Punters pile on Oisin Murphy mounts as three-time champion makes rare visit to Beverley

Racing Post

10 June 2023

Punters pile on Oisin Murphy mounts as three-time champion makes rare visit to Beverley

Oisin Murphy has an impressive record when making a rare appearance at Beverley and his three mounts in the Yorkshire track's ITV races have all been subject to strong support.

The three-time champion jockey is 7-17 on his visits to the track and heads there today with seven live chances, none of which are bigger than 9-1. Loaded Gun is his biggest outsider of the day in the bet365 Two Year Old Trophy (3.15), but his odds have been trimmed from 12-1 this morning. The Andrew Balding-trained runner was a promising fourth last time out.

Flora Of Bermuda, also for the Murphy-Balding duo, has been red hot in the betting, shortening to 7-2 (from 5) in the Hilary Needler Trophy (2.05). She cost £340,000 at the breeze-ups and was only beaten half a length in an extremely promising debut fourth at Sandown last month.

Murphy's 7f handicap (2.40) chance United Front is now 3-1 (from 4) while, away from ITV cameras, From Beyond (1.30) is a strong favourite and Sovereign Spirit (3.50), Berry Edge (4.25) and Aurora Glory (5.00) are also fancied.

At Haydock, Australian raider The Astrologist has drifted to 100-30 (from 5-2) for the Sky Bet John Of Gaunt Stakes (3.35) while Time Lock is 2-1 (from 9-4) in the preceding Lester Piggott Stakes (3.00).

Haydock

3.00: Time Lock 2-1 (from 9-4)
3.35: The Astrologist 100-30 (from 5-2)
4.10: Bussento 3-1 (from 4)

Beverley

1.30: From Beyond 7-4 (from 2)
2.05: Flora Of Bermuda 7-2 (from 5)
2.40: United Front 3-1 (from 4)
3.15: Loaded Gun 9-1 (from 12)
4.25: Jewel Maker 4-1 (from 11-2)

Posted at 11am

Royal Ascot clues: where to look on busy Saturday?

The top hats and swanky suits are almost ready to emerge from the cupboard for Royal Ascot but the action on track today presents the opportunity for a few more connections to live the dream.

ITV action at Haydock and Beverley is one of the last port of calls on the road to five fantastic days at the royal meeting, which will kick off next Tuesday, with the Australian-trained The Astrologist the standout name.

He has travelled across the world for a shot at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes two weeks today but he was hugely disappointing on his British debut at York and runs in the Sky Bet John of Gaunt Stakes (3.35) in an attempt to return to form. The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained gelding is the best on ratings but takes on a tough field including Jumby, El Caballo and Boardman.

Elsewhere, the lightly raced Modaara may strengthen her credentials for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. She is a 20-1 shot for that race but those odds could shorten if she produces a big performance in the Sky Bet Lester Piggott Stakes (3.00).

Cuban Slide: impressive winner at Musselburgh for Karl Burke

It is Ascot's juvenile races which could be impacted most from the ITV action at Beverley. Prince Of Lir followed up in the Norfolk Stakes after landing the Two Year Old Trophy (3.15) a few years ago and today's line-up is full of exciting types. Cuban Slide was a nine-length winner on his debut and is the favourite in a competitive heat.

Posted at 9.30am

Going latest: conditions quicken at Haydock going but threat of thundery showers in afternoon

Conditions at Haydock are good to firm all over this morning, but the track could be hit by thunderstorms during racing.

Rainfall could arrive when the day's two Group 3 contests are set to be run – the Lester Piggott Stakes and John of Gaunt Stakes – but is more likely later in the day.

The going at Haydock was good to firm, good in places on Friday but the stalls have been moved from the inside to the stands' side to provide fresh ground. Conditions are fractionally quicker on the GoingStick reading, which has moved to 7.7 from 7.4.

Kirkland Tellwright, clerk of the course at Haydock, said: "It's a little bit quicker, we're on the other [part of] the track which was watered on Friday but it's been warm and dry.

"We've had a bright start to the day but there's a slight risk of thundery showers later on. They could come about 3pm but the later we go, the bigger the chance."

It is the first of big two days of racing at Beverley where the ground remains good to firm, good in places. Clerk of the course John Morley is relishing the weekend's action and said the track would be blessed by a warm and sunny forecast this weekend.

He added: "We've finally got a nice day as it hasn't been very warm up here this week. We've been watering and I put 4mm on last night and we've got a nice easy good to firm with some good ground in places as well."

Three races from the Yorkshire track feature on ITV's coverage on Saturday but all races on Sunday's seven-race card will get the terrestrial TV treatment as part of the Sky Bet Sunday Series.

"This day is one we look forward to every year with the Hilary Needler (2.05) and Two Year Old Trophy but with the Sunday Series bolted on the weekend looks a real cracker. I'm really excited about it."

Updated at 11am