IF you were told that the son of a speedy Green Desert (by Danzig) horse, and of a mare whose siblings include a Group 1 Prix de la Foret scorer, had just won a Grade 3 contest (rather than a Group 3) then one might presume that it may have been US sprint or mile event.

Such a horse was in action last weekend, but the race he won was neither a speed contest nor one held on the flat, as the Willie Mullins-trained Mckinley took the Grade 3 ‘For Auction’ Novice Hurdle at Navan last Sunday.