Beverley Bullet Sectional Analysis

Sectional timings are starting to appear in the racing vernacular thanks to the sterling work of Simon Rowlands amongst others.

However the lack of official timings outside of the major meetings leaves the racing public largely in the dark.

Whenever there is a lack of information in gambling there is money to be made but beyond purely financial interest, sectional times add a level of detail that can bring to life a seemingly mundane race.

On Saturday Beverley hosted it’s big race of the year - the Beverley Bullet.

In 2011 it produced the winner of the Group 1 Prix De L’Abbaye and the latest renewal was another fascinating affair. 

Pearl Secret was sent off favourite and duly obliged but the sectional timings (taken at the 3f pole) suggest he was flattered in victory.

30 August: 2.25 Beverley 5f

The overall time was ordinary, it was only 0.37s quicker than a class 5 handicap later on the card but the structure of the race also favoured the winner.

Pearl Secret ran closest to the sectional par with a finishing speed of 101.8%. That suggests Jamie Spencer set a solid rather than strong gallop and his early lead was never bridged.

Mirza deserves the biggest mark-up in the race, having come from last to throw down a challenge, but Pearl Secret always had enough in reserve as the pace quickened for home.

David Barron will set his sights higher after this win and there might be more to come from Pearl Secret; after-all he is on the comeback from a serious injury.

However in a betting context, the market might overreact to his victory and he could be one to oppose next time out. 

Oppose: Pearl Secret
Follow: Mirza