Midnight Shadow
Midnight Shadow battled on well to win the 2m 4f handicap hurdle. Keen enough through the early stages of the race, he travelled really well through his race, he jumped well and he moved through nicely to challenge Ch'Tibello at the second last flight. He battled on well for Danny Cook to get the better of that potentially well-handicapped rival, and the two of them pulled nicely clear of their rivals.
Sue Smith's horse did well to find as much as he did, given that he was free early on. He shaped well on his debut this season at Wetherby, and he put a disappointing run in the Greatwood Hurdle behind him here. The handicapper raised him by 5lb to a mark of 146, but that was not harsh. Also, he is only five and there should be more to come over hurdles. He saw out this 2m 4f trip well on his first attempt at the distance, and he should do even better when he learns to settle better at this distance. Winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr last April, his best runs have been at Ayr and Wetherby and Aintree and Haydock, all flat, left-handed tracks.
Aintree, 8th December 2018
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