In-form Beasley ready to strike gold in famous blue and white silks at Redcar

THE late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum had his first victory as an owner at Redcar back in 1980 with two-year-old Mushref winning for trainer Tom Jones.

And the famous blue and white silks of his Shadwell Estate Company could be back in the winner’s enclosure 44 years on when Redcar stages the latest running of the one of its most historic races, the Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup.

They will be worn by Lambourn raider Maghlaak, trained by Charlie Hills and ridden by the in-form Connor Beasley.

The gelding won on soft going at Goodwood on his first run of 2024 earlier this month after being off the track for a year, and that race looks to hold the key to the Zetland Gold Cup form.

Maghlaak was a neck in front of Charlie Johnston’s Qitaal in second, and two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Harry Eustace’s Bill Silvers that day, and both those horses reoppose Maghlaak over Redcar’s mile and a quarter.

Qitaal is a pound better off, while Bill Silvers has a five pounds pull, so it should be a tight finish at the weights, but Maghlaak is likely to have come on for his first run after a long lay-off.

As well as featuring the Zetland Gold Cup, the Redcar card has the added attraction of one of the most popular handicappers in recent years running at the track in the form of Michael Dods’ Dakota Gold.

The 10-year-old bounced back to form on his last run at York, finishing second of 20 to Kevin Ryan’s Aleezdancer, and the veteran will be aiming for his 16th career win in the Jack Coaches Handicap.

The seven-race card gets underway at 1.45pm with the redcarracing.co.uk Handicap. Nottinghamshire trainer Kevin Frost saddles Amaysmont and the gelding is on a hat-trick after back-to-back wins on the all-weather at Chelmsford City this month.

Next comes the Racing TV Maiden Stakes and it could be an opportunity for Karl Burke’s Jungle Land to get his nose in front after two seconds at Ayr and Newcastle this month. Danny Tudhope rides.

With so many debutantes in the field, the betting will be the best guide to the Join Racing TV Now EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes. However, Middlesbrough FC fans with long memories may have a soft spot for Hickton, trained by Kevin Ryan and ridden by Tom Eaves – the combination which landed a Group 2 prize at Haydock on Saturday with Inisherin.

Glory Hyde came up against a decent sort when second to Michael Dods’ Cuban Storm at Redcar’s last meeting, and the filly, trained by Roger Fell and Sean Murray, can go one better in the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap.

The card concludes with the Racing Again Tomorrow On Racing TV Apprentice Handicap. County Durham trainer Michael Dods has been in sparkling form in May and he saddles Fifty Sent.

Stable apprentice Rhys Elliott rode his first winner earlier this month and could ride a second on the gelding who has fallen to an attractive mark since winning at Newcastle this time last year.