4:53 Beverley Tips

Ran a cracker last time. Unlucky not to finish closer when not getting a run through. Would have gone close with a clear passage. Goes on soft ground and drops down in class here. Just not sure the drop back in trip is ideal.

Good Earth showed he was on the way back to possibly winning a race with a good run 5 days ago. A previous course and distance winner could go close to gaining another win here today with luck in running.

Won this race in 2022 and 2024. Last time out over this course and distance, came 6th in a listed race. Back in a handicap, this looks easier.

This horse has tried a variety of trips on a variety of grounds, but when you pick through the form, he's not had these conditions much at all. There's every indication that a soft ground 5 furlongs is what could be his optimum conditions. He also showed a little more in a first-time hood last time out and appears to have been somewhat overlooked in the market. He was also an excellent 2nd on his only previous run at the course when he chased home a horse that has, in effect, won since off a 14lb higher mark than he races off here today. He was well beaten in 2nd, but even so, that does advertise that he handled the track and could be on a fair mark.

I'm somewhat bemused to see DC COGENT at 22/1. It was 15/2, giving 7 pounds to Brazilian Belle on the Thirsk run last time, finishing with running. He's dropped from 75 to 74 tomorrow and is in receipt of 2 pounds from Belle. 9 pounds turnaround at the weights for a beating of 2 lengths, 1/2 length, and a neck. Yet he's 22/1, which is completely wrong. Added bonus of 4 places. Washington DC horses get better with experience. Only had 7 races, winning once and runner-up three times. Steps up in class. Bryan Smart has had a winner, a third, and a fourth from his last 5 runners in the last week.

This looks an almost impossible puzzle to solve, especially that the ground looks like it will be testing. Stash The Cash is the outsider of the field at current prices, but he has form on soft ground, seems to go well on these uphill tracks, and has been running fairly well on ground that would be unsuitable for him. At the price he could reward an each way play.