Thoughts on Not After Midnight

Not After Midnight runs in the 13.50 at Lingfield this afternoon (Wednesday 18th of October). George Downing takes the ride in the seven furlong nursery. Not After Midnight was too free on her latest start at Goodwood on ground that was far softer than the officially recorded good to soft. Yet another example of how inaccurate reporting of the going by clerks, makes a mess of the form book for the future. The going was changed by degrees during the afternoon, clearly a case of the clerk trying to limit non-runners. This is simply unacceptable and why the going should be called by an independent voice, who does not have a vested interest in maximising field sizes. Rant over – the net result was that Not After Midnight ended up running a very disappointing race. This was a shame as she had run two lovely races earlier in the season when placed in two novice races over six furlongs. We didn’t really learn if she stayed seven furlongs and there has to be a slight doubt, albeit her pedigree suggests it will be within her compass. The seven furlongs at Lingfield is probably one of the easiest seven furlongs so we should have an answer this afternoon. The filly also has a decent draw in stall 2.

The race looks competitive with last time out winner Sulafaat setting the standard they have to aim at, this is a higher grade race than she won and she has a tricky draw to contend with, challenges are likely to come from Sardenya who also has a wide draw to overcome and Song of Summer who has some decent form in the book and a nice draw.