'I've missed this feeling big time' - 125-1 winner for Eddy Greatrex on first ride back since retiring in 2021

Eddy Greatrex celebrated a 125-1 winner aboard Tilsworth Turf on his first ride since retiring in July 2021 due to back problems.

Greatrex, the son of jumps trainer Warren, rode 216 winners in Britain, including Balmoral Handicap success on Musaddas in 2015, before quitting the saddle at the age of 23.

His return victory came on the John Jenkins-trained sprinter, an eight-race maiden with an official rating of 40, in the concluding 6f handicap.

Greatrex said on Racing TV: "I've missed this feeling big time. John said he had a chance – you can't quite believe it when he's 125-1 – but he was right.

"I'm feeling the best I ever have. I've done lots of work on my back and feel privileged to be back in the saddle."

Juvenile joy

Eve Johnson Houghton saddled a fourth debut juvenile winner of the campaign when 5,000gns Book 2 buy Blewburton won the £15,700 first prize in the 5f maiden.

The son of Saxon Warrior is owned by the trainer’s mother Gaie and stayed on nicely to score by two lengths under Charlie Bishop.

Johnson Houghton has 40 two-year-olds in training and is delighted with her juvenile crop, which is operating at a 44 per cent strike-rate from nine runners.

She said: “It’s hard to know what he's beaten but he’s a nice horse. He wants six furlongs but they went hard and it suited him. It can be tricky with a penalty and we may look at the Woodcote at Epsom.

“I’m very lucky to get our two-year-olds on grass at home, where we’re able to have them out in bunching groups and it seems to benefit them rather than doing lots of fast work.

“They're well broken in and I have a really good team who teach them plenty, while Charlie is a very good jockey and particularly with two-year-olds – it’s a huge help he’s ridden these horses at home before they make it to the track.”

Top ride

In-form apprentice Frederick Larson produced a fine front-running ride to land the feature £50,000 King Richard III Cup Handicap over a mile aboard Miss Cantik.

The Amy Murphy-trained filly had raced exclusively in France, including when a Listed second in October, and made a successful start in Britain when scoring by a neck from last year’s winner Al Mubhir.

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