Outlook's sunny for Midnight

All manner of champions, equine and human, have graced the main gallop at Martin and David Pipe's Pond House training base.

Neil Mulholland hopes Midnight Chase can add to that legacy by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in two weeks' time.

The jockey-turned trainer has 30 horses at 'Sunnyside', the Pipes' purpose-built stables, formerly their second yard, and as tenant he has full use of the training facilities.

Mulholland, 28, reckons that he has the "young whippersnapper" capable of upsetting the main protagonists and says Imperial Commander's trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies may be a little premature in believing past winners Kauto Star and Denman are the biggest threat to last year's champion.

Midnight Chase has improved 36lbs on official ratings over the past 12 months, has won six of his last seven races and the front-runner loves Cheltenham. He's unbeaten in his last four starts at Prestbury Park and in his other two outings at the course he's finished second and third.

"The course experience is the one big thing going for him," said the third-season trainer. "He's entitled to run a big race and he's in seriously good order. He did a really nice piece of work on the grass gallop yesterday.