Tag Archive for: Ralph Beckett

‘Smart filly’ Tabiti on target for tougher Salisbury test

Impressive Newmarket scorer Tabiti may have had to wait a week but is ready to combat a rise in grade and drop in trip when heading to Salisbury for the rearranged Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes on Friday.

Heavy rain a week ago forced the Wiltshire track to abandon their feature card that hosted this Group Three event but fortunately it has been hastily rescheduled, with many of the main protagonists standing their ground.

That includes Ralph Beckett’s Tabiti, who was slated to head off favourite last week and is heading the bookmakers’ lists again having produced a dominant performance from the front on the July course on debut.

Having previously sidestepped the Prestige Stakes on account of testing ground at Goodwood, connections are hoping conditions remain dry ahead of this immediate step into deeper waters.

Ralph Beckett will saddle Tabiti at Salisbury
Ralph Beckett will saddle Tabiti at Salisbury (Mike Egerton/PA)

The daughter of Kingman will also be dropping back in distance, but her team feel she has all the tools to showcase her ability once again in a race connections won with Juliet Sierra two years ago.

“Hopefully the ground will have dried out, as she’s in great form and we look forward to seeing her run,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“She was impressive at Newmarket on debut and we would like to think she is a smart filly.

“She won quite easy in the end and she has a lot of natural ability. Dropping back in trip is a slight concern but she did show plenty of speed the first day, so we would be hopeful enough she can overcome it and hopefully she is up to this level on Friday.”

Eve Johnson Houghton registered a shock victory in the race 12 months ago with Juniper Berries and will look to go back-to-back with Betty Clover, who claimed the Marygate Stakes in the early part of the season before running with credit at Group level since.

Betty Clover (right) winning at York earlier this season
Betty Clover (right) winning at York earlier this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

William Haggas’ Jewelry dazzled on debut at Newbury and joins Karl Burke’s Greydreambeliever in jumping up in grade having scored at the first time of asking.

The latter was somewhat unfancied at 14-1 on her racecourse bow, with Burke feeling she would be better with experience banked, but could now tee-up a shot at some big races in the autumn if making a successful raid southward.

“She’s going well at home and Karl is pleased with her – and this is obviously a step up in class which will tell us what we’ve got on our hands,” said Cosmo Charlton, racing manager for owners Hambleton Racing.

“Karl thought she would come on plenty for her York debut and she did well that day. Karl definitely went into York thinking there would be plenty to come both physically and mentally, so we weren’t expecting to win, but she got the job done.

“The front two were well clear and there were some horses that have got some fair form in there. Karl has been happy with her and she’s got some fancy entries further down the line as well.

“There are some very interesting horses in this race, the Beckett horse was impressive first time and so was the Haggas horse, while there are some high-level nursery-type horses in there as well, but Karl thinks she’s a smart filly, so we will be going there full of hope really.

“It’s really good to have a nice two-year-old and a couple of the owners have had a bit of bad luck of late, so it will be nice if they could have some good luck. We’ve got our fingers crossed for a good run on Friday.”

Meanwhile, Clive Cox’s Magic Mild has found the winning thread of late and will bid for a hat-trick after two victories at Newmarket which read very well.

Roger Varian’s Miss Fascinator counts famous footballing names Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle and Alan Brazil amongst her owners, while the King and Queen’s Handcuffed (Andrew Balding) and Santa Savana (Rod Millman) complete the eight-strong field.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me supplemented for St Leger

Ralph Beckett said the prospect of a good-ground Betfred St Leger helped him decide to supplement Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster.

Beckett is not shy of running fillies against the colts in the Town Moor showpiece, winning it with Simple Verse, finishing second with Talent and third with Look Here.

Owners Valmont and Newsells Park Stud paid the £50,000 to add her name to the list of remaining entries, taking it to 10 at Monday’s confirmation stage.

“I don’t think stamina will be an issue,” said Beckett. “She seems in good shape. We’re conscious that her best form is on good ground or faster and it looks like being that at the weekend if the forecast is correct.

“It felt like a good fit for her.

“We’ve been first, second and third with fillies in the Leger. I wouldn’t say we’ve always got it right, but it is certainly not a race that holds any fears, for sure.”

Aidan O’Brien is responsible for five of the remaining entries.

He has won the world’s oldest Classic seven times already, but still has some way to go to match the record of 16 victories of John Scott, set between 1827 and 1862.

The first three in the ante-post betting are all trained at Ballydoyle.

Jan Brueghel beat Bellum Justum at Goodwood
Jan Brueghel beat Bellum Justum at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Great Voltigeur runner-up and Royal Ascot winner Illinois heads the team and is set to be the mount of O’Brien’s number two jockey Wayne Lordan, with Ryan Moore choosing to go to Leopardstown to ride Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Another huge player is the unbeaten Jan Brueghel, the winner of all three of his races to date, including the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, form which was subsequently franked by the runner-up Bellum Justum, who won the Nashville Derby on his next outing.

The third big Ballydoyle chance is Grosvenor Square, an incredibly easy winner of the Irish St Leger Trial last time out. Bounced out into an early lead, he went further and further clear, scoring by 20 lengths.

Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur winner Los Angeles has been left in by O’Brien but is being aimed at the Irish Champion Stakes.

Euphoric could also represent the dominant stable.

Sunway (noseband) was narrowly beaten by Los Angeles in the Irish Derby
Sunway (noseband) was narrowly beaten by Los Angeles in the Irish Derby (Damien Eagers/PA)

David Menuisier’s Sunway went close behind Los Angeles in the Irish Derby and the in-form trainer is looking forward to seeing him run in another Classic, having finished fourth in the King George in the interim.

“He is all on track, we are very pleased with him and we have confirmed him this morning,” said Menuisier.

“Everything has gone as we would have liked and we are really looking forward to running him on Saturday.”

Deira Mile is another with a live chance for Owen Burrows.

Fourth in the Derby behind City Of Troy, he was narrowly beaten in a Listed race on his return to action from a mid-season break over an inadequate trip.

Andrew Balding’s Wild Waves has also been left in by connections, as has Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars, but there was no sign of the Bahrain Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom.

An update on Godolphin’s X account read: “Ancient Wisdom will not be confirmed for the @DoncasterRaces St Leger Stakes at today’s five-day stage. The horse is in good form, but will instead be aimed at an autumn campaign with his favoured ground conditions.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Top-level assignments on the radar for Matauri Bay

Matauri Bay is likely to test his powers at Group One level before the season is out after pushing Field Of Gold close in the Solario Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

A comfortable winner on his racecourse debut at Leicester, the Lope De Vega colt – who is a brother to Breeders’ Cup winner Aunt Pearl -stepped into Group Three company at the weekend and was clear best of the rest behind John and Thady Gosden’s hot favourite.

The winner appears bound for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend and while connections of the Ralph Beckett-trained Matauri Bay will consider a rematch in Paris, he also has big-race options on home soil.

Alex Elliott, racing adviser to part-owners Valmont, said: “He ran a very good race. We were a little bit compromised by the draw in the end as we had to sit on the rail, one behind Oisin (Murphy, riding third-placed Royal Playwright) and it’s always very hard to get out from there. We knew that, but we had to kind of ride him that way.

“He ran a bit green when we needed him to kick into gear, but once he got out he motored home. I read that he ran the last two furlongs quicker than the winner and I think Hector (Crouch) was very pleased with everything bar finishing second really.

“We got rated 108 this morning, so it opens a few options moving forward. You’ve got the Futurity Trophy, the Lagardere or the Dewhurst and we’ll probably try to shoot at one of those, I suppose.

“I wouldn’t be frightened of taking him on again, especially on soft ground, which we think will suit us. It’s nice to have what is looking like a top two-year-old.”

You Got To Me and Hector Crouch after winning the Irish Oaks
You Got To Me and Hector Crouch after winning the Irish Oaks (Niall Carson/PA)

Another Beckett inmate who has carried the Valmont colours with distinction this season is You Got To Me, who claimed Classic glory in the Irish Oaks in July before the runner-up Content reversed the form in last month’s Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire.

Connections have yet to make any concrete plans, but the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot appears her most likely destination at this stage.

“She’s come out of the race at York OK, but we’re just playing it by ear really,” Elliott added.

“I’d say the fillies’ and mares’ race on Champions Day is the favourite at the minute.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Town Moor probable target for Kinross after missing York

Doncaster’s Park Stakes is the most likely next port of call for Kinross after connections made the difficult decision to sidestep a hat-trick bid at York last weekend.

Ralph Beckett’s stable stalwart was in line to secure a third successive victory in the Group Two City of York Stakes, but was withdrawn on Saturday morning on account of unsuitable ground.

Now a seven-year-old, the dual Group One winner has yet to add to his tally of 10 career victories after three starts so far this season, most recently taking third when bidding for a third victory in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last month.

Owner Marc Chan is unsurprisingly keen to take a cautious approach with his pride and joy and while he holds an entry in the Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 7, Doncaster’s seven-furlong Group Two the following Saturday – a race he won under Frankie Dettori in 2022 – is currently the favoured option.

“That (ground) was the entire reason he didn’t run at York, there was nothing else,” said Chan’s racing manager Jamie McCalmont.

“It was frustrating not to be able to run, but Marc is very keen not to run him on extremes of ground and as I’ve said before, we’ve got an older horse here that owes us nothing.

“It was very tempting to run on Saturday, believe me, but you only had to look at the times to see how quick the ground was.

“He just wants good ground, that’s all, and as Ralph said on Monday Morning at least we’ve still got a horse we can race. If he’d run on Saturday, finished fourth or fifth and got jarred up, we might have been saying ‘listen guys, that’s it’.

“The race at Doncaster he won two years ago is probably where’ll he go. It would be nice to run in a spot next time where it’s the right trip, it’s the right ground, the horse is in the best form and where you can’t make any excuses.”

Kinross winning the 2023 City of York Stakes under Frankie Dettori
Kinross winning the 2023 City of York Stakes under Frankie Dettori (Mike Egerton/PA)

McCalmont sees no reason why Kinross will not race on beyond this season if his desire remains intact.

He added: “Every race at this point is a bonus for us. If you saw him in the paddock at Goodwood last time, he was pulling the arms out of the girl leading him round and the enthusiasm to race is still there, which is important.

“If that enthusiasm is there, there’s no reason why he can’t run next year. If the horse is fit and sound and well we’ll keep going, believe me.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Beckett sets British Champions Day target for You Got To Me

Ralph Beckett has placed a target on Qipco British Champions Day after seeing the tables turned on his Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

The Valmont and Newsells Park Stud-owned filly gave her connections a day to remember when getting the better of Content to scoop Classic honours at the Curragh, but had to give way this time around as Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Galileo defied keenness to finish strongest on the Knavesmire.

Having been campaigned at a high level since claiming the Lingfield Oaks Trial earlier in the season, You Got To Me has been seen to better effect since racing more professionally the last twice.

She could now attempt to go one better than stablemate Bluestocking, who was narrowly denied at Ascot on Champions Day in the fillies’ end-of-season showpiece 12 months ago.

Beckett said: “I think she was beaten by the better filly. I’ll have to watch the race again but it looked to me like the winner was on the other side, there’s an element of that but I wouldn’t make too many excuses.

“The Irish Oaks form has been upheld and that is racing. I don’t know what we’ll do next. She’s run well again and I suppose we’d have to look at the Fillies & Mares at Ascot on Champions Day.

“Whether we run somewhere else again first we’ll have to see, but she was far more settled today which was a positive.”

Meanwhile, John Gosden was delighted to see Emily Uphjohn – who he trains alongside son Thady – return to her best having disappointed in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Emily Upjohn returned to something near her best in the Yorkshire Oaks
Emily Upjohn returned to something near her best in the Yorkshire Oaks (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

He said: “I said after Goodwood I’d like to take the hood off her, which we did, and let her enjoy herself.

“She ran a lovely race, obviously we had the pacemaker besides us and they’ve gone a solid pace all the way and I think you do learn in life that giving 9lb to improving three-year-olds at this time of year is very difficult so it’s notable that the Irish Oaks winner and second are first and second again.

“He (Kieran Shoemark, jockey) got left alone in front too soon. The pacemaker did a good job for Ryan (Moore), but it did mean we were left on our own in front a long way out. The last furlong to home was quite a long way, but never forget the weight difference.

“Enable won it at three and came back to win it as an older horse, she was able to give the 9lb.

“I don’t think the position on the track made a whole lot of difference in the end, the second came from the same place as us so to that extent we’ve no complaints.”

Having shown she is still capable of mixing it with the best fillies and mares around, Gosden believes there is still plenty of time for Emily Upjohn to return to the winner’s enclosure this season and is eyeing a trip to ParisLongchamp next month for the Prix Vermaille.

He continued: “She’s run a valiant race, I’m very happy with her and she’s coming back to her very best. We’ll probably look at something like the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in the middle of September. It’s nice to se her show her true form again.

“We’ll take it one step at a time, the fillies’ Group One races are at the back end of the year. It’s taken her a long time to come back, but she’s proven she is.”

On Emily Upjohn’s stablemate Queen Of The Pride, Gosden added: “It all happened a bit quick for Queen Of The Pride and we’ll step her up in trip for the Park Hill at Doncaster. Her mother won the Leger there and I think she’ll appreciate that trip.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Non-handicap juveniles in late turf season

Blink and you’ve missed it. Yes, the British summer is coming to an end, and horse racing is soon to be heading into the last two full months of the turf season, writes Dave Renham. In this article my focus is from the start of September to the end of the turf flat season which is about a week into November. I want to concentrate on two-year-old (2yo) turf non-handicaps in the UK during this time frame. Data has been collected from 2015 to 2023 with profits/losses quoted to Industry Starting Price. Betfair SP figures will be quoted if appropriate.

Some of the larger stables send their better 2yos out at this time of the year so the trainer findings should be interesting. However, let's begin with the betting market.

Betting Markets

For this section I have combined ‘joints’ so for example the favourite includes clear favs, joint and co favs, etc. I want to start by looking at the value metric of A/E indices – here are my findings:

 

 

Favourites tend to offer more value than punters realise, but the gap between favourites and second favourites in this juvenile non-handicap context is much bigger than we usually see. Taking such runners across all months over the last nine seasons the A/E index for favs is 0.92 and second favs is 0.88. The gap between the two is more than twice this in the latter months of the sample years, as you can see in the graph (0.94 v 0.84).

Let me compare the returns to SP and the strike rates now:

 

 

Favourites have been winning close to 40% of the time and have been twice as successful as second favourites in terms of strike rate. Losses to SP have seen favourites lose only 6.7% compared with second favourites 17.3%, showing strong correlation to the earlier A/E index chart. To Betfair SP favourites would have lost you only 3.5p for every £1 bet and in three of the nine years they would have made a profit. Once we get to fifth or bigger in the betting the winning chances become very low indeed, and they offer horrendous value.

Sticking with favourites here are some additional stats to share:

1. Favourites starting at less than 1.50 have won 80.2% of the time (77 wins from 96) for a profit of £5.07 (ROI +5.3%).

2. Female favourites have broken even to BSP.

3. There are not many 2yo races that are longer than a mile, but when the distance hits 1-mile ½ furlong or more, favourites have won 76 of their 181 starts (SR 42%) for a small profit to SP to £7.10 (ROI +3.9%). To BSP after commission you would have had another 59p in your pocket on top of that!

4.  Favourites at this time of the year who are unraced or have had just one previous career run have provided the worst value. This group have provided 910 qualifiers of which 323 won (SR 35.5%) and backing all would have seen losses to SP of £117.03 (ROI -12.9%). To BSP losses are still edging to 10%.

5. In Class 1 or 2 races favourites have almost broken even to SP losing just 1p in the £ and turning a small profit to BSP.

 

Position Last Time Out (LTO)

Onto a look at the most recent piece of form based on finishing position.

 

 

Perhaps the takeaway stat is for last time runners-up. They have the strongest figures across the board. In terms of A/E indices, the best value may lie with LTO 2nds, 3rds and 4ths. It looks best to avoid horses that finished fifth or worse LTO and also debutants (the ‘no run’ group). LTO winners have a relatively modest record, too, and don’t look a solid play in the round.

 

Female runners

I want to briefly share some interesting filly (female) data. Earlier it was noted that female horses when favourite have performed well. Now I want to look at these runners as a whole group, and specifically their record when running against their own sex as compared to when running against the ‘boys’. Here are the splits:

 

 

There is a clear pattern here where female runners fare better when racing against their own sex. They have a much-improved strike rate in these races and, more importantly, losses are 16p in the £ better to both Industry SP and Betfair SP.

If we look at mixed sex races in a bit more detail, we can see that the higher percentage of male rivals there are, the harder it becomes for the females. The graph below shows the win strike rate across different percentage bands of male runners:

 

 

Once we hit over 75% of the runners in the race being male, the chance for any female runner becomes very slim in terms of winning. If we now look at the return on investment figures now, we can see that once more than half of the runners are male, females would have lost you a considerable amount of money:

 

 

So, the data is clear when it comes to considering female runners in 2yo non-handicaps on the turf at this time of year: generally stick to races against their own sex, or if considering a wager in a mixed sex race make sure that most runners in the race are female.

 

Trainers

Onto the area of greatest interest to me trainers. Here are the top performing trainers in terms of strike rate – 20 in total. To qualify they must have had at least 100 runners (ordered by win strike rate):

 

 

It is quite surprising to see nine of the twenty with a profit to industry SP, and a further two (Beckett and Varian) hitting a plus to BSP. Charlie Appleby has the best strike rate but has offered punters quite poor value. Saeed bin Suroor stats should be treated with caution as since 2020 he has had only 19 runners.

I thought it would be interesting to compare the records of these trainers with that of their earlier season form, i.e. their 2yo turf non-handicap record between March and August. I have created a table comparing A/E indices and strike rates over the two monthly groupings:

 

 

I should mention average field sizes are notably larger later in the season (9.5 v 8.7) which means we should expect lower strike rates in the Sept-Nov group. However, that factor is the same for all trainers so each individual handler comparison is fair.

Looking at the table, the numbers for two of the trainers have inspired me to do a deeper dive on each. Firstly, the Gosden stable. Their A/E index is much better from September onwards as is their strike rate (despite the bigger fields). Hence, after doing some digging here are strongest stats for the Clarehaven Stables yard:

1. There are three courses that stand out. Firstly Newmarket, despite the quality of 2yos on show at this time of the year. Team Gosden has saddled an impressive 35 winners from 177 runners (SR 19.8%) for a profit of £10.35 (ROI +5.9%) – A/E 1.07. Newbury has provided excellent results, too, returning over 26p in the £ from an impressive 29.6% strike rate (13 from 44). Yarmouth is the third track to mention with 13 wins from 50 (SR 26%) for a profit of £19.46 (ROI +38.9%). The BSP returns have naturally been even better.

2. Both male and female runners from the stable have proved profitable to back blind and their strike rates have been virtually the same at 22.7% and 22.3%.

3. Sticking with gender and looking now at the ‘sex of race’, the Gosden stable has done especially well when their horses stick to same sex races as the table below shows.

 

 

Based on these figures, I would be ideally looking for same sex races if wanting to back a Gosden runner.

4. The team is 9 from 17 in Group 2 races. A small sample, but worth sharing.

 

Onto the second trainer I want to highlight - Ralph Beckett. Let’s share some Autumn 2yo turf non handicap stats:

1. Take note of any Beckett favourite, the stats are eye-watering – 45 wins from just 87 favs (SR 51.7%) for a profit of £35.51 (ROI +40.8%). The A/E index stands at a crazy 1.33.

2. If the yard has sent the 2yo over 200 miles that looks material. There have been 83 such runners of which 29 won (SR 34.9%) for a profit of £18.38 (ROI +22.1%). For the record Beckett is 6 from 10 at Pontefract, and 5 from 11 at York.

3. Female runners from the Beckett barn have been the stars scoring over 21% of the time. In fillies’ only contests they have returned 8.5p in the £ to SP, 20p in the £ to BSP.

4. Take serious note if the money seems to be coming for their runners. Horses that have started at a shorter SP compared to the Early Morning Odds have produced superb figures – 62 winners from 214 runners (SR 29%) for a healthy profit of £83.34 (ROI +38.9%). To BSP this increase to +£114.75 (ROI +53.6%).

 

The latter months of the season can be a challenge for punters especially with the weather becoming less predictable; two-year-old races especially can seem a minefield. However, the findings in this piece should help to point us in the right direction.

- DR

 



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bluestocking and You Got To Me stand ground for Yorkshire Oaks

Ralph Beckett holds a strong hand in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks after both Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me and Bluestocking featured among the confirmations.

While Bluestocking remains in the mix for Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes at York, You Got To Me is firmly on course for the mile-and-a-half event as she bids to add to her Curragh Classic success.

Beckett indicated a final call on which race Bluestocking runs in will be made over the weekend.

“A decision will be made over the weekend about Bluestocking’s participation, where she goes. Obviously, she is in the Juddmonte International as well. So, we are going to have a discussion this weekend and make a final decision on that,” he said.

The Curragh was the first time You Got To Me – who is jointly-owned by Valmont and Newsells Park Stud – had struck at the highest level, but connections are confident she has now earned her spot at the top table with the Knavesmire Group One an obvious next port of call.

“It’s nice when you can pinpoint a race from way out and train towards it,” said Alex Elliott, Valmont’s racing adviser.

“I think she is pleasing Ralph and the team very much and it looks a very warm contest.

“It will be interesting to see where Ralph and Juddmonte go with Bluestocking, and Aidan O’Brien is going to run Content who we beat in Ireland.

“I think we are going there in hopefully good shape and can hopefully be competitive. I think (a lot will depend) if we can get her to do it properly again and pace is important. We got that in Ireland and it would help us if we could get that again, but it is never guaranteed.

“However, I think the filly is exactly where we want her at this stage.”

Queen Of The Pride (right) winning at Haydock
Queen Of The Pride (right) winning at Haydock (Richard Sellers/PA)

Group One regular Emily Upjohn and the rapidly-improving Queen Of The Pride give John and Thady Gosden two chances in a race the Clarehaven team won five years ago with Enable.

Aidan O’Brien has supplemented Irish Oaks runner-up Content to join Port Fairy as he seeks his fourth race victory in five years.

Another possible Irish raider is Dermot Weld’s progressive Munster Oaks scorer Sumiha, while David O’Meara’s Lava Stream struggled when set a Classic challenge at the Curragh most recently but before that was a narrow second in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

William Haggas’ Sea Theme won the Galtres Stakes and could return to York having impressed at Listed level in France last month, with Hughie Morrison’s Minstral Star also remaining in the hunt.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Tabiti takes the eye in Newmarket victory

Juddmonte could have a talented filly on their hands after Ralph Beckett unleashed the exciting Tabiti at Newmarket.

Sent off the well-backed 9-5 favourite for the opening Tattersalls Online £40,000 EBF ‘Newcomers” Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, the daughter of Kingman was always in full control in the hands of Rossa Ryan.

To the fore early, Tabiti was still travelling smoothly with three furlongs to run and saw off the challenge of the other Juddmonte runner in the contest, John and Thady Gosden’s Zanzoun, to run out a three-and-a-quarter-length winner.

It was a performance that pleased the filly’s rider, who suggested she had always promised plenty at home.

Tabita after opening her account at Newmarket
Tabiti after opening her account at Newmarket (PA)

Ryan said: “She’s a lovely filly and relaxed really well in front. When Rab’s (Havlin) filly (Zanzoun) came to me on the other Juddmonte filly she quickened and she just got a bit lonely in front in the end.

“I got it easy and was able to wind it up from three and a half furlongs out as much as I wanted to.

“I was very pleased when I gave her a flick when Rab came to me a furlong out that she quickened and put it to bed quickly. She’s a nice filly.”

He added: “She’s ticked every box so far at home and here today. She can only improve and we will see what she can do. She has the pedigree to say she should get better with time and age so we will see.”

There was a thrilling finish to the JenningsBet Newmarket Nursery Handicap as Tom Dascombe’s Pappa Louis (2-1) edged out Richard Hannon’s fast-finishing Jet Packer by a short head.

Pappa Louis opened his account at Newmarket
Pappa Louis opened his account at Newmarket (PA)

The two-year-old was getting off the mark at the fourth attempt, with the youngster showing improved form since being gelded by his handler.

Dascombe said: “He’s been a bit of a tricky customer, but not in a bad way. I thought he was very good and he is bred for a mile and above and because he was physically ready we ran him early doors and he just could not do it.

“I got frustrated him and I gelded him and since I have done that he has finished second and first.

“I know he only scraped home today, but he is still a big baby. He will be a lovely three-year-old, but he just needs to grow up and not be such a softy. He will be all right in time.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

All roads lead to the Knavesmire again for Kinross

Ralph Beckett’s Kinross is lining up a bid for a City of York Stakes treble after his Lennox Stakes third at Goodwood.

The seven-year-old is a highly familiar presence having consistently turned up season after season in Group contests run over both six and seven furlongs.

To his name he has two Lennox Stakes titles, two wins in the City of York Stakes, a Prix de la Foret success and a further Group One accolade in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

Those races tend to represent the route he takes through the season, and last week he lined up for his fourth Lennox Stakes on the South Downs at Goodwood.

Having won in 2021 and 2023 and just missed out by just a neck to Sandrine in 2022, Kinross was the 7-2 favourite under Rossa Ryan in a field of eight.

Veteran sprinter Art Power blazed a trail with John and Thady Gosden’s Audience in his wake, and as the race developed between them Kinross was left with plenty of ground to cover to get involved.

He did his level best, however, and ran on into third place with Art Power a length ahead of him and Audience another four lengths ahead in front.

Though in the autumn of his career, Kinross still showed all of his usual zest for life and the gelding will continue follow a familiar path to take in the City Of York on August 24.

“He’s absolutely fine, we were very pleased with the run,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to Marc Chan, Kinross’ owner.

“Everything’s on track, his programme is the same as ever. He will go on to York and then probably go to France.

“The speed of the race certainly held at Goodwood, which didn’t help him, but his enthusiasm to race is still there and he galloped out very strongly past the wire.

“We were very happy with the run, while he’s still enthusiastic and wants to race, we’re happy to keep racing him.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Yorkshire Oaks under the microscope for Bluestocking

Bluestocking could revert to taking on her own sex in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks after her fine second in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The sole filly in the King George line-up, Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old continued her stellar campaign to chase home the imperious French raider Goliath for a well-earned silver medal.

That performance came on the back of a first Group One victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, while she impressed with a dominant display at York in the Middleton Stakes on reappearance.

Therefore, it appears a shrewd move for connections to point towards the Knavesmire for a second crack at the Yorkshire Oaks on August 21, with the daughter of Camelot reported to have bounced out of her Ascot appearance in top form.

“Ralph has said she has come out of the race great and is in absolutely tip-top shape and you wouldn’t know she has had a race,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“It was a huge performance and we were delighted with the run. She’s in good shape and we’ll look forward to having some more good days with her this year.

“In fairness the winner was very good and very well produced by Francis Graffard, but she has beaten some top-notchers in Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg, Rebel’s Romance and many more there – they were the cream of the crop of the older-age middle-distance horses.”

Bluestocking has already won once at York this season
Bluestocking has already won once at York this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

He went on: “We’ll stumble along there towards York and then we can decide closer to the time if we run at York or wait a bit longer for something else.

“I think it’s a day or so short of four weeks from Ascot to York and Ascot was four weeks from the Curragh so her races have spaced out quite nicely and she has only had three runs this year which is not a huge amount. But at that level those horses put in that much effort they probably do want that sort of break between them.

“She won well at York in the Middleton and also ran well in the Yorkshire Oaks last year, so I think it looks a nice logical next step if she is fit and well.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Evergreen Kinross hunting third Lennox Stakes victory

Kinross goes in search of a third victory in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday.

Ralph Beckett’s charge plundered the Group Two prize in 2021 and 2023, and was only narrowly denied by Sandrine in 2022.

After pushing Montassib close in Newcastle’s Chipchase Stakes on his first start of the current campaign, the seven-year-old could only finish eighth in the July Cup at Newmarket earlier this month – but connections admit there will be “no excuses” on his return to the Sussex Downs.

“We’re excited to be going to Goodwood, a track that he loves – he probably should have won the race three times by now,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to owner Marc Chan.

“It would be an amazing achievement for any horse to win three races at Goodwood and I think just due to the fact he’s getting older, he probably needs more than one race to get in tune.

“There’ll be no excuses on Tuesday. The ground shouldn’t be too firm hopefully.”

One of the biggest threats to the defending champion is the Ed Walker-trained English Oak, who steps up in class after a dominant handicap victory in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

James Doyle aboard English Oak after winning the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot
James Doyle aboard English Oak after winning the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

The son of Wootton Bassett has proved himself versatile ground-wise this season and Walker is looking forward to seeing how he fares at Group Two level.

“He’s in cracking form and has not missed a beat since Ascot, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on,” said the Lambourn-based trainer.

“He’s got a lot to make up as on official ratings he’s the lowest-rated in the field and yet he’s vying for favouritism, which on the numbers doesn’t make a lot of sense.

“He’s also never run in a stakes race, so without being pessimistic he’s got to step up to win this.

“We’re very happy with him, we’ve no worries with the ground and we’ve got a good draw (stall four) I think he’ll run his race and I hope he gets a good trip round and then we’ll find out how good he is.”

Noble Dynasty and William Buick winning the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket
Noble Dynasty and William Buick winning the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket (Steven Paston/PA)

Noble Dynasty is two from two in Britain this season for Charlie Appleby, beating English Oak with an all-the-way success in a Newmarket handicap in early May before getting the better of the high-class Nostrum in the Group Three Criterion Stakes on the July course last month.

Speaking on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “Noble Dynasty is a rock-solid horse who heads into this on the back of a pleasing win in the Criterion Stakes.

“He didn’t run very well at this meeting a couple of years ago, but he was backing up quickly that day and is a different horse now.

“This is a step up from his last run and he will need to bring his A-game, but he’s in good form and deserves his place in the line-up.”

John of Gaunt Stakes winner Tiber Flow (William Haggas) and the surprise Lockinge hero Audience (John and Thady Gosden) also feature in a competitive field.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Kinross leads Ralph Beckett’s Goodwood Festival hopes

Ralph Beckett’s Qatar Goodwood Festival team will be led by the evergreen sprinter Kinross as he bids for a third World Pool Lennox Stakes title.

The seven-year-old has been a constant source of prize-money for the stable over the past few seasons, winning 10 races – eight of which have been at Group level – and earning nearly £2million for his exploits.

First taking the Lennox Stakes in 2021, the gelding was beaten just a neck the following year when narrowly outdone by Andrew Balding’s Sandrine.

He returned last season to line up for the seven-furlong Group Two again and regained his crown by the same fine margin, a feat he will look to repeat this time as his trainer also bids to retain the leading trainer title he won at the meeting last season.

“For years I had no luck at Goodwood! We could never get it right. The last couple of years it’s gone well, but these things are cyclical,” he said.

Kinross winning the World Pool Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last year
Kinross winning the World Pool Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last year (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“You’ve got to keep doing it, haven’t you? We had a good Royal Ascot and hopefully we’ll enjoy a good Goodwood.

Of Kinross, Beckett added: “I think we’re all very aware that we’re unlikely to ever have another like him and every day is a joy.

“Because of how long he’s been here and the fact I trained most of his family as well and for him to end up as he has, I don’t think any of us expected that.

“He’s been an easy horse to train, but he loves his work, just loves his work. And that’s made our lives very easy.”

“He’s been pretty unlucky not to win three Lennox Stakes, but he loves it there, he really does. He’s come out of the July Cup in good form, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Sonny Liston in action at Sandown (Alan Crowhurst/PA)
Sonny Liston in action at Sandown (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Beckett’s Goodwood team could also include Sonny Liston, who will aim to put a beaten effort in the Summer Mile at Ascot behind him if he lines up for the Qatar Sussex Stakes.

He said: “He likes Goodwood. He’s run well twice there from his only two starts, and so he could well run in the Qatar Sussex Stakes. We might re-employ headgear as well.”

Beckett won the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes back in 2015 with subsequent St Leger winner Simple Verse and could be doubly represented this year as both River Of Stars, second last season, and Oxford Comma are likely to partake.

He said: “River Of Stars could go back and be joined by Oxford Comma, who won her only two starts this year. They could both show up there, depending on ground. That looks like an obvious target for both.”

The Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes could also have two Beckett-trained contenders as Task Force and King’s Gamble both hold entries.

“King’s Gamble ran very well in the Britannia and Task Force is sort of on the comeback trail. He ran quite well in the Jersey Stakes. We think he’s better than that. I think Goodwood will suit him very well,” the trainer said.

Starlust, winner of the City Walls Stakes at York when last seen, is pencilled in for the Qatar King George Stakes over the same five-furlong trip.

Beckett said: “Starlust has defied every expectation, we never saw him coming really. I never thought of him as a five-furlong horse but he saves his best for the racecourse and that’s why he keeps rolling.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bluestocking connections keen for ease in the ground ahead of King George bid

Connections of Bluestocking are keen to see some rain materialise on Thursday to allow her the chance to build on her maiden Group One success and take on the colts in a red-hot King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

A runner-up in both the Irish Oaks and over the King George track and trip on British Champions Day last year, the daughter of Camelot is getting her just rewards for some consistent performances at three this term.

After dazzling at York in the Middleton Stakes on her return, she recorded Group One honours for the first time when landing the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, a performance which teed-up a shot at the likes of Auguste Rodin and Rebel’s Romance in Ascot’s midsummer highlight.

Trainer Ralph Beckett indicated his intention to return to a mile and a half in this event providing conditions did not get too quick in Berkshire.

That has been echoed by Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon, who is hoping the forecast rain appears later this week to take the sting out of the ground and aid Bluestocking’s chances.

“I think Saturday is a real possibility and we said we were going to watch the weather,” said Mahon, who is Juddmonte’s European racing manager.

“There is a bit of rain coming in on Thursday and depending on where you look you get different amounts.

Team Bluestocking celebrate her Pretty Polly success
Team Bluestocking celebrate her Pretty Polly success (Damien Eagers/PA)

“There is some rain coming and Ascot have watered as well and I think the ground is good, good to firm. There is not a whole lot more rain coming for Goodwood (Nassau Stakes) next week (which is another option) and at the minute we’ll be looking at the King George.

“We’ll monitor the situation and as Ralph said, if it was very quick ground we would probably have to relook at it. At the minute we’re going to keep going towards Saturday and hope they get a millimetre or two more than they are forecast.”

It could prove a key afternoon for the Bluestocking team with the outcome of her performance determining where connections focus in the latter segment of the season.

A bold showing could see the four-year-old ignite Parisian dreams for the autumn, where she could get the chance to go one better than former stablemate Westover in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

A return to York is an option for Bluestocking
A return to York is an option for Bluestocking (Mike Egerton/PA)

Mahon added: “I think if Saturday went well and she came out of it well and ran OK we would be thinking about the Yorkshire Oaks.

“Again depending on Saturday, if she shows that she is up to handling the colts, we can look at the Arc. There’s also the Prix Vermeille.

“She’s entitled to run in these big races. She’s now a Group One winner and she’s multiple Group One placed and at the stage of the season we are at, we will keep going at the top table with her.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Yorkshire Oaks could lead to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for You Got To Me

Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me is likely to head for the Yorkshire Oaks next month for a run that could determine if connections can begin to dream of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the autumn.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, the Nathaniel filly won the Lingfield Oaks Trial on her seasonal return, which put her in the picture for the Epsom edition of the fillies-only Classic where she ran creditably to finish fourth.

She finished in the same position in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot having raced keenly, but with a tongue-tie applied, she raced much more professionally in her second bite of the Classic cherry, giving her team a day to remember at the Curragh.

With stablemate Bluestocking looking set for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes this weekend, the door is open for You Got To Me to line up at York on August 22, with her entry for Europe’s richest middle-distance contest in Paris on October 6 ready and waiting if she were to thrive on the Knavesmire.

You Got To Me (left) storming to Irish Oaks glory
You Got To Me (left) storming to Irish Oaks glory (Niall Carson/PA)

“I think the logical step is definitely York,” said Alex Elliott, racing adviser to owners Valmont, who jointly own the filly with Newsells Park Stud.

“York seems a very sensible slot and providing she is doing everything right and pleasing Ralph then that is the next target.

“She will be taking on older fillies for the first time and it looks like Emily Upjohn will possibly be going there, but Bluestocking might be running at Ascot this weekend if the ground isn’t too quick.

“She will be having to take on some elders, but I think the track will suit her and as long as there’s some pace in the race and she’s able to relax, which is a key thing for her. She didn’t relax at Lingfield, but her class got her through it and she didn’t relax again in the Ribblesdale.

“I think going to York on a flat track, a mile and a half, and against elders – it is going to tell us exactly where we are at.

“She’s rated 111 now and if that went well then we would probably be looking at the Arc. As a three-year-old filly with all the allowances she would then be a nice fit for the Arc.”

You Got To Me’s Irish Oaks success was a huge moment for Anthony Ramsden of Valmont in the early stages of his ownership journey, enjoying Classic glory for the first time and vindicating a buying policy which has seen this particular 200,000 guineas yearling flourish at three.

“It’s what we’re all in it for and it was a great day from top to bottom,” continued Elliott.

“Anthony Ramsden is Valmont and we buy three-year-old types as yearlings and it takes a lot of patience.

“We only started doing it in 2021 and she was bought in 2022, so it was only the second round of horses we bought and for her to do it so early on is very special.

“It can take a lifetime to win a Classic and a lot of people don’t get to do it, so we’re feeling very blessed to have done it so early.”

It was also a first Classic for jockey Hector Crouch, a major part of both Beckett and Valmont’s operation, and someone who had only ridden at the Curragh for the first time in the preceding Sapphire Stakes.

Juddmonte Irish Oaks Weekend – The Curragh Racecourse – Day One
Jockey Hector Crouch with his Irish Oaks trophy (Niall Carson/PA)

Elliott added: “Hector has been fantastic for us from the get-go.

“Ralph has got a lot of jockeys down there that alternate a lot of the time and can be at different meetings. We wanted consistency so nailed our colours to the mast of Hector and he’s been nothing short of brilliant for us, not only bringing these horses along, but delivering when we need him to.

“It was actually only his second ride at the Curragh, he rode in the race before in the sprint, but it was his first ride on the round track and what a ride he gave her.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Beckett biding his time on Bluestocking King George decision

All options remain open for Bluestocking, with Ralph Beckett still to decide if she will take her place in next Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Runner-up in the Irish Oaks in 2023, a top-level success eluded the daughter of Camelot last season.

However, she has found the winning trend since returning as a four-year-old, dazzling in the Middleton Stakes at York before stepping up to strike at the highest level for the first time in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

That Curragh success raised the possibility of taking on the colts at Ascot, with connections of the Juddmonte-owned filly yet to rule out a showdown with the likes of Auguste Rodin and Rebel’s Romance next weekend.

However, she also has the option to head to Goodwood to continue racing over 10 furlongs in the Qatar Nassau Stakes, with the Yorkshire Oaks also a possibility later in the summer.

“Bluestocking worked on the grass this morning before I left home and we’ll decide (on plans) later in the week,” said Beckett, shortly after winning the Irish Oaks with You Got To Me.

“It depends on the weather and how we feel and so on.

“It will either be the King George or the Nassau or the Yorkshire Oaks, or two of the three.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns