Just Champion: Milkwood triumph worth the lengthy journey for Mulholland

Who cares about a six-hour journey and a 5.20am start when a plan hatched six months ago comes off in the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle?

Neil Mulholland was delighted to have made the trip from Bath to see Milkwood land an impressive three-and-three-quarter length win in the £24,000 Grade 2 handicap.

Sam Twiston-Davies' mount started 3-1 favourite, having finished third behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Belfast Banter in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and this had been his target since October.

"It's been the plan since he ran so well at Ffos Las in the Welsh Champion Hurdle," Mulholland said. "There's better ground and a pretty similar track. Thankfully for everyone involved, it has paid off very well.

"He ran superbly at Cheltenham and that form has been franked since. And Georgia Murgatroyd, who rides him out every day, has been delighted with him.

"He travels very strongly but he puts his head down and gallops to the line as well. He could probably win on the Flat one day."

Mulholland hopes there could be more still to come from the seven-year-old, who has run only nine times over hurdles.

"He's settling a lot better and I hope he'll be a little bit more mature next season, when he'll probably go over fences," the trainer said.

"But he's in really good order and there is the Swinton at Haydock, which is pretty similar to this."

All right for Skelton

Grade 1 winner Allmankind was not at his bold-jumping best but was still able to land the Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices' Chase on his step up to 2m4f.

Trainer Dan Skelton said: "He jumped like that because he was a bit lazy, I've no doubt. He wasn't at his absolute best today. We'll give him a good long break over the summer now.

"He's a funny type of horse. At the start of the season he's all hot air and exuberance, and he's exciting to watch. As the season progresses he gets a little lazier, and he's been lazier at home.

"But his only chance of lasting and making into an older horse is by racing like that, and it bodes really well for the future. I was very taken with the performance."

Allmankind: 'He wasn't at his absolute best today'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Triumphant return

Charlie Todd rode a couple of winners at Ayr in pony races as a youngster and returned as a conditional jockey to land the £50,000 novice handicap chase on the fine-jumping One More Fleurie.

"He was spectacular today," the rider said. "He's a great horse to deal with.

"He rolled away in front today, I didn't necessarily want to be there but there wasn't much pace, so I used his jumping and got breathers into him – and it paid off. I knew he'd stay the three miles and I knew he'd just keep galloping."

One More Fleurie: jumped well under Charlie ToddCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The way to do it

Theinval turned the clock back to 2018 by landing the 2m chase on his second run at the two-day meeting.

As he did three years ago, the Nicky Henderson-trained 11-year-old showed the benefit of a run over 2m4f on the opening day here, although Nico de Boinville was on board this season as usual partner Jerry McGrath was out injured.

"Theinval is a cracking character of a horse," the jockey said. "He's been around our yard for so long. It's testament to everyone at home, and the governor and the owners, to give it a go again."

De Boinville, who spent Saturday's unexpected day off visiting Trump Turnberry down the coast with Tom Cannon, added: "Friday was a sort of prep run before today and we thought this race would suit him, they'd go a good gallop – and he really appreciated that today. He travels really well off a strong pace that's ideal for him."

Replays, results and analysis

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