ED DUNLOP TARGETS MORE BEVERLEY GAINS WITH WELOOF

Ed Dunlop will try to remain unbeaten at Beverley this season when he saddles Weloof in the feature race on Thursday (April 27). The Newmarket handler enjoyed a fine start to the 2017 campaign at the East Yorkshire circuit when he secured a double at the opening fixture last Wednesday.  Amlad and Global Revival obliged for Dunlop on the Westwood, and now the Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah-owned Weloof gets the chance to shine in the 2017 Bernard Evans Memorial Handicap (2.45). Like Amlad, the three-year-old colt sports the same red and white silks of Dabyah and Daban, who both advanced their Classic claims with significant victories last week.

Weloof was well beaten on his sole start as a juvenile, but caught the eye at Wolverhampton last month when he won an eight-and-a-half-furlong maiden by two and a quarter lengths. Dunlop said: “I’m looking forward to running him at Beverley. He did well at Wolverhampton last time and the horse that finished second (Everything For You) has since won a race. He wouldn’t want the ground too fast, but he’s in good form and will now enter handicap company in the hope he can back up his Wolverhampton run. Mr Abdullah Al Naboodah has been a big supporter of the yard recently so hopefully Weloof can continue his fine run of form. We had a good day at Beverley last week and Mulzim winning at Wolverhampton on the evening made it an across-the-card treble. We hope this can help propel us forward as we move into a key period, with many horses ready to run in the near future.”

Weloof will be ridden by Paul Mulrennan at Beverley and takes on six rivals over seven and a half furlongs. Aardwolf is set to carry top weight for Mark Johnston, who also saddles Kodiac Khan. Richard Fahey runs Starlight Romance, the mount of Sammy Jo Bell. Fahey won this race 12 months ago with Garcia, who subsequently claimed victory in the Silver Bowl Stakes at Haydock last May. Monks Stand (Tim Easterby), Arc Royal (Tom Dascombe) and Fayez (David O’Meara) also go to post.

Beverley’s seven-race card is due to begin at 1.40pm and also features the Rapid Lad Handicap (3.50). This mile-and-a-quarter contest is named in honour of the course specialist who won 12 races on the Westwood between 1983-89.  

The current going at Beverley is good to firm, good in places, after four and a half millimetres of rainfall on Tuesday night.

For further details, please contact Beverley chief executive Sally Iggulden on 01482 867488 or email sally@beverleyracecourse.co.uk

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