Greenrock Abbey

Nine-year-old El Salvador gelding Greenrock Abbey looks a shrewd addition to the Deva Racing squad. Now based with the prolific Newmarket trainer James Owen, this dual chasing winner is handicapped to add to his tally again very soon.

The winner of a Tyrella point-to-point as a four-year-old, Greenrock Abbey cost £65,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale in 2020 before going into training with Alan King, though he was transferred to the yard of Kerry Lee soon afterwards. He hails from a smart NH family, being a relatively close relation of the Gr.2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle winner Hebridean and the Listed-winning hurdler Lunar Display.

Despite offering some encouragement over hurdles, it was as a chaser that Greenrock Abbey would really come into his own. He made a winning debut over the larger obstacles, justifying favouritism in a 2m novices’ handicap chase at Hereford in November 2022, and then won again two starts later by 13 lengths at the same track.

Also runner-up at Uttoxeter on his next outing, Greenrock Abbey climbed to a peak official rating of 113 in the early months of 2023 but has failed to win again since. There have been plenty of good performances in the meantime, such as when second over 2m4f at Uttoxeter in January 2024, but he has been operating a little below his best for some time now.

As a consequence, he begins the 2025/26 NH season on an extremely lenient-looking chase mark of 82. He also had a spin over hurdles relatively recently and is down to 85 in that sphere too. Either way, he is clearly handicapped to win again shortly. Effective from 2m to 2m4f, the winner of a point-to-point over 3m, and extremely versatile with regards to ground conditions, there are plenty of options for Greenrock Abbey going forwards. 

The fact he has joined an all-conquering stable with a 22% strike-rate over jumps over the past two years only adds to his appeal. We can’t wait to see him back in the winner’s enclosure.