Falcon Crest claims G2 for Milan

J P McManus’s Falcon Crest (5g Milan-One By One, by Topanoora) maintained his unbeaten run over hurdles on Sunday when comfortably winning the G2 Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan. Christy Roche’s charge, a winner on his hurdling debut earlier in November, scored by six and a half lengths under Barry Geraghty. “He’s a big, solid, sound horse to train and wasn’t near another horse since he ran the last day. We just took a chance and let the race improve him, and it’s done that. He has plenty of speed, and I’d be happier to have a better bit of ground,” said Roche of the John Power-bred Milan gelding. “We didn´t know how well he would handle the ground or the trip. He´s a solid and very sound horse with a good cruising speed and did that very well. I´m not sure where we´ll go now.”