The clearest sign of that came at Doncaster on 24 January 2026, where Mighty Bandit won a top-level Class 2 race — one of the better races you'll find in Britain — by a staggering 17 lengths. That winning margin is almost unheard of at that level, and Greatrex was candid about what it meant: a horse winning by that distance at that grade earns a rating of 150 or above, which is the threshold that opens the door to Grade 1 racing — the very top tier of the sport. Aintree, home of the Grand National festival, is now on the table. So, apparently, is Cheltenham.
The wet ground is worth paying close attention to. Mighty Bandit has won 3 of just 4 races on soft or muddy ground — a remarkable 75% record. That's not a coincidence; that's a horse that absolutely thrives when conditions get testing. It also helps explain why January at Doncaster was the right moment to deliver a career-best performance.
The partnership with jockey Edward Greatrex — the trainer's son — has produced 2 wins from 11 races together, winning about 1 in every 5 or 6 rides. That's a solid foundation, and the family dynamic adds a certain charm to the whole operation. Warren Greatrex's yard has sent out 50 winners this season alone, so Mighty Bandit is part of a stable firing on all cylinders.
The horse raced just one day ago and is very much in the thick of things. What began as a €420,000 flat horse is now a serious chasing prospect with a big-occasion win already on his CV, a Grade 1 trip being discussed openly, and wet ground to look forward to whenever the clouds roll in. At just six, there's every reason to believe the best is still ahead.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newbury Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 second, 1 third | 17 Dec | 33.3% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 3 May | 50% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 28 Feb | 50% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 second | 9 Sep | 50% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 12 Oct | 0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 16 Sep | 0% |
| Pontefract Undulating |
1 | 1 win | 9 Jul | 100% |
| Chester Tight |
1 | 1 other | 31 May | 0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 13 Jun | 0% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 26 Dec | 0% |
| Leicester Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 4 Apr | 0% |
| Cheltenham Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 15 Mar | 0% |
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 3 Aug | 0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 10 May | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 15 Oct | 0% |
| Aintree Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 11 Apr | 0% |