A Ralph Beckett-trained filly to follow and 33-1 Cheltenham chance sees her form boosted - three things we learned this week

Three key takeaways from this week . . .

Ebor-winning owners have another nice prospect

Patrick and Scott Bryceland enjoyed Ebor success with Magical Zoe this year and their silks were in the winner's enclosure at Newbury on Saturday with an eyecatching newcomer.

That's Amore was a 180,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls Book 1 sale last year and has clearly taken time to come to hand.

The daughter of New Bay impressed on her debut, however, making all and stretching clear for a six-length success under Hector Crouch in the mile fillies' novice, a race won by Musidora scorer Nausha in 2018 and Oaks second Secret Gesture in 2012.

Ralph Beckett: trainer of That's AmoreCredit: Edward Whitaker

It didn't look the strongest running on paper but That's Amore could do little more than win in the manner she did as a short-price favourite and looked particularly uncomplicated.

That's Amore is a sister to the Richard Hannon-trained Persica, a Listed winner who has improved 20lb this season, and should have plenty more to offer in time, with an Oaks trial mooted as a possibility by Ralph Beckett for next spring.

Beckett landed a novice at the same track on Friday with the potentially smart Centigrade and has plenty of ammunition for next year's three-year-old ranks.
Jack Haynes

Hotazhell in esteemed company after Futurity win

Hotazhell joined a select group when following up his Beresford Stakes win in the William Hill Futurity Trophy, and recent history shows that double should hold him in fine stead through his career.

Of the four horses this century before him to have won the Curragh Group 2 and then followed up at Doncaster a month later, three went on to strike at the highest level again.

The first was St Nicholas Abbey, who after his win in 2009 when it was the Racing Post Trophy, went on to land five more Group 1s during a terrific career, namely the Breeders' Cup Turf, Sheema Classic and the Coronation Cup three times.

Hotazhell (left): edged out Delacroix in the Futurity TrophyCredit: GROSSICK RACING

Luxembourg, who did the Beresford-Futurity double three years ago, has since won an Irish Champion Stakes, Tattersalls Gold Cup and Coronation Cup, while 2017 winner Saxon Warrior won only once more, but that came in the 2018 2,000 Guineas. He also went down by a neck in both the Coral-Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes.

The odd one out is 2010 winner Casamento, but he did win subsequently in Group 3 company.

Hotazhell's nose win could be only the start of better things and you can be confident another Group 1 strike next year or beyond is bang on the cards.
Matt Rennie

Persian War form receives a boost

Intense Approach provided trainer John McConnell with a third win in the last five runnings of the 3m novice hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The son of Jack Hobbs made most of the running to win by six lengths, clearly appreciating the step up to three miles for the first time.

McConnell's two previous winners of the race both went on to finish third in the Albert Bartlett and the Grade 1 is likely to be on the radar for Intense Approach.

His victory on Saturday also provided a significant form boost to Chepstow's Persian War Novices' Hurdle.

Flying Fortune: impressive winner of the Persian War Novices' HurdleCredit: Steve Davies

Intense Approach finished second in the Grade 2, seven and a half lengths behind the Peter and Michael Bowen-trained Flying Fortune.

Flying Fortune has produced form figures of 221111 this year and her connections have identified the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as a long-term target.

She is a general 33-1 chance for the Grade 2 and, given she is on a steep upward curve and has seen her recent form boosted, those odds could look a tad generous come March.
Joe Eccles

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