Beverley, Thursday 23 April 2026 — Good Ground Tips
Beverley's stiff uphill finish on good ground today demands horses who stay every yard and come into the meeting with form to back them up. Three races stand out on this eight-race card, and the handicapper has left a couple of doors ajar if you know where to look.
2:52 — Happy Birthday Andy Hill Handicap (5f, Good)
This five-furlong sprint looks like a two-horse race on paper between the market leaders, but the value sits a little wider.
Trilby Each-Way at 4/1 (Bet365, William Hill) is the play. Sam England's yard has gone quiet recently (0/16 in the last 14 days), but this horse tells his own story. He won over course and distance on good ground last April, produced an impressive finish that day, and now returns to his lowest mark since summer 2024. The tongue-tie goes back on, which sparked his C&D success, and P J McDonald takes the ride. He doesn't need England to be in form; he needs the right conditions and the right trip, and he has both today. Overlay at 4/1 in a nine-runner field with three places on offer.
Ventura Express at 5/1 (Bet365) also demands respect. Two wins from three C&D starts, the latest in July 2024 on good to firm, and he went desperately close in a tight Southwell finish in March. His course record here is outstanding and Jason Hart knows this track. If Trilby's trainer form puts you off, Ventura Express is the safe alternative at an honest price.
The 5/4 favourite I'm Next lost his lead near the line over C&D last week and faces a 1lb rise. He'll go close again but the price makes him a bad bet when the each-way alternatives are this attractive.
3:22 — Alan McGuinness And Robin Lunness Memorial Handicap (7½f, Good)
Eleven runners over seven-and-a-half furlongs on a track that rewards genuine stayers in a handicap. This is where Ismail Mohammed's hot form becomes significant.
Frostmagic at 7/2 (William Hill, Coral) is the selection. The yard has gone 3/5 in the last 14 days with a large stake profit attached to that record, which is a significant signal when you are assessing a horse on the seasonal comeback. Frostmagic made all at Southwell when last seen and the key point from his Spotlight is that he seems to need to dominate these days. Tom Marquand takes the ride, a yard booking that signals confidence, and the step back to seven-and-a-half furlongs suits a horse who has drifted towards shorter trips. If he gets a clear lead here he could prove very hard to collar on this stiff finish. Trust the trainer form.
A War Eagle Each-Way at 10/1 (Bet365) is the value punt. His sole career win came over course and distance on good to firm. He is back in the same scenario now, back down in class, and his progressive RPRs before the last two excusable runs suggest a horse who has more to offer. Low mileage on a four-year-old means he has not been over-raced, and Michael and David Easterby operate at 3/25 recently, which is steady enough. At 10/1 for a horse with C&D form and a clear angle, the each-way case is solid.
Milteye at 3/1 is the market leader and the Ripon win last week was convincing enough despite traffic issues. The wide draw is a concern at Beverley, though, and the penalty makes the price tight. Legitimate danger, not the bet.
4:22 — Connexin's 'No Lagging Behind' Handicap Div I (1m½f, Good)
The final highlighted race and the most intriguing of the three. Nine runners, a long trip, and a clear form angle.
Tees George at 5/1 (Bet365) catches the eye despite Adrian Nicholls running cold recently. The horse matters more than the trainer here. Tees George won his sole turf success over course and distance in September 2024 and has returned to form in 2026, placing in both outings including a frame finish in a big field at Doncaster last time. He knows this track, he stays the trip, and he comes back to a venue where he has already won on turf. At 5/1 that is fair value with conditions in his favour.
Copper And Five Each-Way at 7/1 (Bet365) is the veteran who refuses to be written off. He won a C&D contest off 5lb higher last May, second start of the 2025 campaign. Today mirrors that exact scenario: Thirsk reappearance done, back to Beverley, back over course and distance. Ruth Carr is firing at 5/30 in the last 14 days, which is a healthy strike rate for a smaller yard. Ten-year-olds can frustrate but this one has C&D form and a trainer who has set him up the same way he was set up when he last won here. Each-way at 7/1.
No Knee Never is 0/8 on turf. The AW form is smart but the surface switch is the question here, and 13/8 is a short price to answer it. Respect but not a bet at the odds.
Today's NAP
Odds: 7/2 — William Hill (others: 7/2 Coral, 4.6 Betfair Exchange)
Ismail Mohammed's yard has gone 3/5 in the past 14 days with significant profit attached, and Tom Marquand's booking underlines stable confidence in this horse today. Frostmagic makes all when in the mood, he has dropped back to a shorter trip that now suits his style, and the good ground at Beverley plays to his strengths. Seven-and-a-half furlongs up that stiff finish is ideal for a front-runner who was still finding form at Southwell on his final 2025 outing. The trainer angle is the clincher: when this yard runs this hot, the bookmakers do not always react quickly enough.