Midnight Shadow provides 'day to remember' for family of his breeder

Midnight Shadow brought back emotion for the family of the late Captain Archie Smith-Maxwell as he struck at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day for the second occasion in a row.

Now seven and trained by Sue Smith for Aafke Clarke, Midnight Shadow was the last in a line bred by Smith-Maxwell before his death aged 86 at the end of 2013.

Also responsible for breeding Palace House scorer On Stage and the 2009 German 1,000 Guineas winner Penny's Gift from his Worcestershire farm, he gained plenty of recognition in the world of eventing, winning an award from the British Equestrian Federation for his exploits in producing the likes of Jumbo, the sire of many more smart performers.

Midnight Shadow, by Midnight Legend, is out of the Statoblest mare Holy Smoke, a six-times winner on the Flat bought by Smith-Maxwell for 12,000gns back in 2003.

He is Holy Smoke's penultimate foal and he was sold for £8,500 as a yearling and again as a three-year-old when picked up by Clarke for £28,000. The family also includes full-sister Unify, a four-times winner for Anthony Honeyball.

A winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle as a novice, Midnight Shadow was impressive in the Relkeel Hurdle on this day 12 months ago.

He had failed get his head in front three prior starts over fences this term and although there was more than a slice of luck involved with hot favourite Champ coming down two from home in the Paddy Power Broken Resolutions Already Dipper Novices' Chase, the second in the betting stayed on well through the mud to score by a length and a quarter under Danny Cook.

"He did see this one as a foal, but not the next one," said Smith-Maxwell's son Philip to ITV Racing.

"We have the younger brother by Malinas, who is now with my daughter Alex Dunn. They must be looking down on us today, it's just fantastic.

"It's all Dad lived for but Mum [Patricia] was the breeder behind it, she picked the stallions most of the time.

"His mother was just a very genuine, very kind mare and the whole family are a family of triers, easy to work with and fingers crossed for all of them, it's just been an amazing day. To see him come up that hill, he's a true credit to everybody. These are the days to remember."

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