Addison Grey Prevails in JenningsBet Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket

Addison Grey produced a determined performance to land the JenningsBet Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket on Saturday, giving trainer Clive Cox and apprentice Jack Nicholls a notable success in eye-catching fashion.

The three-year-old travelled comfortably in midfield during the early stages of the six-furlong contest before being switched right two furlongs from home. He quickened into the lead just over a furlong out and responded well in the closing strides to claim the advantage and cross the line three-quarters of a length in front. 

For Jack Nicholls, the win carried extra significance. It marked his first victory at Newmarket and reduced his apprentice claim to five pounds, an important step forward in his riding career. Reflecting afterwards, he said:

“It’s great to have ridden my first winner at Newmarket. He can be a little bit keen at home, but I was always happy with my pitch. When I asked him to go, I thought he was going to win a little more comfortably, but he’s still learning. When he gets into top gear he takes a bit of stopping.”

Our trainer Clive Cox was equally pleased with both horse and rider, and suggested bigger targets may be on the horizon.

“I was delighted with how he handled the track today and very impressed with Jack, who gave him a lovely ride. Once he got daylight I felt he would go close, and he battled well in the closing stages. The Ayr Gold Cup is very much a consideration now, and today’s run encourages me to take that option seriously.”

Bookmakers reacted quickly to Saturday’s performance, cutting Addison Grey’s odds for next month’s Ayr Gold Cupfrom 33/1 to around 20/1. Should we take up the challenge, his Newmarket success will be remembered not just as a striking visual in a race of greys, but as the step that launched him into one of the season’s most competitive sprint handicaps!

Timeform Review

Time: 1m 11.74s

ADDISON GREY was strong in the market and showed himself still very much on the upgrade, enjoying a cleaner run through than on handicap debut 9 days earlier and winning going away; mid-field, quickened to lead over 1f out, tackled inside final 1f, found extra; he's already useful with more to come.