A BRILLIANT START TO 2026!

HERAKLES WESTWOOD WINS AT CHELTENHAM

The team couldn’t have wished to a better start to 2026 when HERAKLES WESTWOOD headed to Cheltenham on New Years Day to line up in the Betfair Handicap Chase 3m 1f.

Having run twice previously at Cheltenham this season and having put in really strong runs on both appearances, Warren was confident Herakles Westwood would not be far away from winning this time. James Bowen took the ride, and with this partnership having 3 previous wins under their belts, it is clearly a dynamic which works well.

Indeed, Herakles Westwood put in yet another sound round of jumping and answered every question James asked of him with the pair coming to challenge on the home turn. It was a 3-way battle to the last fence, and Herakles Westwood showed great grit and determination under James’ strong drive to get his head in front up the run in, coming home to win by half a length.

A huge well done to owners All Above Board Racing who have been part of Herakles Westwood’s journey from a store horse, and now have a really useful staying chaser on their hands.

ALL IN YOU WINS AT SANDOWN

It didn’t take long for our second winner of the New Year to come along, when ALL IN YOU headed to Sandown on Saturday to run in the Unibet Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles.

A relatively new recruit to the yard, All In You joined us in October when Tessa purchased him from the David Maxwell dispersal sale at Cheltenham on behalf of Jim and Claire Bryce and Rick Gurney and friends, who formed The Special Relationship Partnership.

Since joining the yard, All In You has shown plenty to like at home, and ran a really solid race on his debut for us to finish second by only a head at Ascot in December. He was partnered that day by James Bowen, who learnt a lot about him that day and again took the reins on this occasion.

James settled All In You at the back of the field and encouraged him to relax throughout the race- the pair were still travelling strongly two hurdles from home, when James asked for an effort and theycruised down the outside of the field, landed over the last and skipped away from the rest of the field to WIN by a cosy 1 and a half lengths.

All In You looks a smart prospect and there is surely plenty of fun to be had with him this season and beyond!