Beverley betting with William Hill

Beverley is one of the leading Flat racetracks in the north of England and a hugely popular venue for racing enthusiasts in Yorkshire. They have been racing at Beverley since the 18th century, with the first grandstand commissioned in 1767.

Beverley betting is some of the most competitive in the country, especially when the contests are of handicap level.

In 1968 the track opened a brand new £90,000 Tattersalls enclosure and in 2018 the track announced plans for a £4.8m project to replace the existing grandstand with a brand-new state-of-the-art structure that will make the track one of the most racegoer-friendly in the north of England.

However, following an in-depth review, Beverley were forced to submit a revised planning application in April 2019 for comprehensive refurbishment of the existing grandstand. The plan included building a new commentator’s box within the grandstand.

Beverley staged between 18 and 20 fixtures throughout the summer, all of which are broadcast on Racing TV, which regularly runs club race days at the track.

Beverley betting – the big meetings/races

The two big Beverley betting races during the summer are the Hilary Needler Trophy for two-year-olds in late May/early June and the Beverley Bullet Sprint in August, for three-year-olds and up who have not won a Group 1 or 2 race that season.

Because of the nature of the sprint course at Beverley, both races are heavily influenced by the draw. Horses that come from single-figure stalls regularly hold sway unless the ground becomes unseasonably testing.

The Hilary Needler is a prestigious early season juvenile sprint that held Listed status until 2011 and is now run as a conditions event.

It is a 5f contest that has been won by some very smart horses, not least the mighty Attraction, who proved the toast of Beverly betting favourite-backers when justifying an 11-10 SP in 2003, before going on to Guineas glory the following season.

The Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes is a 5f Listed contest that is contested by some of the fastest horses in training. One such speedster was Take Cover, who blasted his way to Bullet glory in 2017 and 2018, despite being in the veteran stage of his career.

Beverley odds – impact on ante-post betting for future races

The Hilary Needler Trophy is normally won by one of the sharpest two-year-olds around. Often it’s one that can go on and run with distinction in the big juvenile sprint races at meetings like Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.

In 2003 the great Attraction stormed to victory before following up in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot later the same month and then rounding her two-year-old season off in style with a five-length success in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival.

Easton Angel, the 2015 winner, trained by Michael Dods, was beaten just a length-and-a-half by Acapulco in the Queen Mary Stakes on her next start.

The Beverley Bullet, the hottest Beverley betting race of the season, is an out and out speed contest contested by the fastest horses around, and is a race that nearly always throws up a candidate for the big sprint races through the summer.

Take Cover had contested the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier that season before going on to score three times at Listed level and landing the Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes at Newbury in a hugely successful campaign.

Maarek, gold-medallist in 2015, returned to Ireland to finish a head second to multiple Group-race scorer Sole Power in the Group 2 Flying Five Stakes at The Curragh the following month.

Beverley betting - course characteristics

Beverley is a stiff right-handed flat course with sharp bends and a separate 5f sprint course that has a slight right-handed dog leg which means horses drawn wide can often be stranded in the middle of the track.

The round course is just over 1m3f in distance, has some fairly sharp right-handed turns before horses turn into the home straight, which is around two-and-a-half furlongs and on the incline.

There is a major draw bias on the sprint course, with low-drawn horses favoured by the way that track rides, and that is a key factor when studying William Hill’s Beverley betting lists.

However, when the ground becomes testing, the field often come stands’ side up the run-in, meaning high-drawn horses are then at an advantage as long as they stick to their guns and stay on the outside.

The draw bias isn’t restricted to 5f races either, because low-drawn horses hold a huge edge in races run over 7f 100yds.

Because the field hit a sharp right-handed turn within around a furlong, horses trapped wide are at a major disadvantage so early gate speed is crucial if a horse is going to overcome a high draw and get across to near the inside rail over that trip.

Beverley betting tips

Because the home straight is so stiff, you need a horse who is going to stay well at Beverley. Horses who have previously won over course and distance should be at the forefront of any Beverley betting plans.

If the ground is on the soft side the track becomes very testing and in those circumstances horses who have proven themselves over further need to be seriously considered.

The other key factors are gate speed, especially so if they are drawn wide, and ability to negotiate the tight right-handed turns.

Joe Fanning is a jockey you want on your side at Beverley, he rides the track better than anyone, especially on a front-runner and his numbers back that up.

Fanning is a master at steadying and lifting the pace at just the right time and his mount is a hugely popular Beverley betting selection, especially when he teams up with Mark Johnston on an in-form front-runner.

Richard Fahey, another northern powerhouse, is another trainer that does particularly well with his runners at Beverley.

Bryan Smart has a longstanding reputation as a trainer who excels with sprinters and the Hambleton-based handler won the Beverley Bullet three times between 2007 and 2016, once with Coventry Stakes winner Hellvelyn.

Beverley racecourse – how to get there

If travelling by car, take Junction 37 of the M62 and follow signs to Market Weighton (A614/A163). Take the A1079/A1035 to the racecourse.

From York, take the A1079/A1035 via Market Weighton to the racecourse. From Hull, join the A1079 and turn right at the roundabout onto the A1035.

Beverley station is around 1.7 miles from the racecourse and there is a service from Hull to Beverley (Hull to Scarborough line) every 25 minutes. There are regular taxis from the station to the course.

There is a regular bus service direct to Beverley from Hull, York and Leeds, with a stop right outside the racecourse.

Boost your Market Rasen betting experience

For more Beverley betting news, visit news.williamhill.com and be sure to check out William Hill promotions where you can find the best Beverley odds throughout the year.