BUSY STREET let down favourite backers last time, but can make amends in the Alan McGuinness And Robin Lunness Memorial Handicap at Beverley.
The four-year-old was well supported to follow up on a December victory at Southwell when turning out at the Nottinghamshire venue again but he could finish only second behind Swift Cedar.
Admittedly that was his first run back after a bit of a break and he was keeping on at the end, so perhaps he will be a little sharper for this test. Busy Street will be having his first turf start on the level but given he was fourth in a bumper at the end of last year, trainer Alan Swinbank will have few worries about the surface.
Arab Poet is a notable runner for Sir Michael Stoute in the Queen’s Own Yeomanry Handicap and he is sure to be a popular choice. He finally got his head in front at the fourth attempt at Lingfield last October, but it is his previous second at Leicester that really catches the eye.
Arab Poet was beaten just under four lengths by Massaat that day and given that one went on to finish second in the Dewhurst, Arab Poet might be a bit smarter than his current mark of 83.
Carenot is another Newmarket raider for William Haggas in the Beverley Folk Festival Here In June Maiden Auction Stakes. She shaped with promise in two outings last term and as a half-sister to Group One winner Dick Whittington, a win would certainly enhance her paddock value.
With just 72 hours of the 2015/16 season to go, most interest is reserved for the jumps action and the battle royal between Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins for the trainers’ title.
Mullins sends runners to Perth while Nicholls has opted to bypass the Scottish track’s fixture, and Townshend can pick up some valuable prize money for the Irish handler in the Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old has seen only limited action for Mullins so far, disappointing when failing to strike as favourite on two starts to date. He raced too keenly when fourth at Fairyhouse in February, with Cheltenham victor Mall Dini just in front of him, while he never looked like getting into a challenging position when down the field at Kempton last month. Mullins is clearly chasing every penny and a drop in class should help his charge’s chance here.
Nicholls is hardly likely to sit idly by as Mullins makes inroads into his championship lead, and to that end, big things are expected from Present Man in the Helen Tellam 50th Birthday Novices’ Handicap Chase at Exeter.
He looked ready to step up to fences when well beaten over hurdles at Wincanton earlier in the month and the fact Nicholls switches disciplines at this late stage of the campaign speaks volumes about his ability.
Only For Love rates the best bet at Market Rasen in the concluding Racing UK Day Pass Just £10 Mares’ Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
Nap: Busy Street (3.20pm, Beverley)
Double: Arab Poet (2.50pm, Beverley)
Treble: Carenot (4.50pm, Beverley)
Yankee: Townshend (2pm, Perth)
