KYLIE RULES RETURNS FOR BEVERLEY OPENER
Wed 10th June 2020
Popular mare Kylie Rules makes a welcome comeback at her spiritual home when Beverley emerges from lockdown on Thursday.
Trained in North Yorkshire by Ruth Carr, the five-year-old daughter of Aussie Rules enjoyed a golden spring in 2019 with four consecutive victories on the Westwood.
The assessor has since intervened – Kylie Rules is now 25lb higher than when she began her winning spree last April – but Carr is optimistic of a bold bid in the Follow Us On Twitter for Raceday Updates Handicap (3.50).
Stillington-based Carr said: “She’s in good form, and she’s looking forward to getting back to what she does best.
“She’s as enthusiastic as ever and she’s ready to run. The problem is, though, that she’s now so high up in the handicap compared to last April.
“Things are probably going to be difficult for her this year, but she’s in great order and we’re looking forward to seeing her back racing.
“She doesn’t mind a bit of juice in the ground – she wouldn’t want it bottomless – but she never lets us down.
“I don’t imagine it will be any different this time.”
Kylie Rules is top weight for the extended one-mile race at Beverley and takes on 10 rivals, including course-and-distance winners Dawaaleeb and Poet's Dawn.
She will once again be ridden by Jimmy Sullivan, who created a small piece of history when he won the first UK race since the sport returned from a 76-day hiatus at Newcastle on June 1.
Carr is also represented at Beverley by Athmad, who runs in the Visit tote.co.uk Handicap (3.20) over seven and a half furlongs.
The four-year-old gelding will be having just his second start for new connections following his switch from Brian Meehan’s yard in March.
Carr said: “We’re still learning about him as he’s only had the one run for us at Newcastle.
“That said, a turning and slightly more interesting track might see him improve.
“We’re quietly pleased with him. He’s more enthusiastic than when he first arrived and is well handicapped on his best form."
Commenting upon the well-being of her yard – Athmad and Kylie Rules will be her first runners since racing returned from lockdown – the trainer added: “I’d say our horses are a bit behind than this time last year.
“But, at the same time, they’re probably where they would be at the start of a normal season.
“Our horses genuinely improve for a run, and I think that would be the case at Beverley, but we’re starting to get busy again.
“It might be starting late, but it’s still a long season.”
Beverley’s behind-closed-doors fixture features nine races, the first of which due off at 12.45pm.
