Ooh Betty – Ascot Grade 2 Winner!!

The 17th January 2026 will be a date here at Ben Clarke Racing we won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

Ooh Betty has been struggling in her 2 starts this season but going into Ascot we were certain we had ironed out a couple of issues that have been preventing her from running to form. However on arrival at Ascot we were quite concerned about the overnight rain that had fallen and changing the ground to officially soft. All of Betty’s best form is on decent ground.

In spite of the ground not being ideal we were keen to take our chance with good prize money on offer and on paper thinking we would be the pace angle in the race. Reunited with old ally Ben Jones, an even tempo was set before winding it up 3 out. She was joined upsides by highly regarded Jamie Snowden novice La Conquiere and Nicky Henderson’s Joyeuse at the last, but a good jump and a power packed Ben Jones drive saw her home by 1/2 a length.

To land our first Grade 2 at Ascot on ITV on a big Saturday card is what dreams are made of. Ooh Betty has quite simply been a superstar for us for a few seasons now. She’s taken us to some big races and bagged 6 wins along the way, but for her to bag a big one herself is really special. She cost her owners £10,000 and has now amassed prize money of over £117,000!!

Sally isn’t often at the races but as she does all the work with Betty an exception was made! To have Sally with me on such a big day for our yard was extra special. Owners Butler, Langford, Paterson & Tory have been on an amazing journey with this horse and I’m sure there’s 1 or 2 more big days in her.

The previous day we ran highly regarded bumper winner The Flaggy Shore at Market Rasen in the listed mares bumper. Having won her Irish ptp and bumper debut with ease she’s a mare we have high hopes for. She was a little keen throughout but still ran a cracker beaten 1 3/4 lengths into 2nd. A big raw mare with lots of growing to do, I’m certain she’ll be a high class novice hurdler next season. We will look to run her once more this season possibly at Sandown before giving her the summer to grow.