FOUR years after he was forced to retire through injury, jockey Eddy Greatrex is back among the winners and ready to shine at Redcar’s latest meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).
The son of Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer, Warren Greatrex, Eddy quit riding in 2021 due to persistent back problems and complications following surgery.
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However, he returned to the saddle in spectacular style in April 2024 by winning on 125-1 shot Tilsworth Turf on his first ride back at Leicester.
Greatrex has continued the momentum since then and makes a rare visit to Redcar to ride Circios for Hampshire trainer Ralph Beckett in the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
The daughter of Kingman, owned by the powerful Wathnan Racing, was ridden by Greatrex when she was second on her debut at Doncaster in June and was runner-up again at Chester when she was odds-on favourite.
The race at Redcar looks the ideal opportunity for her to open her account and make the long trip north pay off for the resurgent Greatrex.
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The midweek Redcar card gets underway at 2.10pm with the Racing TV Free Trial British EBF Novice Stakes for two-year-olds. Of those that have run, Richard Fahey’s Tactical Formation – another Wathnan Racing charge – looks the pick following his promising debut fourth at York.
However, a market check is worthwhile for signs of confidence in Juddmonte’s well-bred debutant, Hypnotised, trained in Wiltshire by Harry Charlton and ridden by Callum Rodriguez.
Members of the Horse Watchers syndicate have enjoyed some profitable days at Redcar in recent years, and they may be back in the winner’s enclosure with Forest Caper after the Free Racing TV At racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap.
Trained by David O’Meara and ridden by the ever-reliable Danny Tudhope, the son of Lope De Vega has been a model of consistency in four runs so far. He was a good fourth to Michael Dods’ Boy Douglas at Ayr last time and the winner has won again since.
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The prolific O’Meara and Tudhope combination also have strong claims with Latynina in the following Markse Fabrications & Engineering Straight Mile Fillies’ Handicap. She’d been knocking on the door before winning impressively over seven furlongs at Chester last time, staying on strongly to suggest the extra furlong will suit.
Crocus Time came close, beaten only a nose and a short-head to be third at 80-1 at Thirsk most recently, and it may be time for Ron Barr’s filly to blossom in the Visit racingtv.com Handicap with Harry Russell in the saddle.
Copper And Five, trained by Ruth Carr, loves Redcar’s straight mile and he’s back for more in the concluding AJA Novice Flat Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap. The chestnut gelding won at the track off a mark of 62 last year, and has dropped to 55, with Charli Parker riding.