Royal Hunt Cup
Heritage Handicap, Ascot 17:00 £175,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 7f 213y, Class 2
Tweet Wednesday 21st June 2023

1 Jimi Hendrix 22/1
3 Sonny Liston 25/1
3 Awaal 15/2
4 Aerion Power 40/1
5 Bless Him 40/1
6 Ghaly 9/1
30 ran NR: Migration

@RalphBeckett and @ChelseaTbreds get 1st & 2nd in the Royal Hunt Cup with Jimi Hendrix and Sonny Liston @Ascot pic.twitter.com/9RkXYv4mfc https://t.co/08ppBDE9NM via @RacingBetter

— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) June 21, 2023

Jimi Hendrix led home a memorable one-two for owner Chelsea Thoroughbreds and trainer Ralph Beckett in the 30-runner handicap.

The Rossa Ryan-ridden winner streaked clear of the far side group and stayed on well to see off stablemate Sonny Liston and Ryan Moore, who burst out of the stands’ side pack approaching the final furlong, with two lengths separating the duo at the line.

Awaal justified his place towards the head of the market as he finished two lengths further back in third, a neck in front of Aerion Power.

Beckett said: “I gave Ryan Moore the choice – he could have ridden it! It’s great to get Sonny Liston back and he has to be ridden patiently like that, we think. He’ll probably go for the John Smith’s now. I’m thrilled to bits with him. 

“Jimi, I always felt he had a day like this in him. He won the Spring Cup well, but he didn’t go so well back on the Rowley Mile. We’ll probably leave the Rowley Mile out for now – I thought I’d win a Cambridgeshire with him last year – but it doesn’t matter, he’s won today and it’s wonderful. You couldn’t make it up, really. I thought we might win the Lincoln with him, as well. He has always threatened to do something like this. 

“Things haven’t been going great this week so far but to win a Hunt Cup takes a bit of doing. To finish first and second – I am so pleased. Rossa is a guy on the up; it’s great for him and he gave him a peach.”

Ryan said: “Ralph is a genius. We fancied this horse in the Lincoln and it didn't go right, but he was impressive in the Spring Cup at Newbury. We figured out a lot last time at Newmarket when he didn’t run up to scratch.

"Ralph has freshened him up lovely and credit to him and everyone at Kimpton – I get the easy job of riding him, but the lads behind the scenes do all the work. This one is for them.

"We didn't have much pace our side on paper, but the majority of the fancied runners were our side. I wanted to be handy, but he missed the break and didn't carry me into it until about three furlongs out.

“When I was rolling like that I had to keep rolling, and one thing about this lad is that he needs all the space. That's why I was adamant to come out wide and go round everyone and not try to be a hero.

"He's blessed with ability and it's only now I'm figuring him out."

Awaal’s co-trainer Ed Crisford said: “He ran a super race, very pleasing. He travelled super well and picked up. William said that he probably prefers slightly softer conditions, but I’m delighted with his run. He’s a good horse, second in the Lincoln, third in the Hunt Cup, and we’ve got a horse with a big future hopefully.”

Asked whether he has an idea of where the horse might run next, he added: “Not yet. Maybe into Stakes company, with a bit of cut in the ground, and hopefully he can keep climbing up the ladder.”

Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap (Str)
£175,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 7f 213y, Class 2
30 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (7)    Jimi Hendrix 4 9-5 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 22/1
2 (22) 2 Sonny Liston 4 9-2 Ralph Beckett Ryan Moore 25/1
3 (29) 2 Awaal 4 9-7 Simon & Ed Crisford William Buick 15/2
4 (21) nk Aerion Power 5 8-11 Sir Michael Stoute Harry Davies 40/1
5 (20) nk Bless Him 9 9-5 David Simcock Jamie Spencer 40/1
6 (27) ¾ Ouzo 7 8-11 Jamie Osborne Saffie Osborne
7 (25) nk Tempus 7 9-11 Archie Watson Hollie Doyle
8 (16) hd Positive 6 9-8 Clive Cox Adam Kirby
9 (24) 1½ Atrium 4 8-13 Charlie Fellowes Kieran Shoemark
10 (30) hd Perotto 5 8-12 2 Roger Varian David Egan
11 (18) nk Revich 7 9-0 Richard Spencer Jason Hart
12 (2) 1¼ Dual Identity 5 8-8 William Neil Callan
13 (8) 3¾ Ghaly 7 9-4 Saeed bin Suroor Oisin Murphy
14 (28) ¾ Point Lynas 4 8-11 Edward Bethell Tom Marquand
15 (13) ½ Greatgadian 5 8-12 Roger Varian Aidan Keeley
16 (4) shd Isla Kai 5 8-10 Nigel Tinkler Rowan Scott
17 (26) ½ Blue For You 5 9-3 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope
18 (9) 1¼ Light And Dark 7 8-9 Saeed bin Suroor David Probert
19 (23) hd Bear Force One 7 8-12 Roger Teal Lewis Edmunds
20 (1) ½ Dawn Of Liberation 4 9-0 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs
21 (12) 1½ Astro King 6 9-1 Daniel & Claire Kubler Richard Kingscote
2219 (19) nse Orbaan 8 8-13 David O'Meara Jason Watson
23 (15) ¾ Imperial Fighter 4 9-9 Andrew Balding Callum Hutchinson
24 (11) hd Dunum 5 8-13 Miss Natalia Lupini Wayne Lordan
25 (31) 3 Intellogent 8 9-6 Jane Chapple-Hyam James Doyle
26 (10) hd Outbreak 4 8-13 Charlie Johnston Andrea Atzeni
27 (32) 2¾ Reach For The Moon 4 9-10 John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori
28 (5) 1 Wanees 4 8-11 Charles Hills Jim Crowley
29 (14) 18 Koy Koy 4 8-10 George Boughey James McDonald
30 (3) 1 Chasing Aphrodite 4 8-12 Harry Eustace Hayley Turner
NR 1 (17) Migration 7 10-1 David Menuisier NON RUNNER

Past results

2022-WINNER-DARK SHIFT Charles Hills James McDonald Craycroft Racing LLC & Riverside Bloodstock LLC 4 9-01 13/2

2021-WINNER-REAL WORLD Saeed bin Suroor Marco Ghiani Godolphin 4 8-09 18/1

2020-WINNER-DARK VISION Mark Johnston William Buick Godolphin 4-9-01 15/2

2019-WINNER-AFAAK Charlie Hills Jim Crowley Hamdan Al Maktoum 5-9-03 20/1

2018-WINNER-SETTLE FOR BAY David Marnane IRE Billy Lee McGettigans Management JLT/M Casey 4-9-01 16/1

2017-WINNER-ZHU FENG 4-9-00 Owner-John Connolly & Odile Griffith; Trainer-Amanda Perrett; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-25/1
2ND-Blair House 4-8-11 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Charlie Appleby; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-16/1
3RD-Tashweeq 4-9-06 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Dane O’Neill; SP-66/1
4TH-Ballet Concerto 4-9-02 Owner-Saeed Suhail; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-20/1
29 ran; Time-1m 37.82s; Dist-½, nk, 1¾ 13/2 Fav Abe Lincoln (15th)

2016-WINNER-PORTAGE 4-9-05 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Michael Halford IRE; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-10/1
2ND-Librisa Breeze 4-8-11 Owner-Tony Bloom; Trainer-Dean Ivory; Jockey-Robert Winston; SP-8/1
3RD-Mitchum Swagger 4-9-08 Owner- Paul Dean & the Mitchum Swagger P’Ship; Trainer-David Lanigan; Jockey-George Baker; SP- 14/1
4TH-Azraff 4-8-13 Owner-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; Trainer-Marco Botti; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-20/1
28 ran; Time-1m 43.01s; Dist-11⁄4, nk, 1⁄2 13/2 Fav Convey (22nd)

2015-WINNER-GM HOPKINS 4-9-03 Owner-Robin Geffen; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-8/1
2ND-Temptress 4-8-12 Owner-The Pyoneers; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-9/1
3RD-Chil The Kite 6-9-08 Owner-Hazel Lawrence & Graham Doyle; Trainer-Hughe Morrison; Jockey-George Baker; SP-16/1
4TH-Balty Boys 4-8-12 Owner-Koo’s Racing Club, Carr & Jacobs; Trainer-Brian Ellison; Jockey-Silvestre de Sousa; SP-25/1 30 ran; Time-1m 40.30s; Dist-nk, 11⁄2, 1⁄2 7/1 Fav Ayaar (9th)

2014-WINNER-FIELD OF DREAM 7-9-01 Owner-N Jackson; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-20/1
2ND-Chil The Kite 5-9-09 Owner-Hazel Lawrence & Graham Doyle; Trainer-Hughie Morrison; Jockey-George Baker; SP-14/1
3RD-Steeler 4-9-06 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Charlie Appleby; Jockey-Silvestre de Sousa; SP-33/1
4TH-Sea Shanty 4-8-12 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-14/1
28 ran; Time-1m 37.88s; Dist-11⁄4, 11⁄4, sh 7/2 Fav Abseil (8th)

2013-WINNER-BELGIAN BILL 5-8-11 Owner-PJL Racing, Byrne, Baker; Trainer-George Baker; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-33/1
2ND-Premio Loco 9-9-09 Owner-Bernard Westley; Trainer-Chris Wall; Jockey-George Baker; SP- 40/1
3RD-Arsaadi 4-8-12 Owner-Sultan Ali; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Liam Jones; SP-50/1
4TH-Don’t Call Me 6-9-05 Owner-Matt & Lauren Morgan; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Pat Dobbs; SP-25/1
28 ran; Time-1m 38.68s; Dist-3⁄4, 1⁄2, 1⁄2 10/1 Co Favs Two For Two (12th), Fury (18th), Stirring Ballad (22nd)

2012-WINNER-PRINCE OF JOHANNE 6-9-03 Owner-David Storey; Trainer-Tom Tate; Jockey-John Fahy; SP-16/1
2ND-Excellent Guest 5-8-11 Owner-John Guest Racing; Trainer-George Margarson; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-33/1
3RD-Don’t Call Me 5-8-08 Owner-Matt & Lauren Morgan; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Sam Hitchcott; SP-50/1
4TH-Field Of Dream 5-9-00 Owner-Ken Gundlach; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-66/1
30 ran; Time-1m 38.24s; Dist-1⁄2, 3⁄4, nk 9/2 Fav Dimension (8th)

2011-WINNER-JULIENAS 4-8-08 Owner-Peter Harris; Trainer-Walter Swinburn; Jockey-Eddie Ahern; SP-12/1
2ND-Dance And Dance 5-9-03 Owner-Mohammed Rashid; Trainer-Ed Vaughan; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/1 Fav
3RD-Invisible Man 5-9-06 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-20/1
4TH-Pendragon 8-8-04 Owner-Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway; Trainer-Brian Ellison; Jockey-Jimmy Quinn; SP-33/1
28 ran; Time-1m 38.53s; Dist-1⁄2, 2, ns

2010-WINNER-INVISIBLE MAN 4-8-09 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-28/1
2ND-Riggins 6-9-00 Owner-Dubai Thoroughbred Racing; Trainer-Andrew Balding; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-12/1 3RD-St Moritz 4-8-07 Owner-Renata Jacobs; Trainer-Mark Johnston; Jockey-Joe Fanning; SP-12/1
4TH-Tryst 5-8-05 Owner-Ms L A Morgan; Trainer-John Hammond FR; Jockey-Hayley Turner; SP-12/1
29 ran; Time-1m 37.16s; Dist-1⁄2, 1, 1 8/1 Fav Dandy Boy (21st)

2009-WINNER-FORGOTTEN VOICE 4-9-01 Owner-Susan Roy; Trainer-Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-4/1 Fav
2ND-Huzzah 4-8-10 Owner-J Gale, J Finch, D Cole, Robin Dollar, David Powell; Trainer-Barry Hills; Jockey-Michael Hills; SP-25/1
3RD-Mia’s Boy 5-9-03 Owner-Iraj Parvizi; Trainer-Chris Dwyer; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-9/1
4TH-Nanton 7-8-06 Owner-Stuart Morrison; Trainer-Jim Goldie; Jockey-Daniel Tudhope; SP-16/1
25 ran; Time-1m 40.41s; Dist-21⁄4, 3⁄4, 11⁄2

2008-WINNER-MR AVIATOR 4-9-05 Owner-Sue Brendish; Trainer-Richard Hannon snr; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-25/1
2ND-Docofthebay 4-9-06 Owner-Paul Dixon; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-10/1
3RD-Royal Power 5-8-12 Owner-David Nicholls; Trainer-David Nicholls; Jockey-Adrian Nicholls; SP-25/1
4TH-Kavachi 5-8-04 Owner-Bryan Pennick & Roy Martin; Trainer-Gary Moore; Jockey-Franny Norton 33/1
29 ran, Time-1m 39.63s, Dist-nk, nk, 3⁄4 13/8 Fav Bankable (5th)