PEARL SECRET can come out on top in Beverley's most prestigious race of the season this afternoon.

The £40,000 Betfred Beverley Bullet, a Listed race over five furlongs, has attracted a useful field and Pearl Secret, who has always been held in the highest regard by his North Yorkshire trainer David Barron, can show his rivals a clean pair of heels in the hands of the soon-to-retire Jamie Spencer.

An excellent runner-up to Hot Streak in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock earlier in the season, Pearl Secret has had only one outing since, when unplaced behind Sole Power in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

This afternoon's feature prize represents a drop in class for Pearl Secret, who is fancied to have the measure of Kingsgate Native and Mirza in what promises to be a fascinating contest.

Adele can get Beverley punters off to a good start EBF George Kilburn Memorial Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

Mark Johnston's juvenile shaped really well on her debut to finish a neck second to Banditry. That experience will not have been wasted on her and she is napped to go one better under Graham Lee.

Paul Midgley has already enjoyed a fine campaign with his sprinters and the Westow trainer, represented by the smart Line Of Reason in the feature event, can win the Betfred Racing Handicap (division two) with old-timer Haajes.

The ten-year-old failed by only a whisker to get the better of Go Go Green at Thirsk last week. Well drawn in stall one, he has every chance of gaining compensation.

Yehaan is selected to defy top weight in the £20,000 Betfred Handicap.

The William Haggas-trained three-year-old has proved a model of consistency this season and went down fighting in third at Doncaster last time. She may have the edge over the hat-trick seeking Scallop, who had only inches to spare when winning on her latest start.

Tim Easterby finally got a race out of Margrets Gift on this course a couple of weeks ago. The three-year-old can follow-up under Jason Hart in the first leg of the Betfred Racing Handicap.

At Sandown, Aktabantay should be hard to beat in the European Wealth Solario Stakes.

Hugo Palmer's smart juvenile, who has never finished out of the first two in four starts this season, was a fine runner-up in Group 2 company at Newmarket's July meeting and is entitled to have a big say in this seven furlong race, won last year by the imperious Kingman.

French trainer Andre Fabre is always a man to be feared when he brings horses across the channel and his Fintry is worthy of the utmost respect in the £65,000 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Atlanta Stakes.

Winner of her last two starts in France, in Listed and Group 3 company, Fintry has to give weight away all round this afternoon, but she is three-year-old on the upgrade and she is taken to complete a hat-trick of wins.

Also worth noting at the Esher course are the speedy Ajjaadd (2.05) in the opening sprint handicap, and the ultra-consistent Potentate (5.30).

Racing selections

Beverley

1-55 Adele (NAP)

2-25 Pearl Secret

3-05 Margrets Girft

3-40 Haajes

4-15 Yenhaab

4-50 Our Boy Jack

5-20 Master Of Suspense

5-50 Real Jazz

 

Sandown

2-05 Ajjaadd

2-40 Aktabantay

3-15 Fintry

3-50 Tinghir

4-25 Sister Of Mercy

5-00 Tercel

5-30 Potentate

 

Today’s other meetings: Chester, Newton Abbot, Bath and Market Rasen.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Brighton and Worcester.