Shadow lights up Relkeel Hurdle

Midnight Shadow continued his upward trend when raised in trip when taking the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle for trainer Sue Smith and jockey Danny Cook.

He was sent off at 15/2 after a career best victory at Aintree on Becher Chase Day when stepped up to 2m 4f after being well beaten when 14th out of 18 in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at the November Meeting, and in the process took the scalps of Old Guard and Wholestone, who was attempting to defend the title he won 12 months ago.

Clyne led at the start, and over the first Wholestone slightly dived at it, whilst Old Guard and Thomas Campbell were content to settle in behind.

Wholestone took on the lead going round the bend and led at the fourth. Clyne was still up the inside and wouldn't let him have it all his own way however. Midnight Shadow improved to join Old Guard in behind, with Thomas Campbell and Cyrius Darius bringing up the rear.

Wholstone missed 4 out, whilst Thomas Campbell was ridden along to maintain his position. He missed 3 out as Wholestone had missed the previous flight, but the latter was fluent at 3 out, flying over it and show no ill effects from the hurdle beforehand.

Old Guard was ridden to join issue with the two leaders coming down the hill, Midnight Shadow also taking closer order. Clyne missed 2 out and began to backpedal as the remaining 3 moved on to dispute the lead turning in for home. At the last the three jumped it together, and it was Old Guard who first began to cry enough as they ran up the run in and ascended the Cheltenham hill. Midnight Shadow found plenty for pressure, defying Wholestone who tried to rally in a vain, gallant attempt to defend his title, winning by 2 lengths at the line. Old Guard was third, Thomas Campbell coming home for fourth.

He is being talked up as a potential for the Stayers Hurdle at The Festival in March, and can be backed at between 12/1 and 16/1 for the race.