Impressive Novice Hurdle Win For Howling Milan

Howling Milan (5g Milan - Fantasia Filly, by Dadarissime) showed great improvement to run out a wide margin winner of the two mile novice hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday.

Sent off second favourite for the promise shown in his two previous starts over hurdles, he made all under Sam Twiston-Davies and began to draw away from his 15 rivals from the third last. Eased down inside the final furlong, he recorded a winning margin of 26 lengths.

Twiston-Davies was impressed by his mount, commenting afterwards, “That was a great performance, Howling Milan got into a good rhythm. I think he took a big step forward. He stays and jumps very well and the ground suited him a lot better than some of the others.”

Trained by Samuel Drinkwater for the Strensham Stranglers, Howling Milan was bred by John Mernagh. Sold to Jason Higgins for €42,000 at the Derby Sale, the bay went on finish second on his point-to-point debut for James Doyle, before being purchased by current connections.