Midnight It Is

Midnight It Is kept on well to finish third in the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Chase at Fairyhouse last Saturday behind his two stable companions, completing a Gavin Cromwell-trained 1-2-3 in the race Settled in mid-division early on by Sean Flanagan, he lost his place a little bit when they quickened before the home turn, with the result that he was only eighth jumping the second last fence He stayed on really well from there though, switching and manoeuvring his way through traffic He got in tight to the final fence too, he had to switch back out on the run-in, but he stayed on strongly to take third place Even after losing his position, if he had jumped the final fence with momentum and if he had got a clear run up the run-in, he probably would have finished second and he might have won.

He is nine now, and this was his 15th run over fences, he is not obviously unexposed, but he is in the form of his life, his last two runs have been the best two runs of his life The handicapper raised him by just 1lb for this run to a mark of 133, and that is a mark that could under-rate him The winner of the race, The King Of Prs was raised by 7lb His trainer mentioned the Grand Annual as a possible target now, and for the two stable companions who finished in front of him, and that is a race that could suit him well Winner of his maiden hurdle over two miles and three furlongs and, out of a mare who won over two miles and five furlongs, he would be interesting if tried over two and a half miles, but a fast-run two miles at a stiff track suits him well too.
Fairyhouse, 11^th January 2025