Tag Archive for: Warren Greatrex

Bill Baxter shines over the National fences to put Greatrex on top again

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Bill Baxter got Warren Greatrex back into the big-race winner’s enclosure with a determined victory over the Grand National fences in the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase at Aintree.

While run over a distance some way short of the big one, the Topham traditionally gives jockeys a chance to get their eye in on the eve of the world’s most famous steeplechase.

Greatrex is no stranger to major success as the trainer of World Hurdle hero Cole Harden and multiple Grade One-winning mare La Bague Au Roi, but by his standards it has been a while between drinks for the Lambourn-based trainer, with his last graded-race success coming over three years ago.

Bill Baxter, the mount of Sam Twiston-Davies, was sent off at 20-1 after winning his last three completed starts over fences, with a January fall at Hereford sandwiched in between.

From the final fence it was a straight shootout between Greatrex’s grey and the Nicky Henderson-trained Fantastic Lady and it was Bill Baxter who finished best to prevail by a length and three-quarters.

Greatrex said: “This was the horse that was going to put our team on the map and I ride him every day.

“We had a plan a while back then he fell at Hereford, but I said if the rain came he had a great chance and thankfully it did.

“He gallops and jumps and we got Sam, who is always up for anything. Once over the first I knew the horse would adapt to the fences, and I knew turning in he would win.

“When you hit a low like we did it’s tough, but I have a great team and some nice young horses.”

Fennor Cross had earlier lifted the William Hill Handicap Hurdle for Irish trainer John McConnell and 5lb claimer Ben Harvey.

Ben Harvey celebrates winning the William Hill Handicap Hurdle on Fennor Cross
Ben Harvey celebrates winning the William Hill Handicap Hurdle on Fennor Cross (Peter Byrne/PA)

McConnell and Harvey teamed up for Cheltenham Festival success last month with Seddon and hopes were high that Fennor Cross could also get the trainer off the mark at Aintree.

An 8-1 shot after finishing down the field in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on his latest start, the six-year-old was a commanding two-length winner on his return to handicap company, after which McConnell said: “It’s easy this game isn’t it!

“Cheltenham was a mess for this horse. We’d hoped to run him at Musselburgh, but he had a little issue which meant he didn’t get his fourth run in to qualify for the handicaps and the only race he was in was the Supreme. He wouldn’t have run a bad race in that but made a mess of the third-last and his race was over.

“We always felt going up in trip would suit him and it went really well. Ben gave him a beautiful ride.

“He handles most ground and has turned into a proper horse. I don’t know what the plan is because I think there’s unfinished business on the Flat as well.”

Ici La Reine seeking Nickel Coin crown

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Warren Greatrex’s Ici La Reine will look to add to her unbeaten record in familiar silks at Aintree.

The five-year-old has won both of her starts to date, taking bumper contests on the all-weather at Newcastle in both January and February.

Her Aintree outing will be her first on turf as she steps up to Grade Two level to contest the Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

“She’s come on nicely since her last win, I’ve been very happy with her since,” said Greatrex.

“She’s been away for a racecourse gallop. The two wins she has have been on the all-weather and I thought a bit more experience wouldn’t do her any harm.

“She went very nicely through there, she’s definitely improving and I don’t think what we’ve seen so far is her limit.

“I think there’s more to come and a fast-run race will really suit her.”

Jonjo O’Neill jr will take the ride at Aintree, but conditional Dylan Kitts was aboard for the filly’s two wins to date and Greatrex was heartened by the efforts he had to go to to pull her up.

“In both races she’s won, what I’ve liked is that Dylan has struggled to pull her up both times,” he said.

“There’s plenty left, I think there’s a huge run in her and I’m excited about it. At Newcastle we were only the touching the surface, there’s lots in the tank.”

Ici La Reine is a well-bred daughter of Presenting, related on the dam side to Greatrex’s popular Graded performer La Bague Au Roi – with the two horses niece and aunt in human terms.

La Bague Au Roi was seventh in the same race in 2016 for the same owners and Greatrex considers Ici La Reine a step ahead in her progression comparatively.

“She’s got big shoes to fill but she looks very exciting, at this stage there wouldn’t be a lot between them,” he said.

“This filly would actually be a bit stronger La Bague Au Roi was at this age.

“I’m excited to get her out and I think she’ll put up a good show.”

Newcastle victor Reine set for step up in class

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Warren Greatrex has spring targets in mind for the well-related Ici La Reine following her second bumper win at Newcastle on Saturday.

The filly is out of a half-sister to Greatrex’s hugely popular Grade One winner La Bague Au Roi, with the two mares both owned by Mrs Julien Turner and Andrew Merriam.

On debut Ici La Reine made light work of a Newcastle mares’ bumper, defeating eight rivals when winning by an easy six and a half lengths.

The victory earnt her a penalty when returning to the same course on Saturday for a similar contest, but the bay was able to overcome that hinderance and a less than ideal passage through the race to prevail by a neck.

“It was nice to win again. It was a bit of a muddling race and she did a lot wrong, but thankfully the result went the right way,” said Greatrex.

“It was a typical second run, she was a bit lit up before in the paddock and then in the race she had a bit of cover but unfortunately that horse went wrong.

“She then had a bit too much daylight and was a bit keen and it ended up in a sprint.

“She would be a very strong stayer, I like horses that keep going and she did her best work at the end.”

The back-to-back successes have brought into focus mares’ bumper contests at Aintree and Cheltenham in April, where Greatrex is hopeful a higher calibre of race will bring about more improvement.

He said: “With her winning two, I think she’s potentially better than we’ve seen. We’ll look at Aintree and if not Aintree, there is a Cheltenham bumper in April as well.

“I think she’ll be better in a better race where they go a better gallop. She shows all the signs that she’s got a bright future.”

Ici Le Reine is out of Reine Angevine, whose dam Alliance Royale also produced Greatrex’s much-loved mare La Bague Au Roi – winner of 14 contests including two Grade Ones.

“She has a lot of the same traits as La Bague Au Roi and if she’s half as good as her, I’ll be very happy,” he said.

“I think I’ve had four horses from the owners over the years and we’ve trained them over 20 winners. It’s been good to find another one and fingers crossed she can be a really good one at that.”