tracked leader, hit 6th, chased leader 4 out, led approaching next, soon clear
held up in touch, under pressure 3 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, lost place and reluctant from 3 out, soon beaten
led, joined 9th, headed before 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear, raced keenly and headway 3rd, soon prominent, hit 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked winner, under pressure approaching 8th, soon beaten
MIDNIGHT CHASE has plenty in his favour and can complete his hat-trick. Colophony, Dhehdaah and Serhaaphim are the others that interest us. Midnight Chase looks to have escaped lightly with just a 6lb rise for his win at Leicester where he stayed on stoutly to win with something up his sleeve. That was his third success from just five career starts and there should be more to come. Dhehdaah is a versatile and useful sort who is on a winning mark and could be running into form but Warren Marston is the only jockey to pilot him to success over obstacles and few others have rarely been aboard. Serhaaphim has plenty to prove after two disappointing runs but could be a threat to all if recapturing last season's form and a more obvious danger is Colophony. He's a course and distance winner who had a pipe opener on the Flat ten days ago and everything appears to be in place for a big run but he may just find one too strong in Midnight Chase.
Midnight Chase 9-4fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, led after 2 out, hit last, edged left flat, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Red Admiral (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Dhehdaah 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, no impression 2 out, stayed on one pace, 6th of 11, 8l behind Zahra's Place (11-1) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Colophony (USA) 9-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 6th, chased leaders next, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, one pace, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Mick Jerome (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Serhaaphim 16-1 (11-8) Held up in touch until ridden and weakened after 2 out, 8th of 9, 23l behind Spring Dream (10-10) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Pacific Ocean (ARG) 33-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden 5th, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 10, 22l behind Stradbrook (11-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Pearly Star 66-1 (9-13) Mid-division, blundered and lost place 3rd, lost touch from 6th, 11th of 14, well behind Six Day War (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
