All In You shaping up to be the perfect fit for valuable Newbury target

Warren Greatrex feels recent Sandown scorer All In You “ticks a lot of boxes”, as he sets his sights on a local victory in the valuable William Hill Hurdle at Newbury.

It was only the six-year-old’s second start for the Lambourn handler when he avenged his narrow Ascot defeat by turning the tables on Anthony Honeyball’s Dance And Glance in the hands of James Bowen, and Greatrex is predicting an even better showing on February 7.

“I’m still learning about him, I think he was unlucky on his first start for me at Ascot and if he had jumped the last he would have won that day,” explained Greatrex.

“I thought after that the Newbury race could be one, but to make sure we got a run we would go again and learn a bit more about him, so it was a bit of a risk running him only two weeks later. It didn’t seem to bother him though and in very bad ground he did it nicely at Sandown.

“I’ve got five weeks to be all-singing and all-dancing and I think you will see a better horse again at Newbury.”

Previously owned by the now retired owner-rider David Maxwell, who won twice on All In You for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in France, he made just one outing for Gary and Josh Moore before arriving at Rhonehurst following the dispersal of Maxwell’s stock in the autumn.

He could now reward his new connections £90,000 investment in the ‘Super Saturday’ contest Greatrex believes will be tailor-made for the smooth-travelling gelding.

He went on: “They obviously put him up 5lb for his win on Saturday and he will get in off a nice weight. I think the track and way the race will be run will really suit him – a fast-run two miles where he can be dropped in and come with a run – and he ticks a lot of boxes from what I’ve seen so far.

“Both races we’ve run him they haven’t gone quick and I think the quicker they go the more he will settle and I think he will always finish well with his potent turn of foot. In that race they tend to go end-to-end with a long home straight and I think he will cope with whatever conditions he faces.”

All In You is Paddy Power’s 8-1 second-favourite after the £155,000 contest received 38 entries on Tuesday. Their market is headed by Dan Skelton’s Let It Rain at 7-1 after catching the eye in defeat when third, a place behind All In You, at Ascot in December.

Spokesperson Paul Binfield said: “We’re still digesting the entries, but from an initial glance, I’d expect Warren Greatrex’s All In You to be especially popular with punters.

“The trainer is operating at a 25 per cent strike rate and this progressive customer was a comfortable winner at Sandown last weekend. A 5lb penalty may not be enough to stop him from collecting again.”

Other notable names in the mix include Joe Tizzard’s Greatwood Hurdle hero Alexei, the Nicky Henderson-trained Khrisma and Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Wilful, another to shine at Ascot prior to the busy Christmas period.