Local hero Alpha Delphini is in the frame to defend his totescoo6 Beverley Bullet crown on Saturday, October 2.

The Bryan Smart-trained sprinter won the valuable Listed race 12 months ago when he came out on top by a neck in a thrilling finish.

Alpha Delphini’s half-brother Tangerine Trees landed Beverley’s coveted sprint in 2011 and subsequently claimed Group One glory in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp.

Like Tangerine Trees, Alpha Delphini was bred, and is partly-owned, by Beverley resident Marie Matthews.

The six-year-old son of Captain Gerrard would be making a swift return to action at the popular East Yorkshire circuit, having finished eighth in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.

Smart’s assistant trainer Kevin Edmunds said: “He came out of the Nunthorpe really well and is in good form.

“He’ll probably work on Tuesday and then we’ll see how he is, but the Beverley Bullet is likely to be the plan.

“The Nunthorpe was obviously a super race but the owners were keen to have a go at the big one at York.

“He was brilliant in the Bullet last year and hopefully he might still be progressing.

“He’s not quite at the level of Tangerine Trees just yet, but, like his half-brother, he’s only going to get better as he gets older.

“The Bullet is a great race and it will obviously mean a lot for his owners, who love having runners at Beverley.”

Alpha Delphini is one of 23 entries for the £50,000 totescoop6 Beverley Bullet, which has been won in the past by star sprinters like the Smart-trained Hellvelyn (2007), Borderlescott (2012) and Maarek (2015).