2:45 Beverley
This Class 5 EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes over the minimum 5f at Beverley features a field of 14 two-year-olds on good to firm ground. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Maximus Meridius heading the numbers on 64, followed by Ava Louise on 58 and Black Velvet Boy on 47, while several others sit in the low-to-mid forties. With the pace shape assessed as unclear owing to limited run-style evidence across the field, the race poses plenty of unknowns, particularly for those dropping in trip or making their debut.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is unclear with low confidence because there is not enough run-style data to form a firm view. Most of the field carries limited evidence on how they will deploy, though Eleven Eighty Two is a noted hold-up performer who produces his effort late. The key question is whether an uncontested lead materialises or whether the race develops into a sprint from a mid-race position, especially on a track where low draws have historically been favoured.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Maximus Meridius KTB Selection64/100Modest performer who has shown fair form in two starts, finishing second then third.
- 2Ava Louise58/100Ava Louise showed fair pace when finishing fifth on debut over 5½f at this track.
- 3Black Velvet Boy47/100Black Velvet Boy showed fair pace when finishing third on debut here over this trip on good to firm ground.
- 4Purrista45/100Purrista is a newcomer with no racecourse experience.
- 5Desert Outlaw44/100Desert Outlaw showed little on debut over 6f and now drops back to 5f for the first time.
- 6Noccalula Falls44/100Noccalula Falls showed only modest early promise when finishing sixth on debut over 6f.
- 7Dorothea Hope44/100Dorothea Hope showed fair initial promise when fourth on debut here over this trip on good to firm ground.
- 8Dave's Matey43/100Tim Easterby has a 10% strike rate at Beverley from a huge sample of 2381 runs.
- 9Angel Steps43/100Angel Steps has shown little in two starts so far, finishing 8th and 7th without suggesting she is ready to trouble stronger opposition.
- 10Lexington Boom43/100Placed second on debut over this trip at a similar level.
- 11Malulee42/100Malulee is a newcomer with no racecourse experience so the form book offers nothing concrete.
- 12Classy Jaguar40/100Classy Jaguar is a debutant with low data confidence so the assessment rests on pedigree and sales background.
- 13Eleven Eighty Two40/100Modest performer who has shown consistent placed form at maiden level but failed to build on it last time.
- 14Mr De Maggs39/100Mr De Maggs has been beaten a long way in both starts to date and has shown very little.
The contenders
Maximus Meridius KTB Fit 64/100
Maximus Meridius has shown fair form in two starts, finishing second then third, and is rated the top horse on KTB Fit at 64. He now drops back to 5f for the first time, a move that asks a fresh question about his speed. The David Loughnane yard posts a 17% strike rate at Beverley from 86 runs with an A/E of 1.53, while Rowan Scott has an 11% strike rate at the track from 257 rides with an A/E of 1.04. He is dropping in class and the trainer-jockey combination shows 5/48 (10%) with an A/E of 0.88. The colt has one run on good to firm without winning or placing and has no course form on record.
Ava Louise KTB Fit 58/100
Ava Louise showed fair pace when finishing fifth on debut over 5½f at this track and is next best on KTB Fit with a mark of 58. She now drops back to the minimum trip with a 5lb claimer aboard. The Philip McBride yard has a 15% strike rate at Beverley from 55 runs with an A/E of 1.3, and Ethan Tindall has a 13% strike rate at the track from 16 rides with an A/E of 1.22. She has one run on good to firm without winning or placing and holds no course form. With so little evidence everything else remains guesswork.
Black Velvet Boy KTB Fit 47/100
Black Velvet Boy showed fair pace when finishing third on debut here over this trip on good to firm ground and holds a KTB Fit of 47. He failed to build on that when seventh at York last time, though the small sample makes it hard to be certain what that run really means. The John & Sean Quinn yard has a modest 10% strike rate at Beverley from 41 runs with an A/E of 0.68, while Jason Hart has a 10% strike rate at the track from 395 rides with an A/E of 0.76. He has been placed once from two runs on good to firm and has one placed effort from a previous run at Beverley. The trainer-jockey partnership reads 62/568 (11%) with an A/E of 0.78.
Purrista KTB Fit 45/100
Purrista is a newcomer with no racecourse experience and is rated 45 on KTB Fit. The yard has an 8% strike rate at Beverley from 50 runs with an A/E of 0.57, while Joanna Mason has a 14% strike rate at the track from 236 rides with an A/E of 1.1. The trainer-jockey combination shows 13/74 (18%) with an A/E of 1.76. Pedigree is the main guide here given the low data confidence and she holds no course win on record. She is sired by Caturra who has a 5% overall win rate from 65 runners.
Desert Outlaw KTB Fit 44/100
Desert Outlaw showed little on debut over 6f and is rated 44 on KTB Fit. He now drops back to 5f for the first time, a move that could suit or expose further limitations given the modest start. The Paul Midgley yard has a 9% strike rate at Beverley from 667 runs with an A/E of 0.88, while David Nolan has an 8% strike rate at the track from 317 rides with an A/E of 0.7. He has one run on good to firm without winning or placing and holds no course form. The trainer-jockey partnership reads 41/383 (11%) with an A/E of 0.82.
The rest of the field
Noccalula FallsKTB Fit 44/100
Noccalula Falls showed only modest early promise when finishing sixth on debut over 6f and is rated 44 on KTB Fit. Dropping back to 5f poses a fresh question while the small sample means both ground preference and true ability remain unclear. The Paul Midgley yard has a 9% strike rate at Beverley from 667 runs with an A/E of 0.88 and Cam Hardie has a 4% strike rate at the track from 371 rides with an A/E of 0.69. He has one run on good to firm without winning or placing and holds no course form.
Dorothea HopeKTB Fit 44/100
Dorothea Hope showed fair initial promise when fourth on debut here over this trip on good to firm ground and is rated 44 on KTB Fit. That run came from stall four and leaves her with plenty to find on the bare form. The Tim Easterby yard has a 10% strike rate at Beverley from 2381 runs with an A/E of 0.82 and David Allan has a 10% strike rate at the track from 1245 rides with an A/E of 0.8. She has one run on good to firm without winning or placing and has one placed effort from a previous run at Beverley.
Dave's MateyKTB Fit 43/100
Dave's Matey has been well beaten in all three starts to date and is rated 43 on KTB Fit. He now drops back from 7f to an untried 5f while the going remains an unknown. The Tim Easterby yard has a 10% strike rate at Beverley from 2381 runs with an A/E of 0.82 and Duran Fentiman has a 6% strike rate at the track from 605 rides with an A/E of 0.75. The trainer-jockey partnership reads 259/3991 (6%) with an A/E of 0.75 and he holds no course form.
Angel StepsKTB Fit 43/100
Angel Steps has shown little in two starts so far, finishing 8th and 7th, and is rated 43 on KTB Fit. The wide draw in stall 12 adds to the difficulties on a track where low numbers are often favoured. The Paul Midgley yard has a 9% strike rate at Beverley from 667 runs with an A/E of 0.88 and she has two runs on good to firm without winning or placing. She holds no course form and is dropping in class.
Lexington BoomKTB Fit 43/100
Lexington Boom was placed second on debut over this trip at a similar level and is rated 43 on KTB Fit. That run gives some encouragement but the small sample means plenty remains to be seen. The Grant Tuer yard has a modest 7% strike rate at Beverley from 68 runs with an A/E of 0.56 and Oliver Stammers has a 7% strike rate at the track from 41 rides with an A/E of 0.66. He is dropping in class and holds no course form while unproven on good to firm.
MaluleeKTB Fit 42/100
Malulee is a newcomer with no racecourse experience and is rated 42 on KTB Fit. Pedigree and sales background are the main pointers here yet the low data confidence means any conclusions remain tentative. The Michael Dods yard has an 11% strike rate at Beverley from 547 runs with an A/E of 0.85 and she holds no course win on record. She is sired by Lope Y Fernandez who has a 10% overall win rate from 509 runners.
Classy JaguarKTB Fit 40/100
Classy Jaguar is a debutant with low data confidence and is rated 40 on KTB Fit. The assessment rests on pedigree and sales background. The Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood yard has a 0% strike rate at Beverley from 30 runs with an A/E of 0 and Dougie Costello has a 5% strike rate at the track from 119 rides with an A/E of 0.63. She holds no course win on record and is sired by Pearl Secret who has a 10% overall win rate from 866 runners.
Eleven Eighty TwoKTB Fit 40/100
Eleven Eighty Two is a modest performer who has shown consistent placed form at maiden level but failed to build on it last time and is rated 40 on KTB Fit. He drops back to 5f today having looked stretched by 6f on his most recent start, though he has already tried this trip once without success. The Ben Haslam yard has a 7% strike rate at Beverley from 72 runs with an A/E of 0.69 and Paul Mulrennan has a 10% strike rate at the track from 774 rides with an A/E of 0.8. He is a hold-up performer who produces his effort late and has two runs on good to firm without winning or placing.
Mr De MaggsKTB Fit 39/100
Mr De Maggs has been beaten a long way in both starts to date and is rated 39 on KTB Fit. He has shown very little. The yard's record here is too small a sample to judge while the 3lb claimer is also operating with limited track data. He is lightly raced with only two runs on his record so this remains guesswork at present and he has one run on good to firm without winning or placing.
KTB verdict
Maximus Meridius is the KTB Selection. He has shown fair form in two starts and benefits from a yard with a strong 17% strike rate at Beverley. The drop back to 5f asks a fresh question but the overall profile and trainer record at the track make him the one to beat. Main dangers include Ava Louise who showed fair pace on debut and now returns to the minimum trip, and Black Velvet Boy who has already placed over the course and distance on good to firm ground.
KTB Selection Maximus Meridius
This is the narrative read of the 2:45 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 has the strongest trainer record at Beverley?
Maximus Meridius whose trainer has a 17% strike rate at Beverley from 86 runs with an A/E of 1.53.
How many horses in the field are making their racecourse debut?
Three: Purrista, Malulee and Classy Jaguar.
Which runner is the only one with course and distance placed form on good to firm?
Black Velvet Boy who finished third on debut here over this trip on good to firm ground.
Who is the only hold-up performer identified in the field?
Eleven Eighty Two who is usually held up and produces his effort late.
Which trainer has the largest sample size of runners at Beverley?
Tim Easterby with 2381 runs at the track.
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