Greatrex looking forward to Cheltenham with Herakles Westwood

Warren Greatrex is leaning towards the National Hunt Chase with Herakles Westwood, as he lines up a two-pronged assault on the Cheltenham Festival handicaps.

Greatrex has struck twice at National Hunt racing’s premier meeting, winning what was then known as the World Hurdle with Cole Harden in 2015 before adding the Kim Muir with Missed Approach three years later.

He now feels he has a useful hand to play as he seeks to end a seven-year drought, with talented staying chaser Herakles Westwood backed to regain the winning thread having missed out on a three-timer at Newbury earlier this month.

The Lambourn handler feels his charge was not at his best on that occasion, but is confident he can shine at Prestbury Park as he eyes utilising the eight-year-old’s strengths in the marathon event which concludes the opening day’s action.

Greatrex said: “I always thought now the National Hunt Chase is a handicap that it could be well up his street because he jumps very well and he will definitely stay the trip. I think against novices his jumping would definitely come to the fore.

“That’s where I’m leaning, but we’ll see nearer the time and things can change. He is in the Kim Muir and the Ultima as well and the latter is a possibility. But I think the step up in trip against novices for the National Hunt Chase could be the one.

“I felt he was just a bit flat at Newbury. It had only been three weeks since his last run, but because I wanted the options at Cheltenham I wanted to get a fourth run into him and knew there would then still be five weeks to freshen him up for the Festival.

“He probably wasn’t at his best, but still ran OK. He’s come out of the race well and we’ll freshen him up before getting him ready.”

Greatrex is planning to run Cheltenham winner Quantock Hills in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on the opening day.

The youngster dead-heated with Teriferma in the Cotswolds in December, but was below par when returned for Grade Two action on Trials day.

“The plan with him is to go to the Fred Winter and I was a little disappointed with him last time,” continued Greatrex. “He came there really well and travelled nicely and then just didn’t finish at all.

“We had him checked over and he was a bit under the weather or was just coming under the weather so that would be the reason he didn’t finish his race.

“He’s got Cheltenham form and off 126 he will be off a nice weight. He jumps very well and stays very well and hopefully it will be a bit better ground, which would suit as well. He seems in very good form at the minute.”