Son Of Milan Adds Grade 1 To Unbeaten Hurdle Record

My Drogo (6g Milan - My Petra, by High Chaparral) continued his amazing progression when running out an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.

Second on debut in a Cheltenham bumper in October, Mr and Mrs Kelvin-Hughes’ homebred had since been unbeaten over hurdles, his last two wins coming in Grade 2 contests. Sent off favourite as he stepped up to two and a half miles, Dan Skelton’s charge raced towards the back of the field under Harry Skelton and despite being hampered by a faller, improved to track the leaders after the fourth last.

Asserting from three out, he ran on strongly from the final flight to win by nine and a half lengths, as Listed winner Minella Drama (Flemensfirth) took second, narrowly in front of Guard Your Dreams (Fame And Glory) in third.

Saturday’s success boosted Harry Skelton’s dreams for the exciting son of Milan. “We're a long way off the Gold Cup, but it is a dream,” he said. “He's a horse with an awful lot of ability and has had a fantastic season, progressing all year.”

Mr and Mrs Kelvin-Hughes also celebrated Grade 1 Aintree Festival success as breeders when Santini (Milan) won the Grade 1 Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle in 2018.