but made the most of having her sights lowered when bolting up at Southwell 11 days later.

With confidence seemingly buoyed, Gentle Connections comfortably followed up at Hexham and can defy the double penalty in the Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

Kerosine Light is expected to plunder the Newton LDP Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Warwick.

The Irish recruit hacked up on his first start for the formidable combination of Donald McCain and Brian Hughes at Bangor and an opening mark of 115 for his handicap debut looks more than fair.

SELECTIONS:

BEVERLEY: 1.40 Arkid, 2.10 Bridgetown, 2.40 Stolen Glory, 3.10 Yanifer, 3.40 Diamond Ranger, 4.15 CROWN PRINCESS (NAP), 4.48 Rocket Dancer, 5.20 Martin's Brig.

HAMILTON: 1.50 Tantastic, 2.20 Explicit, 2.50 Devasboy, 3.20 Clansman, 3.50 We Still Believe, 4.25 Shine On Brendan, 4.55 Fergie Time.

NEWTON ABBOT: 1.30 Gentle Connections, 2.00 Get The Appeal, 2.30 Glengeever, 3.00 Arizona Glory, 3.30 Mourzouk, 4.00 Skylander, 4.32 Zoran.

RIPON: 5.25 Little Edi, 5.55 Cianciana, 6.25 Burj Malinka, 6.55 Thebeautifulgame, 7.25 Punda Maria, 8.00 Banned, 8.30 Mr Orange.

WARWICK: 5.00 Forward Plan, 5.35 Kerosine Light, 6.05 Let's Have Another, 6.35 Ultimate Getaway, 7.05 Eva's Diva, 7.35 Churchtown Glen, 8.10 Time To Believe.

WEXFORD: 5.15 King Kal, 5.45 Glory For Molly, 6.15 Beat Of The Sea, 6.45 Presenting Lad, 7.15 Chinx Of Light, 7.45 Journey West, 8.20 Ahead Of The Posse.

DOUBLE: Crown Princess and Explicit.