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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Mengli enters Cheltenham picture with G3 win

Sun 12th Nov 2017, 14:05

Mengli Khan (near side)Mengli Khan (near side)
© Photo Healy Racing

Second season novice Mengli Khan maintained his unbeaten start to this season’s campaign with a fine effort to win the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan today, for trainer Gordon Elliott, owner Gigginstown House Stud and jockey Jack Kennedy.

The son of Lope De Vega, rated 96 on the flat when trained by Hugo Palmer in Britain in 2016, had failed in two hurdle outings last term, and finished the season with a fourth placing in Grade 3 company in February. Today he showed the benefit of that experience on his second attempt at a Grade 3 contest, when readily beating Stratum by four lengths.

“I think he's a good horse,” reported Elliott afterwards.

“He was good there and I'd say he'll go for the Royal Bond next. He's a two-miler and has got loads of boot and I'd say a better race might suit him better.

“Jack (Kennedy) said they didn't go quick enough but anyway he was grand.”

Bookmaker Paddy Power later introduced Mengli Khan at 20/1 for the Surpreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Quotes from Gary Carson

About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.