The Beverley Bullet, sponsored this year by William Hill, is a Listed race run over the downhill 5f at Beverley in late summer. It is always a spectacle and few meetings will be better attended this weekend or enjoyed with the same enthusiasm and volume levels.
Beverley is the only racecourse in East Yorkshire so has a huge catchment area. The city of Hull spreads out below The Westwood, the rolling moors and parkland on which Beverley racecourse sits, and ‘The Bullet’ is one of the track’s big races of the year. The beer will be flowing but this is also a venue for families and, with fine weather forecast, the inner enclosures will be as full as the grandstands.
Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes History and Trends
The Beverley Bullet is a comparatively new race – it was first staged in 2004 – but it’s already been won by some very speedy sprinters including old warriors Borderlescott, Tangerine Trees – who went on to land the Prix de l’Abbaye – and Pearl Secret four years ago.
| William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes – Previous Winners | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Take Cover | 10 | 9-3 | 75140 | D C Griffiths | T P Queally | 3/1 | |||
| 2016 | Alpha Delphini | 5 | 9-0 | 5-15311 | B Smart | Connor Beasley | 13/2 | |||
| 2015 | Maarek | 8 | 9-0 | 40-3425 | Miss E McCutcheon | Jamie Spencer | 5/1 | |||
| 2014 | Pearl Secret | 5 | 9-0 | 9/3-1820 | T D Barron | Jamie Spencer | 2/1 | |||
| 2013 | Stepper Point | 4 | 9-0 | 508331 | W R Muir | Martin Dwyer | 10/1 | |||
| 2012 | Borderlescott | 10 | 9-0 | 524629 | R Bastiman | Freddie Tylicki | 8/1 | |||
| 2011 | Tangerine Trees | 6 | 9-7 | 411-100 | B Smart | Tom Eaves | 10/1 | |||
| 2010 | Mister Hughie | 3 | 8-12 | 3F7940 | M R Channon | Sam Hitchcott | 7/1 | |||
| 2009 | Exceptional Art | 3 | 8-12 | 211 | D Nicholls | Franny Norton | 16/1 | |||
| 2008 | Look Busy | 3 | 8-11 | 416 | A Berry | Slade O’Hara | 11/2 | |||
| 2007 | Hellvelyn | 3 | 8-12 | 24-8 | B Smart | Ted Durcan | 4/1 | |||
| 2006 | Baltic King | 6 | 9-0 | 150 | H Morrison | Kevin Darley | 4/1 | |||
| 2005 | Chookie Heiton | 7 | 8-12 | 203 | I Semple | Tom Eaves | 7/1 | |||
| 2004 | Chookie Heiton | 6 | 8-12 | 500 | I Semple | Tom Eaves | 40/1 | |||
- Three-year-olds hold their own in this Listed race but none from that age bracket have been successful since 2010, though one was third 12 months ago.
- One trend that is consistent concerns the draw. A low draw can be a huge advantage on the sprint course at Beverley as there is a right-hand bend into the straight and the ground slopes away towards the stands which can make it extremely difficult for those drawn high to get balanced and deliver a challenge. No winner has had a double-figure draw in the last seven years, Indeed, the last six winners started in stalls 1-4.
- Bryan Smart has already trained the winner of ‘The Bullet’ three times in its short history.
- Remarkably, 10 of the last 14 previous winners had been unplaced on their previous start but that wasn’t the case with 2016 winner, Alpha Delphini, who had won his previous two. The latter, of course, won the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York just a few days ago, enhancing the profile of this race.
The three-year-old Elnadim Star has won four of her six career starts, including two at Beverley. She carries a penalty for her latest success in a Listed race at Ayr but it’s hard to see Kevin Ryan’s filly (8/1 with one bookmaker) finishing out of the frame if a modest draw doesn’t prove too much of a disadvantage.
Last year’s winner, Take Cover, is now an 11-year-old but still possesses bags of early speed, as he’s shown at Goodwood and York recently in high-class company. He’s a general 11/4 to stage a repeat but will burn up a lot of energy crossing over from stall nine so others are preferred.
Mr Lupton has fared even worse in the draw and finished behind Take Cover at York. But he was ahead of that rival at Goodwood and beat York winner Alpha Delphini on the Knavesmire earlier and also holds Final Venture (4/1 with Ladbrokes) on the form book so the 6/1 with Betfred will appeal to some.
MYTHMAKER has that all-important inside draw and is a stand-out 12/1 with Betfred. Ultra-consistent over 6f, he has only raced over the minimum trip once before but led until well inside the final furlong in a Group 3 at Newbury last time and Graham Lee’s mount could stay on too strongly for rivals in the closing stages. His trainer certainly knows what’s required to win this race.
William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Current Best Odds
Take Cover 11/4, Final Venture 4/1, Mr Lupton 6/1, Elnadim Star 8/1, Mirza 11/1, Mythmaker 12/1, Foolaad and Line Of Reason 16/1, Tanasoq 20/1, Tricksy Spirit 25/1, Short Call 50/1
(Odds Correct at 1.30pm August 30)
