A TEST Valley trainer is celebrating success at Royal Ascot this week, with a memorable one-two in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Flat racing expert Ralph Beckett, who has a horse training facility at Kimpton Down, saw stablemates Jimi Hendrix and Sonny Liston complete an astonishing first and second place, respectively, during the race on Wednesday, June 21.

A maximum field of 30 went to post for what was as always a fiercely-competitive handicap and at the business end it was the Beckett duo on opposite sides of the track that had the contest at their mercy.

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Eventual runner-up Sonny Liston was travelling menacingly on the stands side in the hands of jockey Ryan Moore and burst clear of his group to mount his challenge inside the final furlong, but he was unable to land a knockout blow as Rossa Ryan notched his second Royal Ascot winner when leading home those on the far side.

Beckett, speaking on Wednesday, said: “What a performance. I actually gave Ryan the choice of the two. It’s great to get Sonny Liston back, he has to be ridden like that, we think.

“I always thought the winner had a day like this in him. He won the Spring Cup nicely enough, but ran poorly on the Rowley Mile last time out. I think we’ll avoid the Rowley Mile for now. I thought he’d win the Cambridgeshire last year, but that doesn’t matter now because he’s won today.

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“You couldn’t make it up the same syndicate own the first two, they are very happy.

“It’s been a tough week up to now, it hasn’t been going great but to win a Hunt Cup takes a bit of doing, to finish first and second is very satisfying, and it’s great for Rossa, he gave him a peach.”

Both horses are owned by Chelsea Thoroughbreds.