Shades of Midnight makes his chase debut tomorrow

Carlisle is recognised as an ideal track for chasing debuts. Well made fences, each with a nice slope to the belly and the majority taken uphill. Shades of Midnight heads across the country and down the A7 tomorrow for the 6 runner Class 3 novices' chase on soft ground.

There may only be 5 opponents but 4 of these have recorded RPRs of 120 or more over hurdles. The only horse with chasing experience is Irish raider Winter Lion, and from his breeding you've got to imagine that when the dam (by a Derby winner) was bred to Galileo that something higher than a novice chase at Carlisle on a Monday afternoon was anticipated. Experience will be on his side, but would surely have preferred a sound surface.
From hurdling form, the useful Alzammaar and Nicholls' very useful Brio Conte will head the market with the progressive latter-named the likely winner.
Nicky R has his horses fairly well forward this Autumn and his nice chase prospect, and triple winning hurdler, Progress Drive makes his fencing debut too, while Rebecca runs the ex-Skelton trained novice hurdler Chateau Chinon.

So, what of 'Shady'?
Henry Brooke comes in for the ride on his chase debut and pronounced himself happy with our gelding's jumping during a recent schooling session. Of course things can pan out differently in a race and Shades of Midnight will come on for the run but you've got to start somewhere.
Fingers crossed for a nice round of jumping, and that Shady will enjoy the experience of Steeplechasing.

Good luck to all of The Potassium Partnership.

Shades of Midnight (Stuart) battles through a morning shower