LOCAL trainer Les Eyre can celebrate a third Beverley winner since his return to England in this afternoon's feature race.
The former Spanish ex-pat has done a good job following his move to Catwick and has already saddled two victories with Real Tigress.
Now seems the right time to invest in stablemate Bob, who runs in the Race Horse Trader "Commission Free" Handicap at 3.50pm.
Ebor-winning Eyre has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the four-year-old gelding, who also plied his trade in Spain, winning three times.
But after two low-key outings at Pontefract and over this course and distance in May, one might have been forgiven for believing Eyre's optimism was a little idealistic.
Bob's most recent effort at Haydock was much more like it, however, and should set him up nicely for this.
The gelded son of Assertive was well beaten by Dubai Hills, but he made encouraging late gains to finish third in a much better race than this.
Eyre admitted Bob had taken longer than expected to acclimatise to Britain, but he has now evidently found his mojo, judged by his exploits on Merseyside.
Having started his new life in England with a mark of 80, the handicapper has had little option but to take off 6lb upon his return to Beverley.
He could be very well treated if his top-notch Spanish form is even remotely transferable.
The locally-owned Choc'A'Moca should not be discounted, either, in division two of the preceding five-furlong handicap (3.20).
Paul Midgley's seven-year-old sprinter is not well drawn, but he showed more fizz at Carlisle last month and is 6lb lower than when he won well at Beverley last July.
Adiator must also go close in his pursuit of a hat-trick of wins in division one at 2.50pm.
Neville Bycroft's mare made a perfect return at Newcastle in May so will be sharper for this engagement. A 4lb rise is not unduly harsh on the six-year-old, who is nicely berthed in stall three.
Thankyou Very Much should later be kept on-side in the mile-and-a-quarter handicap (4.20).
A game runner-up to Maybeme over course and distance 18 days ago, that trainer James Bethell has booked Joe Fanning is a clear statement of intent.
Zaitsev looks interesting in the seven-and-a-half-furlong handicap.
Ollie Pears' four-year-old was not beaten that far in a decent heat at Newmarket in May, and is 1lb lower today than when victorious at Beverley last summer.
The well-bred Laftah is the best horse in the seven-and-a-half-furlong maiden (5.20) judged by her stout debut fourth at Haydock, while Nam Ma Prow will enjoy the step back up in trip for the concluding mile-and-a-half handicap at 5.55pm.SELECTIONS:2.20: Tagtale2.50: Adiator3.20: Choc'A'Moca3.50: BOB (NAP)4.20: Thankyou Very Much4.50: Zaitsev5.20: Laftah5.55: Nam Ma Prow
