Can she do it? That's the burning question surrounding Kerry's Dream at Beverley this evening as she bids to gain Listed status in the featured Hilary Needler Trophy from the worst possible draw.

A field of 12 runners is set to line up for this £25,000 showpiece, and Tim Easterby's filly is drawn on the wide outside in stall one, which is so often a disadvantage over five furlongs on a course which is among the most biased in Britain on the sprint track.

Kerry's Dream is held in high regard by Easterby. A debut winner at Ripon, she finished fourth in a Listed race at York last time after trying to make all the running and being worn down late on.

More patient tactics are likely to be employed by David Allan tonight, especially from his unfavoured draw. Her poor starting position may spoil her chance, but, with a dozen runners as opposed to, say, 20 in a handicap over five furlongs, she has a chance of getting away with it. It's not going to be easy, but Kerry's Dream gets the vote all the same.

The £20,000 Brian Yeardley Continental Two Year Old Trophy over the same five furlongs offers juveniles another useful prize and it is interesting that Richard Fahey is bringing out nap selection Steelcut quickly after his win at Redcar on Monday.

The Iron Mask colt gained a decisive victory on his latest outing and had clearly learned plenty from his promising debut at Hamilton earlier in the month.

Fahey has the Norfolk Stakes and the Windsor Castle Stakes among possible options for Steelcut at Royal Ascot next month, but Fahey would settle for this prize in the meantime.

Kevin Ryan's course-and-distance winner Supreme Speedster and Karl Burke's Dicke Le Davoir, a winner at Haydock last weekend, figure among the dangers.

Robert Winston, hoping to be on Classic duty for Sir Michael Stoute this weekend, teams up with the Newmarket trainer in the direct-racing.co.uk Maiden Fillies' Stakes, courtesy of Heather Moor.

Placed in both her outings to date, one last season and the other four weeks ago, Heather Moon has excellent prospects of making it third time lucky here.

Racing selections

TONIGHT.

Beverley: 7.10 Kerry's Dream; 8.10 Steelcut (Nap); 9.10 Heather Moor.

Today's other meetings: Brighton (Flat), Cartmel (hunter chase), Southwell (evening, all-weather Flat) Yarmouth (Flat).

TOMORROW.

Ayr (selected races): 2.10 Evens And Odds; 4.50 Bollin Edward; 5.20 Inch High.

Tomorrow's other meetings: Nottingham (Flat), Sandown (evening, Flat), Wetherby (evening, National Hunt), Yarmouth (Flat).