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Reports18 October 2023

220,000gns buy and 'very talented' Valvano initiates juvenile debut double for leading course trainer Ralph Beckett

Ralph Beckett: saddled a one-two in the Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy at Ripon
Ralph Beckett: trainer unleashed two smart prospects at NottinghamCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ralph Beckett is the leading trainer at Nottingham this season and unleashed two smart prospects when winning the 1m½f maidens with newcomers Valvano and Treasure.

Valvano joined an illustrious recent honour roll including King Of Steel and Eldar Eldarov when striking by six lengths in the opening mile contest.

The son of Night Of Thunder was a 220,000gns purchase at last year's Book 1 sale for owners Vamont and stretched right away from his rivals for an impressive success under Hector Crouch.

Market confidence in Valvano proved well placed, having opened up a 2-1 shot when bet365 formed their market on Tuesday evening and returned the 8-11 favourite.

Crouch said: "He was very raw but has a lot of natural ability. Once he was straightened up and knuckled down he showed he's very talented.

"He's not short of speed and I wouldn't be in a rush to step up in trip with him, although he will stay a mile and a quarter in time. I hadn't ridden him at home but he's really impressed me. He's an exciting individual."

The King and Queen-owned homebred Treasure boosted Beckett's strike-rate at the East Midlands track to 38 per cent (8-21) this campaign when staying on best for a two-and-a-quarter-length win under Ben Curtis.

Curtis said: "She was a little behind the bridle early but the further she went, the better she went. It was a nice performance."

On the bob

History repeated itself in the feature 1m2f handicap but only just as last year’s winner Mr Alan prevailed by a nose.

The George Boughey-trained four-year-old, owned by Amo Racing, narrowly held on from Belhaven and was partnered by champion jockey William Buick for the first time.

Buick said: “It was tight at the line – he carries his head quite low and I was just hoping he’d done enough. It was a brave performance as we got to the front early enough but he goes well in these conditions.”

Fine record

Kayleigh Stephens took her record to 2-3 since switching from an apprentice to amateur licence last year when successful on the Mark Usher-trained Willingly in the 5f finale.

Stephens struck on her first ride on Breakheart at Sandown in 2017 but decided to head down the amateur route after finding opportunities hard to come by.

The rider, who now works for Charlie Hills, said: “I struggled to get many rides at Andrew Balding's, where I was fighting against the best young lads for opportunities, so I decided to switch to an amateur licence, which also helps with the weight.

“I had a tack malfunction on Saratoga Gold at York on my last ride when I was unseated – if it wasn’t for that I might be three from three!”

Double delight

Hollie Doyle was successful aboard the William Stone-trained Tipsy Tiger, whose dam Tigerfish was a six-time winner under the rider, in the 1m½f nursery before sealing a 58-1 double on the Jack Channon-trained Desperate Hero in the 5f handicap.


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