Border Bandit seeks redemption back at Beverley next Tuesday when he goes for gold in the feature race of the day.
Trained by Tracy Waggott in Spennymoor, Co Durham, the seven-year-old gelding turned in a fine display on the Westwood on Bank Holiday Monday, when a head second behind Rousayan in an eight-and-a-half-furlong handicap.
Waggott is now optimistic her inmate can go one place better in the £10,000 Beverley Folk Festival Here 19-21 June Handicap (3.55) over course and distance.
She said: “He’s really well and came out of his last race in good form.
“These days he’s a lot more straightforward. He’s not bothered leading and he’s not bothered if you hold on to him, but he does need some stoking up in a race to keep him interested.
“Connor Beasley got on really well with him on Bank Holiday Monday and he’ll keep the ride.
“Border Bandit’s won before off this same mark of 80 so he’s still reasonably well handicapped, but if he goes up much more he might struggle.
“He goes on any ground – it’s all the same to him, really – so you’d have to be hopeful he’ll run really well again.”
Waggott is also likely to represented by Windforpower on the seven-race card, which is due to begin at 2.25pm.
The five-year-old gelding knows Beverley well, having already competed at the track five times, and is one of 38 confirmations for the Annie Oxtoby Memorial Handicap at 3.25pm.
Windforpower is in good form, too, after he twice finished in the money at Catterick following a smooth success on soft ground at Musselburgh on April 5.
“He’s been great his season and is a lot more mature that he used to me,” said the trainer.
“We always thought he needed a bit of cover, getting there just on the line, but he’s grown up a lot and he’s a lot more versatile.
“He likes Beverley, even though he’s not won there yet, so hopefully next week we can do something about that.”
Waggott has a good record at Beverley, which is largely because of Shadowtime, who has won seven times at the East Yorkshire circuit.
The 10-year-old gelding has not been sighted since last August, but a return to the Westwood is imminent.
“He’s not in (full training) just yet, but he’s really well and really happy,” said Waggott.
“He can’t wait to get going again and I’m sure you’ll see him at Beverley this summer as he loves the place.”
Perhaps the most interesting race on the card is the Racing UK On Channel 432 Maiden Stakes at 2.55pm.
Recent winners of the five-furlong dash include Northgate Lad, Supplicant, Top Notch Tonto and Caspar Netscher.
The meeting concludes at 5.25pm with the first of seven races comprising of the popular Beverley Middle Distance Handicap Series, which is now in its fifth year.
