Interviews for the Flat season 2026

I am currently away interviewing for the new edition of Ahead On The Flat. On Monday afternoon, I had enjoyable trip to Hampshire visiting Ralph Beckett. Based near Andover in a beautiful part of the whole, the Classic winning handler enjoyed another terrific campaign last year with Qirat providing the highlight when defying odds of 150/1 in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Kimpton Downs Stables is blessed with a tremendous team of older horses and some exciting three year olds. It was great to catch up with Ralph to discuss his string for 2026 and reminisce about his time working for the late Jimmy FitzGerald in the 1990s.

On Tuesday morning, I met George Boughey at Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket and ran through his squad for the season ahead. New recruit Surive, won who the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield last month, is set to tackle the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia on Saturday before being aimed at Group 1 events in Europe this summer and beyond. Hugo Palmer's former assistant is also responsible for the unbeaten top-class juvenile from last year Bow Creek. 

I am due to conduct more interviews later this week and will be back to update the Diary shortly. Thank you very much to those clients who have purchased the One Jump Ahead Cheltenham Festival Update - it is greatly appreciated. Please head to the Publications section of the site to order, if you haven't already done so.