Talented My Drogo set for Haydock appearance

My Drogo once had the world at his feet and has the chance to serve a reminder of his talent when he tackles the Walrus Open Hunters’ Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

An unbeaten Grade One winner for Dan Skelton over hurdles during the 2020-21 season, injury blighted his progress when sent novice chasing the following year, with his appearances on the racecourse few and far between since.

Now a 10-year-old, My Drogo has been rejuvenated by moving to Devon and joining point-to-point handler Edward Walker and his wife Polly Grundy, with the duo leaving no stone unturned in their quest to return the gelding to near his best.

“He’s a very sensitive horse and I think his success, like it does for many young people, it went to his head and he got too keen and enthusiastic,” explained Grundy.

“As a result he got onto his forehand and I think that’s why he ended up straining his legs when he went chasing.

“He had to have so much time off and it only looked like a little leg problem but it took time. Then last season poor Dan was really struggling getting him right, his skin just didn’t look right.

“He only ran twice for Dan last year, the first time at Aintree there was not many fences to jump and he was just a bit to keen, he ran a bit like his tail was on fire. The other time was on very heavy ground at Exeter on his first go at three miles.”

Having blown away the cobwebs on his first start for his new team at Larkhill in December, he returned to register a confidence boosting 12-lengths victory at the venue last month.

Will Biddick was in the saddle on that occasion and will be onboard once again on Saturday as he now returns to a racecourse proper for the first time in just over a year.

“It will be interesting and much more of a test compared to what he’s done so far and he barely saw out three miles the first time at Larkhill,” continued Grundy.

“He did then see it out well when he won and that might have been a weaker race, but he did win with his head in his chest so hopefully he’s on the comeback and can show us what he can do. He’s fairly straightforward and Will knows him well and we’re as confident as we can be that he’ll go and do his bit.

“It’s all about getting him to respect his fences and Josh Newman did a great job on him the first time at Larkhill helping him learn his trade again and Will was able to build on that last time.”

Connections have not ruled out a shot at the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival should My Drogo show plenty of his old zest at the weekend.

However, it could prove more likely that takes on the famous spruce of the Grand National course in the Aintree equivalent in the spring, with the two-mile-five-furlongs distance of that contest much more suited to Richard Kelvin-Hughes’ classy performer.

“Will feels two-mile-six at Haydock is just his ticket and I’m not sure about Cheltenham at the moment as three-miles-two round there is probably unnecessary for a horse with so much speed,” added Grundy.

“If he was to really settle and was to see the trip out really well on Saturday I wouldn’t be surprised if Richard would like an entry for Cheltenham. Aintree though, could easily be an option and that has been talked about.

“Myself, Ed and Richard do this as a bit of a committee and I’m the assistant to Ed who plays around with him and rides him quite a lot – he comes in swooning every day he has ridden him.

“Richard is an amazing owner to train for and always wants to do right by the horse while also having some fun and seeing what we can achieve.”