Ralph Beckett

Mark Tompkins retired from the Newmarket training ranks in 2019 with his highest-profile winner having been the 1993 St Leger winner Bob's Return (Ire) (Bob Back). The final black-type victory of his career came with Brushing (GB), a homebred daughter of Medicean (GB), who landed the Listed Galtres S. at York as well as the Cumberland Plate.  Tompkins is now hopeful that by Friday afternoon he can add Classic-winning breeder to his list of achievements as Brushing's daughter, the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}),...

Recent G2 Middleton S. heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is targeting the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh on June 29. The Juddmonte homebred, who is trained by Ralph Beckett, was also under consideration for the G1 Coronation Cup on May 31 at Epsom. In 2023, the filly was second in the G1 Irish Oaks and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. "You're always hoping with a filly like her that she'll improve from three to four, that's not a given but I think we all felt...

Following the latest scratching stage, 25 fillies remain in the G1 Betfred Oaks set for Epsom Downs on Friday, May 31. The 1 1/2-mile race features 15 fillies trained in Britain, nine from Ireland one from France, with the Coolmore partners' Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in pole position and 5-2 in the wagering markets on Betfred. The G1 Fillies' Mile heroine ran fifth in the G1 1000 Guineas earlier this month. She is one of seven Aidan O'Brien trainees, with the listed-placed Rubies Are Red (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and...

Newsells Park Stud resident Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Ralph Beckett-trained son Mr Chaplin (GB), a 58,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned 120,000gns Book 1 yearling, followed up a debut fourth at Newmarket earlier this month with a breakthrough score in Friday's £12,000 ARC & Sky Sports Racing Support Starlight Maiden S. at Newbury. 3rd-Newbury, £12,000, Mdn, 5-17, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.52, gd. MR CHAPLIN (GB) (c, 2, Without Parole {GB}--Midnight Hush {Fr}, by Anabaa), a May 5 debut fourth...

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) had failed to get her nose in front since attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status at Salisbury in September 2022, but bounced back from six straight stakes defeats to outshine all four rivals with a dominant display in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York. Positioned in a handy third through the halfway mark of this extended 10-furlong contest, the 5-2 second favourite loomed large racing hard...

In scenes reminiscent of Wednesday's Listed Cheshire Oaks, Saturday's Listed Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield resulted in a Ralph Beckett-trained filly getting to the line ahead of a Ballydoyle runner with You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Brushing {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) on top where it mattered. Last seen finishing fifth in Newmarket's Listed Montrose Fillies' S. in November, Valmont and Newsells Park Stud's 200,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 purchase set off at a demanding clip under Hector Crouch while her rivals were under restraint waiting for her to crack....

Connections of Task Force (GB) are keen to give the colt plenty of time to recover from his run in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, feeling there will be lots to come from their charge later in the year. The Juddmonte homebred proved himself a smart sprinting two-year-old for the Ralph Beckett yard last season, winning his first two starts before signing off with a runner-up finish behind Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket. Sent off at 16/1 when returning...

Stepping up from her striking Wolverhampton debut win, Forest Fairy (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}--Bahama Girl {Ire}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) booked her Classic ticket with success in Wednesday's Listed Cheshire Oaks. Kept in a pocket throughout the home turn, the Ralph Beckett-trained 11-4 shot was out in time to reel in Ballydoyle's Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) close home for a head verdict. "She did well, as she was very green still and had never been on the grass," jockey Rossa Ryan said. "She was very timid in coming out...

Imperium Sales may be the newest name on the consignment block but this is no rookie outfit. Imperium is the brainchild of leading bloodstock advisor Alex Elliott and it makes its debut with 14 horses hitting the market at this week's Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale. From what Elliott describes as a potential Melbourne Cup horse in Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to the rapidly-progressive He's A Monster (Ire) (No Nay Never), Imperium Sales has the potential to make its debut draft a memorable one.  In many ways, Elliott...

Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, has been retired after sustaining a "career-ending injury" when finishing runner-up in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Announcing his retirement on Thursday, the colt's owner-breeder Juddmonte stated that stud plans for the 4-year-old would be announced at a later date. Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said, "It's devastating news, unfortunately he suffered a career-ending injury on Sunday and he'll have to be retired. Long-term he'll be fine and he'll be okay...

Fitri Hay's dual nursery handicap second Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}--Beyond Desire {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), notched a quickfire double at Chelmsford and Newbury earlier in the year and took a step up the ladder with a narrow verdict in Saturday's G3 Unibet Zero% Mission Sirenia S. at Kempton, his sixth straight start going six furlongs. With tasks made easier by the scratching of 'TDN Rising Star' Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}), Starlust went postward as the 2-1 second favourite and found a comfortable rhythm off the pace in sixth before...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Insights features Skellet, a half to MGSW Skitter Scatter.   15.10 Salisbury, Mdn, £30,000, 2yo, f, 6f 213yT SKELLET (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) was one of the unluckiest losers all season at Sandown on her debut for the Ralph Beckett stable last month and with her killer pedigree steps...