La Capriosa takes Beverley win

La Capriosa transferred her fine all-weather form across to the turf with a no-nonsense victory at Beverley.

Alan McCabe's three-year-old clocked up three wins on an artificial surface during the winter - and made no mistake on only her second start on the grass.

The 2-1 chance, ridden by Robert Winston, gathered momentum at the two-furlong marker, and readily stretched clear to record a two-length verdict in the Beverley Minster Claiming Stakes.

McCabe said: "She was entitled to win this on her previous form and is in good nick.

"We'll now try and find a small fillies' handicap for her."

Topolski stepped up in trip with consummate ease to win the Vera Green Celebration Handicap shouldering top weight.

Mark Johnston's gelding plied his trade in races over six and seven furlongs as a juvenile, but looked a natural over Beverley's stiff mile and a quarter.

Given an assured ride by Royston Ffrench, the 8-1 shot breezed past runner-up Oriental Cavalier at the one-furlong pole to score by three and three-quarter lengths.

Deirdre Johnston, wife of the winning trainer, said: "We were a little bit disappointed with him last year.

"On his form, we thought he had quite a lot of weight.

"We'll probably stick at that (10 furlongs) for now and then we'll see."

Ffrench added: "I think he'll probably get a bit further because they went very fast."

The Johnston team were back in business 30 minutes later when Tartan Gunna (11-4) won the St George's Day Stakes.

Ffrench's mount skilfully banished a costly reverse at Wolverhampton to account for Changing The Guard, who was trapped for room on the dash to the line, by a length and a quarter.

"This horse needs something to aim at," reported Mrs Johnston.

"He wasn't beaten far (at Wolverhampton) but we gave him some time off, just to freshen him up.

"Where we go now, we'll have to see, but this stiff seven and a half furlongs was perfect for him."