Country Mile looked a smart prospect for the Skeltons as he relished getting back on some decent ground when denting some big reputations in the British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old finished second to Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Roadlesstravelled at Haydock on Betfair Chase day in the mud, but looked a completely different prospect on a quicker surface.

Settled well of the pace by Harry Skelton, the Sam Thomas-trained Palacio set a strong early gallop while all eyes were on Nicky Henderson’s French recruit That’s Nice and Gordon Elliott rsquo;s Wingmen, who dominated the market.

However, when that pair closed in on the leader, Skelton was still sat motionless on Country Mile (5-1).

That’s Nice found disappointingly little, leaving Wingmen in front but Country Mile was galloping all over him, with his jockey motionless as he sauntered to a seven-and-a-half-length win.

Delighted trainer Dan Skelton said: “It was a surprise to see him win like that really. They obviously went quite hard and he’s loads of ability, hasn’t he?

“He jumped a lot better today. He didn’t jump all that well at Haydock and I think the ground really got to the bottom of him that day as well.

“We knew he had ability, but I thought if he was ever going to win a race of deep quality he’d do it hard. I didn’t think he’d saunter round like that, but they went so quick in front.

“I don’t know what we’ll do with him now, we’ll see what the handicapper does.”