Shades of Midnight wins impressively

Showing the benefit of his debut run at Kelso a month ago, when he ran quite green, Shades of Midnight won the bumper at Hexham today in impressive style. Travelling well throughout, Callum hit the front on the Midnight Legend gelding halfway up the final hill, and was pushed clear to readily put the race to bed.
We may give him one more race this season, depending on how he comes out of this, but either way he is turning into the exciting prospect we suspected he was when he first came into the yard.

Quite rightly, the lads and lassies of the Potassium Syndicate were cock-a-hoop, and so proud of their home-bred 4-yr-old.

Elsewhere this month, no wins but a few fine runs....

The progressive Hartforth ran another fine race - on Racing Post Ratings, his best to date - when finishing 3rd in a vauable handicap hurdle at Ayr last Friday. Enjoying a bit of cut in the ground again, he was beaten just over 6 lengths and the 6-yr-old has really blossomed this season.

Ellistrin Belle (5th at Kelso, travelling and jumping well in front till running out of steam) and Hawaii Klass (4th in a competitive chase at Carlisle) both ran a bit better than of late, and we think both will be suited by the type of sounder surfaces that we'll encounter from now on (but don't tell Bollin Fiona....). Maybe Perth, if not in April, there are a few meetings in May & June that would be ideal.

Talking of Fiona, she ran very well under Ryan to finish 3rd at Hexham over 3 miles.

So, a winner, a few placed efforts, and all told we're delighted with our horses' performances on the racecourse this season. 8 winners - a great team effort.