My Drogo pencilled in for Aintree date

My Drogo could return to the scene of his finest hour as the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase at Aintree is the likely target in his new career for trainer and old friend Edward Walker.

The gelding, now 10, started out with Walker and his wife, former jockey Polly Gundry, a duo who together produce point-to-pointers alongside horses to run under both professional codes.

Having handled My Drogo in his early days, it was then Dan Skelton who stepped in when he was ready to make his racecourse debut in 2020, and he quickly looked a real prospect when capping his first term with Grade One success in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.

A fall on his chasing debut was not the ideal start and although he did prevail at the next time of asking, it was to be the last time he would do so in any capacity for over three years.

Injury interrupted his career and he was eventually returned to Walker and Gundry, for whom he made his point-to-point debut in December.

That was an encouraging third-placed run at Larkhill and a win followed at the same track a month later, performances that set him up nicely for the Walrus Open Hunters’ Chase at Haydock last weekend.

There he was a popular two-length winner under Will Biddick, and a return to Liverpool in spring is now on the agenda.

“He’s come out of Haydock really well, we were really chuffed. He came home, ate up, he’s very happy with himself,” said Walker.

“After that I think the Foxhunters’ at Aintree will be plan A and then we’ll probably try to work in a run in between, just to keep him happy.

“If we didn’t manage to fit one in then it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it would be nice to give him a little pop round a point-to-point before we go to Aintree.

“We think a flat track over two miles and six furlongs at Aintree will suit him better than three miles two at Cheltenham, hopefully that’s what we’ll be able to do with him.

“He won his Grade One novices’ hurdle around Aintree so he obviously likes the track, though it is of course different around the big fences.

“Will was very happy with his jumping around Haydock, he jumped beautifully and was very neat and tidy, so we think it’s probably the right target for him – he’s good enough to try.

“We had him as a youngster so it’s nice for him to come back to us, (owners) Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes love him and it’s very nice to see him enjoying himself again.”