Grey Dawning Wins Grade 1 Melling Thriller

Derby Sale graduate Grey Dawning returned to winning ways with a brave performance in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree today.

The nine-year-old was dropping back to the intermediate distance of two-and-a-half miles, having been campaigned exclusively over three-miles this season, and was ridden with confidence by Harry Skelton.

He was delivered to challenge the front running Solness between the final two fences, and with the runner-up proving a most resolute opponent, Dan Skelton’s charge needed to dig deep to secure his third top level victory.

He is a graduate of the 2020 Derby Sale when sold by Timmy Hillman’s Castledillon Stud to Brendan Bashford, and was adding a second Grade 1 this season, having won the Betfair Chase last November.

Owned by Robert Kirkland, Grey Dawning was becoming the seventh individual Derby Sale graduate to win the prestigious Melling Chase, adding his name to dual winners Moscow Flyer and Native Upmanship, both of whom are graduates of Ireland’s Premier Store Sale.

Entries remain open for the 2026 Derby Sale, which last year saw 38 lots exceeding the €100,000 mark, and 12 lots selling for €150,000 or more.

All horses catalogued are eligible for the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper, run at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The vendor of the winning horse will drive away in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz GLC.

George Storms Home to Land Top Honours

November National Hunt Sale graduate Storming George produced a career best effort to win the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle.

The six-year-old son of Order Of St George was taking a marked step up in grade having won emphatically in handicap company last month.

He was sold by his breeder Neville Reid from Tullyglush Stables in 2020, where he was purchased by Tim Dennis from Thorne Farm.

It was a milestone first Grade 1 winner for trainer Neil King, whose long-standing patron Peter Beadles owns Storming George.