Le Milos rolls back the years with Warwick win

Dan Skelton is usually the man to follow at Warwick and so it proved again as he enjoyed a double along with his brother Harry.

L’Eau Du Sud landed the feature Kingmaker Novices’ Chase but the trainer took almost as much pleasure out of the victory of Le Milos (5-4 favourite) in the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

The 10-year-old had been without a win since his career-best effort in the Coral Gold Cup in November 2022 and he was even strongly fancied for the 2023 Grand National in which he finished 10th behind Corach Rambler after failing to see out the trip.

In a field reduced by non-runners to just six, he raced prominently and was able to win by an easy six lengths.

Dan Skelton said: “He’s come back to a point where around here, on that type of ground and the fences in quick succession, it was ideal for him.

“He’s such a nice horse it’s lovely to see him win again. He was in the right race today, I think the trip is irrelevant really.

“I haven’t really got anything else in mind. The race before the National (three-mile handicap at Aintree) might be an interesting one I suppose, so if we can find another race four weeks from now that would be nice.”

The Skeltons were narrowly denied a treble by their old boss Paul Nicholls when Irish Hill (15-2) edged out Panic Attack in the eventmasters.co.uk 40th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle.

Aviemore (4-1) had survive a lengthy stewards’ inquiry to be declared the winner of the Join Racing TV Now Juvenile Maiden Hurdle

Harry Derham’s charge had finished behind Alan King’s Midnight Rumble on his first outing and the two met again.

Aviemore seemed to have learned plenty for his debut, though, and despite ploughing through the last flight, was on top at the line.

However, he drifted markedly to his left, interfering with Ocean Conquest and Lucky Bere with jockey Alice Stevens using her whip in her right hand meaning it was a nervous wait for connections before he could be confirmed the winner.

“He’s a decent little horse, he jumped fantastic. He was maybe a bit babyish over a couple and he missed the last, but he galloped to the line and hopefully they’ll have a lot of fun with him,” said Stevens.

Stevens was, though, handed a three-day suspension.

Celtic Art (4-1) gave more evidence that Jeremy Scott’s string are in better health when winning the RacingTV.com Handicap Hurdle.

Having tracked Sao Carlos into the straight, Lorcan Williams asked his mount to quicken and he soon put the race to bed, winning by two and three-quarter lengths.