Shades of Midnight goes for the Beginners Chase at Catterick tomorrow

Yes, it seems ages since our last foray on the track, and the cold spell could not have come at a worse time as we had several of the string geared up to run. At home, the horses were all worked a bit steadier than normal on account of the freezing conditions and that had an effect on the woodchip gallop. But we were able to use the Across the Camber grass gallop, and even chose a new route from the stables to the gallops a couple of days.
That got the horses' ears pricked, and they were bit livelier for their work riders...............

There's a couple of horses entered for Newcastle on Saturday, but before then our novice chaser Shades of Midnight makes his second outing in that sphere over 3m 1f at Catterick tomorrow. As seems the norm for such races, there are only 4 runners but each have a touch of class about them and a winning case can be made for each.

Neil Mulholland's Impulsive Star is a chasing debutant but he started favourite for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival on his last appearance in March, and although unplaced on that occasion, he showed winning form previously off a similar mark to our Shady. Fellow debutant Tomngerry is not so experienced but ran a cracker in early November on his return to action after 18 months off, when 2nd in a Class 2 handicap hurdle off OR132. He's a Point winner, so jumping fences in public shouldn't faze him.
Which leaves Alzammaar who finished in front of Shady when both horses made their chasing bow at Carlisle last month, and has run second again since.

So, a fascinating and in many ways informative contest tomorrow. Good luck to all members of the Potassium Partnership!!

Shades of Midnight (nearside)