In common with every other track in Britain, Warwick is hoping to avoid the worst of Storm Goretti’s effects. A clear couple of days would be particularly welcome at the Hampton Street venue, as Saturday sees one of Warwick’s biggest race days of the season. Encouragingly, reports from the track suggest conditions are improving. With temperatures rising, the ground was officially described as good on Thursday afternoon. Barring a deterioration in conditions, Warwick’s Classic Chase fixture has a fair chance of lighting up early January once again.
First run in its current form in 2004, the Classic Chase takes place over a demanding 3m5f, placing the stamina of the contenders firmly under the microscope. Offering £100,000 in prize money, the Premier Handicap regularly attracts runners who later line up in the Aintree Grand National. 2017 winner One For Arthur famously went on to claim the Grand National for Scotland. Nine years on, a runner from the same yard heads the market. However, while also having half an eye on the Aintree Grand National, the ultimate dream for Myretown is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Myretown Backed to Bounce Back from Newbury Disappointment
Owners Mrs C Wymer and P.J.S. Russell have already tasted success with Lucinda Russell, thanks to the exploits of dual Grade 1 winner Ahoy Senor. Sporting the same red and black silks, Myretown also shares a sire with Ahoy Senor, in the shape of the 2007 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Dylan Thomas. While a significantly smaller model than his half-sibling, he appears to have inherited a similar level of ability.
Novice Campaign Ends in Festival Success
Following a win in a Point-to-Point, Myretown joined Lucinda Russell’s operation in 2022. A sole bumper outing preceded a 451-day lay-off before he returned for a season over hurdles in 2024. A solitary maiden success at Kelso provided encouragement for a horse who was always expected to fare best over fences.
The opinion that Myretown would make a better chaser than a hurdler was vindicated in the 2024/25 campaign. Winning three of five starts, the only blips came when in need of the outing on his seasonal return, and when falling three from home at Windsor. Easy wins at Wetherby and Kelso suggested Russell had a talent on her hands, but it was Myretown’s final start at the Cheltenham Festival that made the sport sit up and take notice. Sent off as the 13/2 favourite in the ultra-competitive Ultima Handicap Chase, Myretown made all the running before powering clear for a resounding 11-length success.
Gold Cup on the Agenda in 2026
A new rating of 142 for that Cheltenham effort still left Myretown some way short of Gold Cup standard. However, such was the ease of that win that it was hard to assess how much more he had in the locker, particularly as that outing represented only his fifth start over fences. With a proven ability at the Prestbury Park track, it was easy to understand why connections gave him a speculative entry for the 2026 Gold Cup.
Myretown’s first step towards Cheltenham in March took him to Newbury for the Coral Gold Cup. Unfortunately, we didn’t learn much more about his credentials that day. Having bowled along at the head of affairs, he came down at the ninth fence. Left on an unchanged mark of 142 following that mishap, he will need to win this in good style to justify that Gold Cup entry. Trading as the general 11/4 Classic Chase favourite, the market likes his chance of doing just that.
Giant Mr Vango and Williams Class Act Head the Opposition
With wins in the Devon National, London National, and Midlands Grand National already on his CV, the big one at Aintree is the ultimate aim for the Sara Bradstock-trained giant Mr Vango. Last sighted finishing a gallant second in the Becher Handicap Chase, he skipped his Welsh Grand National assignment on account of the ground. Having scored at up to 4m2f, he won’t be found wanting in the stamina department and sits second in the betting behind Myretown.
The proven class act in the field is the Venetia Williams-trained 11-year-old, L’Homme Presse. A dual Grade 1 winner, he has graced the biggest stages in the sport – finishing third in the 2024 King George VI Chase at Kempton, and fourth in the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Top weight of 12 stone makes life tough, but he is no stranger to a fine weight-carrying display, having claimed the 2022 Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle under the same burden. Having blown away the cobwebs with a comeback second at Cheltenham in December, he looks a big threat to all.
Others to note in a compelling renewal include the improving Resplendent Grey from the yard of Olly Murphy, and former Welsh Grand National winners Val Dancer and Nassalam.
