Greatrex game for another Dublin Racing Festival challenge

Warren Greatrex could return to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs after handing exciting young duo Quantock Hills and Good And Clever Grade One entries at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Upper Lambourn handler famously saddled the top-class mare La Bague Au Roi to land a rare telling blow for British raiders when claiming the Flogas Novice Chase during Leopardstown’s popular two-day meeting in 2019.

Greatrex is now eyeing another raid on the Irish capital, provided conditions are suitable for two horses that have the potential to return the Rhonehurst trainer to the top table.

“We’ve a few weeks to go yet, but both horses have come out of their last races well and going over is something I’ve always liked doing if I think I’ve got the right sort of horse,” said Greatrex.

“It’s nice to do something different and is something I’ve done successfully in the past and if conditions are right and the horses are in good form, I know you are going into dangerous territory, but why not have a go?

“It would be favourable if it was soft ground in Ireland, both of these horses appreciate softer conditions. We will have to take a view on that nearer the time and if it looked like they were going to have very soft over there, then I would be interested.

“I own half of Good And Clever with Jim and Claire Bryce, who also own Quantock Hills, and they are very sporting owners who allow me to roll the dice a bit more – they are up for pretty much anything and if I don’t think it’s a forlorn hope, they are with me.”

Quantock Hills announced himself as a juvenile to follow when backing up an earlier Fontwell victory at Cheltenham in a race that saw jockey brothers Sean and James Bowen dead-heat for first place.

Greatrex feels his youngster has improved from that outing in December and although he is a possible for Cheltenham’s JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle a week earlier, a trip to Dublin would give a good indication of where to head in the spring with both of his potential travellers.

Greatrex continued: “I would rather know where we stand and even though it would be amazing if they did, I’m not expecting either to go and win. If they were to run with credit then you have taken on the best and therefore you know where you are.

“Quantock Hills is improving all the time and a bit of greenness caught him out, I think, at Cheltenham.

“He travelled very smoothly through the race and probably got there a bit too soon and then had a bit of a look around when he jumped the last.

“He’s getting better all the time and physically seems to be doing well and it would have been a nice break between his last run and his next one.

“We will probably put him in at Cheltenham the week before as well, just to have a look at what’s happening on Trials day and he’s an exciting horse.”

Similar sentiments apply to Good And Clever, who was last seen staying on strongly for third behind the highly-touted Potter’s Charm in Aintree’s Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle on Boxing Day.

A horse who could be seen over further in time, Greatrex is willing the rain to fall so the six-year-old can be seen at his best over the minimum distance.

He said: “The key to Good And Clever is ground and I thought Aintree would be the perfect race as I thought they would be guaranteed soft to heavy ground. It wasn’t and it was more good to soft.

“It was a funny sort of race and I didn’t want James (Bowen) to be run off his feet early and to take his time. They went no gallop then very quick down the back and it just caught him flat-footed. He got well out of his ground, but the way he finished, he had no right to finish third from where he was.

“James was very impressed and I think if we hadn’t been giving him such an easy time and the ground was heavier, we wouldn’t have been far away from winning and he would be bang there.

“He seems to go through soft to heavy ground with ease and if the ground was like that in Ireland, I would be keen to have a go because I think he stays the trip very well. He’s going to be a stayer in time, but he has the class to keep at two for now. He’s doing nothing but improve.”

As well as La Bague Au Roi’s memorable Dublin Racing Festival triumph, Greatrex also tasted Grade One glory in Ireland at the Punchestown Festival when One Track Mind claimed the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle in 2016.

His raiders have been in shorter supply in recent years but further explaining his sporting philosophy on crossing the Irish Sea, he said: “If you come out winning then you are not only the best in England but probably also the best in Ireland and the rest of your season is there for the taking.

“Also if you do get beat, you can guide around that and I’ve never been scared to have a go with the right horse.

“We’re here for everyone to enjoy it and owners to have great experiences. When we won the Grade One out there, I loved it and it was a fabulous day and I’m perfectly happy to have a go again this time if things align and the ground is suitable.”