The Milan Girl provides Kim Bailey with landmark 50th winner of season at Bangor

Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Kim Bailey left it to the eleventh hour to saddle his 50th winner of the season for only the second time in 22 years.

The Milan Girl provided the yard with a landmark triumph in the mares' bumper under David Bass at Bangor on Friday.

Achieving only his second half-century since a 1996-97 season which yielded 77 winners, Bailey said: "I'm delighted with that. I'd like to thank all my owners and staff and to pay tribute to David Bass, who has been excellent in the saddle.

"We've had our eye on the tally for some while and it's nice to train my first winner for the Rooneys this season, who have been great supporters over the years."

Ahead of stable star Charbel's bid to strike at Grade 2 level again in the bet365 Oaksey Chase at Sandown this afternoon, Bailey cited the eight-year-old's victory in the Peterborough Chase as the highlight of a fruitful campaign.

"Charbel winning the Peterborough Chase was probably the standout moment," said Bailey. "He's a real favourite at the yard but the future looks bright and we have some nice young horses to look forward to next year."

Vinndication was another major contributor to this season's haul, and followed up his Noel Novices' Chase victory with a third and fifth at the highest level behind star novice Defi Du Seuil.

The trainer has amassed just shy of £570,000 in prize-money this season and his 50 winners have come from 261 runners at a 19 per cent strike-rate.

Bailey's greatest season was in 1994-95 when he won the Champion Hurdle with Alderbrook and Master Oats claimed the Gold Cup two days later.

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