Beverley preview: Swift gets the vote of Approval

Swift Approval can take advantage of a drop in class to land the 7f handicap on this evening’s seven-race card at Beverley (19.40).

The Kevin Ryan trained gelding won once as a juvenile, and after shaping as if needing the run on seasonal reappearance posted a really solid effort when a 1 1/4 length runner-up in a competitive contest at Haydock.

Swift Approval backed that up with a fine fourth of 10 to Dawn’s Early Light in a class 3 affair at Pontefract over 6f, staying on strongly from off the pace to be beaten three lengths off a mark of 82.

The three-year-old was then poorly drawn when well beaten last time out at Chester, but that was a class 2 contest and Swift Approval now drops down into class 4 company.

It gives the son of Approve a big chance of bouncing back, and Swift Approval is well-treated off his current mark of 81 judged on previous efforts.

Th 7f trip also looks ideal, and with Jamie Spencer in the saddle this represents a nice opportunity for Swift Approval to notch a second career success.

In the 1m 1f handicap that opens proceedings (17.40), Splash Of Verve is an interesting contender now partnered by Paul Hanagan for the first time.

The three-year-old is trained by Phil Kirby and Hanagan has been successful on three occasions from just eight rides for the handler in recent seasons.

His booking suggests connections are expecting a much improved effort from Splash Of Verve who has so far failed to trouble the judge in four runs this season.

Those below par efforts have seen the assessor cut Splash Of Verve plenty of slack, and the son of Fast Company is now 2lb lower than when notching his sole success at Wolverhampton back in December.