Nights In Venice runs a fine 2nd at Kelso

"You've a nice horse there" was jockey Craig Nichol's summation upon dismounting in the saddling enclosure. And who's to argue?

Nights In Venice is from the second last crop of the late Midnight Legend - a top NH Sire. Since he's been in the yard these past couple of seasons, he's always reminded us of another gelding by that sire who was formerly trained here - Shades Of Midnight. A long, long way to go to fill those particular shoes but his general demeanor, conformation and galloping style is very reminiscent.
And that Rendlesham Grade 2 hurdle winner wasn't the quickest in bumpers either but showed significant improvement stepped up in trip over hurdles.

A daughter of 4-time hurdles winner Well Disguised, Nights In Venice wouldn't be best suited by a 2 mile bumper over a sharp track like Kelso so with his second place yesterday, the gelding deserves a fair bit of credit.
Given the cloud that the stable was under at the time, you could just about put a line through his debut run back in March when down the field at Carlisle. Yesterday, Craig kept him fairly prominent throughout with the obvious downside that green-ness could play a factor and his mount did indeed show signs of inexperience a couple of times round those tight Kelso bends.
But once shaken up turning for home in 4th position, Night In Venice knuckled down to his job and although no danger to the worthy winner - Donny Boy - stayed on well in the final furlong into second, in the process beating the well regarded Rose of Siena by ¾l into 3rd.

The Trainer and owner-breeder Al Duncan are quite rightly enthralled by this performance which promises of so much more to come in the jumping sphere.

Nights In Venice (Craig, centre) finishes well to take 2nd place near finish