Acey Milan qualifies for the Grade Two Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard National Flat Race during the racing taking place at Aintree next month, but trainer Anthony Honeyball is unsure whether or not he’ll enter his horse.
The five-year-old prospect had a good run in the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, finishing fourth in a field of 23 horses.
Acey Milan had previously run in three races this year, winning on all three occasions.
Despite a positive season, Honeyball isn’t sure a trip to Aintree is in the horse’s best interests:
We’ve had a look at the small print and he does qualify to run in the race, but he’s been busy and he has not missed a beat this season.
I will talk to the owners, but I think it is unlikely he will run and it is very much on the back-burner. I imagine he won’t run again this season. He has won three of his five bumpers and to finish fourth in the Champion Bumper was a good effort.
At the age of just five, there’s plenty of room for this youthful horse to grow into wherever Honeyball wants him to race.
Indeed, hurdles seems to be the objective.
He’s going to school over hurdles outside when the ground settles down a bit before he is turned out. We will get the bulk of that done so he is set up for next season. He is not a slow horse and I want to try and win the Challow Hurdle with him if he carries his form forward. He’s got a good engine and he travels and stays so that race will suit him well.
