Tarboosh was a big eye-catcher last time out and looks decent value to land the spoils in the feature race at Beverley on Saturday, the Listed 5f Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (15:15).
This six-year-old is a course and distance winner who has been transformed since joining trainer Paul Midgley in June 2017, winning eight times and rising in the ratings by 36lb.
He had a terrific time last season when winning four times and came good at this time of the year when rattling up a hat-trick in July and August.
Tarboosh went on to round off the campaign with success in a competitive 22-runner class 2 handicap at Doncaster where he ran on strongly to score by a length and defy top weight of 9st 10lb.
It was a performance which suggested he was up to winning in pattern company. Tarboosh’s two starts this season weren’t entirely without promise.
After finishing a close up third to stable companion Tanasoq at Musselburgh, the son of Bahamian Bounty showed plenty of early dash and pressed the leaders two from home before weakening late on to finish a 6 3/4 lengths eighth of 11 to Mabs Cross in what was a hot renewal of the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
York effort can be upgraded
He backed that up with a decent third to Maid In India in a Listed contest, and there was a lot to like about his run at York 10 days ago when a 2 1/4 lengths eighth of 20 to Dakota Gold.
After being held-up on the stands’ side for an unfavourable draw in stall 19, Tarboosh made good headway to lead his group a furlong from home but had no chance with the first four home who were drawn 10 or lower.
In the circumstances it was a performance which can be upgraded and the winner, whom he met on level weights, is a thriving sort who completed a quick-fire big race hat-trick.
It was an effort which suggested he was well worth another crack at this level and Tarboosh also has his ideal underfoot conditions.
So, at odds of 7/1 with Betfred, he looks worth siding with in a wide-open looking renewal of the Beverley Bullet.
Tis Marvellous looks plenty short enough
Tis Marvellous comes into the race at the top of his game and heads the betting at 5/2 with Unibet.
This Clive Cox trained five-year-old has a 37 per cent strike rate over the minimum trip of this.
He ran a stormer two starts back when running on strongly to go finish a 1 1/2 lengths runner-up to Cape Byron in the ultra-competitive 26-runner Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tis Marvellous has since landed a hot 19-runner Heritage Handicap at the same venue in fine style by 2 1/2 lengths from Open Wide.
The son of Harbour Watch took up the running a furlong from home and only had to be ridden out to draw readily clear and score with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
That taking success has earned Tis Marvellous a revised rating of 111. It’s the highest in this 10 runner line-up and gives him 5lb and upwards in hand on his rivals.
It makes him the one to beat, but that is reflected in his odds. They look cramped in relation to a race of this nature, so Tis Marvellous looks worth taking on for that reason alone.
Consistent Copper Knight has Beverley Bullet claims
Trainer Tim Easterby has his team in fine form and his likeable five-year-old Copper Knight looks sure to go well now eased in grade.
This son of Sir Prancelot is a model of consistency who has won twice this season and made the frame on four occasions from nine starts.
The last of those successes came in this grade at York where Copper Knight showed his customary early dash to race at the head of affairs and responded gamely when pressed to beat Dark Shot by half-a-length.
He then finished a 6 3/4 lengths seventh of nine to Battaash in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and got slightly closer to that rival last time out when a fine 6 1/4 lengths fifth of 11 in seriously hot renewal of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
Copper Knight had the favourite Ten Sovereigns just over a length behind him in sixth, and has nothing to fear from the re-opposing Ornate who came seventh.
This represents a return to much calmer waters, and makes Copper Knight worthy of the utmost respect and well worth considering at standout odds of 10/1 with William Hill.
Judicial not to be underestimated
Given his proven course winning form, Judicial looks overpriced at 11/1 with Ladbrokes is another that appeals each-way.
Trained by Julie Camacho, this seven-year-old is unbeaten in two starts over course and distance having landed back-to-back runnings of a conditions contest in 2017 and 2018.
Judicial went on to land the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown after the latter where he found plenty to beat Muthmir by a neck.
The son of Iffraaj has had just four starts this season, finishing a fair 4 1/2 lengths seventh of 11 to Mabs Cross in the Group 3 at Newmarket on return to action before winning a conditions contest at the same venue two outings later by a short-head.
Judicial also wasn’t totally disgraced last time out when a 6 1/2 lengths sixth of nine to Battaash in the aforementioned Group 2 King George at Goodwood where he finished a neck in front of Copper Knight.
He now meets that rival on 3lb better terms and boasts a terrific strike rate of 40 per cent over the 5f trip of this.
So, taking everything into account, Judicial has more going for him than his Beverley Bullet odds suggest.
