Step Up In Trip Could Suit Milrow At Cheltenham

Quiet Reflection couldn’t give connections the fairytale ending they yearned for last weekend but she has been a wonderful filly for them. She gave them some fantastic days out and the highlight was probably her Group 1 win in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. I feel privileged to have witnessed her last career win at Naas and there will be plenty of interest in her at the sales. It will take a hefty bid to land her and I can't wait to see her progeny run. Tomorrow I like the look of one at a monster price at Cheltenham and I think Milrow could outrun his odds for in form handler Sophie Leech.

 

Sophie Leech is a shrewd operator.

She also runs previous course winner Anteros who wouldn’t be without a chance if reproducing the form he showed this time last year. However, Milrow is a complete unknown quantity at this trip and he went into my notebook on his penultimate start when trying his furthest trip yet at Newton Abbott (21.5f gd/fm). This 4yo son of Tamayuz isn’t exactly bred for this sort of trip over timber and his three career wins have come at around 2 miles.

However, his half brother Canni Thinkaar won at 22.5f and his dam is by Lahib and he is a sire that has produced plenty of strong stayers down through the years. Milrow didn’t run any sort of race last time at Chepstow off 125 but the drop back in trip to 19f and slight ease in the ground are valid excuses for that below par effort. This fella is at his very best on good ground or better and conditions will be much more to his liking at Cheltenham on Saturday.

As I stated earlier he went into my notebook on his penultimate start at Newton Abbott over 21.5f when he stayed on eye catchingly for 3rd behind the highly progressive Golden Birthday, and he has gone on to win twice on the level since. He was 10L behind the winner but only 3/4 of a length behind the runner up Wait For Me, and that 142 rated horse went on to score on his chase debut next time out.

Milrow endured a troubled passage throughout that race and he was fairly badly hampered when the favourite fell at the 7th fence. He was held up in rear by young Sean Houlihan and as they turned for home he ran into trouble more than once. Houlihan had to stop riding for a moment as they approached the 2nd last but when he eventually did find a bit of daylight between the last two Milrow stayed on very well and almost got up for 2nd.

After that run it was surprising to see him dropped back in trip next time out but perhaps that run at Chepstow was just a sighter to put him right for this first crack at 3 miles. Leech and Houlihan were unlucky not to have a winner on Friday with Man Of Plenty and though Houlihan is yet to partner a winner for the yard he has been in the first four on 5 of his 8 rides for them. Hopefully he hits the frame again on Milrow on Saturday and at odds of 66/1 he has to be worth a pound or two each way.

I have also tipped up three horses for Mybettingbonus tomorrow and you can find out what I fancy by clicking here.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 15.45-MILROW E/W @ 66/1 (5 PLACES PADDY POWER)