Reveley and Night in Milan impress at Doncaster

The North Yorkshire jockey was up at dawn yesterday to catch the breakfast flight to Paris where he had four rides at Auteuil as part of his escalating riding commitments in France.

However, he will not want to miss future dates with Night In Milan, who is likely to feature in the Topham Trophy over Aintree’s world-famous fences next month before a tilt at the Crabbie’s Grand National in 2015.

This rapidly-improving eight-year-old could still make the 40-runner cut for next month’s National, but requires more than 30 higher-rated horses to be withdrawn. Reveley junior would also find it impossible to make the 10st weight because he is unnaturally tall for a jockey.

After Night In Milan’s seventh win from 29 career starts, the well-travelled jockey told the Yorkshire Post: “This was his best ever performance. He pinged every fence and I was able to get breathers into him. If you jump the fence well, it gives the horse the chance to catch his breath – especially if you’re up in the van from the off.”

An impressive course winner back in December when pulling clear of the highly-regarded 
De Boitron after the final fence, Night In Milan had been pulled back in the Sky Bet Chase because of the unsuitably soft ground – one reason why his odds were a more than generous 14-1.

Back on a sound surface, Reveley’s mount set out to make the running but had Golden Call for company for much of the three and a quarter miles. However, he hit the front three out and the jockey’s face was a picture of concentration as he cleared the last in splendid isolation before winning by an imposing five lengths.

After making an early mistake, leading National fancy Monbeg Dude made good late headway to finish a satisfactory fifth for his famous owners ,who include rugby internationals Mike Tindall, Nicky Robinson and James Simpson-Daniel.

It was just a shame that Channel Four Racing once again ignored the superior quality of jump racing that is now on offer at Doncaster by choosing to broadcast from Newbury where the action was meagre in comparison to Town Moor’s offering.

This short-sightedness meant their viewers did not appreciate the significance of this day – not only was Night In Milan the biggest winner of Reveley senior’s career since Ungaro won the Grade One Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton in December 2006, but the father and son team have an exciting novice in the shape of Victor Hewgo, who took the opening Park Hill Hospital Novices’ Chase by 11 lengths.

The Saltburn-based trainer said of Night In Milan: “He’s in the National and we’ll have to see if he gets in. If he doesn’t he’ll go for the Topham.

“We’ll have him in both and he’ll go for the National if he does get in. He’s such a brilliant jumper.

“His owner Richard Collins is keen for him to jump the Aintree fences, so we’ll see. Personally, I’d like to see him in the Topham this year and National next year.

“He’s only a young horse. He’s got to have his ground, he’s got to bounce off good ground. He’s a smashing horse and James knows him well, which helps.”

As for Victor Hewgo, he nominated the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree as the preferred target for the nine-year-old. “He’s a lovely horse and we may as well have a go at the Grade One at Aintree (which) we won with Cab On Target in 1993,” said Reveley. “We’ll skip Cheltenham and go there a fresh horse.”

Sue Smith’s National contender Mr Moonshine could only finish second to the Brian Hughes-ridden Maggio in Kelso’s Premier Chase.

However, connections were not unduly disappointed and blamed the tacky ground. “He’s grand and in good form. It’s 100 per cent on to Aintree now,” said the Bingley trainer’s husband Harvey.

Clever Cookie provided Malton trainer Peter Niven with the biggest win of his career in the Grade Two Premier Kelso Hurdle at the Borders track.

However, the horse, who also won last month’s Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh, is likely to bypass the Cheltenham Festival.

“He’s a slow learner, but he’s getting the hang of it now,” said Niven.

“He’s a strong traveller and I might pop him on the Flat just to see how he gets on. He’s got a few gears. My mum bred him and she’s just had a little op so this will speed up her recovery.”

Triolo D’Alene is set to take his chance in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after the Hennessy winner missed the Grimthorpe Chase, champion trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed yesterday.

Ryan Mania recorded a famous win in the JP McManus colours when Forward Flight took Sedgefield’s handicap hurdle yesterday for the Sue Smith yard. It was the Grand National-winning jockey’s 45th success of the campaign.