Midnight Chase set for seasonal comeback in Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby
Trainer Neil Mulhollan has picked next month’s Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby as Midnight Chase’s comeback race. The 10-year-old has been out of action since March, when he was seventh in the Grade 1, Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase.
The Bath trainer is intended to give the veteran horse a fine opportunity to gain momentum ahead of the Argento Chase, which he won in January. He surprised everyone by demonstrating a fascinating show in the Grade 2 meeting (Registered As The Cotswold Chase).
After making all in the hands of Dougie Costello, he stayed on strongly from 3f out. He remained unchallenged throughout, and eventually seized the top rank easily by two lengths and three-quarters.
The connections are again targeting the Cheltenham event, but prior to that, they are looking to give the stable star his first run of the new campaign. The handler described:
"Midnight Chase is hopefully going to run in the Charlie Hall Chase. We targeted the Argento Chase last season and we won it so that was great and he was also third in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby which was a creditable performance.”
"He seems as good as he was before he won the Argento and he worked well at the weekend. The Argento is the big aim for him again this season but he will be fit and ready for the Charlie Hall Chase because he is a lot further forward this year than he was
last year.”
Owned by Lady Clarke, the bay gelding made only four appearances last winter. On his previous seasonal return at Down Royal, he suffered a terrible tumble in the Grade 1, JNwine.com Champion Chase.
Despite a huge blow right at the start of the season, the son of Midnight Legend did not lose determination, and ran a very fine race at Wetherby. In December’s Grade 3, Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, Midnight Chase was third
behind According to Pete and Helpston.
Neil Mulholland has uttered that the experienced runner is going to make no more than three or four outings this season, and will look to produce a positive result every time.
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