Beverley Preview: Two Jabs can floor rivals

Two Jabs posted a cracking effort when runner-up last time out, and looks decent value to go one better in the 1m 4f handicap at Beverley today (15.30).

This Mark Brisbourne trained gelding went down by just 3/4 of a length to Sbraase on the Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton, rallying gamely after attempting to make all.

The front pair pulled 3 1/4 lengths clear of the third, and the rest of the field finished strung out like washing to give the form a solid look.

Two Jabs has been put up 2lb for that effort to a mark of 79, but remains lightly raced for a five year-old and is on an upward curve and open to further improvement.

The son of Teofilo is also entitled to come on siginificantly for the run, his first in 153 days, and there is no reason why Two Jabs should not be just as effective on the turf as he won a bumper on it earlier in his career.

Beverley also suits front runners and, with Luke Morris in the saddle, Two Jabs is likely to prove hard to peg back if allowed an a easy time upfront.

In the 7f contest earlier on the card (14.30), Sovereign Bounty is an interesting contender on handicap debut and can go well at a big price.

The three-year-old is trained by Jedd O’Keeffe, who has a 25 per cent strike rate with his runners at the track in the past 12 months, and showed progressive form in three runs as a juvenile.

After being well beaten on debut over 6f at Carlisle, Sovereign Bounty showed the benefit of that experience when finishing fourth of 12 to Spring Offensive over 7f at Redcar.

This son of Bahamian Bounty then stepped up again to finish a really solid second of 11 to Savvanah Beau when last seen in action over 6f at Redcar, going down by just a neck after being unable to find any extra in the closing stages.

The step back up to 7f today looks sure suit, and having since been gelded Sovereign Bounty could well have more to offer off what looks a workable opening mark of 70.

Another plus is that Sovereign Bounty has the services of Graham Lee in the saddle, as he has a healthy strike rate of 20% when teaming up with the yard in the last year.

Selections:
13.55: Lady Mcguffy
14.30: Sovereign Bounty (NB)
15.00: Bow And Arrow
15.30: Two Jabs (NAP)
16.00: Saint Thomas
16.30: Thankstomonty
17.05: Thunder In Myheart