Midnight Shadow eyes King George after Paddy Power Gold Cup win
Midnight Shadow clung on for a dramatic victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
After the race, trainer Sue Smith revealed an ambitious target for Midnight Shadow at Christmas.
Last year's Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Coole Cody led for most of the race but fell at the second-last, allowing Midnight Shadow to swoop.
Midnight Shadow jumped the last in front - but he made a mistake there and was all out up the hill to hold the late challenge of Protektorat to land the prize for the Grand National-winning partnership of trainer Smith and jockey Ryan Mania.
The eight-year-old was just three-quarters of a length in front at the line to strike at odds of 9/1. Protektorat (11/2 favourite) was half a length ahead of Lalor (7/1) in third, with Dostal Phil (16/1) a length back in fourth place.
👀 A dramatic finish to the Paddy Power Gold Cup
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 13, 2021
Midnight Shadow stumbles after the final fence, but holds off the fast-finishing Protektorat to score for @mania450 & @suesmithracing pic.twitter.com/4fb0PRhVH7