Good day for Dodlands Steading at Carlisle yesterday, a fine win Shady...

Pride of place from our 2 runners at Carlisle yesterday was Shades of Midnight who won the opening novices hurdle. Peter Buchanan settled the Midnight Legend 5-yr-old just in behind the leader, and he maintained that position most of the way to 2 out. Pulled out to the outside, as the main contenders gathered for winning efforts, the gelding was upsides the first two (Glacial Rock and Bobs Lord Tara) approaching the last but didn't meet the flight on an even stride. However, he quickly rallied on the flat and came with a storming run to win by a head from Bobs Lord Tara. 

Shady produces a fine finish!

This was yet another improved performance from Shades of Midnight taking his overall win tally to 3 (he won a bumper last season).
He clearly relished the trip, just short of 2½ miles, and shapes as if 3 miles may be his optimum. His jumping is also improving - he made a couple of mistakes yesterday - and, you know, he's not the sort that shows a lot on the home gallops, and just did enough to win yesterday.
We'll see what the owners want to do after giving Shady a few days to get over his Carlisle exertions. He may run one more time but either way will be heading off to 'grass' in May.

...and Snapping Turtle ran well too..

...finishing 3rd in a Class 3 handicap hurdle.

Setting off in front, as is the norm these days, Snapping Turtle tried to see off his rivals by an injection of pace 4 out. However, the easy winner (Sandy's Any Given Moment) was always travelling well and headed our gelding approaching 2 out. Not to be out done, Snapping Turtle stuck on gamely to his task and finished a fine third, just being pipped for second near the line.

He's running so well, that we don't really want the season to end for the 10-yr-old. It must come soon because he's been in training since last July, but we've been saying that since January!
He may have one more race then.......oh we'll see.

Snapping Turtle - a fine season!