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