midnight soldier

The strong and attractive seven-year-old Soldier Of Fortune gelding Midnight Soldier is based with multiple Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Ben Pauling.

Out of the five-time NH winner Midnight Macarena (Midnight Legend), he made a highly impressive winning racecourse debut in a Fontwell bumper in June 2021. Ridden by Jack Tudor for trainer Christian Williams, he cruised into contention two-furlongs out before being shaken up when hitting the front at the furlong pole and surging clear. He crossed the line a 3.75L winner, hinting at much greater things to come, with his then trainer commenting at the time: ‘he was bought to be a future staying chaser therefore, to win a bumper, he must have a lot of natural ability’.

Deva Racing secured the purchase of Midnight Soldier soon afterwards (he had previously raced in the silks of the Christian Williams Racing Club) and he moved to the Gloucestershire yard of Ben Pauling ahead of his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter in May 2023. It was unfortunate that he was forced to spend a big chunk of time on the sidelines during a crucial period of his career, but he is more than capable of making up for lost time. 

Although ultimately beaten a long way, he filled second spot on that hurdling debut behind Lookaway (Ask), who has since won a Gr.2 at Cheltenham and finished third in the Gr.1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National meeting. Given a break after running at Uttoxeter, Midnight Soldier returned to the fray with midfield finishes at Exeter and Lingfield in November, before pulling-up in difficult conditions back at Uttoxeter. 

Dropped to a lowly mark of 84 after that Huntingdon run, Midnight Soldier made his next appearance in a 2m4½f handicap hurdle at Huntingdon in March. Always in touch with the leaders, he ran on to finish a 6.75L fifth of the 11 runners and confirmed that he is on the way back to peak form. 

Winning races from his current rating should prove to be a formality for Midnight Soldier, while his original trainer’s comments about his potential as a staying chaser are not forgotten. Watch this space, there are races to be won with this one.