Reveley’s delight as Milan lays down marker

NATIONAL PROSPECT: Soll, ridden by Conor O Farrell, clears the last before going on to win the Greatwood Veterans Handicap Chase at Newbury. Picture: Julian Herbert/PA.NATIONAL PROSPECT: Soll, ridden by Conor O Farrell, clears the last before going on to win the Greatwood Veterans Handicap Chase at Newbury. Picture: Julian Herbert/PA.
NATIONAL PROSPECT: Soll, ridden by Conor O Farrell, clears the last before going on to win the Greatwood Veterans Handicap Chase at Newbury. Picture: Julian Herbert/PA.

ALL roads lead to Aintree for North Yorkshire-trained Night In Milan, who completed his Grand National preparations with a creditable third in the Betbright Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster.

“He should have a chance at Aintree. I’ve been very happy with his last two runs. I am happy,” delighted jockey James Reveley told the The Yorkshire Post after the nine-year-old chased home the lightly-weighted winner Wayward Prince and the progressive Drop Out Joe on Town Moor.

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Victorious in the Grimthorpe last year, Night In Milan was carrying 12lb more and was conceding 22lb to Wayward Prince, who has dropped down the handicap since winning Wetherby’s Grade Two Towton Novices’ Chase in February, 2011, before twice finishing second in the prestigious Charlie Hall Chase at the West Yorkshire track.

In a race run at a frenetic pace, Night In Milan made a slight error at the first – Reveley said the horse could not go with the swift early speed – before jumping into the neat rhythm that has become his trademark and which should serve the horse well in the world’s greatest steeplechase.

Yet, as Reveley said, the horse’s biggest obstacle was the weight that he had been allotted as Wayward Prince scooted clear at unfancied odds of 25-1 for owner trainer Hilary Parrott, who had contemplated retiring her 11-year-old following a string of poor performances.

However, Night In Milan is likely to have around a stone less in the National. “The main thing was to get a race into the horse before Aintree and all roads lead there,” said owner Richard Collins.

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“He won this race last year with nearly a stone less; that’s the difference. The National is a lottery but he’s a National-type of horse. He likes good ground, he has ability and he jumps very well.”

The same can also be said for David Pipe’s Soll, who confirmed his own wellbeing for the Crabbie’s National when grinding out a gutsy victory in the Betway Supporting Greatwood Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Newbury under Conor O’Farrell.

He has a similar profile to Night In Milan with one exception – he has experience over the Aintree fences after finishing seventh to Sue and Harvey Smith’s Auroras Encore in 2013.

Nevertheless, it still proved to be a fruitful day for the aforementioned Reveley, who had six rides at Doncaster, all of which were trained by his Saltburn-based father, Keith, and led up by the rider’s mother, Fiona.

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A significant percentage of their NH horses in training were running at the track and the undoubted highlight was Balmusette’s success in the BetBright Cheltenham Festival Fund Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle for owner-breeders John and Marilyn Williams.

The six-year-old came through to lead two out in this extended three-mile event and sprinted 10 lengths clear of A Doll In Milan.

The victory enhances Balmusette’s future value when she goes to the breeding sheds. “I thought we could nick a bit of black-type placed, but to get a Listed win we’re over the moon,” said the winning trainer.

“We’ll keep going with her and may run her on the Flat. We’ll see, but this was the project.”

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As for the jockey, it was a 43rd winner of the campaign for Reveley, who divides his time between England and France. He has already exceeded last year’s domestic total by two successes and is an integral member of agent Bruce Jeffrey’s team.

Another Yorkshire-born jockey in the winner’s enclosure was Andrew Tinkler, who enjoyed a double courtesy of the Nicky Henderson-trained Cardinal Walter and Call The Cops.

Cardinal Walter landed his second course success of the season when making most of the running to score unchallenged by 15 lengths in the novice hurdle.

Call The Cops later ran out a convincing winner of the handicap hurdle to boost his claims for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, for which he is now 8-1 joint-favourite with Paddy Power.

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“I couldn’t believe the way he travelled and jumped. The ground is drying and that’s helped him massively,” said Tinkler.

It has been a frustrating season for Tinkler – these were only his 14th and 15th successes of the campaign – and he has not been helped by the Henderson yard failing to hit the heights of previous year.

However, he has started riding more frequently in the North and this meeting has always served Tinkler well – he has won the Grimthorpe previously aboard Wogan and then Quentin Collonges.

As for the soon-to-retire AP McCoy, the 20-times champion jockey’s final rides at Doncaster did not yield any winners.

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He bowed out on Town Moor when Benefit Cut finished fourth to Bobcatbilly, but this did not stop the 40-year-old from signing dozens of racecards for well-wishers.

He remains his sport’s ultimate professional and his probable Aintree mount, Shuthefrontdoor, will be the horse to beat when Night In Milan – and the enthusiastic Reveley family – try to win the National for Yorkshire in just under six weeks’ time.