Theonlyway is up with 2026/27 National Hunt tally up and running

There were smiles all around the winner’s enclosure at Warwick on Wednesday after Theonlywayiswessex got Alan’s tally rolling for the new National Hunt campaign.

Victory for the eight year old in the Taylor Wimpey Strategic Land Midlands Handicap Chase not only saw Alan get up and running for the 2026/27 National Hunt campaign, but it also completed an across the card double following Barbury Boy’s win over at Nottingham.

Given a patient ride by Tom Bellamy, Theonlwayiswessex, who was sent off a 9-4 chance to register a third success over fences, sailed past Royal Deeside in between the final two fences before going on to prevail by four and a half lengths.

Alan said: “It was a good day office with Theonlywayiswessex and Barbury Boy both winning. We had a lovely day with a lot of owners so it was great fun.

“He came back and ran very well over course and distance a few weeks ago and he was great here. He is a horse that always wants plenty of time between his races so we won’t be in a rush to bring him back.

“We knew Royal Deeside would make it, and I used to train him, so I would have been pretty gutted if we couldn’t beat him.

“We are now off the mark for the jump season. Until this win we had twenty three runners with no winners. I’m on the scoresheet for the new season so we are up and running which is good.”

Earlier in the day Alan had been on hand over at Nottingham to watch Barbury Boy bounce back from his odds-on defeat at Haydock Park to double his tally of victories for the season when returned to a mile and a quarter in the Watch RacingTV Handicap.

Having failed to see out a mile and a half last time out, Barbury Boy was anchored in last for much of the race by Tom Marquand before making his move midway up the home straight.

Although forced to to dig deep late on, the son of Oasis Dream demonstrated the best of his battling abilities to see off Gatehouse by a neck.

Alan said: “The drop back in trip was much better for him, but he did well to win. Tom said they hacked around. We settled him out the back, and he did well to pick up.

“The second must be pretty smart as we were receiving twelve pounds off him. I think it was a strong race for the grade. Tom said stick to a mile and a quarter. He also said he will be better in a more strongly run race. He is going the right way.”

And while further opportunities will be explored on the Flat, Alan admits he is keen to send Barbury Boy over hurdles at some point.

Alan added: “He is progressing nicely. I think he is one we will go jumping with in the autumn. He is not going to be a superstar on the flat, but he is one we could go jumping with and he could be very exciting.”

While plans to run Spyce in the Betfred Derby ended earlier this season Alan will be watching the prestigious Group One prize with interest like most racing fans across the country. And he hopes it is the William Haggas-trained Maltese Cross that gets the verdict.

Alan said: “It would be great if William won the Derby with Maltese Cross. We are great mates and I would love to see that happen.”