The David O'Meara-trained Doc Hay was a big eyecatcher in the Portland Handicap 10 days ago and he looks ready to strike in the conditions event at 15:40. The six-year-old is a useful sprinter and has largely performed respectable this term in the face of a few stiff tasks, contesting races such the Temple Stakes and the King's Stand, but it was his effort at Doncaster that suggested he was really coming to the boil. Travelling well having been dropped out, Doc Hay met with some trouble a couple of furlongs from home and finished with running left having not been given anything like a hard time thereafter; he is a fascinating proposition this afternoon.
The seven furlong handicap at 16:10 is quite a competitive affair but the Dandy Nicholls-trained Desert Creek is fancied to emerge on top. The seven-year-old came good at this sort of time last year, winning three on the bounce, and it could be a similar story this time around as he suggested that his turn was near when finishing fourth at Ripon last time. He had a hopeless task from his position that day but did more than enough to warrant support on his next outing, and it would come as a surprise were he not to go very close.
Another to have had no chance from its position when last seen is Ty Gwr, who was dropped out by Jamie Spencer at Kempton earlier this month and was never really involved in a fair handicap won by Jazz Master. He raced freely that day so the application of a hood could enable him to settle and, though this represents his first race on turf, the impression is that he has more to still offer for trainer Brian Ellison.
Timeform SmartPlays:
All at Beverley
Back Doc Hay @ 7.06/1 in the 15:40
Back Desert Creek @ 11.010/1 in the 16:10
Back Ty Gwr @ 6.25/1 in the 16:40
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