Milan Native

Milan Native won the Kim Muir by less than two lengths, but he probably had more in hand than that. Held up early on by Rob James, Gordon Elliott’s horse travelled well to the top of the hill on the outside. He jumped the sixth last and fifth last fences well, and moved up around the outside on the run to the fourth last, where he almost landed in front. He travelled well down the hill and loomed up on the outside in the front rank on the run around the home turn, still travelling well. He moved to the front on the run to the second last fence and, while he was challenged by Kilfilum Cross all the way to the line, he left the impression that he was idling in front, that he was only doing enough.

This was Milan Native’s first win over fences, but it was only his sixth attempt, and he had run some good races in defeat. On his last two runs before Cheltenham, he kept on well to take the runner-up spot behind good horses in Allaho and Spyglass Hill at Fairyhouse and Gowran Park respectively, over intermediate trips. He obviously appreciated this step up to three and a quarter miles.    The handicapper raised him by 8lb to a mark of 149, but he is only seven, and he has lots of scope for progression now as a staying chaser. He could be an Irish National horse or an Aintree National horse in time.

Cheltenham 12^th March, 2020