THE booking of Kieren Fallon for Itlaaq today could prove significant for the chances of the Mick Easterby-trained gelding as he makes the journey from Sheriff Hutton to Beverley.

Fallon has ridden the nine-year-old only once before, at York last summer when Itlaaq duly obliged.

That race was over two miles and this afternoon Itlaaq tackles only a mile and a half in the Marshall Glover Transport Solicitors Handicap.

The shorter distance should not inconvenience the North Yorkshire performer, who should have benefited from his comeback outing at Catterick a couple of weeks ago.

He merits close attention.

Arranmore Girl is fancied to get punters off to a good start in the Beverley Minster Maiden Stakes.

Trained by Nigel Tinkler, the juvenile daughter of Approve shaped well on this course last week on her debut, staying on stoutly after running green and meeting trouble in running, to finish fourth to Taking Liberty’s.

Arranmore Girl can do better today. Jason Hart has the mount.

The in-form Richard Fahey has excellent prospects of completing a double with Billy Bond and Liberty Sky, both mounts of Tony Hamilton.

The Mayday Raceday Here Monday 4th May Handicap is the target for Billy Bond who ran well on his debut for the season at Musselburgh last month to finish third to stablemate Gabrial The Tiger.

Liberty Sky goes for the Beverley Folk Festival Here In June Maiden Auction Stakes and carries the nap to open her account.

She ran with promise on her only juvenile outing at Doncaster last summer to finish third over six and a half furlongs. This longer trip should be ideal for the Malton filly, who is expected to go well.

Also worthy of attention on the Westwood are the Godolphin pair, Bow And Arrow (3.00) and Stay Strong (4.30), both the mounts of William Buick, a rare visitor to Beverley.

At Perth’s valuable jumps meeting, Gordon Elliott is a trainer worth noting.

Although based in Ireland, Elliott makes a habit of launching successful Perth raids and this could be another. He has good prospects of getting today off on the right note with Skilled in the opening Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novices’ Hurdle.

A comfortable winner at Wexford last month, Skilled appears to hold all the aces under Richard Johnson.

The Elliott-trained Tom’s Article is a fascinating runner in the Lonmar Global Risks Handicap Hurdle.

A winner at Navan on his penultimate outing, Tom’s Article was pulled up next time at Carlisle. He has since had a six-month break and, as lack of fitness is seldom an issue with Elliott’s horses, he is worthy of close attention.

Eshtiaal in the Small City Big Personality Novices’ Handicap Hurdle provides Elliott with another winning chance after being a beaten favourite at Wexford last time when he went down by half-a-length. Compensation could be forthcoming this afternoon.

Also worth noting at Perth, are Tom George’s Big Society (3.50), a good second at Newton Abbott last time, and the Philip Hobbs-trained Filbert (4.20).

Beverley today: 1.55 Arranmore Girl, 2.30 Billy Bond, 3.00 Bow And Arrow, 3.30 Itlaaq, 4.00 Saint Thomas, 4.30 Stay Strong, 5.05 Liberty Sky (NAP).

Perth today: 2.20 Skilled, 2.50 Honourable Gent, 3.20 Tom’s Article, 3.50 Big Society, 4.20 Filbert, 4.55 Railway Dillon, 5.25 Eshtiaal.

Today’s other meetings: Bath, Southwell and Warwick.