7:00 Beverley
A competitive Class 6 handicap over the minimum 5f at Beverley on good to firm ground brings ten modest performers together. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Bibendum heading the list on 61, followed closely by Hurt You Never on 58 and then Dc Cogent, Level Up and Great all in the low 50s. Dropping in class is a theme for several runners while first-time headgear is tried by four horses, and the lack of course form for many adds an element of guesswork to how they will handle the sharp track.
How the race shapes up
With several prominent runners in the field, including Bibendum drawn on the rail and the likes of Level Up and Dream Deal who tend to race up with the pace, this looks likely to be run at a decent clip. The pace shape suggests a contested lead early on, which could stretch those trying to come from further back at this stiff 5f. The key question is whether the rail draw of the selection can be turned into an advantage or whether those drawn higher can get a clear run as the race develops.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Bibendum KTB Selection61/100Modest performer who has won twice on good to firm including at this trip.
- 2Hurt You Never58/100Modest performer with a solid record on good to firm, including six wins from 15 starts, though recent form of 039855 suggests he is not at his peak.
- 3Dc Cogent53/100Modest performer who has shown bits of form this year but remains winless since 2023.
- 4Level Up52/100Modest performer who has been running consistently of late with five placed efforts from his last six starts.
- 5Great52/100Modest performer who has shown enough to be competitive at this level, winning twice on good to firm ground from five attempts.
- 6Dream Deal51/100Modest performer who won on his only previous visit to Beverley and has placed eight times from 16 starts on good to firm.
- 7Dandy Dinmont50/100Modest performer who has won once from five starts over this course and trip.
- 8Beerwah48/100Modest performer who has won once from three starts at Beverley and holds a solid record on good to firm ground with two wins from nine runs.
- 9Opal Storm46/100Limited performer who has won once in ten runs at Beverley and has scored four times over this trip from 29 attempts.
- 10Toptime45/100Toptime is a modest performer who has been in decent recent nick with a win and two places from his last four starts.
The contenders
Bibendum KTB Fit 61/100
Bibendum is a modest performer who has won twice on good to firm, including at this trip. He arrives in form after a win last time out from a career-low mark and now tries first-time headgear. The drop in class looks a positive move. Trainer Julie Camacho has a 15 percent strike rate at Beverley from a big sample of 254 runs while jockey Ryan Sexton boasts a 17 percent strike rate at the track from 63 rides. The horse has shown he acts on good to firm with two wins from five starts on the surface. Drawn in stall one, his prominent run-style could be ideally suited if the rail proves an advantage.
Hurt You Never KTB Fit 58/100
Hurt You Never is a modest performer with a solid record on good to firm, recording six wins from 15 starts on the surface. Recent form of 039855 suggests he is not quite at his peak, yet the drop back to 5f is a fair move given he has won seven times at the trip from 26 runs. This will be his first visit to Beverley. Trainer Adrian Nicholls has a 12 percent strike rate at the track from 66 runs while Jack Nicholls claims 5lb. The seven-year-old has plenty of experience and could be competitive if he returns to anything like his best.
Dc Cogent KTB Fit 53/100
Dc Cogent is a modest performer who has shown bits of form this year but remains winless since 2023. He has won at this trip yet looks stretched by the stiff 5f here and was well held on his only previous run at Beverley, finishing ninth. The trainer's solid 11 percent strike rate at the track from a large sample offers some hope. However the horse is unproven on good to firm ground, which is a concern on this surface. Ben Robinson takes the ride for Bryan Smart, whose yard is 0-8 in this jockey combination.
Level Up KTB Fit 52/100
Level Up is a modest performer who has been running consistently of late with five placed efforts from his last six starts. He has won five times at this trip and acts on good to firm ground having scored twice from six attempts on it. First-time headgear is now fitted on his first run at Beverley. The yard's 9 percent strike rate from 116 runs at the track offers only modest encouragement, though the trainer and jockey combination shows a positive A/E of 1.15. P J McDonald is a regular rider at Beverley with a 12 percent strike rate from 542 rides.
Great KTB Fit 52/100
Great is a modest performer who has shown enough to be competitive at this level, winning twice on good to firm ground from five attempts. He drops back to an untried 5f today after a recent 6f run, which asks a fresh question. The trainer has a 13 percent strike rate from 23 runs at Beverley. Recent form of 637871 includes a win, and the four-year-old could have more to offer if the return to the minimum trip suits. Shane Gray takes the mount for Sam England, whose yard and jockey pairing shows an A/E of 1.38.
The rest of the field
Dream DealKTB Fit 51/100
Dream Deal is a modest performer who won on his only previous visit to Beverley and has placed eight times from 16 starts on good to firm. Dropping back to 5f is a plus given his record at the trip and he arrives in decent form having been placed in three of his last four starts. First-time headgear is now applied while the yard's modest strike rate here is at least backed by a large sample of runners.
Dandy DinmontKTB Fit 50/100
Dandy Dinmont is a modest performer who has won once from five starts over this course and trip. Three wins from 16 runs on good to firm ground show he handles the surface well enough though his recent form of 571095 is patchy at best. Trainer Nigel Tinkler has a 7 percent strike rate from 947 runs here while jockey Rowan Scott is 0-11 at the track.
BeerwahKTB Fit 48/100
Beerwah is a modest performer who has won once from three starts at Beverley and holds a solid record on good to firm ground with two wins from nine runs. He has won at this trip but his recent form has been patchy and the first-time headgear is now reached for after a win last time. Trainer's modest 10 percent strike rate at the track from 39 runs adds a note of caution.
Opal StormKTB Fit 46/100
Opal Storm is a limited performer who has won once in ten runs at Beverley and has scored four times over this trip from 29 attempts. She has shown little spark in recent starts and the first-time headgear is now reached for. Trainer's modest 5 percent strike rate at the track adds little confidence.
ToptimeKTB Fit 45/100
Toptime is a modest performer who has been in decent recent nick with a win and two places from his last four starts. He has won at this trip but his record on good to firm is poor and he has shown little at Beverley in two previous runs. The yard's record at the track is 0-9 while George Wood is 1-11 here.
KTB verdict
Bibendum looks to have been found the right opportunity. A modest performer in good heart after a recent win from a career-low mark, the first-time headgear could sharpen him up further while the drop in class is another plus. His prominent style from draw one could be a major asset if the race is truly run. Hurt You Never and Dream Deal are the most obvious dangers if they can rediscover their best, while Level Up's recent consistency means he cannot be dismissed.
KTB Selection Bibendum
This is the narrative read of the 7:00 Beverley. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Beverley racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is making its first appearance at Beverley?
Hurt You Never, Level Up and Great have no course form on record.
How many horses are trying first-time headgear?
Four horses are wearing first-time headgear: Bibendum, Level Up, Dream Deal and Beerwah, with Opal Storm also in first-time headgear.
Which runner has the strongest trainer strike rate at Beverley?
Julie Camacho has a 15 percent strike rate at Beverley from 254 runs.
Who has the best recent placed record in the field?
Level Up has five placed efforts from his last six starts.
Which horse is dropping in class and has a previous Beverley win?
Dream Deal won on his only previous visit to Beverley and is dropping in class.
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