BRITISH BREEDERS DOMINATE IN GRADE 1 TOP NOVICES’ HURDLE AT AINTREE

The British breeding industry celebrated a 1-2-3 in Grade 1 company on the second day of the 2023 Randox Grand National Festival on Friday, as INTHEPOCKET (GB) cruised home under Rachael Blackmore to win the Poundland Top Novices' Hurdle.

Six-year-old Inthepocket is by BLUE BRESIL, sire to CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) no less. He was bred by Tessa Greatrex, in partnership with Yorton Farm’s David Futter, out of 17-year-old broodmare EGRETTA ISLAND, who was formerly owned and trained by Tessa and husband Warren Greatrex, respectively.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding, who today fulfils Greatrex’s ambition of producing top-level winners, had already won a Grade 2 and been runner-up in a Grade 1 earlier in the season for owner JP McManus.

Greatrex, who is a member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association National Hunt Committee and is based in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire, is most well-known in her capacity as a bloodstock agent, operating alongside Anthony Bromley and David Minton under the Highflyer Bloodstock banner. As an agent, Greatrex has previously tasted Grade 1 success with COLE HARDEN and WILLOUGHBY COURT.

Following Inthepocket home in the Top Novices’ Hurdle was a pair of fellow British-bred contenders in the shape of STRONG LEADER (GB), bred by R. Rainbow & Sons, and LUCCIA (GB), bred by Paul Sandy of Pump & Plant Services.

Sold to Hamish Macaulay Bloodstock at the Goffs UK Yorton Sale in 2019, Inthepocket went through the ring again in December 2021 at Tattersalls Cheltenham, where he changed hands from Glenview Stables to Michael Hyde for £290,000.

The afternoon improved yet further for the Greatrex family when BILL BAXTER, trained by Warren, took the Grade 3 Topham Handicap Chase.