Milan Ace wins Listed bumper

The Anthony Honeyball-trained Acey Milan (4g Milan-Strong Wishes, by Strong Gale) proved himself arguably as good as any National Hunt Flat Race winner seen in Britain this season when winning Cheltenham’s Listed bumper on New Year’s Day. A winner at Wincanton on his previous start last month, he overcame a penalty to make all to defeat a dozen rivals in a field that looked full of quality.

Understandably, the G1 Champion Bumper back at the Cheltenham Festival in March could now be on the agenda for the Milan gelding, who was bred by Mrs M O’Driscoll.

"Acey Milan is a handy, straightforward horse. He’s showed gears and he’s showed stamina. I think we will go to Newbury for the Listed bumper against the older horses and if he runs well he could go for the G1 Champion Bumper back here in March,” said Honeyball.