Ralph Beckett

With overnight soft-ground conditions deteriorating to heavy, Tuesday's G2 Unibet Vintage S. was shorn of G2 July S. victor and likely protagonist Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) on a card struck by multiple scratchings. Step forward Marc Chan's Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who followed up a one-length second in Saturday's Listed Pat Eddery S. to post a career high in Glorious Goodwood's day one juvenile feature. The 10-3 second choice and Ralph Beckett trainee had previously finished 13th behind the reopposing Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when contesting...

LEXINGTON, KY--This year's European contingent at the Breeders' Cup includes a handful of accomplished trainers sending out their first runners at the meeting-the likes of Michael Bell, James Fanshawe, Nigel Tinkler, John Quinn and Ger Lyons. They will, no doubt, all be hoping to follow in the mould of trainer Ralph Beckett, who won with his first ever Breeders' Cup starter, Muhannak (Ire) (Chester House), in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park. The Andover-based Beckett has exhibited a special touch with fillies over his 20-year career as...

Ralph Beckett trainee Lullaby Moon (GB) (Belardo {Ire) bagged two of her first three outings before hitting the board in Ayr's Sept. 19 G3 Firth of Clyde Fillies' S. and broke through for a first black-type success in Redcar's Oct. 3 Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy last time. Sent postward as the 11-10 odds for Saturday's G3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly, she overcame a troubled passage to justify favouritism and earn a career high in the seven-furlong contest. The eventual winner was swiftly into stride and on the lead early, but was...

There was a first black-type winner for the Ballylinch Stud-based New Bay (GB) (by Dubawi {Ire}) on Friday as Marc Chan's New Mandate (Ire) got up close home in Doncaster's Listed bet365 Flying Scotsman S. Keen early for Frankie Dettori restrained towards the rear of the group racing up the centre, the Aug. 23 Sandown nursery winner who was sent off at 17-2 found a gap up the far rail to wear down Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the final strides for a head success, with the 5-4 favourite...

Last year's G3 Zetland S. winner Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is pointing towards the Sept. 12 G1 St Leger, but will only take up that engagement if ground conditions are suitable, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. Max Vega beat just two home in the G1 Investec Derby, but looked a stayer in the making when second to Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. on Aug. 15 despite rider Harry Bentley dropping his whip late on. "Max Vega will go to Doncaster,...

Dual Classic heroine Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of six fillies and mares holding their ground for the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks over the Knavesmire on Aug. 20. The Aidan O'Brien trainee dominated the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas by 4 1/4 lengths in June, and extended her winning margin to nine lengths over 1 ½ miles in the G1 Investec Oaks on July 4. The Coolmore representative faces two from the John Gosden yard, with Juddmonte's MSW Franconia (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Anthony Oppenheimer's Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}),...

Goodwood's Qatar Festival has lived up to its "Glorious" tag all week and Saturday sees the culmination with the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. the key race for the staying fillies and mares. Despite there being only four participants, they are all notable performers in the category and last year's winner Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) will have to be at or near her best to bring up the repeat. Twelve months ago, the Shadwell representative gave a stone and a five-length beating to Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de...

After some British trainers, among them Ralph Beckett and Mark Johnston, called for the resignation of British Horseracing Authority CEO Nick Rust due to his handling of British racing during the COVID-19 crisis, the Board of the BHA released a statement in support of Rust and his team on Sunday afternoon. The Sunday Telegraph first reported the trainers had written to the BHA's Chairwoman Annamarie Phelps requesting Rust's resignation. Rust will be leaving his position as CEO of the BHA at the end of the year. The BHA's statement read:...

In the latest of the series targeting "dark horses" to follow in 2020, TDN's Tom Frary speaks to Ralph Beckett about a potentially smart colt in his yard. MASCAT (GB), c, 3, Zoffany (Ire)--Critical Acclaim (GB), by Peintre Celebre. Bred by Coln Valley Stud and an 80,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 purchase, the stoutly-bred chestnut from the Juddmonte family of Observatory bettered a promising debut second behind 'TDN Rising Star' Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) over seven furlongs at Sandown in August with a breakthrough score upped to a mile...