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Regional, who was knocked down to Future Champions Racing at the July Sales two years ago, has gone on to win races and Haydock Park and York, netting them over £100,000.
Now the Ed Bethell-trained gelding is likely to take his chance in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over the flying five furlongs on The Knavesmire following his impressive re-appearance win at the track.
“Just to have a runner in a race like the Nunthorpe would be out of this world but we hope to go there with a fighting chance,” says Danny Clark, who runs the syndicate with Byron Hubbard.
“The way he won at the Dante Festival has got us very excited about returning to York but first we hope we can win a Listed race with him.”
The signs are promising after Regional came back from a lengthy break to make virtually all the running in the Lindum Handicap under jockey Callum Rodriguez, elevating his official rating from 100 to 105.
Bethell, who trains at Middleham in North Yorkshire, is equally excited. “He’s in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot but a fast five furlongs suits him best as he has so much raw speed,” he adds.
“He was third in last season’s Stewards’ Cup even though he barely came down the hill at Goodwood and might just run out of steam up that stiff finish at Ascot. He’s a flat track bully which is why York suits him so well.”
Looked a picture in the paddock and backed it up with a smart performance on the track! 🤩
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 18, 2023
Regional holds on well to win the Lindum York Handicap 🥇#ITVRacing | #DanteFestival | @CallumRodrigue4 | @ebethellracing pic.twitter.com/8RWWlwHUi0
The first race at @yorkracecourse on Dante day is won by @ebethellracing!
— GBRI (@GBRI_UK) May 18, 2023
Find more about his facilities via this feature from last year. 📹 https://t.co/uA2p0SzZEK
Bethell is favouring the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock and the City Walls Stakes at Chester this summer in preparation for the Nunthorpe – a race which his father James finished third in with the smart Moss Gill in 2020.
Danny and Byron approached Bethell junior to buy them a horse after identifying him as an up and coming young trainer. They had £30,000 to spend so were surprised to take home Regional for little more than a tenth of that budget.
“We couldn’t believe it,” recalls Danny. “We’d been to look at the horse before he went through and liked him but thought he’d fetch 40 or 50.
“When no one was bidding we thought there must be something wrong with him but Ed liked him so we were happy to take him home, even though we thought we’d be running in claimers!”
Bethell hasn’t been surprised by the form Regional has shown since making a winning debut for Future Champions Racing at Haydock.
“He does have a wind problem which might have put a few people off but it doesn’t seem to stop him. He’s giving his syndicate a lot of fun and if we can get to the Nunthorpe they’ll have another great day out.”
Future Champions also have hurdler Tinnahalla with Olly Murphy and plan to launch a new racing club later this year offering micro shares for as little as £49.
“Byron and I are so passionate about racing and want to get more people involved in the experience of ownership. That’s why we’re planning to launch My Future Champion,” explains Danny.
In the meantime the exploits of Regional are certainly putting them on the ownership map and it wouldn’t be a shock to see their two-tone blue and white silks in the winner’s enclosure again this summer.
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