MONEY-SPINNING four-year-old Boppys Princess (2.50) has found yet another winning opportunity at Beverley this afternoon.

Trainer Richard Fahey placed his filly to collect four times during 2004, including at this afternoon's venue over a mile-and-a-half-a-furlong.

Clearly in her element running on the switchback track, Boppys Princess returned to the course over a furlong further last week and was supported down to 9/2 joint-favouritism.

In the event the gamble didn't quite come off but Fahey's raider still ran a cracker to occupy third spot, beaten only by a cat's whisker in a three-way thrilling photo.

Boppy's Princess was taking on her male counterparts that day.

However, she now has the distinct advantage of only having to compete against members of her own sex in the £5,200 Len Cowburn Retirement Fillies' Handicap.

Last Friday Dara Mac (4.50) found himself last of 18 and in a hopeless position turning for home at Thirsk.

To actually finish fifth was somewhat of a minor miracle, having been virtually tailed off with less than three furlongs to go with the entire field to pass.

Giving the opposition such a huge head start was far from ideal, so jockey Suzanne France will doubtless endeavour to get the partnership closer to the action early on in the quest to win the Go Racing In Yorkshire Handicap.

France should also be helped by the fact that Beverley's uphill straight is a much stiffer test of stamina than the level nature of the one at Thirsk.

Such topography tends to slow the front-runners down, hopefully allowing her and Dara Mac to engage in a game of catch-up.

At one time in his career it looked like Jimmy Quinn was in with a shout of landing a job as retained rider with one of leading Newmarket stables but it seems the immensely talented lightweight is better off retaining his freelance status, thus keeping all options open. Quinn's "have saddle will travel policy" takes him to Bath this evening, where he should give a good account on Brynn Palling's four-year-old, Jakarmi (6.00).

Although Jimmy's mount had no chance last time out versus the in-form pair, True Companion and Libre, Jakarmi still performed respectably and there was more than a hint that he might soon be back in the winners' enclosure.

The nap selection, Vancouver Gold (6.30), lines up in the following totequadpot Fillies' Handicap.

Karl Burke's progressive three-year-old relishes the prevailing soft ground and was unlucky to be nailed close home on her Thirsk handicap debut just six days ago.

* Colin Woods (Janus) maintained his long lead at the head of the Racing Post/Coral Naps competition when yesterday's 7/1 best bet, King's Thought, made all to win at Epsom.

* Soviet Song pleased connections yesterday in her first fast piece of work of the year ahead of her seasonal debut next month.

The multiple Group One winner, trained by James Fanshawe, was partnered by Mark Denaro in the gallop with two stable companions, Royal Prince and Azarole.

The five-year-old mare is on course to reappear in either the Group One Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 14 or the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh, which she won in 2004, a week later.

''Everyone was pleased the way she came through it today,'' said Matthew Budden, racing manager for owners Elite Racing Club.

"Obviously there's still a little way to go.

"She's building up to running in the either the Lockinge or going to Ireland.

''If she's 100 per cent spot on she will go for the Lockinge but if James feels she needs another week then she will go to Ireland,'' he added.

Soviet Song's victory at the Curragh last May was followed by success in three Group One races - the Falmouth, Sussex and Matron Stakes - before she ended the campaign by finishing sixth to Rakti in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

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