'Long may it continue' - Warren Greatrex has his summer jumpers rolling as Shillanavogy provides another success

Warren Greatrex has his summer jumps horses in flying form with his latest success coming courtesy of Shillanavogy in the 2m½f handicap chase.

Greatrex is operating at a striking 58 per cent strike-rate on British jumps tracks this season. His seven-year-old wasn’t hassled for the lead, here and James Bowen was able to settle him into a smooth rhythm, going on to win by an impressive seven and a half lengths.

Greatrex said: “He’s able to go at a two-mile pace and you know he stays really well. 

"They are big fences here, but his jumping is a big asset and he likes the quicker ground. All of those together brought out a big improvement.

“He’ll go up a few pounds for that, but I’m sure there’s a bigger pot to win. You’d hope when the better horses come out in the autumn he can win something better.”

He added: “The morale is great at home. We just have the five summer jumpers and 30 on the Flat so it’s busy with lots going on. If you’ve got horses who can handle this ground and have decent ability, you can pick your races and you'll do okay.

“I always set a target of ten winners by September, but we’ve surpassed that already so it’s pretty good – long may it continue.”

Course hat-trick

The Paul Nicholls-trained Keel Strand was made to work hard for his hat-trick with all three wins coming at Newton Abbot. He defied a 7lb penalty this time, although Jay Tidball took off 5lb with his claim in the 2m5½f novice handicap hurdle.

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