Midnight Could Be Made For Aintree

Very few staying chasers have been as progressive in the last 18 months as Midnight Chase and as things stand he looks set to make a massive impact when he heads to Aintree for this year’s Grand National.

A winner on six of his last seven starts, the Neil Mulholland trained nine-year old has gone from a middle grade handicapper to a horse ready to take on the best stayers at level weights in the graded chases.

With four of those six wins having been achieved at Cheltenham, it is likely that connections will let the gelding take his chance in the Gold Cup. It is doubtful that he has the class to win a Gold Cup, even allowing for his love of Cheltenham and it could turn out to be a warm up for the following month’s big race.

The Grand National could be a different story though, his attacking bold jumping style could be made for Aintree and if he settles in a smooth jumping rhythm early on in the race he would surely put plenty of rivals under pressure from an early stage. Anyone who’s followed the race in the past will know that the ability to cope with the daunting fences is key, and Midnight Chase may have what it takes. As Grand National betting tips go, he looks a good one.

His owner Lady Clarke has seen her colours carried to victory in the big race before, when Lord Gyleene did the business in the famous Monday Grand National of 1997, and she would like nothing more than to win the race again. With a contender like Midnight Chase you wouldn’t right it off.