Elegant Erin completes quickfire Beverley double

Course specialist Elegant Erin completed a quickfire Beverley double as she demonstrated her love of soft ground with victory in the Eddie And Violet Smith Conditions Stakes.

The eight-year-old was victorious on the Westwood just six days ago and trainer Paul Midgley had no doubts about sending the daughter of Dandy Man back to the track’s final meeting of the season to secure a fifth victory in East Yorkshire.

She was slowly away as Robert Cowell’s previous Bullet winner at the course Democracy Dilemma set the pace, with Barry McHugh biding his time on Elegant Erin.

McHugh shook up his 9-2 shot entering the final furlong as she moved into contention in a three-way battle with Democracy Dilemma and Alzahir, getting up close home to win by a neck from Alzahir with Democracy Dilemma a further neck back in third.

Midgley said: “It’s massive, there hasn’t been a lot of great ground for her this season but she’s battled away. She just loves slow ground.

“I entered because I didn’t think there would be many runners and I declared because I didn’t think there would be many runners.

“The handicapper put her up 5lb this morning and I just thought we’ve got to run.

“Everything on paper was going to be set up perfectly for her. It was great for Baz, he’s been out for a while and he’s had a good week and this has topped it off for him which is great.”

Beerwah broke his maiden at the 14th attempt in the Shelley Fegan’s Bostin 60th Handicap.

Owned and trained by John and Sean Quinn, the three-year-old raced prominently behind Westgate Warrior in the hands of Jason Hart, who timed his challenge to perfection to get up by half a length to complete a double on the day at 15-2.

John Quinn said: “He likes the cut in the ground and we’re very pleased.

“We’re going to keep him. Winners are hard to get. He looked better today than he has done. He could bulk up and strengthen up a bit more but we’re very pleased.

“Our horses are running well at the moment so we’ll just keep working away.”

Earlier, Hart has piloted Mariotto (6-1) to a maiden victory of her own in the Old Gravel Pits Lodges EBF Novice Stakes.

The Nathaniel filly made all but did not her own way, although she did enough to stay at the head of the field and hit the line half a length clear.

Hart said: “She enjoyed the ground, the stiff track. She’s bred to stay. There’s not a lot of her but she showed a gutsy attitude.”

Ironwill (6-4 favourite) made it back-to-back victories in the Connexin’s Ghost Your Broadband Gallop Restricted Novice Stakes.

After winning at Brighton earlier in the month, the drop down to five furlongs and a penalty was taken in stride as he galloped home three and a quarter lengths clear.

It Just Takes Time won for the first time this season in the Fango Handicap, while Joanna Mason partnered Kiss Me My Love to win the End Of Season Handicap for her 10th track victory of the season to confirm her as leading rider at the course.

Hill O Rue took the concluding Churchill Tyres Apprentice Handicap.