Midnight Chase comes first in Argento

Midnight Chase won the Argento from the front under a brilliant ride by Dougie Costello, stealing a soft lead and getting the fractions spot on as he blew the race apart from the front.

Back at his favored venue on decent ground, Midnight Chase was jumped out by Dougie Costello and never saw another rival over the 3m1f trip.

The unpredictable Tidal Bay, partnered by Ruby Walsh, came with a challenge turning for home, but was outpaced between the final two fences and although he closed all the way up the hill, he had given the 9-2 winner too much rope.

Diamond Harry was sent off the market leader and travelled well, but - not for the first time - did not appear comfortable on the undulations of Prestbury Park and was ultimately well beaten while Captain Chris, friendless in the market prior to the off, fenced as if something was amiss and jumped markedly to his right before being pulled up by Richard Johnson.

Mulholland said: "I'm delighted; we've had a bad time so this is great. We just haven't had the horses. We've had success for a couple of years and a lot are badly handicapped. You can take cars apart and change them, but you can't do that with horses. Thankfully Midnight Chase is always there to pull out a performance."

"I thought he was in the same form as a year ago, but he's got stronger and he's very genuine.

"He loves racing and he loves Cheltenham, so he has to go for the Gold Cup after that."

William Hill cut Midnight Chase to 20-1 for the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival horse racing betting.