An important month for Greatrex; Racing people Focus on those at the heart of the action.

WARREN GREATREX, who has succeeded Carl Llewellyn at Lambourn's Weathercock House Stables, is gearing up to launch his training career within the next few weeks.

A former assistant to Oliver Sherwood, Greatrex was appointed trainer after Llewellyn was sacked in June by Malcolm Denmark, the owner of the yard which was put on the map by Jenny Pitman.

Greatrex said yesterday that his first runners are likely to include Free World and Hellfire Club. The latter won a bumper at Stratford when trained by Llewellyn for Barry Connell and was subsequently sold to Denmark.

Greatrex, who will have a team of around 50 horses for the winter, said: "We should have our first runners in early October and I'm looking forward to getting started."

One of his highest profile jumpers is the Denmark-owned Hennessy, who won Sandown's Bet365 Gold Cup in April under an inspired ride from Tony McCoy.

"He'll be given an entry in the Hennessy Gold Cup, but that may not be the ideal race for him," added the trainer.

"In the longer term, we'll be looking at races such as the Scottish National. As he showed at Sandown, he does stay well."

Noel Fehily and Tom Scudamore have agreed to ride the Weathercock House horses when available.

Greatrex, apart from saddling his first runners next month, also has another important date in his diary around the same time. On October 3 he will marry Tessa Clark, who works for Highflyer Bloodstock.

Llewellyn, who endured a frustrating season with only 17 winners, despite ending on a high with Hennessy's victory, was soon headhunted to become a business partner with Nigel Twiston-Davies.

CAPTION(S):

Warren Greatrex: busy time ahead