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Occasions have been robust in some ways for Warren Greatrex, however Invoice Baxter emerged by the darkish clouds at Aintree to trace at brighter days forward for the Lambourn coach.
Greatrex, a four-time Grade 1 winner whose largest victory got here when Cole Harden gained what’s now the Stayers’ Hurdle on the 2015 Cheltenham Pageant, thanked the heavens after a welcome big-race success with a progressive horse having his first run over the Nationwide fences.
Loads of religion had been positioned in Invoice Baxter, and with the moist climate arriving simply in time, he delivered in model underneath Sam Twiston-Davies.
“This was the horse popping out to place our identify on the map,” stated Greatrex. “I journey him daily and I’m very related to him. We had a plan some time again after which he fell at Hereford, but it surely wasn’t his fault that day and this was the race that was going to swimsuit him so long as the rain got here.
“Final evening we weren’t going to run after which it rained all morning, so somebody is trying down.”
Greatrex has moved stables since he usually posted 50-plus winners a season. Final time period, nonetheless, that quantity dropped to simply 13 winners.
His yard was additionally rocked by the deaths of steady workers Michael Pitt in July 2021 and David Thompson in February.
“I can’t consider it, it means every thing,” stated Greatrex. “If you’re on a crest of a wave and every thing goes effectively – we have been coaching Grade 1 winners in England and Eire – and also you hit a low, it’s robust. We misplaced the 2 lads and that damage and nonetheless hurts now.
“We’re an incredible crew and we’ve obtained some good younger horses, and hopefully that is the beginning and can open the gates.”
Given the way in which Invoice Baxter took to the fences, Greatrex may have a future Grand Nationwide candidate within the Glassex Holdings-owned seven-year-old.
Twiston-Davies was suitably impressed with the way in which his mount caught to his job regardless of the attentions of a unfastened horse, who got here between him and runner-up Incredible Woman on the run-in.
“That was some buzz,” the jockey stated. “You’ve gotten a plan once you exit and never usually does it come off, however I had a dream run spherical and he jumped and travelled effectively.
“The unfastened horse frightened me as a result of I assumed it was an opponent barging between us, after which it was fairly useful as he had one thing to virtually race with.”
It was the perfect Grand Nationwide warm-up for Twiston-Davies earlier than he rides Our Energy, though the rain was not as welcome for that horse.
“Sadly the rain wasn’t forecast and so they needed to water and it type of goes towards Our Energy a bit of bit, however he’s an incredible horse who tries exhausting and I’m certain he’ll give his highest,” he stated.
Courtesy of Racing Publish
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