First Group 1 for Ed Bethell

Bought for 3,500gns in July 2021, Regional provided Ed Bethell with his first Group 1 winner when taking the Haydock Sprint Cup on Saturday. Successful in the Listed Achilles Stakes over five furlongs at the Merseyside track in June, the Territories gelding had finished fifth in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month. Stepping back up in distance, Callum Rodriguez's mount hit the front with over a furlong to run and held off the late challenge of Shouldvebeenaring by a neck. His young trainer took over the licence from his father James a couple of years ago and is already enjoying his best campaign with 39 winners. Having interviewed Ed for the York Ebor Update, I am delighted for him and the victory will also mean a lot to Rodriguez who is from Garstang in Lancashire.

Elsewhere on the Haydock card, Top 40 entry Naqeeb (5/2) produced a smart performance to win the staying handicap for three year olds. A half-brother to the brilliant Baaeed and Hukum, the son of Nathaniel was a wide margin winner at Kempton on his previous start and was making his handicap debut here off a mark of 100. Tom Marquand's mount travelled strongly before being pushed out to a length and a quarter success. It remains to be seen whether we will see him again this year but is an exciting staying prospect for 2024. 

Talking of the York Ebor Update, the Clive Cox trained Ghostwriter (10/11) was highlighted as a juvenile to follow and the Invincible Spirit maintained his unbeaten record by winning the opening seven furlongs novice stakes at Ascot. An impressive winner on his debut at Newmarket last month, William Buick's mount was always to the fore and picked up well when asked inside the final furlong. Firmly on top at the finish, he looks ready for a rise in class. The Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket (30th September) is a realistic target and the step up to a mile ought to be to his liking. He is a smart colt.

Value Racing Club were amongst the winners once again at Stratford with Guinness Affair making it four wins from five starts over fences. The seven year old battled on gamely after the last to win by a length off a mark of 127, which is ninteen pounds higher than when he registered his first win over the larger obstacles at Hexham in late June. Jamie Snowden has done a fine job with the Fuisse gelding who has now won 7 of his 9 races since VRC have owned him.

Once I have completed One Jump Ahead this week, I will be starting work on the Autumn Update. Please note this will be emailed to clients on Thursday 28th September and NOT Thursday 21st September, as stated in Ahead On The Flat. The Update is geared towards the Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket (30th September) and everything seems a week later this year. 

If you haven't already ordered your copy of the Autumn Update or One Jump Ahead, please head to the Publications section of the site. Thank you very much for all those clients who have pre ordered One Jump Ahead.