Hellfire blazes home

Warren Greatrex is nearing the end of his first season in charge of Weathercock House and he capped a successful year with his first winner at Ascot as Hellfire Club landed the Colts & Fillies Club Maiden Hurdle.

The trainer's previous six representatives at the Berkshire circuit had all failed to strike but Hellfire Club righted that statistic under Wayne Hutchinson.

The 11-4 chance was always prominent and his rivals never posed a serious danger over the final few flights to allow him to cross the line a little over three lengths clear.

Greatrex said: "He deserved to win a race as he has been unlucky.

"He almost provided me with my first ever winner when pipped at Kempton and then fell at Taunton.

"That is it for this season now and he will go chasing next winter."