A review of the racing from Beverley

A round-up of the pick of the action from Beverley where Simon Crisford struck with the Royal Ascot bound First Selection.

It might have taken him 30 years to return to Beverley, but Simon Crisford had a ball in the East Yorkshire sunshine as First Selection teed up a date at Royal Ascot.

The former Godolphin racing manager has only saddled a handful of runners since he began training at Calne Stables in Newmarket, but this is to be expected as 30 of his 45 horses are juveniles.

First Selection has been more forward than most of Crisford's youngsters, having won on debut at Southwell, and he manfully rose to the challenge in a hot-looking renewal of the Brian Yeardley Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy.

The young Diktat colt was forced to come wide under Rab Havlin, but he came fast and late to deny the front-running Lathom by a length and a quarter.

"I've not been to Beverley for 30 years and I'll definitely be returning," said Crisford.

"The stiff five furlongs suited him as he's really a six-furlong-plus horse. He's progressed since his first run at Southwell and is a big, strong horse.

"I'm sure the owner will want to go to Royal Ascot now, and why not?"

Ascot is also the likely next destination for Easton Angel after she produced a swift shift of gear to take the Hilary Needler Trophy.

Michael Dods' unbeaten filly toyed with her nine rivals under Paul Mulrennan to land the five-furlong conditions event by a length.

The 9-4 favourite surged between Arranmore Girl and Socialites Red inside the final furlong and was not hard-pressed to account for the staying-on Opal Tiara.

Next on her programme could the Queen Mary Stakes at the Berkshire circuit in June.

Dods said: "She's a good filly, very quick. Paul half-fell out the stalls but he rode her with confidence because he knew how good she is.

"She's toyed with them, and we will definitely discuss it (Royal Ascot). I wouldn't be frightened to take her to Ascot as she's got a good temperament and doesn't get too buzzed up.

"I've not seen a better filly in the north."

Taffetta is nowhere near Easton Angel's calibre, but she was found the ideal race with which to get off the mark at the sixth attempt.

The Melanie Hughes Big Birthday Bash Maiden was far from a classic, with the 6-5 favourite half a length too smart for Compton River.

Trainer Tony Coyle said: "She ideally needs six furlongs but we'll give her a break now as she's done her job."

Maven (15-8 favourite) is in foal to Phoenix Reach, but that in no way knocked the mare off her stride during the Happy Birthday Graham Hallett Fillies' Handicap, in which she showed resilience to keep Puzzle Time at bay by a neck.