Son Of Milan Joins Illustrious Honour Roll At Newbury

Dan Skelton described My Drogo (5g Milan - My Petra, by Midnight Legend) as “a very good horse” after his charge won Friday’s maiden hurdle at Newbury, a race previously won by the likes of Lostintranslation (Flemensfirth) and Buveur D’Air.

A promising second on debut in a bumper last month, the Mr and Mrs Kelvin-Hughes owned bay was sent off second favourite on his hurdle debut and was ridden to track the leaders by Harry Skelton. Going best approaching the final flight, he was pushed along on the run-in to lead close home, running on to score by a length and a quarter.

Speaking after the race, the winning trainer said, “I think mine is a very good horse. I think we'll go one more race low key before something fancy because I don't think he's ready for that type of race or day, so we'll look after him. He's going to be a chaser and will end up a two-and-a-half-mile horse as we get into the spring.”

Nina The Terrier (4f Milan - Shees A Dante, by Westerner) completed a smart double on the day for Grange Stud sire Milan when making a winning debut in the bumper at Doncaster.

One of just two mares in the field of 12, the Alan King-trained bay raced towards the back of the field under Max Browne and made headway from over two furlongs out. Ridden to lead approaching the final furlong, she kept on strongly to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Owned by Charles Dingwall, Nina The Terrier was bred by Sam Doyle out of a winning half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner God’s Own (Oscar).