Bill Baxter

The headline on his CV is a Class 1 victory at Aintree in April 2023, one of the most famous racecourses in the world. Jockey James Bowen, who rides him in work every day and knows him inside out, had been plotting that run for a while and was openly emotional afterwards — describing it as the race that would "put their name on the map." Rain arrived overnight and transformed the ground into the kind of wet, testing conditions Bill Baxter thrives on, and trainer Warren Greatrex confirmed that without it, they may not have even run. That detail tells you something important: this is a horse with a very specific set of conditions that unlock the best of him, and when they come together, he can beat very good horses.

There is also the matter of Kelso. Bill Baxter has won 2 of his 3 races at that Scottish track — a 2 from 3 record anywhere is remarkable, and it suggests a genuine affinity with the course rather than coincidence.

His most recent win came at Punchestown in May 2025, where Greatrex described it as an impressive comeback effort over hurdles. That run was a deliberate stepping stone — the trainer has the Becher Chase at Aintree firmly in his sights, and if that goes to plan, the Grand National becomes the conversation. A horse who loves testing ground, stays well over long distances, and has already won around Aintree once is exactly the profile you want for those races.

His recent form reads a little in-and-out — a win, two seconds, a fifth, a sixth, and a pull-up in the last six runs — but Greatrex says he is full of confidence heading into this season. With 50 winners already sent out by the yard this term, the team around him is clearly in fine form. Bill Baxter just needs the rain to fall.