Boy To Run Best At Beverley

Best Boy is a horse that first caught my eye on his handicap debut over this course and distance when he was ridden by Fergal Lynch.  To say he was given too much to do would be a massive understatement, and for him to finish only 6 lengths behind the winner was a decent achievement considering how he was ridden on the day. That effort came off a mark of 64 and the handicapper reacted, dropping him to 60.

Next time out, last week at Nottingham over the same trip, he was very slowly away and again looked in no hurry to make his way through the field. He was still near the back three furlongs from home, but when his apprentice jockey asked him for an effort he seemed to respond quite well, passing quite a few in the last couple of furlongs to finish 5th. He was beaten quite a distance in the end, but the winner of the race followed up off 6lb higher four days later so it looks decent enough form. 

David Allan gets the leg up, which has to be seen as a positive as he was the choice of connections to partner stable star Take Cover, who went agonisingly close in a Group 2 at Goodwood. Hopefully he can make amends on Best Boy today, who looks well worthy of  each way support at odds of 14/1.

Stevos' Selection: 5.10 Beverley Best Boy (14/1 e/w).