Eye Liner Stakes runner up Beckham is set to back up this week in the Listed $100,000 FKG Group Spear Chief Quality (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Beckham, above, white colours with blue and green cap, is set to back up in the Spear Chief Quality at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Beckham ran a brave race last week when second to Ninth Legion in the Listed $175,000 City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich and trainer Liam Birchley is hoping for another bold effort from the on pace runner.

“It’s obviously another step up for him, but hopefully he can control it up front and give a good sight,” Birchley told The Courier-Mail.

Beckham will be stepping up to the 1500m for the first time and will be taking on a slightly tougher field.

Jockey Jeff Lloyd was aboard Beckham two starts back when he won a 1350m BenchMark 85 Handicap at Doomben on May 16 and will be back in the saddle again in the Spear Chief Quality replacing Tegan Harrison who was aboard in the Eye Liner Stakes.

Beckham is marked at $6.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Spear Chief Quality and will be coming up against some tough opposition in $2.60 favourite Hopfgarten and the Chris Waller pair of Amovatio at $3.60 and Tales Of Grim at $6.

The Robert Heathcote trained Hopfgarten is dropping back in distance following his last start win in the Listed $100,000 RadioTAB The Wayne Wilson Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.

While Amovatio made up a lot of ground in the straight last start when third to Hopfgarten while Tales Of Grimm is dropping 3kg coming off a fourth in an 1800m Open Handicap at Rosehill on June 4.

Damian Browne has been the regular rider for Hopfgarten and gets the ride again as does Hugh Bowman on Amovatio while Kerrin McEvoy takes over from Rory Hutchings on Tales Of Grimm.

Market order for the Spear Chief Quality at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.60 Hopfgarten, $3.60 Amovatio, $6 Tales Of Grimm, $6.50 Beckham, $11 Bewhatyouwannbe, $12 Electric Power, $18 Glendara, $21 Aldini.