3:48 Beverley
This Class 6 handicap over 1m1f207y at Beverley brings together nine modest performers, most of them unproven on the surface and several wearing first-time headgear. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Lever Up and Bradbury both on 55, followed by Melting Snow on 52 and Dr Rio on 51; the remainder sit between 48 and 36. Recent form is mixed, with a few in reasonable heart while others have been largely out of the picture, and the Easterby yards, Dunlop and Carroll all have respectable if unspectacular records at the track.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a race that should be truly run, with several runners who like to race prominently or up with the pace. Kitsune Power from stall 1 and Sunny Orange from stall 2 are both likely to be forward, while Lever Up in four and Dr Rio in five can also take a hand early. The key question is whether those who press can maintain the tempo up the stiff Beverley straight or whether the race will fall into the lap of something coming from just off the pace, with Bradbury drawn wide in nine needing to find a rhythm dropping sharply in trip.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Lever Up KTB Selection55/100Modest performer who has shown fair form on his last two starts after a lengthy break.
- 2Bradbury55/100Modest performer who has been in decent form of late with two wins in his last four starts.
- 3Melting Snow52/100Modest 3-year-old who has shown little in three starts to date, finishing eighth then sixth last time.
- 4Dr Rio51/100Modest performer who has won six times at Beverley from 26 runs and knows his way around the track.
- 5Sunny Orange48/100Limited class performer with a modest strike rate and recent form that has been largely uncompetitive.
- 6Kitsune Power46/100Limited performer who has won once over this trip and once at Beverley from limited attempts.
- 7Star Start45/100Limited performer who has won twice at Beverley including at this trip.
- 8Wicklow Way45/100Limited horse who has shown little since winning twice on the all-weather early last year.
- 9Mavetheforcebewivu36/100Limited performer who has been placed twice from four runs at Beverley without winning.
The contenders
Lever Up KTB Fit 55/100
Lever Up is a modest performer who has shown fair form on his last two starts after a lengthy break. First-time headgear is now applied as he steps up in trip for the first time, which poses a fresh question. The Michael and David Easterby yard has a solid 14% strike rate at Beverley from 222 runs while this is the horse's first run here. Joanna Mason takes the ride; she has a 15% strike rate at the track from 234 rides. The combination of recent improvement, the new headgear and the yard's local record make him the KTB selection.
Bradbury KTB Fit 55/100
Bradbury is a modest performer who has been in decent form of late with two wins in his last four starts. He drops markedly in class and back in trip from 2m3f, is unproven on this ground and now tries first-time headgear. Edward Bethell has a solid 19% strike rate at Beverley from 59 runs and teams up with Kevin Stott, who has a 17% strike rate at the track from 291 rides. The three-year-old showed enough in his placed efforts to suggest he can be competitive if the trip suits, though the course run last time offered only a fifth-place finish.
Melting Snow KTB Fit 52/100
Melting Snow is a modest three-year-old who has shown little in three starts to date, finishing eighth then sixth last time out. The step up to 1m1f poses a fresh question and the Beverley run offers no strong pointer. Ed Dunlop has an 18% strike rate here from 226 runs while Sam James has an 11% strike rate from 189 rides at the track. Dropping in class may help, yet the overall profile remains modest and there is still plenty to prove.
Dr Rio KTB Fit 51/100
Dr Rio is a modest performer who has won six times at Beverley from 26 runs and knows his way around the track. He steps up in trip today having last run over 7½f and remains unproven on the ground. Declan Carroll has a 7% strike rate here from 340 runs and teams up with Zak Wheatley, who has a 9% strike rate at Beverley from 99 rides. The veteran’s course record is the strongest in the field and he cannot be entirely dismissed if the longer distance brings about further improvement.
The rest of the field
Sunny OrangeKTB Fit 48/100
Sunny Orange is a limited class performer with a modest strike rate and recent form that has been largely uncompetitive. He has won four times at Beverley from 18 runs but steps up markedly in trip today having never gone beyond 7.5f, which asks a fresh question, and first-time headgear is tried while the yard's 10% strike rate here from a huge sample offers no particular encouragement.
Kitsune PowerKTB Fit 46/100
Kitsune Power is a limited performer who has won once over this trip and once at Beverley from limited attempts. Recent form has been ordinary and first-time headgear is now reached for after a string of placed efforts without success. The trainer's modest 10% strike rate at the track is backed by a huge sample of runners.
Star StartKTB Fit 45/100
Star Start is a limited performer who has won twice at Beverley including at this trip. Recent form has been modest and the yard's modest 9% strike rate here adds little encouragement. He drops in class but the ground remains an unknown.
Wicklow WayKTB Fit 45/100
Wicklow Way is a limited horse who has shown little since winning twice on the all-weather early last year. He was placed on his only visit to Beverley and steps up in trip today having won once from three starts at this distance. The trainer has a 13% strike rate here from 143 runs.
MavetheforcebewivuKTB Fit 36/100
Mavetheforcebewivu is a limited performer who has been placed twice from four runs at Beverley without winning. Recent form is modest and first-time headgear is now reached for after a string of ordinary efforts. He steps up in trip today while still unproven on this ground.
KTB verdict
Lever Up is the KTB selection. He has shown fair form on his last two starts after a lengthy break, first-time headgear is now applied as he steps up in trip, and the Easterby yard’s 14% strike rate at Beverley from a big sample adds to the appeal on his first run at the track. Bradbury is the obvious danger, in decent recent form with two wins in his last four starts and the Bethell yard in solid order at the venue, though the marked drop in trip adds uncertainty. Dr Rio’s six wins here cannot be ignored despite his age, while Melting Snow drops in class but brings the weakest form of the principals.
KTB Selection Lever Up
This is the narrative read of the 3:48 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 start at Beverley?
Lever Up has no course form on record and this is his first run here.
How many wins has Dr Rio recorded at Beverley?
Dr Rio has won six times at Beverley from 26 runs.
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Lever Up, Bradbury, Sunny Orange, Kitsune Power and Mavetheforcebewivu are all wearing first-time headgear.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Beverley among the principals?
Edward Bethell has a 19% strike rate at Beverley from 59 runs, ahead of Ed Dunlop on 18% and Michael and David Easterby on 14%.
Which horse is dropping markedly in trip from 2m3f?
Bradbury is dropping markedly in trip from 2m3f.
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