Raya Star crowns great week for Milan with Champion Hurdle success

The Alan King-trained Raya Star (6g Milan-Garden City, by Shernazar) landed the G2 Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr on Saturday for Milan, four days after the sire was responsible for a £310,000 price at Brightwells’ April Sale at Cheltenham. Raya Star, bred by Patrick Fennessy, landed the valuable Listed Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in December and a chasing career beckons next season. "Initially we were slightly disappointed with him on his last start at Cheltenham but the race didn’t really pan out for him. He is going to jump a fence next year," King told www.racingpost.com Milan was in the news on Wednesday night when Grand National-winning owner John Hales paid £310,000 for Carlisle bumper winner Fascino Rustico (4g Milan-Rustic Charm, by Charnwood Forest).