Beverley Bullet would be one of the most appropriately-named winners on the Westwood for many years when he goes for gold on Flemingate Ladies’ Day on Wednesday, August 16.
Named in homage to the renowned Listed sprint, this year staged on September 2, the four-year-old gelding is trained in North Yorkshire by Lawrence Mullaney.
Mullaney feels he has Beverley Bullet in super order for the mile-and-a-quarter Flemingate Beverley Handicap (4.40pm) and is aware of the significance of the occasion ahead of the social event of the year in East Yorkshire.
The Great Habton-based handler said:
“It’s a big day for Beverley Bullet – and also a big day for us.
“Ladies’ Day is the most important afternoon of the season at Beverley, and his owners (Jean Stapleton and Rob Wilson) love having runners there. I do, too, so we’re very much looking forward to it.
“Beverley Bullet is in great form and we are expecting a big run from him.”
The son of Makfi has been a revelation for Mullaney since his transfer from Les Eyre’s stables in April.
He has only once finished out of the frame in seven starts this season and has claimed two victories, at Carlisle in June and at Pontefract on his last outing on July 30.
Beverley Bullet faces seven rivals in the Flemingate Beverley Handicap and will be ridden by Daniel Tudhope, who was on board when the partnership struck by two and a quarter lengths at Carlisle.
Mullaney added:
“He’s only four so he’s still improving, to be honest.
“We’ve got some even loftier plans with him, but he’ll need to win on Wednesday first and that’s all we are concentrating on for now.
“He’s won at Carlisle and Pontefract and they are sharp enough courses, so I don’t think the track is a problem.
“It’s also great that we’ve got Danny Tudhope riding as he knows the horse really well.
“Everything is positive with him. He’s in a really happy place and has only gone up 3lb for his last win, and that is far from the end of the world.
“He hardly had a run at Pontefract as Joe Fanning gave him a beautiful, sympathetic ride.
“He’s fit, fresh and raring to go.”
Beverley’s eight-race card begins at 2.10pm, with the official going described as good. The forecast for Flemingate Ladies’ Day is for sunny spells and highs of 21C.
Beverley racecourse chief executive Sally Iggulden said:
“We’re very excited about our first Ladies’ Day in partnership with Flemingate.
“We’ve made some changes to the format this year which we believe will prove very popular with our racegoers.
“We’ve changed the criteria of the Most Stylish contest so this year it’s open to everyone to nominate themselves or be put forward by others.
“We’ve also added three themed marquees which will create a fabulous and very glamorous centrepiece for the day.
“To top it all off, the prizes provided by our wonderful partners are absolutely fantastic.
“Ladies’ Day is always Beverley’s social highlight of the summer and, with Flemingate on board and these changes to the format, the day promises to be even more dazzling.”
Beverley also stages a fine card on Thursday, August 17, and features the return of the RB Save the Children Camel Derby.
