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Beverley Bullet preview

MaarekMaarek
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Evanna McCutcheon expects Maarek to be approaching his peak ahead of the totescoop6 Beverley Bullet Sprint on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has been a top sprinter for several seasons and can boast such notable races as the Prix de l'Abbaye, Duke of York Stakes and Qipco British Champions Sprint among his prized successes.

He does need soft ground to be seen at his absolute best and was having his first run since May when fifth to Mattmu in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month.

McCutcheon feels her stable star will have benefited greatly from the outing.

"When we have been able to get him out this season, he's run very well," said the County Tipperary handler.

"Seamie (Heffernan) got off him after the Phoenix and was very, very happy as he obviously needed the run.

"He was obviously a bit ring-rusty as it was his first start since May, so you'd like to think there's a fair bit more to come."

The Tom Hogan-trained Dikta Del Mar is the other Irish challenger and is no stranger to British action having finished third behind Katawi in a Listed contest at Ayr in June, although she disappointed at Glorious Goodwood.

Hogan has put a line through that run and can see his three-year-old putting in a decent bid after finishing third at Tipperary on her most recent outing.

"She didn't seem to act at Goodwood (last in the King George Stakes) for whatever reason, but her run before that behind Stepper Point in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh was pretty good," said the County Tipperary handler.

"She's won before on soft ground so we wouldn't be too concerned if they get more rain there."

Stuart Williams is optimistic of good runs from Cordial and Holley Shiftwell, who have acquitted themselves with credit at this level.

The Newmarket handler said: "Cordial ran a really smart race in Ireland and is a nice filly. We need a bit of rain for her as she likes to get her toe in, but she has plenty of speed and ability.

"Holley Shiftwell will have no problems back over five furlongs. She jumped out at Goodwood and found herself in front, and was then in a position where the rest of the field chased her down. Before that, she had done really well in some good races."

Robert Cowell has made a habit of winning big sprints in recent seasons and hopes to take the Listed spoils with Iffranesia.

"She'll win a Listed race, but whether it's at Beverley remains to be seen. She's had a very good season and I thought she ran a very solid race at Tipperary," said the Newmarket trainer.

"Finishing second to Monsieur Joe was no disgrace at all, as that horse has been campaigned superbly by Paul Midgley.

"The ground was probably too quick for her that day, so it was a good effort. She's going the right way, and still might be improving."

Midgley is no mean sprint trainer either and is represented by Line Of Reason, who was beaten a neck and a head in third place in this race 12 months ago. The five-year-old reappears quickly after a rare poor effort in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last Saturday.

"He's in great form and if the forecast is right, and it continues to dry up, I think he'll take the beating," said the North Yorkshire handler.

"We don't quite know what happened at York, so I think that run is best forgotten.

"He ran a smashing race last year at Beverley - Jamie Spencer was brilliant on the winner - but we were held up a little bit and that didn't help.

"We're very happy with his draw (three) and, on the figures, he'd have every chance."

Richard Fahey is concerned Alben Star may need the race as he has been absent since finishing second in the All-Weather Sprint Championship at Lingfield in early April.

"I'm a little bit worried he might need the run. I need to get a run into him before Ayr and it's the only race I can run him in," said the Malton handler.

"It's a prep for the Ayr Gold Cup. He hasn't run for a little while. He had a setback and I'm not rushing him, but he's not just at his very best at the moment."

Eric Alston feels Ridge Ranger could surprise a few people as the four-year-old takes the step up from handicaps into Listed company.

"We dropped her back to five furlongs at Goodwood and it worked well," said the Preston handler.

"I thought that was a good little race and she did it nicely. She was only just hanging on over six furlongs, but Beverley is a stiff five (furlongs) so we think the race will suit her nicely.

"She's got a little bit to find against some of the others, but she's improving and you wouldn't put it past her to improve some more."