Alrasm

Alrasm put up a nice performance to land what is usually a good 12-furlong three-year-old handicap at Chester on Wednesday. The Michael Jarvis-trained gelding led all the way, admittedly under what looked like a typically canny Richard Hills ride, and it was the first day at Chester, with no false rail, a setup that favours front-runners. That said, he wasn’t allowed that easy a time of it up front by Joe Fanning and Mister Angry, and he stayed on really well to repel the late challenge of Averroes, a progressive individual in his own right, in a good time.

He may be under-rated because he led all the way on a track that favours front-runners, but it may be a mistake to under-estimate this performance. He is by a sprinter, Acclamation, and he won over six furlongs as a juvenile. His dam was a miler, but his damsire is Rainbow Quest, and Alrasm stayed this extended 12 furlong trip well. The handicapper raised him 8lb to a mark of 102 for this, but he is remains progressive and he may still be better than that. He settles well in front, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.

5th May 2010