Image © Healy Racing
County Down-based owner Jeremy Maxwell was on hand to welcome Chapter ’N’ Verse into the winner’s enclosure at Loughanmore on Saturday, as the five-year-old rewarded his patience with a winning return from a 546-day absence.
The Ross Crawford-trained son of Poet’s Word had not raced since finishing third at the same venue in April 2025, but showed a willing attitude under Declan Lavery to beat the favourite Glenhead by half a length in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
“It was very pleasing,” said Maxwell, who explained the lengthy absence. “There was nothing seriously wrong with him. It was just a matter of giving him a bit of time.
“He’s a good big horse. I bought him as a foal, so I’ve had him a long time.”
The €24,000 purchase spent his time off at home at Glebe House Stud in Ballee, outside Downpatrick, and Maxwell was hopeful of a big run on his return.
“I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t won. As long as he got a clear run and was fit enough, which I thought he was, I did expect him to win.”
His confidence was helped by the form of Chapter ’N’ Verse’s debut, when he finished third behind Love Sign d’Aunou in a competitive four-year-old maiden. That horse subsequently won a Naas bumper by 24 lengths for Willie Mullins before starting joint-favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
“I’ve always liked the horse. The form worked out well from last time, and that’s why I always thought he was probably a good horse.”
Ridden patiently by Lavery, Chapter ’N’ Verse came wide around the home bend before challenging Glenhead at the last and getting the better of him on the run-in.
“He had to come around the last bend on the very outside of the whole field. He came a long way around, and I thought he did it well. I was happy with him.”
There has been interest in the gelding, although Maxwell is in no hurry to make a decision on his future.
“We’ve had a few people interested in him, but I don’t know whether to sell him or keep him. I’ve no particular plan.”
Buying him as a foal had been prompted by the simple wish to have another horse to enjoy.
“He was a very good-looking foal and he still is a very good-looking horse. I’ve had horses all my life.”
A familiar figure in racing and bloodstock circles for many years, Maxwell has enjoyed success as a trainer, breeder and owner, while Glebe House Stud was formerly home to Tikkanen.
Maxwell stopped standing stallions following Tikkanen’s death in 2015 and has gradually reduced his numbers, although there is still youngstock at Ballee to keep his interest.
He retains one broodmare, a couple of yearlings and a couple of two-year-olds, with a Poet’s Word foal intended for the November sales.
“Good-looking horses, nice temperaments,” was his assessment of the sire’s stock.
Maxwell also has a three-year-old filly with Crawford that he is looking forward to running in the spring. She is a full sister to Gracehill, who was placed twice in point-to-points for the same owner-trainer combination last season.
“Ross is very competent and I have a lot of confidence in him.”
Looking back over his long involvement in the sport, Rhyme ’N’ Reason’s victory in the 1988 Grand National remains his standout memory.
“We foaled him, we had the mother, and I trained him for his first two bumpers. We sold him to friends in England, and they still owned him when he won the Grand National.”
Sold to John Morton and racing in the colours of his partner Juliet Reed, Rhyme ’N’ Reason also won the Irish Grand National as a six-year-old in 1985 and the Racing Post Chase before his Aintree success.
Maxwell’s longstanding contribution to racing and breeding was recognised earlier this year when he received the ITBA Northern Region Lifetime Achievement Award at Downpatrick Racecourse.
“I was greatly honoured, and that’s the truth. It was very flattering, very nice.”
“I was greatly honoured, and that’s the truth. It was very flattering, very nice.”
