Newmarket preview: Beardwood the one to beat

Beardwood has some strong form to his name and can get back on the winning trail in the 7f handicap at Newmarket today (17.15) now stepped up in trip.

The Richard Fahey trained colt shaped with plenty of promise when runner-up on his sole start as a juvenile, and duly went one better on return to action this season when showing a good attitude to beat Dawn’s Early Light by a short-head at Pontefract.

Beardwood was allotted an opening handicap mark of 88 on the back of that success and ran a cracker off it when staying on strongly to finish a two length third of 12 to Right Touch over 6f at the same venue.

The three-year-old backed that up with a solid sixth fo 17 to Mubtagha in a competitive class 2 contest over 6f at Newmarket when last seen in action, once again doing his best work at the finish.

Those runs suggest Beardwood is crying out for the step up to 7f, and the son of Dutch Art also now drops back down into class 3 company.

That gives Beardwood major claims at the weights off an unchanged mark of 88, and he also remains unexposed and open to plenty more improvement after just four starts.

In the 6f handicap that closes proceedings (17.50), Deeds Not Words looks decent value to cash-in on a huge drop in the weights.

The Mick Channon trained gelding was last successful over course and distance 12 months ago when scoring by 1 1/4 lengths off a mark of 89.

Deeds Not Words was then not disgraced off a revised mark of 97 when eighth of 19 in a similar grade affair at this venue, but his form then tailed off.

The four-year-old has also failed to trouble the judge in six runs this season, but his mark has continued to plummet as a result.